From the Heartspoken Archives This was first posted in 2012, but since many of you are new, I thought you’d enjoy some of these special literary celebrations of the St. Patrick’s Day. And if you’re inclined to cook something green in addition to wearing something green, you might enjoy our family’s Green Rice recipe — […]
Faith (Connect with God)
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 […]
Lent Calls
As we enter the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic and face the fears and uncertainties of a world dealing with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I find myself entering the season of Lent already on my knees praying for so much that is entirely out of my control. Lent as a church season Lent begins […]
Gratitude: The Secret Sauce In The Recipe For Happiness
Many have tried to define happiness, but the older I get, the more I believe gratitude is at the heart of true happiness. It’s the “secret sauce” that binds everything else together and makes happiness such a delicious state of mind. “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and gratitude is […]
All Saints Day: A Bishop’s Meditation
All Saints Day is celebrated on November 1—a time to remember not only the famous and official saints, but also those who have been saints to us in our lives by pointing us in the direction of God. This All Saints Day meditation was written by The Rt. Rev. Porter Taylor, Assisting Bishop of the […]
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 […]
Fourth of July Reflections on America
Adapted and updated: In 2011, my husband and I made an incredible drive up the coast of California between Los Angeles and San Francisco, with a side trip to Point Reyes National Seashore north of San Francisco and Muir Woods. We enjoyed breathtaking vistas of rugged coastline and walked a trail gazing up at immense […]
Life Is Beautiful…and Hard
Thanks to a recommendation from my highschool friend Becky Russell, I recently finished reading Kate Bowler’s remarkable and moving book Everything Happens For A Reason: and other lies I’ve loved. (Amazon link) When Kate Bowler was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer, she was 35, happily married, and had a newborn son named Zach. She was […]