As a young mother, I often struggled to pray for my sons in ways that differed from the default, go-to kinds of prayers: “Lord, please guide, guard, and protect my sons. Bless them and help them to be a blessing to you and to others.” There was and is nothing inherently wrong with such praying; […]
Week 46 Character | And Be Thankful
Turkey. A basket overflowing with warm pan de sal. Mashed potatoes. Pumpkin pie. Ube ice cream. All served on Grandma’s familiar green “crazy daisy” patterned dishes. Sleeping through sports games. Checking the forecast for signs of snow. Tossing fragrant clementine peels into the fireplace. All while layered in our comfiest plaid pajamas. My fond memories […]
Week 45 Character | God in Our Grief
Grief is all around us. As I write this our nation is grieving the death of a revered United States senator. Our Christian community is grieving the tragic death of a teenager in a car accident. In our neighborhood there is someone in grief. It is a part of life. Grief is an emotional response […]
Week 44 Character | Drawing Near
Fanny Crosby had been composing hymns since the age of six. One evening in 1874, in her mid-fifties, she was visiting in the Cincinnati home of fellow hymn writer William Doane. The two talked at length about drawing near to God, and Fanny retired for the night with words and phrases playing through her mind. […]
Week 43 Character | Truth and Transformation
Truth “Is, has been, shall be. . . without Truth, philosophy moves to the existential, art moves to the sensual, religion moves to the mystical, education moves to the skeptical, and individuals move to the transcendental.” These words of renowned apologist Ravi Zacharias accentuate the impact of a faulty interpretation of truth. Our culture is […]