In Exodus, after God brings the Israelites out of Egypt and they arrive at Mount Sinai, He gives them the Ten Commandments. Following those commands, God provides instructions on building the tabernacle. In Exodus 25, He starts with building the ark of the covenant followed by the building of the table. There is no mistaking…
My tired body seemed to lift itself onto the table. I placed my head on the pillow, sank into the cushions, and released a long-needed sigh. As an act of self-care, I’d found myself in the studio of an esthetician, preparing to be pampered. As I drew a deep, slow breath, my mind wandered to…
I have an unusual habit. I write letters. I mean the old-fashioned, handwritten (in cursive), on pretty stationery, with a postage stamp, sent through the U.S. mail kind of letters. One reason I do this is that I enjoy receiving letters. There is a look and feel to a personal letter that almost casts its…
“But, Mom, do I have to?” Boy, did my kids utter those words hundreds of times over the years! Whether it was when I announced it was time to do their schoolwork, tidy up their bedrooms, or pile in the Buick to go somewhere, they sometimes pushed back, testing whether what I had just instructed…
We’re thrilled to have Myquillyn Smith sharing the secret to great hospitality in this excerpt from her new book, Welcome Home: A Cozy Minimalist Guide to Decorating and Hosting All Year Round (Zondervan). It’s the same in every episode of House Hunters. First comes the not-at-all funny joke about how the wife gets the big…
The world prefers people who fit in. There’s nothing wrong with fitting in—it’s what enables most systems to function well. But here’s the problem. Many of these societal systems, such as our schools, workplaces, and even churches, benefit only people who fit into the mold. When a child is born with Down syndrome or brown…