Talk about a “pearl of great price”! A Filipino fisherman this week revealed the unusual good-luck charm he’d kept hidden under his bed for ten years: a 75-pound pearl. No, that’s not a typo – his two-foot-long, fresh-water treasure weighs as much as your average 5th-grader. The extraordinary beauty of natural pearls comes from the […]
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THE FRUIT THAT COMES FROM ABIDING IN CHRIST
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. … By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:5,8) John 15 is one of the best-loved of all the […]
LOST YOUR JOY? HERE’S HOW TO GET IT BACK
Another dull gray day, another day of self-isolation, and it’s getting harder to keep the spirits up. Whatever happened to joy? Jesus wants our joy to be full (see John 15:11). And it’s one of the fruits of the Spirit. Joy should be the hallmark of a Christian: a kind of identifying aura that others […]
Scripture Reflection
Scripture Reflection Here I share the fruits of my personal reflection on the Word of God, whether I’m reading along with the lectionary readings for that week or exploring a particular book of the Bible. Enjoy the posts that appear below; you’ll find them with the most recent first. If you’re looking for something in […]
REASON FOR HOPE DURING COVID-19
Like many people, I spent the last few days trying to assimilate the rapidly-evolving directives regarding Covid19. One day it seemed enough to simply practice good hygiene and stock the larder, so I got on a plane to my next speaking engagement. Within hours of my arrival the picture had changed. Schools were shutting down, […]
PRACTICING THANKFULNESS
“Thirty grateful breaths . . . sets the tone for the day,” says Outdoor Voices founder Tyler Haney. The article caught my eye while I sat waiting in the airport. Before even getting out of bed she takes a deep breath, thinks of something she’s grateful for, and holds the thought until she’s ready for […]
Speaking
Speaking My greatest joy is to draw people into the word of God and make it accessible — whether through formal study, practical workshops, or talks that connect faith with everyday life. I bring a passionate love of the Bible from my Protestant background, together with over 20 years of experience developing Catholic Bible study […]
I CHOOSE JOY!
I almost didn’t buy it. Half-buried in a tangle of costume jewelry, the pin sat in a dish by the cash register. “Your pick, $5” said the sign. “Junk,” I muttered — then looked again. Three rhinestone capitals winked a message: JOY! Best $5 jewelry purchase ever. I wear it every year—on my sweatshirts and […]
“HOW LONG, O LORD, HOW LONG?” – Psalm 13
I remember the day it all got to be too much for me. Our house had finally sold after two years sitting empty, but that hardly made a difference. We sold at a loss, and my husband had been without work for months. There was no money in the bank. We had a toddler and […]
HELP! (WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?) – Psalm 121
I hated walking home after Daylight Savings ended. I didn’t live far from where I babysat, but the road wasn’t lit. Not even houses along the way—houses of people I knew, who were friendly—erased the nagging fear that something could happen, I could be hurt, and no one would come to my aid. I’d clutch […]
