I’m sitting on my swing in the front of my house looking out at the Bradshaw Mountains. The sky is filled with billowy clouds, and in the distance I occasionally hear some thunder. It’s the end of the monsoon season here in Arizona. We’ve lived in the Prescott Valley area ( 1 1/2 hours north of Phoenix) for five years now, and this is the most amazing monsoon season I’ve experienced. I didn’t know about North America’s southwestern monsoons before moving here. Continue reading
Posts Tagged With: Faith
Monsoon Drama: Another Sacred Stage
Categories: Spiritual Growth
Tags: Faith, monsoons, mundane life, storms, trusting God, weather
6 Comments
Singing Along — On the Obedience Train
What character qualities are riding along on the obedience train, singing in harmony? I’m rather embarrassed to tell you how many, in my opinion, of our 57 character qualities fit on this train. I went down the list and checked off 19! I must lack discernment or judgment! But then, maybe there is something to this! In our last post, I said that love is the entire enchilada – all 57 qualities rolled into one, describing the perfections of Christ. Obedience as a subset of love also has its entourage. Remember Continue reading
Categories: Being Like Jesus, Parenting, Spiritual Growth
Tags: Faith, family conversations, love, obedience, spiritual growth
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The Breath of a Vapor
Every year goes so fast. We’re already well into January! Scripture tells us that our lives are like a vapor (James 4:14), so isn’t it interesting that we honestly act surprised at experiencing what we already know is true? This demonstrates two levels of knowing. Why does it take life experience to know the truth? Where does humble, inexperienced (child-like) faith come in? Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). Yet, faith also grows through experience (Hebrews 11).
The vapor speed of life stirs up stress and anxiety. I’m experiencing that right now. Are you? How do I grow in Christ and His character when my heart won’t settle down? For you, dear parent, how do you grow in Christ and His character when from the moment your feet hit the floor until your body folds under those sheets again late that night, you are simply answering the call of the immediate: cries for clean clothes, no time for a decent breakfast, where are those keys?, while driving to work thoughts of that difficult person you’ll have to face this morning nag your mind, and, oh, Joey’s game tonight conflicts with a deacon’s meeting! Continue reading
Karen Thomas Olsen
Journey North Character 