I witnessed my first craft artisan in San Antonio on a cold, wet December evening. As I pressed my 9-year-old nose against the display window, the artist mesmerized me with her gold leafing process. Patiently and carefully, she pressed paper-thin sheets of hammered gold onto a primer-prepared picture frame. Hand-foiling the gold pieces individually, she brushed each layer onto a …
By: Magen Thetford “God created us to be human beings, but we often turn ourselves into human doings.” The comment was made briefly at a recent dinner with friends, and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head. I recently had my third child and am just barely coming up for air now and then. Yet there …
“Be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). I made a meal. I prayed a prayer. I read my Bible daily. “Be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). I fought with my kids. I argued with my husband. I hated time spent with a co-worker. “Be perfect, …
Christmastime is a good occasion to “be still and know” just Who is in charge. Despite our seasonal moments of quiet and joy, there are inevitable times of pettiness and selfishness. It seems that the expectation and busyness of the holidays squeeze reality out of us. And too often that includes our impurities. After 50-plus Christmases, …
