a planted life | learning to love
This morning I stood in my kitchen trying to force myself to think on what it means that Christ is risen when I'm angry with my son. I stood there waiting for the french press coffee to sit a minute before stirring, thinking, "Christ has risen. It's Easter, Sheila. That's what your entire faith rests... Continue Reading →
Photo by Edu Carvalho on Pexels.com When I was little, pre-school, I would hop off the wooden pews every Sunday to make my way over to the place where Clarice Lemley sat. Clarice, was in my mind, exactly Aunt Bee from The Andy Griffith show. She was plump and grey headed and wore flowered dresses.... Continue Reading →
There's a handmade wooden sign in the hallway leading to my bedroom with these words in black: " And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:20 I walk by that sign daily and don't give it a thought, but the other day I stopped and read it over and over. I considered whether... Continue Reading →
Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com I’ve been in a church since the week after I was born. Every church I’ve been part of has impacted my life in a unique way. Like an arm is different from the liver, these churches were all very different. Among them were bad teachings. But at each church... Continue Reading →
A Culture Born from our "Of Works-ness" I'm listening to Dane Ortlund's audiobook version of Gentle and Lowly- The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers on my commute to and from work. Driving home the other day, the narrator read the title of the 20th chapter, "Our lawish hearts. His lavish heart." And as... Continue Reading →
Photo by Victoria Borodinova on Pexels.com Whether your church calls it family ministry, children's ministry, kids ministry... whatever it's called, here are three reasons people often give for why they shouldn't serve in a ministry that involves children. I propose these three reasons are exactly why you should sign up this Sunday to serve in... Continue Reading →
In the days after the November 3rd election, I scrolled through my Twitter and Facebook feeds, reading posts from people with crosses, fish symbols and scripture references in their taglines, that left me grieved. They used words like, "go to hell,” held up their Bibles, guns, favored-candidate's flag, and accused other Christians on social media... Continue Reading →
Yesterday while scrolling through Twitter I read the heartbreaking news from Tim Challies about the loss of his son. Along with many other bloggers today who have been encouraged by Tim, I am praying for Tim and his family. Father, hear our cries for the Challies. Surround them. Hold them close. Send your people to... Continue Reading →
Photo by Myicahel Tamburini on Pexels.com Despair. That's the word that comes to mind when I hear the news stories of late. This morning, while I was getting ready to go to church, my husband sat at the kitchen table shaking his head. The news story about the two L.A. police officers, shot while they... Continue Reading →
On May 27th, the New York Times published the 100,000 names of people who died from Coronavirus. If you scroll down the screen of the online piece, you'll see the images of humans scattered sparsley at first, then densly as time moves forward. Next to many of these human icons you'll read the name, age... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Faithfulness 