Starting Well in 2012 {Index}

Week 1:  Quiet Time ... discipline in my spiritual life Devotions, Quiet Times, Personal Bible Study.  Is is really necessary?  "God is not interested in your quiet time or devotions or personal Bible study … His interest is YOU." 10 Tips for a Great Quiet Time "Spending time in the Word is important … but how that happens and for how long on any given day?  I’m just not sure that is quite as big a deal to God as it seems to be to us sometimes." Memorize, Meditate, and Meander:  Storing Up ... [Read More]

Giving {Living} Beyond: Freeset USA

One of the best parts of blogging is meeting amazing people and having the opportunity to partner with incredible ministries.  Today, I'd like to share with you about Freeset USA and one of the women they are helping. Meet Kajori ... “After the first meeting with Kerry I promised that if I got the job I would quit the line...” It might be 10 years since that meeting happened, but Kajori remembers it clearly, “After training was completed, Kerry then asked who was willing to quit the line. I ... [Read More]

When Songs Heal

Once a month we go to Burns Nursing Home.   We walk down the hall smiling at nurses and patients.  It's clean and cheery and the air is filled with the smells of lunch cooking. Yesterday, the second Tuesday of the month, we were there.   We walked into the community room with its bright yellow walls and pastoral paintings.   Twenty-two were already there.  Four ready to sing and eighteen ready to join us. Eighteen people with weathered skin and withered hands ... joined us for this hour to ... [Read More]

Counting for Eternity

{Life is still spinning fast around Chez Underwood.  I pray this post from the archives will bless you today.} "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 ... [Read More]

Open Letter from a Pastor’s Wife

So often people look at me and they THINK they know who I am. After all, I married a man called by God into His ministry ... I must be a super-holy, deeply spiritual person. Some people think I must have a beautiful voice, be an excellent pianist, and love teaching toddlers in Sunday School. Others imagine I am a gifted Bible teacher who bakes fresh bread every day and rises at 4 a.m. to pray for each church member by name. Still there are some who believe my home is always immaculate and I ... [Read More]