A Living Witness to Love
An agnostic friend recently asked me, “Why do you want me to change? Why do you care what I believe?”
Gleanings — 7
Creativity is released in atmospheres of openhearted freedom and trust. Creativity is like walking into the unknown
Humility or Pride
When the hard walls of opinions, judgments and unrighteous anger rise up in me against pain, violations, injustice, foolishness and selfish immaturity, I might be able to spout off in ways that persuade others of the righteousness of my position. I might be able to suggest solutions. I might be very articulate and convince my self and others— and I might lose God’s presence and purpose in the process. That’s because pride is the mortar cementing those hard walls within my heart and soul.
Gleanings — 6
On Christian Character. Compromise compromises character and holiness. I’ve read that God is more interested in who we are than in what we do…
Water
Reverie from a February Day, 2018: It’s warming up today; as earth begins to thaw, thick clouds of fog settle over the ground and icicles drip steadily from the eves. Bits and chunks are drop to the deck outside my window; giant water drops are splatter and slide down windowpanes wet with condensation
Charlie and Sheila
A light breeze wrapped us in the newness of spring; the warm sun cast leafy kaleidoscopic patterns upon the ground. I was out for an afternoon walk, pushing my twenty-month old daughter Annie in her blue canvas stroller, joined to the play of light and shadows, soaking in a perfect day—until the thought came again to go there. I didn’t want to go there; to spoil the tranquility; to interrupt our walk.
Gleanings — 5 (Prayers)
It is straightforward to talk directly to the Lord from our hearts and simply speak out what comes. But when words elude us, written prayers often get us going, like priming a water pump or pulling out the choke to help a sluggish engine turn. May my conversations with God encourage your own.
Gleanings — 4
The Holy Spirit drew near and used today’s Gleanings on worship to search my heart. May He visit you as well. Worship is elusive. God demands worship;
Gleanings — 3
I’m still gleaning from my old journals —today’s nuggets and crumbs are from 1980 and ’81. I’m still absorbing them—one at a time. On Faith: Jesus believes everything He ever said. Do I believe all I say?
Hot and Cold
Dense clouds have dropped down, hugging the earth with a thick haze. In yesterday’s sunshine, autumn’s tall dry grasses waved above the snow warming the whiteness of winter with hints of tawny gold. Today, all color is muted. The edges of familiar tree-bark-browns fade away; treetops dissolve into fog. It looks as if a paintbrush has […]
Gleanings — 2
Here are a few more gleanings from old journals that continue to challenge me. Some of us say that everything we have is God’s. If so, when a favorite dish breaks, what do we think? “Lord, Your dish broke” or “Oh, no! That’s my favorite dish!” If disasters like floods, fires and tornadoes strike, is it our home that’s destroyed or His?
