I was asked to speak on the topic of love at a women’s ministry group for our church yesterday morning. The last time I stood up in front of an audience was almost six years ago—and that doesn’t really count because it was a classroom full of 8th graders. Needless to say, I was more than a little nervous. I …
Our Accomplishments or His?
One question struck at the heart of what I’ve been struggling with for weeks now: In what ways will my life be blessed as I trust in God’s sovereign ability to accomplish His purpose in the world and in my life? This question came by way of Cynthia Heald’s Bible study Becoming a Woman of Purpose which I’m taking part …
Caring for the Temple
Friday morning, my husband, Chris, and I headed down to Carmel to celebrate my (51st) birthday. We’ve gotten into the habit of listening to podcasts when we’re driving long distances, and our favorites are those from Focus on the Family. I like the variety of subject matter, although, truth be told, I generally bypass any to do with raising children …
A Story of Redemption
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t seen the movie Les Miserables but intend to, you might not want to read this blog post yet. I’m not a huge fan of musicals, unlike my daughter, Nicole, who practically made her husband promise to take her to one every year before she agreed to marry him. Nicole’s seen several different renditions of Les …
The Maze of Life
I’m a big fan of Focus on the Family radio broadcasts. So much so, I subscribed to them so they automatically download into my iTunes account. Then Chris and I can listen to them via my phone in the car whenever we have a drive longer than thirty minutes. I’ve heard several interviews with Gary Chapman, Bill and Pam Ferrel …
Resolution or Opportunity for Failure?
I don’t do New Year’s resolutions. Never have—probably never will. I was pondering this in the shower this morning (I do my best thinking in the shower, which makes it very difficult to jot down anything noteworthy.) I believe in setting goals and staying as organized as possible, so why aren’t New Year’s resolutions a part of my program? It …
Fleeting Security
In the aftermath of the tragedy that occurred on Friday, December 14, 2012, only the very naïve can say that we don’t live in a world ruled by sin and evil. Non-believers might use this horrific event to question the viability of God’s existence—some may even get some kind of satisfaction from throwing in our faces a God that will …
With Age Comes Wisdom
My husband, Chris, turned 60 yesterday. When I was little, I calculated how old I’d be when we went into the new century, and 37 seemed pretty darn old to me back then. But 60? Well, that was downright ancient. This could be disconcerting on several levels—not the least of which is that I’m old enough to be married to …
As Iron Sharpens Iron
My day started at 3:15 this morning when a to-do list invaded my dreams and pulled me from a dead sleep. I’m definitely a person who functions best with a routine. Maybe this is why, even on the weekends, I’m often awake at 4:30 in the morning. It’s routine. Traveling anywhere, even so short a trip as the Bay Area …
In Good Company
As I sit here preparing to write a blog, already a few days past due, my mind is…well…blank. Nothing. Nada. Zip. This seems to be a normal occurrence, lately. I’ve tried to pray through it, work through it, and read through it. You know, hoping inspiration comes as I read the Bible or devotions by Charles Stanley’s In Touch magazine. …
