One Friday evening I decided to have a Shabbat dinner for our single parents to teach on the values of the Jewish traditions of worship in the home. For Jewish folks the Sabbath observance began on Friday at sundown and ended on Saturday evening providing a sanctuary in time. We put tablecloths on the tables, set out water bowls with … Read More
Technology Effects Your Spirit
as teaching recently on the value of developing traditions of worship in the home, particularly around sitting down and having dinner together. One of our single moms said that she would love to do that, but it would be a fight with her teen daughter just to get her to put down the cell phone and have a face to … Read More
What Do You Want From God?
Spiritual transformation is full of mystery. We cannot change ourselves or anyone else. But we can create the conditions in which our own spiritual transformations take place. We do this by developing and maintaining spiritual disciplines that keep us open and available to God. One of the things that will keep us from spiritual formation is the wrong idea that … Read More
Participate with God To Effect the Lives of Many
Participating with God The story of Joseph in the book of Genesis takes up more space than any other story. The creation of the earth and the fall of man into sin are summarized 3 chapters, but the story of Joseph is three times longer. This remarkable story has many ups and downs with a lot to teach us about … Read More
How to Encounter God in Scripture
Recently I was at a women’s theology conference where the focus was on contemplation. Ruth Haley Barton was speaking about our need to pay attention to our God-given desires, so that we could know for what purpose we want to arrange our lives. She discussed spiritual disciplines that believers through the centuries have practiced as a way of opening up … Read More
Lessons on Worship in the Crucible of Cancer
I was doing well and just starting the deeper research of chapter five of my dissertation. The chapter was on endurance. I prayed the Lord would lead me to the best resources for the research. Not many days later the doctor called to say the results from the breast biopsy tested positive for cancer. I had had these done before … Read More
God’s Purpose and Calling in the Blessings and Pain
I have been leading a ministry to single parents at my church since 2003. It has been a joy to love, serve, and make them a part of my family. To nurture my soul and the souls of a few of our leaders, we get together twice a month on Sunday mornings to pray. It is always amazing to see … Read More
