Celebrate Women
She is strong and respected and not afraid of the future. Proverbs 31: 25 Good News As I write this, it is International Women’s Day, March 8th. Why do we need a day to recognize women? It is honorable to give prominence to people whose stories are untold or appear insignificant by prevailing measuring sticks. In many cultures, women are viewed as inferior, and we see that with women in politics, education, science, medicine, business, you name it. We don’t find non-profit agencies trying to raise funds to send just the boys/men to school and get them proper healthcare. But there...
Read MoreIn God’s Care
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. (Jeremiah 17:7a NIV) May those who love us, love us; and those who don’t love us, may God turn their hearts; and if He doesn’t turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so we’ll know them by their limping. ~Irish Blessing My Irish ancestors call that a blessing, but it’s definitely NOT from the Bible. What is a blessing? We tend to throw the words “blessed” and “blessing” around a lot in 21st century USA. People say that they celebrated another birthday, got a raise at work, had a healthy baby, went...
Read MoreLiving In The Now
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NIV This is a difficult verse to follow lately. While tomorrow will worry about itself, it seems that the days are blurring together, and it is becoming increasingly worrisome to think about both the present and future. In the last month and a half, we have had 3 run-ins with COVID-19, and 5 different days where at least one person in our tiny family of 4 has been tested. Thankfully, Thea had Croup (although that was torture, AND it was her first ever illness),...
Read MoreFinding Joy in a Heat Wave
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4 NIV It’s only Tuesday night as I write this, but so much has happened already this week! We have experienced record breaking heat all across the Pacific Northwest, and to top it off, our daughter Dorothea was baptized on Sunday morning. But really, I want to talk about the weather. It seems trite to talk about something as...
Read MoreUsing Good Words
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29 NIV) Well, the time has come. We need to really clean up our act and focus hard on what words we let out of our mouths. By we, I mean Dan and me, especially as parents, in front of our children. One of them (you can guess which, since one is almost 4 and the other is almost 1) has learned how to use one of my “favorite” phrases for when I’m frustrated. Eep! I know that it’s taboo to admit in a church blog that...
Read MoreKeep Calm
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5 NIV) This has been an interesting week in the Seattle area and the nation. All of a sudden, cases of COVID-19 are being confirmed, whether they were brought into the USA or locally transmitted. Kirkland has seen the first American deaths from this disease, and although most of them were from older, immunocompromised patients, the fear is that anyone who catches it could die. We’ve seen stores across the area (and country) run out of bottled water, toilet paper, pastas, and hygiene products. Is this...
Read MoreA Little Astray
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6 NIV) In this season of Advent, we often forget that this is a time of waiting. Jesus’ traditionally observed birthday hasn’t happened yet (it’s on December 25!), but everyone is already wishing each other a “Merry Christmas” and singing songs like “Joy to the World” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” It’s still time to be preparing for such things. As far as the Christian calendar goes, we’re putting the cart before the horse. We’re just a little bit...
Read MoreTo Have Faith
To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1 Good News Bible) I was raised in a Christian home but went to public school. I was always exposed to people who didn’t go to church. Some of the people I knew (and know today) had (and have) some very strong opinions of Christianity. Some of those assertions are correct, but a lot of them miss the mark of truth. One of my earliest memories is of my grandmother singing “Into My Heart” while she babysat me. I was probably 3 years old at the time, and she sweetly sang the words, “Come...
Read MoreBeing Good Neighbors
Each one helps his neighbor and says to his brother, “Be strong!” (Isaiah 41:6 NASB) Our son Isaac has been watching some TV lately. We have screens on from time to time, and we noticed several months ago that he really liked the Jeopardy theme song. Since Dan and I are nerdy about trivia, we’re totally encouraging Isaac to keep on loving that show! But in finding shows that are geared more toward him, we’ve decided to start with programming that we’re familiar with. Daniel and I never watched Thomas and Friends growing up, but I’ve worked with children long enough to know that the stories...
Read MoreSnow Neighbors
Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:1-4 NASB) Just in case anyone hasn’t noticed, we’ve had a little bit of wintry weather this week and last. I know, it’s a bit...
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