Archives for August 2013

Valley of Baka

“As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.“ Psalm 84:6 A couple of weeks ago I reflected on Psalm 84:5 and the Pilgrimage of our Hearts. The word pilgrimage stayed with me, stuck to me. This morning I moved on […]

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Worship

“And on that day when my strength is failing The end draws near and my time has come Still my soul will sing Your praise unending Ten thousand years and then forevermore” The words to this song echo in my mind. Burst forth in my heart. They can’t be sung loud enough. Over a thousand […]

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Grief, Hope and Redemption of a Date

Today is August 28th. For eight years, August 28th has been etched in my mind as the day the phone rang. I can picture, no more than picture, I can feel my husband, mom and I in my parent’s basement. We were visiting them in Minnesota from Seattle. My dad was out playing his normal […]

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The Morning Quiet

The morning quiet. My secret. My fuel. The morning quiet. My children’s safety and nourishment. My husband’s support and joy. My day’s structure and flow. The morning quiet. The Spirit’s outlet. Grounding, freeing. Redemption of tired. Of cranky. Of drained. The morning quiet. Her stillness and grace. Always making room for all of me. I […]

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Not Having the Last Word

I took a breath in as I explained, for at least the hundredth time, the scenario. Once again I was met with a scripted reply. I held the phone away for a moment. I wanted to shout “You aren’t listening to me, this is not a scripted reply situation!” As my eyes gazed out our […]

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Every Step of My Way

I recently was reading a biography on Frances Ridley Havergal. She was born in 1836, a poet and hymn writer. Her best known hymn is most likely “Take My Life and Let It Be”. What struck me tonight was the mentioning of some of her last whispers: “I did so want to glorify Him in […]

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An Old T-Shirt and Enjoying Jesus

I pulled the shirt out of a pile, getting ready to do some yard work. I paused as I put it on. My college had separate Mothers and Fathers weekends every year. I always looked forward to them. My hands ran over the words “Wheaton College. Fathers Weekend 1988.” I remember the year that Fathers […]

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Pilgrimage of our hearts

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you. Who have set their hearts on pilgrimage” Psalm 84:5   What does it mean to set our hearts on pilgrimage? It must mean something different from setting our bodies on pilgrimage. For we could live on the same cul-de-sac our entire life and be on a pilgrimage […]

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Let me be small

Let me be small. For a moment. A moment wrapped in my grandmas cozy quilt. The daylight dawning. I curl up, as close to the chair as I can manage. I snuggle in, wanting to feel small, protected, secure. I need to start here. Each day. With something bigger than me. Stronger than me. A […]

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Trading Strength

“But you O Lord are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger abounding in love and faithfulness. Grant your strength to your servant.” Psalm 86:15, 16b I had some moments today that could be described as “removed, ungracious, quick to be frustrated, restrictive in love and faithfulness.” And when the rest of the house […]

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the place where i LIVE

I’m walking along a new path. White butterflies flit by. An acorn stops me to say hello. And the thought comes to mind “This is where I live.” Maybe I should write it as “this is where i LIVE”. It is in this space- the one of a thousand details, that my soul sings. It […]

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