Scripture Reading: Isaiah 2:2-5 Memory Verse: “Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!” (Isaiah 2:5) Prayer: Dear God,Let us be people of your peace.As the darkness grows longer each day,Let us walk in the light of your love and grace.Amen Reflection: This coming Sunday, December 1, is the first Sunday of Advent. … Continue reading
–by Joanna Harader Scripture: Luke 19:1-10 Memory Verse: Luke 19:10–“The Son of Man came to look for the lost and save them.” Prayer Dear God, Thank you for loving us– whether we are short or tall, old or young, rich or poor. Help us to reach out to other people who need to know that … Continue reading
Photo by Kelly Buss Wednesdays are pretty much my favorite day of the week. Jack is in school. Amélie is at her one-day-a-week homeschool co-op, and I have a day to myself. I live too far away from the co-op, now, to justify coming home to clean or do laundry, so I stay “in town.” … Continue reading
I met our neighbor, Tommy, the other night. He had ridden his ATV over to our side of his fence, and after living here three weeks I suppose it was time we were all neighborly and said hello. Jack immediately ran over to him, brandishing a plastic sword and introducing himself as only a six-year-old … Continue reading
Scripture Reading: Luke 15:1-10 – God Throws a Party! Luke 15:1-10 (NRSV) Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having … Continue reading
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:3 It is amazing. If I stop to pay attention to the delicate, curious and imaginative life of my children, I can actually learn from them. And to top it off, it’s biblical. … Continue reading
This is my 3 1/2 year-old son’s favorite prayer: Dear Lord (pronounced “Wowd”), Thank you for riding on steam train. Thank you for riding on trolley train. Thank you for riding on Thomas. You are my pray. A-men! I have heard this prayer for some time now at mealtime and bedtime, and it never fails … Continue reading
“…how I wonder what…you…ARRRRRE!!” On any given day, the gamut of songs that plays over and over in my head range from this little ditty to Mumford and Sons’ latest to my favorite Indigo Girls rockin’ classic. But there are other loops that get stuck playing in my brain. Tapes that play over and over, … Continue reading
I believe it’s Woody Allen who is credited with saying, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” I always found this to be a little condescending. (Morgan Freeman’s God character in Evan Almighty really does just laugh at him when Evan mentions his plans). Nevertheless, it communicates a truth I’ve seen … 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
Practicing Families 