The Garden, a treasured locale, full of pleasant memories of sweet communion both with His closest friends and loving Father, boasted the delicate fragrance of olive blossoms. On a night charged with emotion and urgency, He chose the one spot his heart felt most at home. Yet an encounter with unspeakable grief tore through every chamber of His human heart….
Read More
An Encounter with Unspeakable Grief
Seeking Rhythms of Renewal
Entering Holy Week slows my pace, and woos my heart to a place of quiet reflection. Walking with Jesus to the Cross now moves from an intimate anointing of love to a triumphal entry into Jerusalem and Passover preparations. Almost hidden in a week of unrelenting activity, the rhythms of renewal whiper hope amid the urgency of Holy Week events….
Read More
Suffering in Seasons of Silence
Softness, joy, kindness, and just a hint of mischievousness peeks out of the deep blue of his eyes. Sandy hair blithely caresses his forehead, while his casual grin captivates my heart. My hand gently wipes the fallen tear from the glass of the photo frame as I place it back in the box, closing the lid. How many tears tell…
Read More
Spring’s Hope For Renewing the Dry Places
Pondering the timid entrance of Spring in these chilly days of early April, my mind continues returning to the theme of renewal. Awed and inspired by the resiliency of creation as new life pops up in even the untidiest of gardens. I wonder at the strength of tiny green tips poking through dry mulch and dead leaves. All inviting the…
Read More
March Marvels: Share Four Somethings
Waving farewell to another month, I rejoice in a glance back at my March Marvels joining Heather Gerwing as she hosts a monthly feature called, Share Four Somethings, where writers share the fourth Saturday of each month something in each of four categories from the previous month. January 2022 brought new categories for contemplation, and I truly enjoy the new categories. The four categories…
Read More
Savoring the Sacred in the Every Day
Since my Lenten journey slows my pace, shifting my focus to a more intentional walk with Jesus, savoring the sacred in the every day moves me to overwhelming gratitude. Walking with Jesus in my days rather than running ahead or lagging behind, or taking another road altogether, opens my eyes to His Presence. But more than simple awareness, experiencing the…
Read More
The Art of Resilience
Though still becoming aquainted, my One Word and I had several encounters over the past few weeks. A bit of a prankster, resilience often travels incognito. Or perhaps God’s sense of humor chose humbling my preconceived ideas through unusual encounters. Either way, learning the art of resilience requires a level of unanticipated self denial. Unlike my One Word journey with…
Read More
3 Ways Your Focus Becomes Your Identity
It seemed a simple question, yet no answer came to my mind. Pursuing an extended time of stillness, meditating on El Roi, the God who “sees”, the same questions in Genesis 16:8 posed to Hagar now echoed in my mind. “Where did you come from? And where are you going? Specifically, on what was my soul focused bringing me into…
Read More
Reclaim a Heart of Lavish Praise For God
Yet before sunrise, my arrival at work brings a sweet delight as the days inch closer to the Spring Equinox. The joyous songs of busy robins invite me to reclaim a heart of lavish praise for God. The once silent, still winter mornings give way to the herald of spring as all creation shakes off winter’s slumber. Enjoying the gay…
Read More
