A springtime gift for your soul: Sabbath
Winter seems unwilling to yield to spring here in the Midwest, and I know we all feel weary. A month ago, my crocuses bloomed. Crocuses This week, we're getting snow. Check out this [...]
Between “back to school” and “holiday hectic”–a reprieve
My connecting flight (which I make by only 10 minutes) takes me over the Grand Canyon at sunset. I’m relieved to be on the plane, blown away by the beauty, and suddenly sad for the [...]
Meeting Jesus at the dollar store
True confession: I don’t love shopping at this store. It’s kind of well, cheap—but I guess that’s the point. Sparse, utilitarian. Countless items, each a dollar. I’ve been here (and at Goodwill) more in the [...]
Five simple strategies for slowing down
We live hurried lives. We feel, as today's reading in Deeply Loved describes, restless and unsettled. Imagine someone telling you: "You are like a jar of river water all shaken up. What you need is [...]
Self-care Friday
In an act of defiance against the culture, I purchased absolutely nothing today. I spent most of the day on the couch, although I did do some writing work from said couch. I read, took [...]
Free e-book copy of Breathe
Many of you remember my 2005 book Breathe. I know some of you continue to use it as a resource for small group discussions or your moms' ministries, or just to remind yourself to slow [...]
On my list this year: contentment
The onslaught is building, slowly but surely. You're already seeing and hearing ads for the holiday shopping season, reminding you that even though Thanksgiving is more than two weeks away, it's time to think about [...]
The Gift of Christmas Present (Part 1)
The Christmas season is one of joy, and angst. We long to have a meaningful, simple Christmas season, but we get sucked into consumerism and a Black Friday frenzy that spilled, this year, into Thursday. [...]
Hungry for rest
Best Christmas hymn lyric: "the weary world rejoices." It was kind of a theme at our house during the holiday season. We went a little slower, a little simpler. The tree decor, minimalist; the meals, [...]
Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity
Hey, it's Free Book Friday. Because we're focusing on Sabbath this month (although Living in Sabbath Simplicity is a topic we discuss frequently here), here's an excerpt from my book Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity, [...]