Brenda

A Wedding and a Funeral

To prioritize rhythm in 2016 requires a funeral and a wedding. The Funeral  We need to decapitate the faulty beliefs that chain our soul to the moral superiority of overload. The Wedding We need to step into …

Read more

The Benjamin Blessing for 2016

Final words and blessings are meant to propel us into the future anchored to a truth that is meant to transform. Such is the case in Deuteronomy 33, as the Israelites are positioned to cross into the Promised …

Read more

Fear Not

Fear. It comes in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes it’s a trifle, nagging thought. Other times it advances like a relentless, consuming fire. An element of fear is written on every page of the first Christmas story. …

Read more

What’s in a Name?

This post comes from Beth Ortstadt, who writes from Wichita, Kansas, where she will be spending a quiet Christmas with her family. Have you had an opportunity to enjoy a display of artwork at a local elementary …

Read more

Of Drool and Delight

Leviticus 28 is not well-known devotional reading. Glance at it and the word tedious comes to mind. God goes into intricate detail of how Moses was to oversee the crafting of the Ark of the Covenant. God …

Read more

When Guilt Threatens the Gift

This post comes from a Christmas Letter written 8 years ago when we were in the THICK of Calendar Overload. Noah (7) yelled wildly from our downstairs family room, “I found him. I found him!” “Who?” I …

Read more

Rewriting History

Thanking God for you, your passion and partnership.  We are re-posting this blog because a website glitch on Nov 18th kept 2/3 of our blog subscribers from receiving it.  Four Quiet Christmas Devotions will be coming your …

Read more

Heart to Heart

Gratitude alters intimate relationships. It is a life-giving foundation. It says in neon lights, “I see you. I recognize who you are and how I am blessed by your life and your love.” Entitlement is ugly. Indifference …

Read more

Jesus Loved Martha

Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. John 11:5 These words (especially the first three), and the order in which they were written, leaped out and landed in my heart. Thud. I would have expected Mary, Martha’s sister, …

Read more

Off The Grid – Part 2

The topic of “cell phones” hits a nerve. Just this week, a revealing article, “Stop Googling. Let’s Talk.” by Sherry Turkle caught my eye. It revolves around how mobile internet devices impact solitude, conversation, and young adults …

Read more