Respite is a gift of stillness that we can give to others. Those brief moments that allow the whirlwind of life to die down, even for just a little while, and remind us of the peace we carry within us; the divine gift of stillness that never leaves us. Continue reading Carols of Stillness & Peace
Stillness is a time when we make room to hear the voices that we need to hear, even the ones that disturb us, that challenge us to be who we think we are. Continue reading “It Wasn’t My Turn”
There is something counter-cultural about stillness. For all of the apps and articles helping us to focus on mindfulness and being present, the caroler’s refrain that “all is calm, all is bright” continues to elude us. Continue reading Why Stillness for Advent?
I want more from Advent, this season of preparation. I want the stillness of waiting, of expectation. I want the peace of resting, of trusting. I want the wonder of hopeful imagination. The true gifts that Christmas offers.
Not instead of the celebrations, but in the midst of them. Because that’s where faith is found… along the way. Join me in Growing Still this Advent. Continue reading Growing Still This Advent
We love to read the description of Love in 1 Corinthians 13. It’s a beautiful description of God’s love and the love that Paul expects to see reflected in Christian community. But it’s a challenging love to live out. It requires that we give the best of ourselves and believe the best in others. It demands that we allow God’s love to flow through us … Continue reading Take the 14 Day Love Challenge
This Advent, in the midst of the festive and fun chaos, create moments of stillness to truly anticipate and prepare for Christ to come into your life in new ways. Continue reading Be Still: Advent 2018
Sometimes we speed so fast through life that we miss the anticipation of what is coming, the delight of getting ready for what is next. Continue reading Ready, Set, …Stop! Preparing for Sabbath
The world will never invite us to sabbath. We will never be or do or give enough for the world.
But Jesus says “Come to me… recover your life… take a real rest.” Continue reading Embracing Sabbath: A Practical Journey
Our lives get filled with junk and it weighs us down. Bad habits. Hurtful words. Judgmental thoughts. Toxic beliefs. Some of it we collect. Some of it gets dumped in our laps. Some of it we have pushed so far to the back of the cabinet that we don’t even know it’s there anymore. But it is taking up space in our lives; physical, emotional or spiritual space that God wants to fill with himself. Continue reading Decluttering the Heart
Like any spiritual discipline, fasting creates room for us to let God in. When the door is shut and we keep God on the outside with our busyness and our preoccupation and our frenetic activity, we don’t realize what we’re missing. But when we stop and open the door, even a crack, even for no longer than it takes to play a simple game on a phone, we catch a glimpse of God’s silhouette in the doorway and allow ourselves to feel how much we long for him to come near; to come inside and sit for a while and speak a word just to us. Continue reading Fasting from Words with Friends
“Unless the soul is fed and exercised daily, it becomes weak and shriveled. It remains discontented, confused, restless.” – Rev. Billy Graham In an interview for his book, Writing for the Soul: Instruction and Advice from an Extraordinary Writing Life, author Jerry Jenkins asked the Rev. Billy Graham how he maintained spiritual disciplines in his own life. “His eyes lit up,” Jenkins wrote. “There’s no … Continue reading Billy Graham & Spiritual Disciplines
If only there were a “Couch to 5K” plan for the soul!
Short of that, for those who would like to commit themselves to ‘Training’ rather than simply ‘Trying’ and would like some support and encouragement along the way, we will take this season of Lent to focus each week on a different spiritual discipline and learn to practice it together. Continue reading Are You Being Transformed?
