Blog
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Christmas greetings!
Soon it will be Christmas! I so enjoy the Christmas season, when the baking is done, the presents are wrapped and given, the run of church services is over, and we can enjoy time together as a family. As here in the northern hemisphere we’ve passed the shortest day of the year and look forward to…
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Watercolor Wednesday: Stark hope
I meant to take a walk in the nearby brook today, but some stuff happened and I didn’t make it there before darkness descended – which when I checked the time of sundown, was 3.51pm. That’s feeling early. I have to be more organized to enjoy the outdoors in December. But my dad sent me…
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Watercolor Wednesday: A bridge of hope
A fitting scene as we start Advent, for my Dad’s watercolor shows a barren tree, but signs of hope too in the blue of the flowing river – maybe it’s the river of life? – and the shades of beauty in the sky. How could Advent be a bridge for you this year as you…
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Watercolor Wednesday: Grateful hearts
It’s the week of Thanksgiving! You may or may not be celebrating; we will be feasting on Saturday, enjoying good food and the company of friends and family. Although we face challenges, which is not uncommon in this life, we have much to give thanks for. May our hearts overflow with gratitude for all of…
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Watercolor Wednesday: Stark beauty
As the trees once again become bare, the sky sometimes flashes into a panorama of color and we glimpse a stark beauty. We have a momentary reprieve from a grey, overcast sky that bears down on us. Our spirit soars as we gasp in wonder and thanks. May you experience wonder today.
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Introducing the new editor of Woman Alive – and her love of books
In the thirteen years that I’ve run the Woman Alive book club, my editor was the lovely Jackie Harris. I’ve loved working with Jackie, who is a quiet giant – one who gets things done and lives out her faith with grace (and who has some exciting new publishing ventures lined up!). But with the…
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Weekly Watercolor: Hope in drab times
In this painting, it’s a drab winter day in Minneapolis. It’s a bit of a drab day here in London too, so I thought it fitting to share this painting today, especially as Minnesotans have received some snow and are shivering in the cold. What do you do to brighten the clouds that descend in…
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Watercolor Wednesday: A word fitly spoken…
Recently at the Our Daily Bread writers’ and editors’ conference, I got to lead the prayer sessions. For one of them, while praying we asked God for our words to be “apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11, ESV). My dad kindly painted these golden apples for us to ponder. What does this…
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Watercolor Wednesday: The beauty of imitation
So much of life comes through imitation. A child learns to speak over many months of listening and eventually responding. Those of us who are writers learn to write by copying our favorite authors at first. Eventually, through enough words on the page, we find our own voice. So too, I believe but do not…
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Watercolor Wednesday: The Transfiguration of Jesus
Over the summer, I sat down with my dad and grilled him about some of his paintings. I’m so glad I did, for I love knowing what’s behind creative ventures. I didn’t give this painting much thought before I knew what it symbolized. It’s my dad’s take on the transfiguration of Jesus (see Matthew 17:1-8),…
