Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet… I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! — Habakkuk 3:17-18 Habakkuk described…
Thanks, Just the Word Lifts the Spirit
I’m thankful for… Andy. He’s the dog Denalyn rescued from the shelter. Rangy as a coyote when we got him. He’s chubby now. He jumps into bed with us every morning and scampers through the yard like a deer in the pasture when we come home. Bald spots. I was standing in line at…
Giving Thanks in the Small Things
Some days I pick up a camera and it’s a hammer. The lens is my ink, for cameras have sensor eyes, and pixels record. I slide it into a pocket, a thin point-and-shoot, and find another way to chronicle, to force the lids open; another way to receive the moment with thanks reverential. When he comes in from…
He Is Worthy of Your Praise
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you. He makes peace in your borders, and fills you with the finest wheat. — Psalm 147:12-14 Several years ago, as I traveled through New York, I came upon…
5 Gratitude Devotions You Just Might Need This Week
Editor’s note: What a week we’re about to embark on! We thought you could use a few quick devotions to get your mornings started. Despite the chaos surrounding us right now, let’s remind ourselves that it is the season of thankfulness. We hope this season will be the catalyst into a life of thankfulness.…
Thanksgiving and the Path to Peace
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. James 1:2 NIV God promises no easy life or days without troubles, trials, difficulties, and temptations. He never promises that life will be perfect. He does not call His children to a playground, but to a battleground. Some people have a…
3 Prayers for Joy and Gratitude
Thank You for Joy! The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. — Psalm 19:8 Dear Jesus, Sometimes I crave the unbridled joy of childhood. I remember how it felt to pedal my bike fast, wind whipping through my…
Taste and See Week 6 — Discovering the Liturgy of the Table
After taking the cup, He gave thanks… And He took the bread, and gave thanks and broke it… — Luke 22:17-19 We are changed when we give thanks and when we give thanks we are changed. Around the table, deep gratitude changes everything. ~ Margaret Feinberg Can you believe it’s our final week of the…
How to Help Your Kids Crush Comparison
How to Help Your Kids Crush Comparison My daughter was in second grade when she decided that she hated her hair. Anyone can see that her hair is beautiful; in fact, strangers have often stopped us on the street to tell us so. She has gorgeous light brown ringlets with blonde highlights that frame her…
Children and Presents – We Can Count These as Blessings, Too!
Christmas gift-giving is really hard for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love presents. I love thinking about presents, buying presents, wrapping presents, and watching my kids open their presents. The joy on my kids’ faces is palpable on Christmas morning, and I love making them happy almost more than anything in the world. I…