When I was a little girl, the days spent between Christmas and New Year were filled with the arduous task of writing thank you notes. Looking back now, less than ten notes to write loomed large over those days. For my sister and me, the challenge felt overwhelming. I sat for hours at the dark … Continue reading Can I Cultivate Thanksgiving? Psalm 9a
Are you weary? Do you long to find soul sustaining rest? Maybe you need a session of soul tending in your day? Check out my blog post for some soul tending guidance. My name is Anthea Kotlan, and I have a passion to equip and empower women to build God's kingdom. Join me on this … Continue reading Welcome
In the cool dark recesses of the cupboard under the stairs, I carefully placed my newly potted bulb. My father made it clear that I was not to pull it back out into the light for a few months. At seven years old patience was not my strong suit, and I desperately wanted to take … Continue reading What is God doing in the dark? Psalm 7
When it rains, everything seems wet Dark clouds descend, obscuring my view The rattle of raindrops muffles the sounds of life And I am cocooned in sadness "A Weathered Heart" by Anthea Kotlan This poem reflects a few aspects of depression. If you have ever experienced a season of depression or if someone you love … Continue reading How do you tend a troubled soul? Psalm 6
Do you use practice kindness or condemnation? I confess my default setting for the voice inside my head leans heavily towards harsh criticism. I struggle to practice self-compassion. In Psalm 5, the psalmist calls out to the Lord for help. 1 Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. 2 Give attention to … Continue reading How do you speak to yourself? Psalm 5
Have you ever walked through a season of despair? In the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic, in the Fall of 2020, discouragement began to close in on me. There had been so many cancellations and endless disappointments piled high. My father, a nursing home resident, had been placed in Hospice care. For the first … Continue reading How can I find blessing in the midst of despair? Psalm 3
Even after the warnings, God's people could hardly believe the great disaster that fell upon Jerusalem during the Babylonian Conquest in 597 BC. In the aftermath of war, Psalm 79 expresses the people's grief about what had been done and left undone in the form of a community lament. How Long, O Lord? 1 O … Continue reading Have You Felt Depleted Lately? Psalm 79
Sitting in the pew on a recent Sunday morning at church, we arrived at the part of the service in the Anglican tradition where we pray for the "whole state of Christ's church and the world." This rhythm remains the same every week as the congregation moves through concentric circles of influence in our lives. … Continue reading How can I pray for our President? Psalm 2
Deep in the heart of Texas, there have been so many tears. Imagine the heartbreak of parents who lost their babies and students who lost their teachers in a school shooting in Uvalde. A small community decimated by evil. The grief is heavy. A week later, the news broke that an escaped convict brutally murdered … Continue reading Grief in the Heart of Texas – Psalm 112
In June of 2021, my husband, an Anglican priest, and I left a church where we had served for decades to answer the call to plant a church. Stepping out and into a new season felt like jumping onto a fast-moving train, not knowing the destination. We were leaving behind close friends and a supportive … Continue reading What Does a Church’s Birthday Look Like? Psalm 68: 19-35
Just before Jesus was taken up into Heaven on the day of the Ascension, He promised to send a comforter, guide, and teacher to help His followers. He could see the challenges they would face, and He knew what they would need. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon … Continue reading What Happened on Pentecost? Psalm 68:1-18
Anthea Kotlan 