Spiritual Formation
Essays
Spiritual Formation: Springing to Life
3/26/13I don’t want to forget to tell them. Soon, all of creation will sing with the glory of God’s creativity and joy! And I don’t want to forget to tell them that those bulbs that are pushing up from the newly thawed ground and the buds that are stretching forth on the limbs of our trees and the breeze that smells of warmth and soil are all completely covered with the handprints of God. Because…
Christian Parenting: The Tale Your Life Will Tell
3/18/13
Our lives tell a tale. Each day the story begins as we put our feet on the floor. Given 1440 minutes, we begin. Kids up and dressed. Breakfast served. Daily tasks begun. Choices made. The tale unfolds. As parents, we can tell our children what…
Engaging Our Children in Faith
3/11/13
They sit in church and hear the pastor speak. At the dinner table they listen to their parents discuss. They hear about calling and mission and work to be done. They sit nearby as we talk about obedience and directives and commandments and law. Surrounded…
Spiritual Formation: Beginning with Babies
1/3/13
The truth is, he was just a baby. He did not understand a single word I read. But I sat him on my lap anyway, his head on my chest, facing out. I opened up the simple book and held it for him to see. …
Devotions
COMMEND HIS WORKS
4/4/13 Read Scripture Verse: Psalm 145:1-7
The psalmist calls on each generation to commend God’s works to the next. It’s a precious gift when grandparents can be actively involved in the lives of their grandchildren. This is even more true when they share their legacy of faith with the next generations!…
Jonah: A Lesson in Patience
12/12/12 Read Scripture Verse: Jonah 1-4
Reading the story of Jonah, I am struck again by God’s patience. God persists with Jonah through his running, his time in the fish, and even while Jonah sits and waits for the destruction of the city. God could force Jonah’s obedience, but he patiently…
Jonah: A Lesson in Compassion
12/5/12 Read Scripture Verse: Jonah 1-4
I marvel at God’s great love for his people, that he desires for them to come to faith and to be restored to him. You can hear God’s heart breaking with compassion for the people of Nineveh, even though they had lived in sinful disobedience…
Resources
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Beyond “I Do”: What Christians Believe About Marriage
This is one of the best books about what a marriage is. It's really a theology of marriage rather than a "how to" manual, but it's perspective provides ample context for why the How-To stuff works.
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The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate
This instant classic states clearly what we know intuitively: We all need love, but we don't all love the same way. Some need words, some need touch, some need time together. This is a must read for lovers and parents!
