When I say the word “sanctuary” what do you think of?Perhaps you think about a church sanctuary—a place where people gather for worship services.Perhaps a butterfly sanctuary—an environment created specifically so butterflies can thrive. Or maybe political sanctuary—what someone can receive in a new country if fleeing persecution.All of these examples include the idea of … Continue reading A sanctuary of time
wellness
Physical rest without mental rest
Rest is important. But don’t take my word for it. God says as much in Exodus 20:9-10: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God.”We all most likely agree that rest is important. But it’s making it happen that is the … Continue reading Physical rest without mental rest
God’s pure medicine for your soul
The 10 Commandments continue to apply to Christians today. Of all the commandments, do you want to know which one gets the most space? Is it murder, idolatry or adultery? Nope. It’s one day a week for Sabbath rest. Trust me: This isn’t a guilt trip. Many of us struggle to find time to rest. … Continue reading God’s pure medicine for your soul
If you want it out there, you need it in here
World peace. We all want it. But how do we get it? Let’s be honest. There is a lot going on in the world around us that is simply beyond our control. We can, however, influence what is happening inside of us. When you think about it, what happens inside of us is our foundational … Continue reading If you want it out there, you need it in here
Restorative practices that are due for a comeback
I recently saw a phone booth. It made me take a second look. You don’t see them very much anymore. Phone booths are kind of like the milk man. They remind you of another era. As modern people, we are at risk of dismissing good things about the past. We quickly fall in love with … Continue reading Restorative practices that are due for a comeback
Help for January
January can be tough. If you think it’s just you, think again. December bills are rolling in, the Christmas tree is (probably) put away, it still gets dark fairly early in the evenings, and it’s cold. Oh, and seasonal affective disorder is a real thing (especially in colder climates), and the world seems to be … Continue reading Help for January
The way to avoid hitting a wall hard
In 2 Thessalonians 3:13 (ESV) Paul wrote: “do not grow weary in doing good.” Some of the people in that church were lazy. “Idleness” was a problem. But others were doing good things. They were serving, evangelizing, and being useful. Those were the people Paul was talking to. Note the word ‘weary.’ He affirmed them … Continue reading The way to avoid hitting a wall hard
From a place of stillness
“I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother…” (Psalm 131:2) If an army is in chaos, it's not going to respond very well when the enemy strikes. If a soldier is always fatigued and confused about what to do, he's not going to face the enemy with power. … Continue reading From a place of stillness
Inner stillness
The most popular verse in Psalm 46 is verse 10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” In our world of frantic frenzy, scurrying, stress and busyness, the idea of “being still” really appeals to us. We might not always do it very well, but we sure like it! It makes us think of … Continue reading Inner stillness
A nap and a snack
You want to be faithful. You want to be loving. But if you’re always running on empty that will be hard to do. It will also be difficult if you’re always giving and giving and giving. Yes, giving is good. It can be a blessing when we give our time and talent to help others. … Continue reading A nap and a snack
