I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 NLT) In this month of resurrection celebration, I often return to the beautiful story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus and Jesus’ love for them, especially in the sisters’ time of devastating loss. Jesus hears that his dear friend Lazarus is sick, and the man’s sisters…
Besides the family always gathering at our house, there is one thing I remember specifically about Christmas Eve when I was a small child. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins came to our house while we waited for Santa. We did have a convenient chimney for him to come down (grown-ups assured us the fire wouldn’t…
“Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” These are the words said as ashes are either sprinkled on your head or smeared on your forehead in the shape of a cross. The ritual is strange. It’s uncomfortable. It’s blunt. And it’s supposed to be all these things. Ash Wednesday is the first…
Spring brings warmer days, which usher in the beginning of the growing season. The pots I left abandoned outside my house begin to grow delicate little clovers and thick-stalked pokeweed. These weeds get a jumpstart and take advantage of leftover potting soil. Empty pots will fill up with something. Instead of allowing the weeds to…
I grew up in a Pentecostal church. We celebrated Easter, but there wasn’t a significant emphasis on the season of Lent. I have learned more about Lent as my faith has broadened and matured, however, I do remember a most embarrassing moment when I told a Catholic work friend that she had a little something…
If you come from a more informal background, or you grew up celebrating Easter only on Sunday with an egg hunt and basket of candy, you might not know that this is Holy Week, which began on Palm Sunday, the celebration of Jesus’ final entry into Jerusalem–his last week of ministry. Today is Holy Thursday,…