A few weeks ago, I persuaded my husband to accompany me on a visit to the local Episcopal priest. With Easter Vigil and our daughter’s first birthday on the horizon, it was as though a reminder notification had gone off on my iPhone – “Time to Baptize the Baby.” My spouse (and, may I add, … Continue reading
Every Sunday morning I steel myself for the battle. Wrangling a squirmy toddler and preschooler into the pew for Mass is not for the faint of heart. Because the clashes are inevitable, it’s hard to go, even when I know it’s good to be there. The Time Trials: Sunday starts with a routine familiar to … Continue reading
Scripture Reading: Psalm 46 Memory Verse: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) Prayer: Dear God, You are our place of safety. You give us strength. We pray for people who have experienced their piece of the earth falling apart–people in Moore, Oklahoma and other devastated places. Be their place of safety. … Continue reading
While we were farmsitting for some Old German Baptist friends this past weekend, I remembered, while I was walking down to the pasture to try to nudge the cow up to the barn, that I had a post due over here at Practicing Families this week. I wondered and pondered as I trudged down the … Continue reading
One day, I saw my son pick up a rock and hurl it in the direction of a neighbor friend. Horrified, I called him over and asked him what he was doing. He replied, “I was being David.” You see, there’s this problem I have with the Bible and children. Most of it’s not for … Continue reading
Scripture Reading: Psalm 8 Memory Verse: “O Lord, our God, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Prayer: Holy God who made us and loves us, we thank you for the beauty of your creation. We thank you for . . . [take turns sharing some part of creation for which you are … Continue reading
No person has taught me more about what spiritual formation is and should be than Dallas Willard, a remarkable teacher, writer, thinker, and disciple of Jesus. We lost Dallas last week, and for me and so many others it is difficult to conceive of a world without his great influence. Although I had only a … Continue reading
I have several sons, five to be specific, and an activity that I share with them, as often as we’re able is camping. Where most of us have lived a majority of their time on earth, has rather cruddy camping. There’s a lake or two nearby, but the terrain, the weather, and the vistas really … Continue reading
Review of Any Day a Beautiful Change by Katherine Willis Pershey {The Kindle version is on sale right now for $2.99!} Ministry cultivates a sense of loneliness among its practitioners. We learn about this before we enter the ministry, and personal and denominational support and accountability systems give us tools to guard against this. … Continue reading
Prayer Holy God, We believe that you are with us, that you live among us and in us. Help us to welcome you, to make space for you, in all the ways and places and people where you live. Amen. Scripture Reading: John 14:18b-20, 23 (The Inclusive Bible) Jesus said, “I will come back to … Continue reading
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