(This post is part 4 of our Enjoying Advent! series. Here’s part 1 on Hope, part 2 on Peace, and Part 3 on Joy if you missed them.) I pray that reflecting on the hope, peace, and joy of Christ’s Advent has made this Christmas season more meaningful to you. This week, we turn our […]
Seasonal
Enjoying Advent! Week 3 – Joy
(This post is part 3 of our Enjoying Advent! series. Here’s part 1 on Hope and part 2 on Peace, if you missed them.) I pray that reflecting on hope and peace during the last two weeks filled your heart so that now you can rejoice in God from the overflow of what he has […]
Enjoying Advent! Week 2 – Peace
(This post is part 2 of our Enjoying Advent! series. Here’s part 1 on Hope, if you missed it.) I pray that reflecting on hope during week 1 filled your heart with the anticipation of the time when every wrong will be made right and all God’s promises will come true! This week, we turn our […]
Enjoying Advent! Week 1 – Hope
Advent, by definition, is a coming into place, or an arrival. Knowing something is on its way creates excitement, longing, expectation, and joy. This was true for the people of Israel as they waited for the arrival of the Messiah. But even though they watched and waited, longed and anticipated, many missed the event when […]
The Illusion of Control
On this Good Friday, I was listening to the crucifixion story. One verse stood out to me in a very different way than it ever has before. Our Current Crisis You see, over the last week, I’ve been thinking about the Coronavirus crisis and how life is so different at this point in time. Many […]
Helping Children Wonder at God, the Creator
(updated March 2020 with new resources) This week we found tulips pushing up in our yard, had wind blow our gas grill across the deck, and went puddle jumping (more like mud slogging) with friends! Spring is on its way here, and I couldn’t be more excited! In spite of pollen, tornadoes, and poison ivy, […]
Ways to Enjoy Life with God in Winter
Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog, indicated on Sunday that spring will be here early this year. Had this prediction been given any of my other 16 winters here in MO, words like elated, jubilant, and ecstatic would have described my reaction. But this year was different. I’m joyful that spring is around the corner, don’t get […]
Gift Ideas for Nurturing Intimacy with Jesus
*updated for 2019 I’m typically one of those die-hard “don’t celebrate Christmas until after Thanksgiving” kind of people. And, while I’m still holding out this year, I do find it’s getting harder! It probably has to do with the fact that stores were displaying Christmas items in SEPTEMBER this year. What? Or maybe it’s the […]
Abundance Starts Small
Abundance is my One Word for One Year this year. God continues to use the natural world to teach me much about this word. Here are my key observations from the summer: #1 – Abundance is natural when the conditions are right. #2 – Abundance does not discriminate. #3 – Abundance is not under my […]
Ways to Enjoy God This Fall
Fall evokes so many word associations. Crisp mornings. Pumpkin everything. Apples. Fires. Vibrant leaves. Warmth. Coziness. Fall is a favorite time of year for many. It’s not, however, my favorite – mostly because it means winter is looming with bitter winds, icy roads and short days. I’m learning, though, to notice and embrace the beauty […]