from Comfort & Joy: Readings and Practices for Advent (Herald Press, 2025) Spend some time reflecting on your own expectations for the holiday season. Since Advent can be especially busy, finding time for reflection might be challenging. However, carving out at least one time during the week when you can be alone and quiet isContinue reading ““Releasing Expectations””
Tag Archives: dailydevotion
Joy: Practicing Wholeness (Luke 8:48)
“Jesus said, ‘Daughter, you took a risk trusting me, and now you’re healed and whole. Live well, live blessed!’” -Luke 8:48 If you didn’t get a chance to read Sherah-Leigh’s reflection on Monday take a moment to do that now! Take time this week to journal or think about your hopes for healing and comfort.Continue reading “Joy: Practicing Wholeness (Luke 8:48)”
Comfort: Suffering (2 Corinthians 12:10)
“Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.” 2 Corinthians 12:10 The Message Human beings all suffer. Some of us suffer through prolonged physical painContinue reading “Comfort: Suffering (2 Corinthians 12:10)”
Joy: Practice Routines
In times of grief, anxiety or change, routines can help us, especially ones that keep us connected with our body. During a recent period of change in my life I found a daily walking schedule was a grounding experience. The changes that were happening in my family life were not under my control and IContinue reading “Joy: Practice Routines”
Poem of Lament
Lament pose Laying flat on the wet groundrain washes over me.The earth girds me from underneath. My tears mix withshowers from the sky.Somehow this painwill leave me soaking into the soil. We hope that this has brought you some comfort and joy. If this has been meaningful for you please like, comment or share this withContinue reading “Poem of Lament”
Series Intro: Fall Lament
Fall is here and manifesting all the beauty of transition. Flowers change from their glorious colors of summer and work instead at the job of spreading seeds out into the world. Leaves change from supple green light collectors into crunchy brown someday-soil scattered on the ground. I love fall. The cool temperatures and brisk breezesContinue reading “Series Intro: Fall Lament”
Comfort: Rest in our Body
“You make my lot secure.The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;Surely I have a delightful inheritance.Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;My body also will rest secure.” -Psalm 16:5,6,9 (NIV) Many of us live with disquieted spirits, unsure of our futures. And we are not alone; 40 million Americans struggleContinue reading “Comfort: Rest in our Body”
Comfort: Rest as God’s Provision
“God my Shepherd! I don’t need a thing.” -Psalm 23:1 (The Message) Recently, as my husband and I were in our yard, we heard the cows on a nearby hill munching on grass. They must have been in just the right spot with the wind blowing just so. What a simple, yet profoundly peaceful, moment.Continue reading “Comfort: Rest as God’s Provision”
Practice of Joy: Rest as Self Care
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.” -Psalm 91:4 I believe that God looks at us with kindness. Not in a wishy-washy way, just with sincere kindness. Depending on your personality type or the family system you grew up in, you may have more or less successContinue reading “Practice of Joy: Rest as Self Care”
Comfort: Easter Morning
AMEN: Easter Blessing Sometimes in the wintercold wraps around meWhere is God? Sometimes in the nightit’s hard to knowWhere God is. Sometimes weare the disciples waitingin the darkit must have feltlike winterWhere is God? ButEaster morningAlways comes like springbursting through thecold and darkblossoming with possibility Jesus is risenJesus is hereJesus is coming again
some comfort and joy 