My son, when he first learned to talk. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” As a generally good girl, I spent most of my life trying to pretend to the outside world that this scripture did not apply to me. Sure, I knew my sins, I knew my … Continue reading
While playing at her water table this morning, our young daughter took a truck in one hand and a cup filled with water in the other. As she dumped the water over her truck she looked up at me to say: “I baptized it!” Two months ago when I was leaning her head back under … Continue reading
Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-25 Memory verse: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.” (Galatians 5:22-23) Prayer: We reach to you like plants reaching for the sun. Shine down your light, O God. We are fed by you like plants nourished … Continue reading
The last few plums just fell from our plum tree. A few years ago, when we first moved to our current home, we realized we had not one but two plum trees planted by a previous owner. I couldn’t get over the fact that we had our own fruit, provided by our very own yard. … Continue reading
June 19, 2013 There’s something you need to know about me. I don’t consider “spirituality” to be its own autonomous category. One of the reasons people partition off religion into a separate corner of their lives is because that very division pervades our language. Pastors (like myself) and other Christian leaders often bemoan the fact … Continue reading
Prayer Generous God, thank you for giving us life, for giving us songs to sing. When we are sad, help us to remember your love. When we are discouraged, help us to remember that you are near. Help us to always put our hope in you. Amen. Scripture Reading: Psalm 42:1-8 (New Living Translation) Memory … Continue reading
I am writing this post on the bottom step of my front porch. I am enjoying a cool drink, cold watermelon, and a warm, evening breeze as I hear my two kiddos and their neighbor friends chanting, “Lemonade, Water, Cookie Stand!” “Lemonade, Water, Cookie Stand!” “Lemonade, Water, Cookie Stand!” …over and over and over. We’ve … Continue reading
It’s only practice. I have to remember this. Whether we’re wrangling restless kids at church or prompting bedtime blessings when we’re overtired ourselves, all this work of trying to raise our family in the way of faith is practice. It’s not a performance, with cameras flashing in the front row or critics poised to write … Continue reading
Preparation: Light a scented candle or spray your favorite air freshener, cologne, or perfume before reading this week’s family devotional. (Incense works, too.) Centering Litany: God’s extravagant love binds us together as a family. Long before we were aware of this, God knew us. He chose us, even with all our flaws and shortcomings, to … Continue reading
It was a moment frozen in time, as if all things in all places stood still in awe of the innocence held in my arms. It was a beautiful moment in which I was privileged to commune. I looked at my wife and saw my hero. Nothing else mattered. Then the moment ended and the … Continue reading
Practicing Families 