stillness

Week 11: Plan B

I am on retreat today. It is a defensive retreat based on a breaking heart, diminishing returns and the beginning of an intense season of ministry for my family. (We run a Christian summer camp.) My afternoon retreat …

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Week 11: Dacha

Dacha is one of my favorite words. It’s Russian and I was introduced to it in the town of Istra, Russia in January 2012 while speaking on the topics of rest and retreat at a conference for …

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Week 11: Retreat!

“Retreat!” It’s a battle cry of the beloved. It’s strategic. It is revolutionary. My first personal retreat was the open gate that welcomed my heart back home to rest. As a deeply ingrained workaholic, the power of …

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Week 10: Predictability #5

Do you love a little person – or a bunch of little people ages 1-18? (They don’t even have to live under your roof.) This post is for you. Think Why do we spend most of our …

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Week 10: P.R.A.Y. #4

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone. Psalm 62:5a This promise speaks to me of prayer. The word P.R.A.Y. is a helpful tool for me as I explore ways to find rest for my soul. P. …

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Week 10: Knowing God #3

Be still and know that I am God… Psalm 46:10a Two scriptural accounts have formed my “knowing” God. Satisfied But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned …

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Week 9: God Speaks #2

God speaks to us through creation. He speaks to us through his Word. He speaks to us through quiet hearts. (Busy hearts, too, but the reception can be fuzzy.) When I was little, I was baffled—BAFFLED—by Jesus’ …

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Week 9: Dare to Dialogue #1

Prayer. If I’m really honest, I have to admit I find it easier to spend ten minutes talking about God than ten minutes talking to God. My life bears evidence of this reality too often. My growth …

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Week 8: Sabbath Nuts and Bolts #2

Sabbath Rest in the 21st century begins with honoring the Commandment and its Creator (see Week 8 – #1), but there are two additional areas to explore. #3 Honor Yourself Are you familiar with activities that are …

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Week 8: Sabbath Nuts and Bolts #1

What does Sabbath Rest look like in the 21st century? It has a lot to do with honor. Four things come to mind. Two today. Two later this week. #1 Honor the Sabbath If God says I …

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