Blog
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Praying with a Painting – Jesus the Vine
Today we move away from Watercolor Wednesday to welcome a new series, Praying with a Painting. I’m still going to be featuring my dad’s wonderful artwork, but want to use it as a jumping point for prayer. One form of praying with the help of an image is visio divina, which is Latin for sacred…
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Watercolor Wednesday: The gift of daily habits
Watercolor Wednesday is back! Today I’m thinking about farms, especially those in Minnesota and Iowa, as my parents were both raised on them in these states. I appreciate their work ethic which developed over many years of doing daily chores – the cows simply had to be milked and fed every day. How does a…
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Praying with a Painting: He washes their feet
I so enjoyed working with my dad on our forthcoming art/reflections book, Celebrating Christmas, which will be released this September, that I asked him if he’d consider painting some scenes for Lent. Here’s one that he created for tomorrow, Maundy Thursday, when Jesus takes the role of a servant and washes his friends’ feet. A…
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My burden is light
Come, beloved,I know you’re tired.I know you’re weary.I know you’re burdened. Come. I’ll give you rest. Here’s my yoke—take it and learn from me. You know I’m gentle,caring, and humble.You’ll find rest;Rest for your soul. My yoke is easy—you’re constrained under itbut I bear the load.My burden is light—I do the heavy lifting. © Amy…
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Watercolor Wednesday: Do not worry
You know the excitement of opening the door to big bunch of gorgeousness in the form of flowers? Yes, it’s better when it’s a surprise and you eagerly search out the card, wondering who sent them. But I’ve managed to be surprised in a minor sort of way when I’ve received the flowers I’ve ordered…
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When things don’t go to plan
I recently came across a document filed away in Evernote entitled, “Dream schedule for book writing and publishing,” which I penned initially in late 2016. I had set myself a course of the books I wanted to write—along with the MA in Christian spirituality I was in the thick of then in 2016. My dreams…
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Watercolor Wednesday: Spring forth into beauty
Spring is in the air—although here in Britain it’s felt like a Fool’s Spring at times, with cold winds whipping through us while we go out for our daily walk. Yet the flowers are blooming all around, and from my study window I can see a group of daffodils swaying in the breeze. Beauty is…
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The Lord is my Producer
Personalizing Psalm 23 is a gift that keeps on giving. You can see my other renditions here. I love how we can take these ancient words and adapt them to where we’re at. This morning I wrote the above take on it as I prepare to lead an online retreat, as I feel tired and…
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Watercolor Wednesday: By the brook we go
Snow on Sunday, a new painting on Wednesday! I love my dad’s rendition of the snowy brook, the photo of which I took at the weekend, with its stark and vibrant colors. Take a moment to walk along the gurgling waters as you feel glops of snow dropping off the trees while carefully picking your…
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New Lent resource: The Prayers of Jesus
Looking for resources for Lent? Looking for someone to give a talk on the prayers of Jesus during Lent? I’ve written an interactive small-group resource for Lent called The Prayers of Jesus, published by CWR (Waverley Resources) in which we explore 6 of the 7 prayers of Jesus in the gospels. It gives you the tools for…
