Tag: wait-on-the-Lord

Categories
Making Disciples

Parenting teens

I remember the day it hit me. Specific prayer for my teen was a much more effective way to persuade her to do something.  Words seemed to have little effect. Even triggered resistance. And created a rift between us, making matters worse. 

But silent prayers by faith—with a sincere heart—brought change in a way my parental speeches had not.

And praying changed me. Helped me consider what was true. What was necessary. Brought back memories of my own journey in adolescence.

This experiment was a process. And led to a few practices that paid off in building relationships with our teens. 

Continue reading “Parenting teens”
Categories
Crossing Cultures Devotional

Temporary nest

The birds swoop down toward me. Splattered mud of last year’s temporary nest still stains the corner under the roof of our patio. We’ve tried to deter them. A long rope of brass bells from India hangs from a nail nearby. I watch them pull at the strands of the rope. Loudly protesting this intrusion. 

Photo Credit: rithban Flickr via Compfight cc

They try a new location. In the opposite corner. Instinct rules and they will not be stopped. We pile something in this new spot. Our attempt at a scarecrow.  We wait to see whether they’ll leave for another place. 

They’re obnoxious. All the chattering and swooping makes the back patio an unpleasant experience. But I know it’s how they’re wired. It’s time for nest making. Go home. 

Continue reading “Temporary nest”
Categories
Devotional

Waiting for the Lord

Waiting. Yesterday our pastor continued his series on “Unexpected Jesus.” Danny took us to the story of Lazarus. A story of delayed arrival. Unexpected timing that found the friends and family of Lazarus in the thick of grief, at the point of numb acceptance that their loved one wasn’t coming back.

In their traditional beliefs, the soul hovered above the body for three days.  Waiting. But the fourth day? Gone. No hope. It was the pinnacle of sorrow and loss in the death of Lazarus. Decay had begun. And it was the day of Jesus’ arrival. 

Continue reading “Waiting for the Lord”