Whatever you look for, you will see. Annie F. Downs What are you looking for this Advent Season? Hope Peace Joy Love Those are the four themes of Advent, but all too often, I am looking for: Disappointment Conflict Despair Indifference I don’t think I ever intended to look for these opposites of the Advent … Continue reading What are you looking for? Psalm 121
Many of us spend hours gathering clues, watching for evidence, and hearing interviews from our favorite true crime podcasts and documentaries. What draws people to listen to this content that continues to grow in popularity? Mysteries grab our attention, and we all have a desire to solve puzzles. It is thrilling to dive into a … Continue reading Up and Vanished – Psalm 12
During my season of parenting teenagers, there was one thing I could always count on -- inconvenient conversations. Just as I was nodding off or felt beyond exhausted, one of my teens chose to begin a meaningful conversation. Suddenly, words poured forth freely, and the opportunity to truly connect arrived. These conversation opportunities opened up … Continue reading Do you have time for a conversation? Psalm 9b
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
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
(Man praying on a hill.) When I was in fifth grade, I peered in the mirror smiling and discovered that my teeth were coated with red dye in various shades. Plaque disclosing dye tablets had done their job. My reflection revealed a real lack of dental hygiene in my 10-year-old self. The plaque had been … Continue reading Five Lessons Learned about God’s Love from a Sinner’s Situation – Psalm 51
Are you tired? Are you worn out? God’s guidance continues to challenge me to dismantle the influence of hustle culture on my life. For decades I’ve been immersed in the need to do more, work harder, and keep going. My type A personality struggles to avoid the trap that hems me in on all sides … Continue reading A Remedy for Soul Weary Days Psalm 16:7-11
As a child, I seldom had the opportunity to go to church. Looking back, I remember I was always a bit of a seeker. I wanted to know more about God, but He truly seemed so inaccessible. I can remember lying in my bed waiting to pray. I became convinced that since God was so … Continue reading On the Road with God
Anthea Kotlan 