What do you think the artist was trying to show his audience in each person’s direction of attention? This painting, Gentile Da Fabriano’s Nativity from 1423, and the art study question are included in my updated and expanded Advent devotional, Beyond the Nativity. In it, each of the four weeks leading up to Christmas has […]
August of 2020 seems so long ago, but I’m revisiting a post from back then because it was such an uncertain time. As I face some new unknowns over the next month, I want to remember some things I learned during that first year or two of Covid. I remember spending more time outside and […]
It’s Silent Saturday. The day before we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. I’m not asking a question as I normally do in this post, but I’m also not being silent today. I sit down at my desk to write and the legs of a chair that’s been headed for the junk pile for months now kick out […]
Exasperated with feeling weak and unsuccessful, I grumbled under my breath about the project I was working on. This project had called me to a vulnerable place. I had put myself “out there” and had utilized all my creative energy. I was spiritually, mentally, and physically depleted, but the project wasn’t. My husband gently encouraged […]
A Christmas word problem for you: There is a busy woman who has 1,000 anxious thoughts about the upcoming Holiday season. She entrusts herself to the Lord and casts all of her anxieties on the Lord as she prays and gives thanks. What does that equal? Mathematically we would obviously say that she then has zero […]
I nestle down in my writing nook and open the window to cool spring air and birds singing. Before my alarm goes off to remind me to write, I’m writing. This is the first morning to click the “Add New” link in WordPress in well over a month. There seems to be a calm before a […]
“In him, was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness.” […]
Baby Jesus came into the world with purpose, to bring his brightest light into the darkest dark. “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” -John 1:9 Some people turn away from his light, but by coming He has brought light to the world. Look on any news site right now and […]
Last week I wrote about journeying with The Good Shepherd and how all that we really need is what we already carry around with us…Jesus. I asked the question, “Am I really free to dare to pursue adventures with Christ…dangers and all?” And of course the answer is yes. I…we…are really free to dare to pursue Christ…and […]
My last post, When You Wonder if the Lord Really Shepherds You, was almost a month ago. I had dug up the past…an old post from a couple of years ago in which I shared an entry from my journal and a question: “Does The Shepherd really care for me??” I had not intended for it […]
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We weave thick vines in and out of and around our circular, amateur base to create a decorative ball. Soon, solar lights will be added to make it a visible yard ornament for the dark fall and winter nights that stretch ahead of us. It seems to be an illustration of our friendship. By now, […]
Do you ever feel ashamed or disappointed that you have lacked faith or confidence in God…or even doubted Him? Our doubts, lack of trust, or weak faith may tempt us to think our faith isn’t strong enough. Let’s look at some scripture passages that might encourage us – even if our faith feels small today. […]