Courteously Reverent

All over the blogosphere lately I keep seeing posts on marriage, submission, roles of husband and wife.  I’ve even written on the topic of practical submission.  In fact, I have an eBook all about submission in marriage. So, you might be asking at this moment, “Why, TL, are you writing on this topic again?” Because I can’t escape this one verse … especially the way Peterson writes it in The Message: Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another. Ephesians 5:21 You may be ... [Read More]

Simple Counsel

Yesterday I did something I’ve never done before.  Seems strange now to think that it was a new experience for me.  It was, after all, something most of my peers did several years ago and something many of my younger friends do regularly now.  But for me … it was new. I went to a MOPS meeting. Not as a mother or a mentor … but as a panel member.  A bit strange to me, this recognition that I have become one of the older mothers.  Feels a little bit weird to imagine that anyone would ask me a ... [Read More]

What is your finish line?

A gold medal is a wonderful thing.  But if you're not enough without it, you'll never be enough with it. ~ Cool Runnings The writer of Hebrews admonishes us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (12:1 NIV).  And so often I see people running … hard, dedicated, passionate … but I wonder if they are seeking the true finish line. We’re told in the second verse of that chapter that our finish line is Jesus Christ.  That’s it.  Christ is the end … “the author and perfecter of our ... [Read More]

Last vestiges of summer

We are a mere nine days from the start of school this year.   I'm finding it increasingly difficult to believe my baby will be in 5th grade ... the last year of elementary school is here.  Seriously?  Wasn't I just bringing this home from the hospital? As these moments rush past me, I'm making a decision rooted in overflowing love to spend more time with her during these final days of summer laziness.   Unplugging for the most part and going to one of our favorite places, we'll be spending ... [Read More]

Our Written Love Story

Because today's post by Lisa-Jo Baker resulted in me writing my own post in her comments section, which she then so very kindly suggested become a post all it's own ... I offer up a rare two-for-one day.  I hope you won't mind. ~*~*~*~ We have months of love letters.  Not sent via air mail … but a back and forth exchange of dreams and hopes and fears and transparency mailed tenderly between Alabama and Missouri. Letters sent by two twenty-three year olds who had seen enough of life to know ... [Read More]

Counting for Eternity

Special thanks to Cherie for this beautiful photo. "When life comes down to the bottom line, I want mine to have counted for all eternity." unknown How does this happen?  What steps do we take to make our lives count for eternity? I know this ... it's not by chance or happenstance.  It's a purposeful decision, a dedicated choice made consistently out of obedience.  What counts for eternity? Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves ... [Read More]