—Joanna Harader Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:1-12 (Beatitudes) –The above link will show you both the New International Version of the scripture and Eugene Peterson’s translation from the Message. It is interesting to look at these familiar words in a fresh way. Here is a video of these verses put to song. Prayer: Dear God, We … Continue reading
By Bromleigh McCleneghan Many children attending public schools have the day off in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 20th, and the occasion can provide an important time to share our commitments around race, justice, peace, courage, hope and love with our children. I struggle with how to talk about the ongoing struggle … Continue reading
The Practicing Families editors are working on some site changes and a writing schedule for the new year. In the meantime, enjoy this post from January 2014. –Christine Gough Back in October or November, I started feeling the presence of Advent and its weight on the calendar despite the fall leaves hanging on trees and … Continue reading
—by Joanna Harader As one of the founding editors of this blog, I feel like I should be a shining example of family spiritual practices. But the truth is that most weeks we’re doing well to pray before meals and get everyone to church. Family devotions, bedtime prayers, Bible coloring pages, prayer walks . . … Continue reading
–By Matt Clingan I would like to take the discussion of the election and move it someplace else. There is a lot of noise and obscuring of truth. Both of them say things that have truth as they see and understand it. Sometimes it is hard to know the truth. I have two friends of … Continue reading
The following is an excerpt from More than Enough: Living Abundantly in a Culture of Excess, by Lee Hull Moses, recently released from Westminster John Knox Press. Practicing Families recently ran a review of More than Enough. Resources for using the book in small group discussions as well as worship planning guide are available here. … Continue reading
By Miranda Grummon Our household runs on schedules and plans. I think we would anyway to a point, but when one member of the family is on the autism spectrum, the need to operate on a pre-determined schedule is even more necessary. So, we plan and write down our son’s schedule each day. Of course, … Continue reading
–by Jill Clingan When my daughter was a newborn, I felt lonely, anxious, and exhausted. I had read parenting book after parenting book, but the actual feeding and diapering and holding of a newborn, her cries, her hunger, and her needs left me feeling, many times, tired and alone. I felt a desperate need for … Continue reading
–By Joanna Harader Does every kid have “the hard year”? For me, it was 9th grade—the year I moved and shuttled between middle and high school and was bullied on the bus. For our son, it was 6th grade—the year of the thrown desk. (To be honest, none of his years were easy.) For our … Continue reading
–By Donald Hanna The Bible is pure genius. From time to time I’m reminded about just how much this is the case. Last Sunday, as I read again the story of Ahab and Jehoshaphat debating about whether or not to go to war, I found myself smiling from ear to ear. After consulting 400 prophets … Continue reading
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