“The impossibility of empirical proof is a spiritual necessity. A man who knew empirically that an event had been caused by his prayer would feel like a magician. His head would turn and his heart would be corrupted. The Christian is not to ask whether this or that event happened because of a prayer. HeContinueContinue reading “Does Prayer Make a Difference”
Category Archives: Holiness
Big Life Changes
As a sporadic blogger, I find myself facing a somewhat surprisingly stark truth as I compose this entry: the purpose of my blog is shifting. This is our final year of homeschooling. This, 2025, is my final year as a homeschooling mama. But truth be told, I was born a teacher. Since I was 7ContinueContinue reading “Big Life Changes”
Controlled Chaos
Originally posted on this author’s earlier blog In His Grip back in 2019 As Christmas 2019 is right around the corner, many of us embrace the illusion we call control. We love to control our bank accounts–when we are not overspending…our body image–when we are not eating what appeases only our taste buds but notContinueContinue reading “Controlled Chaos”
Unquenchable thirst
I have struggled with depression and anxiety my entire life. I didn’t know it, but even in childhood I can look back and see things that were clearly anxious behaviors. I recall an episode in my bedroom at age 6 where I sat cross-legged on my neatly-made bed, folded my hands in my lap andContinueContinue reading “Unquenchable thirst”
Forgiveness
We all want it. Sometimes we find it hard to give. But the truth is, we all need it. We are imperfect flawed human beings who will hurt others–sometimes intentionally and sometimes quite inadvertently. We tend to view things from our own point of view and have trouble seeing through other lenses. That is whatContinueContinue reading “Forgiveness”
Bumble
It’s midnight and I’m sitting on the sofa in the living with very dim lighting listening to the hum of the dishwasher, thinking about a literal midnight snack and crying over a dead fish. Before you deem me a hopeless train wreck, let me explain: In August of 2018 the three of us met myContinueContinue reading “Bumble”
The not so young and the restless…
So here we are on Friday, April 24, 2020 and we are still quarantining from the Coronoavirus, otherwise known as Covid-19. My thirteen-years-old easy-going child is going bonkers–so much so that I’ve relaxed our “draconian” internet rules and allowed more time playing on the Switch with his elder brother in Florida. DH was off earlyContinueContinue reading “The not so young and the restless…”
Post-Easter Quarantine
So it’s a week after Easter and it looks as though the quarantine may be slowly drawing to a close. There is talk of shops opening next Friday via Governor Abbott and phases to return to normalcy as far as travel is concerned. Church is still online and I haven’t heard of anything regarding whenContinueContinue reading “Post-Easter Quarantine”
Constructive Criticism
” Jen, can I talk to you for a second?” No words make my heart sink faster than when someone rhetorically poses that loaded question. I instantly respond with, “Am I in trouble?” Usually this question stays safely in my head. I feel vulnerable. What did I do wrong and what do I need toContinueContinue reading “Constructive Criticism”
Thinking out loud
I’m in a New York state of mind. Actually being from Chicago, I’m not quite sure what that means but it sounds better than I’m in a slump. Spring fever? Too much on my plate? Distress over daughter moving to Washington State (likely but still a little up in the air)? Probably the last oneContinueContinue reading “Thinking out loud”
Decidedly Different 