Yesterday afternoon I started to think about what the Bible has to say about goal setting. I searched for plan in Bible Gateway. No returns. Goal. Not there, either. I’m most comfortable with the King James Version, so that’s how I search, but I then remembered the ESV does have a word translated goal. I [...]
Filed under: Introspection
I thought for sure I had written about goals for this last year, but I cannot find them written down anywhere. I did a search for goals and resolutions, and nothing showed up, either. The one goal I’ve been working on is the chronological Bible reading plan. And on that goal, I did… okay. I [...]
Tags: New Year, resolutions
Filed under: Introspection
I mentioned to a friend that I enjoy making goals. I like the process of evaluation. I like the feeling of starting fresh. I like dreaming about accomplishing good things. But I also have found that I fail. I fall short of my goals, nearly every year, and then I’m discouraged. Should I stop making [...]
Filed under: Introspection
Long ago, before we had children, we were given an inexpensive nativity set. We discovered after we had children that the pieces were quickly broken. I’d have thrown it away this year, but Bethel is delighted with the set and plays with it nearly every opportunity she gets. When I asked the children if Heaven [...]
Tags: Christmas
Filed under: Uncategorized
The last few weeks, we have talked quite a bit about giving and receiving presents. We’ve talked about the motivation for giving gifts (love) and how the only way we can truly love others is by God’s grace in our lives. We have talked about receiving gifts with a thankful heart (although I haven’t yet [...]
Tags: Christmas
Filed under: Using Questions
The other night came across a journal I kept right after I had Bethel, when David was 16 months old. What struck me the most was the intensity with which I wrote about teaching David spiritual truths. In the past, I’ve shocked a few people with “low expectations,” because I tend to think smart parents [...]
Filed under: Communication and Meaning
I’m still feeling under the weather, but it’s been a good week nevertheless. I’ve had to adjust my expectations of some things I planned to do, and I feel like I haven’t said a coherent word to my husband all week, but it still has been a good week. In our Bible study that meets [...]
Today was a really hard day. I’ve been fighting a cold of some sort, and even with the vernors and ice cream my husband brought home I am still feeling draggy. It doesn’t help that I’m at a “low point” hormonally. My kids are probably not feeling well either, because they’re easily distressed this morning. [...]
Filed under: Emotions
In Children’s church yesterday, Lee asked whether a person who is not saved is an enemy of God. This really bothered one of the children (who to my knowledge, has not made a profession of faith). The thought occurred to me that a child who knows he is not saved, understands salvation, might not really [...]
Filed under: Salvation
This morning I read the Hebrews 12 passage to my children. I gave them some hot apple cider, so they weren’t in a hurry to finish breakfast like they often are. While they sipped their drinks, we had an encouraging talk. I asked them first who God disciplines— people he loves, or people he hates. [...]
Filed under: Family Devotions
