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Book Review: “True Life: Practical Wisdom from the Book of Ecclesiastes” by Carolyn Mahaney & Nicole Whiteacre
Introduction Have you ever felt like no matter how much you try to organize things, they never turn out quite how you’d like them to? Do you spend your life trying to make special moments happen, only to watch them slip through your grasp? Do you feel like life is an endless cycle of repetitive activities that you must do over, and over, and over again? How can you find joy when things go terribly wrong? True Life: Practical Wisdom from the Book of Ecclesiastes provides you with answers and encouragement from King Solomon himself, who had every earthly pleasure and found no satisfaction in any of it. “Vanity of…
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Abide with Me
This is a guest post from my husband, Brian. Brian works casual call as a nurse and does the majority of the work involved in taking care of our land and animals. In his free time, Brian enjoys planting trees, building things (like this incredible chicken coop), and singing hymns. We’ve been married for 14 years, and I’m happy to call him my husband. *** Change and decay in all around I see,O, Thou who changest not, abide with me. I’ve worked in a nursing home for the past 15 years. Recently, especially while at work, this hymn has been on my mind. It uses evening as a metaphor to…
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‘What if?’ Questions Are Not All Bad
Do you ever asked yourself 'What if?' questions? Here's my take on these pesky questions, along with a few of my ideas about creativity and curiousity.
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The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength
“Then he said to them, ‘Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.’ And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.” Nehemiah 8:10-12 In Israel’s history, this passage comes directly after Ezra reads the law…
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Longing for Home in a World of Trials
As Covid began to spread around the globe, I read a lot of articles and posts from friends quoting Psalm 91, particularly verse 10: “No evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.” I understand how this verse could help those who feel afraid, especially during a pandemic. The word ‘plague’ describes Covid well. However, the verse that comforted me the most during those first few months of Covid and still comforts me today is Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Our days fly away from this earth like migrating birds. We might visit…