Posted in attitude, inner life, refuge in God on July 13, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
As I’ve been thinking further about this idea of surrender, the more convinced I am that it’s a choice:
A deliberate act of the soul and will.
A purposeful selection of the preferred alternative.
A conscious decision for the better option.Surrender is a choice–completely voluntary.
It’s willful and active.
It doesn’t happen by osmosis.
It doesn’t happen by evolution.
It doesn’t happen [...]
Posted in growth, inner life, pain & suffering, peace, priorities, refuge in God, trust on July 11, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Surrender produces growth.
I wish I could remember that.
I wish I could convince my heart, mind, and soul of the constant truth of that statement.
I wish I could just…let go.
But it’s not that easy. Especially when everything in me screams…
what about me?
what about my interests?
what about my reputation?
what about my pain?
what about my wants, hopes, and [...]
Posted in encouragement, growth, hope, inner life, peace, purpose, refuge in God on July 2, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
I’m not sure why, but I’ve been feeling fragile lately. Emotionally, psychologically, mentally, spiritually, physically — you name it — I’ve been living with this egg-shell sensation of if I get bumped, I just might crack.
God is the potter, I know, and I’m his vessel. And I’m content to be a vessel for common [...]
Posted in attitude, growth, hope, humility, inner life, refuge in God, trust on July 1, 2007 | 1 Comment »
If you’ve read my other blogs, you undoubtedly know we own four Labrador retrievers, the gentlest of which is probably Elsie, our 2.5-year-old yellow female.
Elsie loves to be touched. She needs the assurance of our presence. She relishes the warmth of our nearness. She thrives in a life filled with connection with those who love [...]
Posted in attitude, distractions, growth, inner life, pain & suffering, refuge in God, value, worth, dignity, women on June 24, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
What lies am I tempted to believe?
What falsehoods or half-truths do I tend to live my life by?
One of our pastors asked that first question in his sermon this morning. I’ve been asking the second in many of my talks and teachings over the past few years.
They’re great questions. Probing questions. Revealing questions.
They [...]
Posted in attitude, encouragement, humility, inner life, priorities, trust, women on June 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Okay, I’ll admit it; I’m a bit droopy today.
Well, maybe more than a bit: I was up all night (literally) working (my choice, not mandatory).
I can’t do that anymore. I should know better.
I’m getting (gasp) too old! All-nighters wreck havoc with my metabolism and my migraines.
I could handle staying up all night, no problem, in [...]
Posted in attitude, busyness, distractions, encouragement, growth, inner life, priorities, time management, value, worth, dignity on June 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
How’s that for an attention-getting title? We (in American culture) long for less complexity and greater simplicity in our lives!
I can think of so many ways and times when less is more:
Less humidity = more enjoyment of the weather (it’s really humid and hot here now)
Less stuff = more freedom from things and clutter
Less house [...]
Posted in attitude, encouragement, growth, hope, inner beauty, inner life, peace, priorities, refuge in God, trust, wonder on June 16, 2007 | 2 Comments »
It’s been a rough week somewhere (adapting Alan Jackson’s It’s Five O’clock Somewhere).
It’s been a rough week here, too. For me, on one level, yes, but not nearly as much as it has been for people I love and care about. For some, it’s been the heartbreak of managing difficult life adjustments (kids graduating, for [...]
Posted in attitude, humility, inner beauty, inner life, refuge in God on June 12, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
We woke up Friday morning with no water.
Turning on the faucet produced a few blasts of spray, then air, then nothing. Unknown to us, a part in our well pump 180 feet below ground had rusted through, and we’d lost the pressure necessary to push fresh, clean water up through the pipes and into [...]
