“Turn left. At a quarter of a mile turn right.” When my husband and I get in the car at our home in the Chicago area to visit relatives in Missouri, we plug in our GPS device and get directions for every turn. And turn…
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Spring Cleaning: Let’s Throw Out Comparison
Spring is here–at least according to the calendar. So it’s time to do a little spring cleaning. For me, spring cleaning involves vacuuming under the furniture (It’s amazing how much dust can accumulate under beds and behind desks!) And doing jobs I tend to…
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Practicing Lent: Submission
One day, when our children were ages three and six, my husband came home from work and announced, “Let’s homeschool next year.” My first thought was, “That’s easy for you to say since you wouldn’t be the one doing it.” My second thought was, “I’ve…
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Practicing Lent: Kindness
My mother, Lorna, is an expert in practicing kindness. She bakes apple pies for the people who mow her lawn and shovel her snow. She makes meals for those who are ill. She takes the time to visit people in nursing homes and hospitals. She…
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Practicing Lent: Gratitude
Every week a dozen young people pass through my home for piano lessons. I help little fingers push black and white keys so that they make beautiful music. At the end of each lesson–if the student has reached the practice goals–I give him or her…
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Practicing Lent: Prayer Walking
Several years ago, one of our church members suggested that our congregation try prayer walking. Prayer walking? I had never heard of it. Mary explained that prayer walking was simply walking through a neighborhood and praying for the people who lived there. She suggested that…
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Practicing Lent: Unplugging
I love technology. Most of the time. I’m so glad that I can play peek-a-boo with my 20-month-old granddaughter via Skype–even though she lives 8000 miles away. So happy that I can text a funny picture to my son (his favored mode of communication) in…
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Practicing Lent: Personalizing Scripture
When I was eighteen, a friend of mine gave me a bookmark and I was ecstatic. Not only because I love to read and always need a bookmark nearby. Not only because it was beautifully handcrafted. I was over the moon because my friend had…
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Practicing Lent: Prayer of Recollection
I settled in my cozy chair, ready to open my Bible and hear from God. Ready to open up to God and tell Him all that was in my heart. But even as I sat in peaceful quiet, my thoughts left the pages of Scripture…