This past Lenten season, I decided to embark on the 21-day The Daniel Fast (www.thedanielfast.com, Susan Gregory). When I “give up” a single item (coffee), I find ways to compensate (tea). Or I choose a sacrifice (chocolate) that can be accomplished without drawing on Christ. I needed something that would invade my whole day, every…
Some of my most valuable possessions are in a plastic box with a snap top. It sits on a shelf in my garage surrounded by Christmas decorations, out-of-season clothes, and old VHS tapes. As I prepared to clean out the garage last week, I pulled my treasure chest off the shelf. Because it’s stuffed full,…
“The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.” ~Russell M. Nelson A few weeks ago, I met up with a friend and her family to spend the day at the local botanical gardens. My husband and I are members…
I didn’t grow up in a church tradition that followed the liturgical church calendar. While we lit candles in an Advent wreath, we rarely mentioned other liturgical seasons throughout the year. Because of this, I first learned about Lent when my Catholic and Lutheran friends in middle and high school asked what I was giving…