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
How do you speak to yourself? Psalm 5
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
How can I find blessing in the midst of despair? Psalm 3
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
Have You Felt Depleted Lately? Psalm 79
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
How can I pray for our President? Psalm 2
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
Grief in the Heart of Texas – Psalm 112
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
What Does a Church’s Birthday Look Like? Psalm 68: 19-35
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
What Happened on Pentecost? Psalm 68:1-18
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
Why Does God Call Me To Look Up? Psalm 8
At regular intervals, and sometimes entirely by surprise, God paints the sky with impressive displays of his handiwork. While every night sky, sunrise, sunset, a sea of blue, or cloud formation reveals beauty, some of God’s artwork stuns me. A recent lunar eclipse reminded me of how God can and will disrupt the regular cycles … Continue reading Why Does God Call Me To Look Up? Psalm 8
Can I Be Rescued from the Quicksand of Anxiety? Psalm 40:11-17
Quicksand appeared in more than one television show when I was a child in the 60s and 70s. It served as a frequent plot twist. Many a heroic figure found him or herself sinking deeper and deeper. Or sometimes, the hero would discover someone else descending into danger. Whichever scenario unfolded, there were often guidelines … Continue reading Can I Be Rescued from the Quicksand of Anxiety? Psalm 40:11-17
Anthea Kotlan 