Real: what the Velveteen Rabbit, idols, and God’s love tell us
The Velveteen Rabbit is a stuffed animal that wants to be real and, in some ways, already is through his human owner’s love. But when the boy contracts scarlet fever, the doctor orders the room disinfected and toys burned. Abandoned in a sack left outside in the...
Let me explain about love, marriage, and that word
Let me explain what happened at the Open Mic last Thursday evening as I read an excerpt of the essay that inspired my Friday Happy Hours on Substack. The essay is about marital growth, which can be stormy. Indeed, the scene I’d read last month was an all-out battle...
The Thrill of Hope, the Weary World Rejoices, for Yonder a New
Thrill: a sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure. Perhaps countercultural, but let’s see where that word leads us today. Your works thrill You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. Psalm 92:4 NLT The...
I wanted to spark interest, but upon success, a spark flew up
This past summer, I launched The Wisdom Journal to spark interest in my faith memoir Wisdom Builds Her House. In advance, I consulted with a designer to give my website a new look and feel that identified my brand, the third season of life. Accordingly, in addition...
Add to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love
Affection: a gentle feeling of fondness or liking. I’ve been thinking about affection with regards to how our society’s values have changed in my lifetime. The gentle blessings of faith, marriage and children, and mission have been replaced by the harsh goals of...
Pick: to choose or select someone or something from alternatives
Pick a flower, cucumber, berries—um, maybe leave these small, tart cranberries on the viburnum for the birds. A pick in basketball or football—even a pick six. The picks we’ll examine today are more fundamental choices, major decisions in the spiritual realm. Pick:...