Job 19 On a recent drive to a city south of us, I was reminded, Winter is not forever; Spring does come back around each year. On the drive down, we commented on the green haze around the trees, the bright blue sky with the fluffiest clouds, and the warmth from the sun through the … Continue reading Thoughts on Easter – But, What Do I Know?
Bible Study
The Hunt for Words
Job 18 It's so hard to give more time to Bildad. But God allows him this space to say what he said, to accuse Job yet again. And if I am weary of the words Bildad utters, how much more was Job weary! And if Job was weary of Bildad's inane diatribe, how much more … Continue reading The Hunt for Words
Broken and Spilled Out
Job 16 & 17 Every couple of years, I like to contemplate my own demise. When I say "like," I mean I do it, whether I like to or not. When I say "contemplate," I mean I obsess over the inevitable approach of my last breath. When I say "demise," I mean when I exit … Continue reading Broken and Spilled Out
Steadfast
Job 15 Do we get tired of ourselves, the sound of our own voices, the mix-tape on a loop in our brain, accusing, maybe excusing ourselves? Does our inner criticism wear us down? Do the words and opinions of others, even those dear to us, crush us, maybe break us? We have read the accusations … Continue reading Steadfast
Most Miserable
Job 14 God's Word is air and water and bread. I am currently malnourished, dehydrated, and suffocating. How could I let this happen? I understand the vitality of a well-fed soul. Why have I allowed famine to creep in? It happens in small choices, tiny decisions that don't seem important at the time but can … Continue reading Most Miserable
Face to Face
Job 13 "Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it. What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. But I would speak with the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God. As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you … Continue reading Face to Face
Ask the Beasts, the Birds, the Trees…
Job 12 My desk sits near a window in our old farmhouse. It allows a good view of the side hill and woods and, if I lean back enough, the old apple orchard where the deer meet each morning. There's a Christmas tree graveyard in these woods, where my boys have dumped our old trees … Continue reading Ask the Beasts, the Birds, the Trees…
A Little Cheer Before I Go
Job 10 Ah, a cup of strong coffee in the morning. Or, a cup of peppermint tea to warm the heart after dinner in the evening. A glass of wine with friends, where the laughter and conversation is more heady than the wine. A good book on a quiet afternoon. Just a little cheer before … Continue reading A Little Cheer Before I Go
The Testimony of Orion
Job 9 He is my favorite constellation. In Winter, Orion stands in the southern sky. Which means, when I pull into the farmhouse driveway on a clear night and shut off the car lights, I have a pretty good view of the Hunter over the closest corn field. Some nights, the sky takes my breath … Continue reading The Testimony of Orion
When Words Burn
Job 8 Let's talk about words. Let's use words to discuss the power of words, the power of the tongue. A tiny part of the human body with a megaphone attached. Let's string some words together in a fine pearl necklace to explain how words can heal or wound. Not a long strand of pearls, … Continue reading When Words Burn