Collect for Saint Patrick The Feast of Saint Patrick honors the venerated bishop/missionary who walked the green hills of Ireland in the fifth century. It is celebrated as both a liturgical and nonliturgical holiday on March 17 and has become a celebration of Ireland itself. Almighty God, in your providence you chose your servant Patrick […]
Faith
Should Christians Forgive AND Forget?
Christians struggle with Jesus’s teaching about forgiveness: we are commanded to forgive over and over. But do we have to forgive AND forget? Maybe not… This post originally appeared on the blog in 2014, where it stimulated quite a bit of emotion and conversation. The question has come up so often lately, however, especially […]
Are You A Faithful Writer?
You might be surprised to realize you’re not only a writer, but you’re a faithful writer. Do you find inspiration in strange places? Have you ever awakened in the middle of the night with someone on your mind or something you feel compelled to do? Have you ever had an idea bubble up in your […]
How I Plan To Make 2019 My Best Year Yet
I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions. I’m after something more positive, more empowering and more liberating! Sleepless in Virginia Less than two weeks ago—not long after all my holiday guests had left to go home—I woke up in the wee hours of the morning in a cold sweat. Tossing and turning, my mind […]
Does Stewardship Get A Bad Rap?
Stewardship is our management of time, talent, and treasure. Does the word “stewardship” get a bad rap in our culture today? If so, let’s redeem it! I spoke recently to our church congregations during the annual stewardship campaign. I share my comments here because I am convinced that our attitudes about money, giving, and generosity […]
Learn To Set Healthy Boundaries
Giving is good…until it’s too much. Let’s talk about setting boundaries. This is updated from an earlier post, but the message is even more important than ever for those striving to live the Heartspoken life. It’s important to remember that while generosity and giving of ourselves is essential, if we don’t set healthy boundaries, we […]
6 Simple Steps To Building A Relationship With God
“How do I build a relationship with God?” is a question I’m often asked, and it’s tempting to make the process more complicated than it needs to be. This post is revised and updated from its first appearance in 2014. “Good things as well as bad, you know, are caught by a kind of infection. If […]
Interview With Christian Author Shelley Jarl
Who knew the story of Noah had so much to teach us about surrendering to God during our most trying times? Shelley Jarl, author, blogger, and Christian writer, is the administrator of the Faithful Bloggers Facebook group I’ve belonged to for a while. When she reached out to group members to help her promote her […]