God is in Control: Psalm 23:1-3 NKJV
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3 NKJV The Psalms are an excellent source of encouragement when we struggle with needing control in…
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Latest Blog Posts
Why the Angels Were Excited for Christmas
This two-part series explores the mystery and wonder of the Christmas story from the perspective of angels. Each year, I try to keep the Christmas story fresh by approaching it from a different perspective. This year, join me in considering the version in the Gospel of Luke from the perspective of Gabriel—the angel who first announces the arrival of the promised Messiah to…
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Good Food and God’s Goodness
Growing up in New England, my family would drive out to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, each year for our two weeks of summer vacation. I have many memories from decades of these vacations, and most of them are “sense memories”—the smell of the salty breeze, the feel of the sand under my feet, and the foods my family ate only while on…
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Scripture in Winter Light
As autumn moves along, do you find yourself bracing for the dark days to come, as I do? Encroaching darkness It’s early December in northern Minnesota. I love this state, but its bleak landscape seems to mirror my dread of the coming winter. The relentless flatness of the prairie gives little protection from the piercing wind. Harvest is past and…
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The Power of Thanksgiving
The word “Thanksgiving” has taken on a whole new meaning since the Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated together in 1621. Since that first Thanksgiving, we Americans have layered the word with thoughts of turkey roasting in a warm kitchen, pumpkin pie piled high with whipped cream, and families gathering. We plan, we shop, we cook in preparation. Even those of…
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How Can Reading Scripture Strengthen Your Faith?
Cruising along in Hebrews 11, the famous “faith” chapter, I am struck by verse 6: “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (NIV). Now that statement stops me in my tracks. If faith is that important to God, it should be important to me. Is faith something more than a vague hope that things will turn out all right?…
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How to Understand the Paradoxes in Biblical Poetry
The psalms are poetry, and understanding poetry often happens in stages as we grapple with its language, images, forms, and rhythms. If a poem expresses paradox, or communicates the reality of living with ambivalence, or traces the hazy outline of mystery—we are likely to be put off, confused, or terrified. This may be especially true of biblical poetry. We know…
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