What do you wish you could say to God if only you had the words? Photo of Balsam Range in concert by Michael Rowe, 2022 “The Psalms are the bluegrass of the Bible.”   This peculiar metaphor popped out of my mouth while I was teaching a lesson on the Psalms to our adult Sunday School class. Mike and I had just attended a Balsam Range concert the night before, which might explain my preoccupation with this musical genre.   Balsam Range not only refers to the sweep of mountain

Autumn brims with the joy of color.   She tosses leaves like an exuberant flower-girl at a wedding, carpeting the ground with burnished garnet, copperleaf and candleflame. Writer Anne Lamott says that three of the most powerful prayers we can utter are  Help , Thanks, and Wow . Fall is the ultimate season for  Wow . Mike and I began this month out west for a writers retreat in Colorado Springs, then a few days in Buena Vista visiting longtime friends. When we scheduled the t

Thoughts from a Cat-Mom My granddaughter and her cat - pure love AUDIO LETTER Right now, this minute, answer me true: Do you feel loved?   It’s a flawed question, isn’t it. What do feelings have to do with fact? They flirt with it, maybe, sashaying around behaving as if they’re partnered with truth while instead they’re entertaining all manner of wild notions in some side room of the mind.   We are wedded to our feelings, but they consistently cheat on us. We think we’ve got

Thoughts for those who find themselves in the deep end    AUDIO LETTER For a wife and mom of competitive swimmers, I sure do hate water....

Easter Sunday, 1964. Ransom, Illinois If you’re a little short on joy this week, make a withdrawal from your memory bank.   October is...

Steady as She Goes: How God Renews Our Strength WELCOME! AUDIO LETTER LOTS of new friends are joining us today! A special welcome to the...

Where do you find the strength to rise up as the weight of the world presses in? AUDIO LETTER First, we have LOTS of new friends joining...