There’s a new family in the neighborhood. Watching them move and settle reminded me of another time when it was me who was trying to settle. It was October 1973, my husband and I moved our 1- and 2-year-olds and our household belongings to Beloit, WI, because he had been assigned to start up the food lab in the new Hormel plant being built. Headquarters didn’t care that I was nearly due with our third child. And to make matters worse, the day after we moved into our new home,

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text: Matthew 12:14-21 The Pharisees left and held council against him on how they might destroy him. But Jesus knew it and withdrew himself from there. And great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all and charged them to not tell others and make his actions known that Isaiah’s prophecy might be fulfilled: Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved, in whom I am well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him and he shall proclaim justice

Yesterday, I had an appointment. When I arrived, I discovered that I’d written the time down incorrectly; I was actually a half hour early. Oh, well, I thought to myself, let me make the most of this unexpected “free time.” I picked up a magazine to catch up on what others are talking about when a woman came in and sat down next to me. And we struck up a conversation. I learned that she’d been widowed unexpectedly. As she shared about her struggles and challenges to provide f

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text: Matthew 12:1-8 Jesus went on the Sabbath through a field, and his disciples who were hungry began to pluck the grain and eat. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Why do your disciples do what is unlawful to do on the sabbath day?” Jesus said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry and how those with him entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for them to eat, neither him nor those wi

My husband and I were on the road, doing a practice run to the venue for our grandson’s upcoming wedding. We put the address into our GPS. But GPS doesn’t always recognize what else is going on in that neck of the woods at that time. After encountering major cross-country bike ride and missing a turn because of being directed by the police in the wrong direction, we found our way. Getting lost geographically is a minor nuisance. Getting lost spiritually is not. Getting lost

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text: Matthew 11, 28-30 Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.” MEDITATIO - Meditate on text, allow the LORD to touch us with His Word: Have I accepted Christ’s yoke? Am I allowing Him to lead? BREAKING OPEN THE TEXT: In today’s short gospel te

Years ago, I took my whole family on vacation to Door County. At the time, that included my husband and I, my three grown children and their families which added up to 11 more. We were spread out between two summer homes and the main lodge. We usually gathered together for meals and to plan the day’s event at the home my husband and I were renting. And we had a myriad of events that we tackled while we were there, everything from shopping to fishing to arts and crafts. The da

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text: Matthew 11:25-27 At that time, Jesus answered and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to the childlike because, Father, it seemed good in your sight. All things are given to me by my Father and no one knows the Son except the Father. Neither does anyone know the Father except the Son and the ones to whom the Son reveals him.” MEDITATIO -

I heard that old saying that to me makes absolutely no sense – “Here goes nothing!” I remember hearing it when I was younger, and since it made no sense, I asked an adult what it meant. I was told it was an expression used when one was doing something they didn’t feel would succeed or help the situation. When I heard that explanation, I wondered why anyone would try anything without hope. I still wonder about that. Hope is essential for humanity. And I think we should consid

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text: Matthew 11:20-24 Then Jesus reproached the cities where most of his mighty works were done because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin. Woe to you, Bethsaida. For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heav

I’m a planner. Well, I didn’t use to be. I used to be a “fly by the seat of my pants” kind of girl. But then I met and married the world’s best planner. And before I knew it, I was planner, too. I make some of the most amazing “to do” lists. I use pretty paper for them, because life has taught me that there are plans and then there is life. So, my “to do” lists have a tendency of needing to sit out for long periods of time. My current “to do” list is long and has a couple of

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text: Isaiah 1:10-17 “Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom. Give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah. ‘What is the purpose of the multitude of your sacrifices to me?’ asks the LORD. I am full of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beast. I do not delight in the blood of bullocks or of lambs or goats. Who has required this of you when come before me and tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations. Incense is an abo

This morning, out of the blue, I suffered an optic migraine. And so for some time, I was unable to read or to write because my vision was blocked. I’ve suffered from these since I was 21 years old. So, I have learned to just accept it and wait. I was blessed in that it came during my usual prayer time. And so, instead of reading or journaling, which I could not do, I had an extended and prayerful conversation with the LORD. And when it came time to pray for those for whom I h

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text: Isaiah 55:10-11 (The Lord said,) “As the rain comes down from heaven and does not return before it waters the earth and makes it bring forth and produce fruit that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the hungry, so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth. It shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I desire, accomplishing the purpose for which I sent it.” MEDITATIO - Meditate on text, allow the LORD to touch u

I’d been wanting to visit the Itty Bitty BBQ at our local beach all summer, but other commitments kept me away until yesterday. I know the family who owns and operates it, and I wanted to show my support to them on their new endeavor. As often happens, I went in hopes of helping another and came home myself abundantly blessed. Life’s like that sometimes, don’t you know. When we arrived at the Itty Bitty site, the owner welcomed us from his station behind the grills and smok

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text: Matthew 10:24-33 (Jesus said to his Apostles,) “No disciple is above his master nor a servant above his lord. It is not enough for the disciple that he be like his master and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call those of his household the same. Do not fear them therefore for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, no secret that will not be known. What I say

Yesterday was window washing day at my house. I have a guy who calls every year and schedules it. And sure enough, yesterday, Lee came as planned. He washed every window on the inside, went outside, took down all the screens and scrubbed them and dried them, washed the outside of every window, and then rehung the screens. And because of that experience, I am seeing more clearly, but it isn’t all due to my windows. In fact, the truth is that what cleared my vision more than

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text: Psalm 51 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving kindness, According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my guilt, And cleanse me from my sin. I acknowledge my transgression; And my sin is ever before me. Against you and you alone have I sinned, And done evil in your sight. You are justified when you speak, And clear when you judge. Behold, I was formed in iniquity, And in sin

There’s a lot of construction in our area, after all, it is summer in Wisconsin. As I was out and about, on a road being used by several large rigs, I noticed something – several boys, standing by the roadside together, looking up and down the road in both directions. It took me a few moments to realize what they were up to, and then I heard the honk and saw them literally jumping for joy. They were watching for trucks. And when a truck approached, all raised their arms with

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text: Psalm 80:2ac, 3b, 15, 17 O shepherd of Israel, hearken, From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth. Rouse your power. O LORD, look down from heaven, Take care of this vine. And protect what your right hand has planted, The son of man whom you yourself made strong. Let us see your face, LORD, and we shall be saved. MEDITATIO - Meditate on text, allow the LORD to touch us with His Word: Do I recognize my vulnerability apart from God? Do I