I love plants. So much so, that the local nursery knows me well. I guess it has something to do with all that concrete during our time in Asia. Despite the fact that I now live in a rather arid climate, I’m still drawn to tropical plants. Bird of paradise, heliconia and star jasmine are among my favorites. …
My (Almost) Five-Year-Old Guest Blogger
We have a special blogger today: my grandson, Noah. Let’s see what insights he has about fruit bearing. ——————————- I know that you recently went to pick wild blackberries. How did you know which blackberries to pick? Noah: cause they were black. not the red ones. Did you eat any of them while you were picking them? Noah: yeah What …
Fundamentals of Unfulfillment
This wasn’t turning out like I had dreamed. I’d been called by God – called to go. And I’d been obedient, hadn’t I? We’d sold some things, given away others and said tearful goodbyes to loved ones. We’d packed what was left into a few bags and set our faces resolutely toward Asia. I’d given up all I …
My Busy, Busy Child
Come. Rest your head here on My Shoulder. You are tired…exhausted. Let Me be your Rest (Matthew 11:28). You are diligent in a lot of things. You remind Me of Martha in that way (Luke 10:40). But, has it ever occurred to you that really only One thing is necessary (Luke 10:42)? …The diligence of relaxing in …
Yeast and the Kingdom
“I’ll make the Sopapillas!” As newlyweds, Mark and I attended a church that was having a Mexican dinner to raise funds for youth camp. I had made these fried puffed tortillas several times before and figured it would be an easy way to help. After all, they only had six ingredients, and that was if you counted the …
“And the key is….”
When our girls were little, we always read them a devotional story before tucking them in bed. One page in length, the devotional usually included a verse, a present day story, and some type of applicable lesson. Hannah and Hilary always knew when it was almost time for bed when we began the summary with …
Energy
Energy. A valuable commodity, wouldn’t you say? Especially when you feel in short supply. I’ve found there are two types of energy: Self-energy and Spiritual-energy. Self-energy can be contrived, like when you brace yourself to do something that you really don’t want to do. Or it can be simply fleshly – stemming from pleasing …
Explosive Energy
The Father keeps bringing me back to this idea of “dynamis” or power. Remember our discussion about it on Monday? All day yesterday, He kept refreshing me with Philippians 4:13. You know the verse: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Well, guess what? Here again is this idea of the dynamite …