The thoughts overtook my mind, slithering in like an unwanted guest. You don’t have anything worthwhile to contribute. No one really cares. She does it so much better than you. I knew the lies were from the enemy, but I still struggled to stop them. Our Enemy knows just how to come after us. He’s…
In the northern latitudes, winter is dark. It is also cold and windy, but it is the long, persistent darkness that can overwhelm me. With sixteen hours of darkness each day, I cling to light in every form. Candles, lamps, and wood fires can all draw me close and soothe my soul. It’s not just…
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Ps. 19:1 NIV) I was born and raised in Michigan, where winters are cold and snowy. I remember feeling like Randy from A Christmas Story when I was a child, bundled up in so many thick layers that I could…
We opened church by playing with playdough last week. One person on a team created something from a list of words, and the others had to guess what it was. I am sad to say, my husband and I lost by a significant margin. I guess it’s good for the pastor to be humbled. We’re…
As we walked past the beautifully manicured yard, I couldn’t help but admire out loud the gorgeous multicolored impatiens in full bloom. No sooner were the word out of my mouth, when my four-year-old grandson questioned my praise for the flowers. “But Nonie,” he said, “isn’t impatience a bad thing?” Yes, sweet boy, it is….
Cozy. It’s become so much more than a word for me, so much more than a way to decorate and design. It is now a way of life, of approaching the world and the choices we make within it. These days, especially, I find that coziness is less about paint colors, linens, and lighting—though I…