Sitting Still

Seems the Lord reminds me of a dynamic truth from the simplest objects – like a box of buttons and thread. Come sit still with me today and let’s remember our sins forgiven.

This week I inherited a very special gift, one I’d admired since childhood. And suddenly, in a simple gesture, I saw how God’s hand had tied the pieces of my young life together into my adulthood. It began in a dusty, little town with a tea set from a foreign land.

Where can we go to catch a glimpse of Immanuel – God with us – in the middle of all this pain and sorrow and battle and division? If we believe Jesus came in the flesh to be with us and then promised that He’d never leave or forsake us… how do we find Him and then keep our eyes on Him?

“…We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness….”

Jesus taught His followers using familiar objects, some right before their eyes: a fishing net, mustard seeds, sheep… Is it possible He could even use a popular table game to teach us how to find peace?

More than four decades ago I bought a piano – my childhood dream. Unfortunately, after just a couple years I gave it up, although I don’t remember why. Three weeks ago, I got the strongest urge to give the piano another try. This time I had a specific goal. I wanted to learn to play worship music – love songs just between the Lord and me. So I bought a piano(!) and an adult beginner’s book, and I’m re-learning how play. I’m beginning to believe I’ll also learn much about my walk with Jesus as I...

Bible stories are full of people’s names ~ and also leave many people unnamed. It’s a curious story-telling technique in a book so packed with details. Please join me in looking at one of the most significant stories of all time to see who was named, who was not, and what difference that might make to your day

My friends, usually I write to encourage you with a truth I’ve recently been thinking about. Today I face a dreaded intruder and write to you as I begin to process the unavoidable pain that burst into our family circle. The coronavirus opened the door and walked right in, stealing the life of someone I know. I wondered if it might dare to come that close, or as I hoped might happen -- that it would stay in the news and not in my family. Come sit still with me today and talk about what we can do...

The community saw a dishonest tax collector when they looked at Levi, as we learn in Luke 5. But when Jesus looked at him, He saw not a thief, but a man with a pen, a man who would go on to become His disciple and an author, Matthew. How does Jesus see you? Come sit still with me today and let’s talk about who God created us to be and how we can act that out in the days to come.

“How much news are you watching?” It’s a common question among my circle of friends. It seems to lead to an easy explanation about our state of anxiety. More news = more anxiety. Less news = more peace. Have you found a practical way to handle your fear? These days I’m finding a measure of peace in the midst of it all by writing out my prayers. Come sit still with me today and let’s talk for a few minutes about how a prayer journal can help calm your fears.