Monthly Archives: August 2009

Groaning Even Now

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I can count the number of times I’ve attended a Yoga class on two fingers. Yesterday was one of those two. No, I’m not trying to start something new. My daughter – who, by the way, is getting married in two days – teaches Yoga and wanted me to attend. Well, as you can imagine, I’m taking advantage of every opportunity to spend time with her in these last few moments, even if it means pushing beyond my physical limits.

My sore muscles and stiff joints made themselves known even before I got up this morning. I’m not as flexible as I was in my younger days. And yes, I know that tomorrow will be even worse. The second day after stupidity is always worse. Read more

Here Comes the Bride

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My oldest daughter is getting married in just three days. With months of preparation behind us we are down to the last tasks. Just this morning we were going over the lists: votives, flowers, tulle, makeup, nail polish, snacks for bridal party, and more.

Kelley showed me her bridal portraits last night and I cried. Just yesterday she was a little girl with blonde curls who called her Barbie sports car a “Barbie Ferrarbie.” Today she’s a bride. On Saturday, she will walk down the middle aisle of the chapel in a long white dress covered with lace and her father will give her away. She will belong to someone else. Read more

Prayer, Free Stuff, and Jennifer Kennedy Dean

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I’ve got something to confess: I’ve always struggled with prayer. I can sit with my Bible for hours, but staying focused to talk with the Creator of the Universe takes discipline I’m still learning.

Don’t get me wrong. I pray. It just rarely feels natural. It doesn’t come easy for me. Being still is hard work. However, in recent years, God’s been taking me on a journey of discovery. He is teaching me to pray and growing my desire to sit and talk with Him.

One stop along this journey included the Bible study “Live a Praying Life.” The biblical concepts in this study knocked down some false barriers for me. If you also struggle with prayer I would recommend you take a look. However, that’s really not what I want to talk about today. I want to tell you about the author of that study, Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

I met Jennifer last March in Dallas at the Christian Book Expo. Since we share the same

Me and Jennifer Kennedy Dean

Me and Jennifer Kennedy Dean

publisher, New Hope, we had a chance to visit. Jennifer loves the Lord and loves His Word. She has a heart for teaching the truth of God’s Word to others.

Well, my friend Jennifer has just released a new study called Set Apart: A Six Week Study on the Beatitudes. You can read more about it at www.prayinglife.org. If you place your order from there, you will get an email that directs you to a page of bonus gifts Read more

Would you leave spinach in your teeth?

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It’s happened to me a hundred times. Sometime after lunch, a glance in the mirror revealed I’d been walking around the office for hours with something stuck between my front teeth. Usually, it’s green. Possibly spinach, if I ate a healthy meal. And of course, I fished it out immediately.

Like cleaning my teeth when a bit of lunch hangs around too long, most of us work to keep our physical bodies looking presentable. When I see a stray hair, I pluck it. When my gray starts revealing itself again, I color it (or rather my hair dresser does). When I see more flab I cut down on the eating and increase the exercise. And the list goes on. Read more