When Home is Broken

Nehemiah 2 I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but appliances don't last forever. Well, unless it's a vintage dryer passed down from your great grandmother. I'm speaking from experience. Early in our marriage, my husband and I were the grateful recipients of Grammy Rebstock's old brown dryer. It was an absolute dinosaur, but … Continue reading When Home is Broken

Homesick

An Introduction to a Study in Nehemiah I have lived in nineteen different places in my lifetime, five different US states, and (for one memorable summer) a single Canadian province. That's nineteen front doors. Nineteen back yards. Nineteen kitchens and nineteen different neighborhoods. When I think of the number of neighbors I've known over my … Continue reading Homesick

You Don’t Even Know What You Don’t Know

Job 39 and Psalm 73 "Do you know...?" "Do you observe...?" "Can you number...?" Questions can soften a hard heart. Sometimes. If the heart has a crack, even just a little one, big enough for the truth to seep in, sometimes the question reaches in through that crack, pulls the stony pieces of the heart … Continue reading You Don’t Even Know What You Don’t Know

The King Speaks

Job 38 The rain is falling outside. It's hitting the metal porch roof on this old farmhouse. I have the window open so I can hear its music, lovely and comforting. God promises His people in Hosea and in Joel (see Hosea 6:1-3 and Joel 2:23) that He will come to them like the early, … Continue reading The King Speaks

Behold, the Lamb of God!

Job 37 These are the words of Elihu about his God. These are the words of a man who believes that God is King, that He made all things, knows all things, deserves all the praise. These are the words of a herald, a messenger who broadcasts the coming of the King. Over a thousand … Continue reading Behold, the Lamb of God!

Hello, Darkness…

Job 34 and Psalm 88 Fall is a season of change and transition, a time for cozying up the house and pulling out the flannel and wool. Winter is gathering and so are we. And the dark is creeping in on our sunlight hours. The days grow shorter as the nights lengthen. We turn the … Continue reading Hello, Darkness…

The Taste of Bread

Job 33 I use my mother's hand thrown stoneware bowl; she gave it to me when Gram's pink Pyrex bowl broke. Mom's bowl is taller than Gram's old Pyrex, so kneading the dough is a bit tricky. But I don't knead the dough anymore - I have gained bread wisdom since the first rough loaves … Continue reading The Taste of Bread

A Time to Speak, a Time to Shut-up

Job 32 There is a time for everything. There should be a place for everything too, God help us. That would save a lot of strife between mothers and teenagers with an overabundance of shoes, hoodies, and notebooks, but we can at least agree there is a set time for all things. Cello practice is … Continue reading A Time to Speak, a Time to Shut-up

If, Then.

Job 31 Sin is an uncomfortable topic. It should be. We should squirm a little at least when sin is part of the conversation. Preachers stand at the front of the room, sometimes elevated on a platform, Bible on the stand in front of them. They preach (hopefully) what the Bible says about everything, including … Continue reading If, Then.

That Was Then, This is Now

Job 30 Job was the guy, the guy you called when your plans didn't work out the way you thought they should, the guy who listened to your problems and gave you fresh confidence. He was the one people listened to and followed his counsel, hanging on every encouraging word. That was then...but now? Now … Continue reading That Was Then, This is Now