Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth;meditate on it day and night,so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8)About two-thirds of the way into the church service each week, one of the pastors invites the children to join him up front. He presents a little object lesson or tells a … [Read more...]
His Handiwork
New life springs from decay; the rotting birch offers its fading strength to a cedar seedling. A monarch drinks deep of summer's sweetness. Cloud formation streaks across blue sky. Evening light brushes watercolor rose along textured storm clouds. The Heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.(Psalm … [Read more...]
Top 2 MMM Memorization Tips
Those MMM participants who are working on something like "Jabberwocky" or the Preamble to the Constitution are committed to valuable memory work at an intellectual level. I applaud and encourage your every effort.However, my Top 2 MMM Memorization Tips apply primarily to those who have selected a Bible passage (though I suppose creeds, prayers, and hymns could apply, as … [Read more...]
Let the Little Children Sit by the Water's Edge and Come to Him
Last Saturday, as we anticipated our last day all together in Holland—and given our little family's impending departure, our extended family's last day all together for a very long time—we considered where we might gather the next morning for family devotions. We could have simply cleaned up from breakfast and gathered around the table in one of the rented cottages. Then … [Read more...]
Jesus, Be the Lord of My Life Today in New Ways
A couple of months ago, someone introduced this prayer to our church and invited people to commit to praying it for 30 days. Our little family happened to miss almost every weekend service at church that month, so we didn't end up joining the covenant.Later, I asked for a copy.Here it is:Jesus, be the Lord of my life today in new ways.Change me any way you want.Wash me … [Read more...]
You. Are. Blessed.
During the festival, I spent time with several single people. I was walking with one of them to a lecture and mentioned that I was blogging. He said that some friends of his were bloggers, as well. I asked if they had a particular topic that they focused on, or if they just wrote about life.He said that one of them was married, and she and her husband were trying to have a … [Read more...]
20 Quiet Time Ideas to Try
Sometimes I'm undisciplined and need more structure; other times, structure starts to feel too much like a to-do list and I've missed the point—that quiet time tools help me connect with the Savior and deepen my relationship with Him. When I become too rigid, I allow for spontaneity and creativity in my moments alone with God. Having a lot of ideas on … [Read more...]
The Huguenot Cross
This morning I wore a necklace with a Huguenot Cross pendant, and a friend noticed and asked about it. I told her that it was a Huguenot Cross and is often worn by Protestant believers in Europe. It's full of symbolism, but all I could think of at the moment—the opening song had just started up—was the most obvious: a dove dangling at the bottom is a symbol of the Holy … [Read more...]
I Love to Tell the Story: How Advent Traditions Invite Us to Reflect, Together
A few years ago we bought a preformed Advent wreath at Michael's. I wrapped some ribbons and beads around it, stuck some plastic red berries into the greenery here and there, and deemed it ready for service. It was hardly an example of artistic brilliance, but it would serve us fine. It was festive. It would hold the … [Read more...]
An Oasis in our Fast-Paced Lives
Ken Gire, in his book The Reflective Life, described the plentiful options we have before us to fill our plates, our days (I'm adding a few and updating to reflect opportunities present in 2007): Vehicles to transport us wherever we want, even off-road, with audio technology and reading material--iPods, books on CD, podcasts--to keep the ride from getting … [Read more...]
The Last Egg
We used the Resurrection Eggs (evidently ours is an older model) again this year in our family devotions. Someday I'd like to make my own, actually, as I'd add a lot more eggs with additional symbols for a richer story. I suppose the whole idea could seem a little cheesy, but the kids love them, and the important thing is that it keeps them focused as we read the … [Read more...]
