Read Luke 1:46-55. What is Mary wondering about in her soul? In this third week of Advent, prepare your heart for Christmas by pausing for one full hour and journaling or sketching as many of God’s good gifts as you can. Luke 1:46-55 46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,

Read Isaiah 9:1-7. What are the people of God watching for in the future? In this second week of Advent, notice at least three to five gifts of God’s presence embracing you in love, awakening you with wisdom or offering you his companionship through another. Isaiah 9:1-7 1But there will be

Read Psalm 16. What does the psalmist suggest about waiting in our journey? In this first week of Advent, find at least one, 10-15 minute block of time to sit silently in solitude, and ponder the word “wait.” Consider how well or poorly you wait in life. Psalm 16 1 Preserve me,

Beauty I’m struck by how much my soul is enlivened by beauty. Not exclusively of human beauty per se, as delightful as that may be, But of God and his created order, which of course includes the people he designed. Beauty multiplied in the lives of children young and old,

Are you exhausted by this challenging season? International pandemic. Racial inequalities. Economic uncertainties. Political discord. Wildfires. Hurricanes. Lost summer. Back to school. Physical distancing. Masks. “Lord, have mercy” is my latest breath prayer. And I’m praying it continuously throughout the day. It’s my heart cry. My longing. My earnest desire.

The Only Legitimate Selfishness “The only place in life where it’s legitimate to be selfish is in the care and nurture of your soul. Without which, you will never fully learn what it means to be selfless in the care of another.” This was the summary voiced by my wise

Sabbath Longings 2020 has been quite the year…to put it mildly. From impeachment to coronavirus to unemployment to racial injustice. We all need some good old fashioned rest. How can we rest when we’re in such upheaval? Why should we rest when others are in such unrest? Where can we

  A Month of Sundays The phrase “a month of Sundays” is rooted in a small handful of interpretations: as a metaphor for a very longstretch of time, “I haven’t seen her in a month of Sundays” (as in 30 or 31 weeks); or, as a description of perseverance, “I’ve been waiting a

We are Made for Community…not Zoom This year, our family “celebrated” Easter together via Zoom. I’m a huge fan of Zoom, but not as a gratifying substitute for a family gathering. Each of us in our own homes. Cooking for ourselves. Missing one another. Not the same. We hope it’s

Read Luke 24: 13-35 Behold him Living In and Through His Beloved Children All Along Life’s Journeys! Believe that he will continue to appear to you in the releasing of the Word and in fellowship with his Spirit! Belong to the ones who discern when their hearts are burning with every