Out of the Chaos
Inspiration for living outside of the chaos.
Tag: joy
Daily Reads 12.02.2019
Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord. Isaiah 11:1-3a …
Daily Reads 12.01.2019
Today I read an Advent challenge; something that will prepare my heart for Christmas and the celebration of this magical season. Beginning today, read one chapter of the gospel of Luke every day. There are twenty-four chapters, so you will finish the day before Christmas with a fresh and deeper understanding of the reason why …
Daily Reads 11.27.2019
Today as I write in a local coffee shop, I can’t help hearing the conversations around me. Shhh…don’t tell anyone I am listening. I hear all kinds of holiday plans. These cousins coming in, those people going there, destinations near and far, family in to sort through dad’s things, conflict anticipated, nerves already on edge. …
Am I More Kind?
About a year ago, I wrote about kindness in Kindness Matters. I challenged myself to intentionally practice kindness toward myself and others. Today I want to respond to the challenge I accepted that day. I find it most difficult to be genuinely kind to myself. Sometimes I listen to the things I say to myself …
A Work of Art
It was during my time of healing. Well, really before I got serious about it. Preparing for a half marathon consumed my time and my thoughts. I was also finishing my undergrad degree, taking a fine art class. It happened to be ceramics. In the midst of all this, in walked conflict. She came in …
Daily Reads 09.11.2019
Read: Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13 It matters that the work God is doing in you is his initiative, his project. Let’s read that verse again: And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 …
Keep the End in Mind
Dave and I are in an awesome phase of parenting – empty nesters. Most parenting begins at the same place: infants and toddlers. The most basic job a parent has in this stage is to keep the children alive. Somedays it feels like herding cats. I remember the day I came upon my youngest daughter …
Daily Reads 07.22.2019
You don’t know what you don’t know. I think that’s the reason we become parents. Seriously! If we knew how hard it would be, we might take a second thought. But I know why I had children in spite of how difficult it was at times. Because I believed that, in the end, it would …
Daily Reads 07.04.2019
Today we are celebrating with our family. Dave’s famous pulled pork, corn-on-the-cob, watermelon, outdoor games, and a sprinkler! What could be better? Read: Galatians 5:5-8 Today I will also celebrate that God has called me to live in freedom. For many years I lived under the weight of rules and regulations that sapped my strength …
Free to be Free
What does freedom mean to me? It means walking down a street unafraid that I will be stopped, questioned or imprisoned. It means choosing the car I drive, the house I buy, the clothes I wear, the food I eat and the water I drink. It means the opportunity to choose education, job training, working …
Out of the Chaos 