By Melanie Rigney Is there a difference between giving up and letting go? That question was posed at a retreat I attended recently. The conversation was of particular interest to me. While others were spending the retreat in prayer, working on faith journey scrapbooks, or taking long walks, I was researching a nonfiction book that’s due to a Catholic publisher …
Jot and tittle
by Dr. Dwight David Croy In Matthew 5:18 it says, “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” Literally, it means, “not one stroke of a letter” will pass away. In Luke 16:17 it says with a Greek variant, …
God’s Mighty Hero
by Maureen Miller “You need to be brave, like Gideon,” God said. “Who… me?” I replied, then busied myself. Maybe he’ll go away. But, of course, God didn’t go away. Instead, he repeated, “Be like Gideon.” He’s serious, I thought. Still, I argued. “But Father, I’m not courageous like Gideon. In fact, I’m really more like—” “Gideon,” God interrupted, “Remember, …
Well Done, My Good and Faithful Servant
by Roxanne Hicks My husband and I live on the edge of the Rocky Mountain range and are blessed with abundant wildlife which also call this home. On any given day, we’re likely to watch a variety of animals scamper, or amble, through our pastures. One morning while sipping my coffee, I witnessed a good-sized flock of wild turkeys pick …
Small Things
by Lisa Kelley @LisaKelleyWrite Sometimes, it can seem nearly impossible to find time to put words on the screen. If you have a full-time job like me, the hours you have to devote to writing may be few. Often, I set aside my vacation time as dedicated writing hours. Such was my plan this past December. I struggled last year …
Visible Virtues: Tangible Temperance
by Christine Sunderland @Chrisunderland Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent for many Christians. It is a day when we act out what we believe to be true, that we will live and we will die and we will be resurrected by Christ. And so an ashen cross is drawn on the forehead as we hear the words, …
Chasing Perfect Optimism
by M.D. House @real_housemd Jesus was an optimist. That seems a trite thing to say, doesn’t it? It was easy for him to be positive all the time, right? He was the Messiah, for heaven’s sake. He had a direct line to God, and angels were on call to help him. And yet, he often wept—not just for what was …
Why Hospitality Toward Our Readers Should be on Our List of New Year’s Resolutions
by Donna Wichelman @DonnaWichelman Several years ago, while listening to a webinar hosted by Thomas Umstattd, Jr., he made a statement that impressed me and motivated me to write two questions on a Post-It note that still hangs on my computer monitor today. How do you throw a banquet for your readers? How do you serve them if you don’t …
REST in Your Writing
by Susan Lyttek @SusanLyttek Today, as this posts, is my birthday. As with most of us, even if I vow not to, I compare the current me to the me of a year ago. Did I accomplish what I planned? (absolutely never) Did I grow closer to God and family? (almost always) Do I like the person I’m becoming? (never …
Be a Gideon
by Maureen Miller He was timid and weak. Afraid and insecure. That’s right. Listen to his doubt when the Angel of the Lord called him to defeat the enemy. O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house (Judges 6:15 NKJV). To say Gideon …