In the parable of the vineyard workers in Matthew 20, Jesus tells the story of a landowner who hired workers at various times throughout the day. He told the first workers he hired he’d pay them one denarius each. He told the workers he hired later that he’d pay them “whatever is right.” At the…
I’ve always wanted a library, a room filled with built-in bookshelves rather than freestanding bookcases–a room intended for books. If I ever got one, I knew, it would be a luxury. After all, who really needs a room devoted to housing books? For that matter, who needs enough books to fill a whole room? It was…
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2 NIV) My family is really picky about food. When I talk about this pickiness with other mamas, I usually get a good bit of sympathy, confirming the extreme…
As a follower of Jesus, I continuously desire to grow in love—love for God, for others, and for myself. I thrive on setting goals and methodically working through steps to completion, yet I possess a weakness that emerges whenever I’m working on a project. That weakness is perfectionism. While perfection is the impetus that pushes…
“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” ~Lamentations 3:21–23 NIV Last year was particularly difficult. My family received a multitude of blessings, most definitely, but we also experienced…