It’s winter. Cold. Dark. Dead. These are the words that come to mind during these months that seem fruitless. However, much like tulip bulbs wait beneath the surface to bloom, we too can be filled with an internal spring as we wait for light to return. How can we cultivate beauty, warmth, life, and light during this bleak season? Create When life slows down and the lack of beauty feels uninspiring, search for ways to be creative. Take this time... Read more
I was painting a wall today. It was also about ninety degrees. And I was baking bread, so my oven was on. As I was sweating and stressing about getting this wall painted so that I could finally get my dining room put back together, I had one of those miraculous epiphanies. At least it felt like one to me. I had to put a coat of primer on the newly textured wall, and it had a blueish tint to... Read more
Typically we wait for the new year to start fresh, create goals, and feel hopeful. However, each new season of the year offers opportunities for rebirth and new beginnings. As we wind down our summer season and look forward to the first day of Autumn, here are four ways to breathe new life into this new stage. REVIEW The first step for a fresh start is not moving forward but looking back. Consider the previous season. What worked well over... Read more
Prayer. It is an often-illusive aspect of our faith. We know we should pray, we might even know how to pray, but instituting the practice can be challenging. Whether you have littles surrounding you constantly, a high-pressure job, or endless duties, it can be difficult to institute regular, meaningful, or heartfelt prayer. Instituting a prayer walk vastly impacted my personal prayer life. I realized that if I went on a walk in the evenings or mornings it often... Read more
Summer is in full swing. Longer days. Warmer weather. More Freedom. Let’s keep it that way. In the past I have made a “Summer Bucket List” and attempted to fit in each and every activity as if crossing off a to do list would prove that my kids and I had a great summer. However, summer is a time for unfettered living, spontaneity, and rest. The pressure to come up with a list can cause stress or busyness. If that... Read more
Spring inspires all things new and fresh. Plants, animals, weather, and activities all change. There are literal blossoms all around us and the blossoming of opportunities as well. It is a sort of new year all over again in which we can start fresh, dream big, and make new plans. It may be natural to practice renewal in the form of deep cleaning, gardening, home projects, vacations, and so much more. Yet, how can we focus on renewal of our... Read more
If your memories of Saint Patrick’s day as a child center around leprechauns, rainbows, and chocolates disguised as gold coins, you are not alone. Or, if you are like me and lived in a college town for eighteen years, you might be seeing visions of twenty-somethings clad in green as they stumble from bar to bar. There are many holidays that are rooted in excellent spiritual truths that have been watered down or even compeltely forgotten over the years. However,... Read more
Rejoice, Rejoice, the old hymn sings. You fly from store to store, checking lists and spending more. Rejoice, Rejoice, the Pastor declares. But you are shopping the sales for clothes and housewares. Rejoice, Rejoice, beat the depths of your heart. But you’re feeling the pressure to add to cart! While the poem may be silly, the sentiment rings true. The Holiday season is a conflict in consumerism and Christ’s birth. Each year the season begins sooner and the inflatable decorations... Read more
‘Tis the season for gratitude. The rest of the world may have moved ahead to Christmas, but my heart is still in the season of gratitude. We have a thousand small opportunities each day to live in a spirit of gratitude. Yesterday, as I drove through a light sprinkle and the golden leaves fluttered in the wind as if they too were raining from the sky, it was easy to feel an overflow of gratitude. When my... Read more
Teaching your children about God does is not limited to boring lectures, but rather an invitation to bring Jesus along on the adventures, fun, and mishaps of life. When I read the passage in Deuteronomy 6:7-9 that states, “You shall teach them [God’s Statutes] diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up . . . “ I like... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In