~by Donald Hanna There are many things we hear related to living out a faith life that sound straightforward on the surface, but get more complicated as we dig into them. For instance, “Love one another,” or “live simply.” One wonders, is it better to buy organic food, which is less detrimental to the earth … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: February 2015
Journaling Our Gratitude: Forty Days of Thankfulness
~by Jill Clingan I am not giving up anything for Lent this year. The truth is, I went through the Whole30 in January, which felt like 30 straight days of Lent without even the reprieve of Sunday “feast days.” I feel like I paid my Lenten dues, despite the fact that none of the food … Continue reading
Mark 4: Ways to Follow
by Joe and Shelby Greemore Prayer Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy. O, Divine Master, Grant that I may not … Continue reading
The View from the Bathroom Floor
~by Julia Roller A stomach flu recently made its way through our family. One Friday my younger son, the next Friday my older son, and last Thursday it was lucky me. Everything looks a little different when you’re lying on the bathroom floor. And while I do sometimes find myself wishing I had cleaned the … Continue reading
The Day my Children Taught Me about Ash Wednesday
By Dena Hobbs Last year I attended an Ash Wednesday service with my children. It was the first Ash Wednesday service they had experienced since toddlerhood. I had missed a couple of years going and was determined to experience this ritual that I love so much. Since my kids were by my side that day, they went too. … Continue reading
He Prayeth Best Who Loveth Best
~Andrew Tash Last week, I had a dream. I dreamed that our oldest son was 5 again and I had all the knowledge of his subsequent 14 years (he’s now 19 on the verge of 20) at my disposal. I knew that he’d break his arm in the next couple of months. I knew that … Continue reading
Matthew 6: Seeing, Being Seen, and Secrecy
by Jennifer DiFrancesco Prayer O God, help me to feel Your presence everywhere I go today. To see You in everyone I meet today. To sense You in all I hear today. To reflect You in all I do today. To pray to and trust You in all I experience today. To struggle to be … Continue reading
On Boys and Birds
by Erika Marksbury I know what you’ll think: Why didn’t you sense that something was wrong? Why didn’t you look more closely before inviting your children into that scene? Didn’t you know that wasn’t normal? Trust me, I know… I mean, now I know. But at the time, I was just so excited. And I’ve … Continue reading
Secret Admirers
by Jennifer Mills-Knutsen Scripture: Matthew 6:2-4 “Whenever you give to the poor, don’t blow your trumpet as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they may get praise from people. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get. But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left … Continue reading
Building Our Village
~Horace McMillan I’m a devoted father, and my wife, Monique is a devoted mother. When we first got into this parenting gig, we were tempted to believe that all a child needed was a stable, loving two-parent household in order to thrive. Over the years we’ve come to realize that raising healthy, well-adjusted children requires … Continue reading