A friend once remarked to me that a woman’s favorite indoor sport is comparing herself to others. I couldn’t agree more. I don’t know what it is about our need to compare ourselves to others, especially other women. But in 2011 I’m not going to do it. Next in my list of 31 Ways to… Read More »
Continuing with putting my spiritual house in order, I now come to the next in my list of 31 Ways to Give Your New Year a Fresh Start: 7. Pray without ceasing. This is really hard for me. And I don’t know much else to say about it. But I do know that when I… Read More »
I’m married to a man who can quote Seinfeld episodes and the Star Wars movies backwards and forwards. It’s no wonder, then, that he’s also brilliant with Scripture recall. He’s able to recite verses verbatim, offer the appropriate reference, and also provide sweeping plot summaries of Old Testament events. He’s got a great mind for… Read More »
I’m always on a quest for books or guides that will take me through Bible reading in an organized, deliberate, and engaging way. Why is consistent Bible reading so hard sometimes? Over the years, I’ve found a few favorites for daily Bible reading, study, and meditation. I have a tendency to keep them all at… Read More »
I know that fresh starts don’t happen in a vacuum. Some “fresh starts” explode with an initial colorful bang then wimper to their death. Some never get off the ground at all. I propose that a “fresh start” failure is directly linked to one’s relationship (or lack thereof) to Christ. As a professing Christian, I… Read More »
I’m a waffler. There. I said it. I admit that I’ll make a decision then look for the back door “out” of it. The Myers-Briggs personality profile would tell you that’s because I’m a “P” and want to keep all my options open. I’m afraid I’ll miss some great opportunity if I’m stuck toiling away… Read More »
Modern-day women are too often overworked and overwhelmed, yet we find ourselves piling on more and more responsibility. We commit to time-sucking activities that take us away from our goals. Our culture of excess has fooled us into believing that more is always better. Full is always better. Busy is always better. If we’re overbooked… Read More »
Happy New Year! How are you going to start 2011? I’m going after two words: focused simplicity. So that’s my first of my 31 Ways to Give Your New Year a Fresh Start: 1. Determine what focused simplicity looks like for you. Boil it down. What do you love? What do you need? Who do… Read More »
I told you about how I named this blog in yesterday’s post. I told you the story of Elisha and the widow from 2 Kings 4. One of the most important aspects of the passage—I believe—is the role of the ordinary. I believe that God chooses to operate against the backdrop of ordinaryness so that… Read More »
Elisha and the Widow’s Oil 2 Kings 4:1-7 4:1 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 And Elisha… Read More »