Grace in Daily Life
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God’s Provision re: My Fear of Inadvertent Heresy – Prof. Dennis Johnson
Nancy Guthrie and Prof. Dennis Johnson have a wonderful episode of “How to Teach the Bible” that I encourage you to listen to: Teaching Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King What wonderful reminders of specific ways that Jesus truly does answer our biggest questions and our greatest fears. If you are not familiar with Nancy Guthrie, I encourage you to visit her website and learn more about her extensive teaching materials and her ministry of Respite Retreats for those grieving the loss of children, too: Nancy Guthrie And if you aren’t already benefiting from the rich, biblical teaching of Prof. Dennis Johnson, I urge you to read and study his materials, too:…
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I’ve been coming to these women’s conferences for 56 years. And usually they are SO boring! But …
When I spoke at a recent event, an elderly woman approached me. (I found out later than she was 90 years old!) Honestly? Not knowing her, but making an assumption based on most of the other times that elderly women have approached me when I’m speaking at their events, I assumed that either she had a question or prayer need (always an honor to serve in this way), or, she was going to express displeasure at my rate of speech. (I’m trying to say that nicely, but based on what has happened to me at previous events, I was really bracing to be yelled at.) Sadly, getting yelled at happens a…
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I Bet I Was A Prayer Request Just Like That When I Was 13 Years Old (The Rich Tapestry of God’s Providence)
If you haven’t read this Tim Challies’ post, you really should. It is wonderful! The Rich Tapestry of God’s Providence It reminds me of five minutes I spent with a woman at my church after our service. She had given a prayer request during the service for a thirteen year-old girl she knows whose life situation is utterly chaotic: addict mother, no stable home, might have to move out of state to live with a father who has had no contact with her in years. This dear woman was not only concerned, she was trying to discern the role (if any) she and her her husband should play in this…
- Eulogy for a Bad Mother, Grace in Daily Life, Hope in Suffering, Surviving a Childhood of Neglect and Abuse
Your Childhood Does Not Determine Your Life
This past weekend, Fred and I had more time than usual to just talk and visit. It was such a grace to me because I am currently so tired—tired to my bones tired (physically); tired and weeping a lot (emotionally) … intellectually, relationally … spent. So listening to Fred tell me new stories from his childhood—and replaying various moments from our courtship and falling in love season of life? Well. It was sweet and I am grateful. I am also grateful for just how much all of our discussions reminded me of the truth that I could never have experienced (almost!) twenty years of marriage and friendship and love with…
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I saw Baryshnikov dance, heard Kathleen Battle at her prime, and was twenty feet away from Yo-Yo Ma as he played the Bach Unaccompanied Cello Suites on the stage of Orchestra Hall. And now this.
Back in the early 1990’s, I lived near Chicago and had some truly life-altering opportunities to see and hear the best of the best in the arts. Certain memories are seared in my mind—with all of the accompanying sounds, lighting, and emotional expressions. The slight squeak of Baryshnikov’s foot as he landed a jump. The ephemeral—and yet seemingly eternal—hover of the note-after-the-note of the ring of Ms. Battle’s final syllable. Collectively, as an audience, we held our breath to urge it on for one more intoxicating second. And to be seated on the stage, just a few feet away from Yo-Yo Ma, and not only hear but see those fingers, that smile, that bowing? Well.…
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(Very!) Wise Counsel in Just Four Words
In the dark, quiet hours of the early morning, my mind was already whirling away as I considered everything on my plate for the day. I was so happy when Fred was finally awake and we could talk and pray together. He began to move into his day and I was still a little paralyzed by the size of the task before me. So I asked him a simple question and man! Did he bless me by a wise response. This was our exchange: Me: “Fred? Do you really think I can do this?” Fred: “Can you do what?” Me: “Everything on my to-do list.” Fred: “Not all at once.” And…
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My Favorite Flashmob
If you could use a reminder of what real beauty looks like in the world, enjoy!
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When My Dad Loved Me At My Worst
When My Dad Loved Me At My Worst Great story here from Justin Holcomb: Many of us think (whether we admit it or not) there must be some breaking point where our Father God gives up on us. Even if we successfully avoid believing this fallacy, others’ overzealous cries still reach our ears: certainly there must be some sin or amount of sin that is just too much. The flood My understanding of unconditional love and its implications deepened when I was 10 years old. Our neighbors had moved and they were trying to sell their house. One day I broke in through the back door and closed…
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Tending to thing temporal with a mind intent on things eternal …
From Georgianne’s cite of The Valley of Vision: Teach me the happy art of attending to things temporal with a mind intent on things eternal.
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Instead of judging others critically, God commands us to judge charitably …
I was surprised to find myself taking a walk with Ken Sande this morning. OK. Not really—but his voice did accompany me on my walk as Pilgrim Radio provided me with the wonderful opportunity to listen to his teaching on charitable judgments. I wish I could share the audio with you, but all I was able to find was this printed article. It may be a transcription of the talk, however, so if you can just hear Ken’s soothing, intelligent voice reading this article to you, I’m sure you will be just as blessed as I was. Thanks, Ken!