Hey, how about this craziness? I was asked to write a devotional for the Episcopal Diocese of Western MA (this surprised me, because my writing can be a weeeee bit irreverent and crude). But I was honored to be asked and it has been a joy to follow the other writers through the Advent and […]
Yearly Archives: 2015
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share via emailI’ll Take the Jacked-Up, Overloaded Jensen Tree
One of my favorite family traditions is decorating the Christmas tree! And not just because I love Christmastime – the festive decorations, the music, the gifts, the sugary treats, the “over-the-top” excitement of the kids, and (most importantly!) the celebration of the birth of Jesus — I love decorating the tree because it’s a time […]
Lord, Get Me Out Of The Way
Kids seem to ask profound questions at such random times. And every time there’s a window to discuss spiritual things, I feel like I blow it. Instead of relaxing and letting their faith take shape, I let fear get in the way. I scramble for the “right” answer (the very thing I’m trying to teach […]
Good Grief
I’m thankful I was raised by “processors” and am now married to one. Life is so much easier when you don’t have to hide your emotions. When I want to avoid something (you know, when “nothing” is wrong, except everything is wrong), Keith always says, “The truth is not the problem” and then he encourages […]
Why Sit Here Until We Die?
My Dad used to preach a sermon called “Why Sit Here Until We Die?” (well, that’s not the real sermon title, but as a kid, that’s what I called it). He only preached it a few times – he said it was a “hard” sermon and he reserved it for congregations that were on the […]
This Day Was No Exception
If you have read my blog, then you already know that God tends to get my attention in unexpected ways. This day was no exception. We are starting school in a couple of days, so I am determined to squeeze the life out of these last summer days (after all, here in New England we […]
Her Children Will Arise and Call Her . . . NEAN
On several occasions Carlie has asked me, “Mom, how can you be so mean and so nice at the same time?” My reply was usually something snarky like, “It’s a gift that God gives to moms.” There’s no question that I can get irritated and frustrated and impatient – I’m not always a nice mommy. […]
Cowardly Faith
There is a black squiggly mess outside our house and all around the neighborhood. A cool machine came through a few weeks ago and patched cracks in the pavement, leaving behind very noticeable repairs. In a way, I’m thankful for the ugly black lines on the court outside our front door. Every single day it […]
Living By Faith – A True Example
My parents recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. At the party, my Aunt Phyllis read a statistic that only 5% of couples make it to the Golden Anniversary, so it was quite an achievement and something to celebrate. While I was in NC, I decided to go through some old slides that my Dad took […]
Ditch the Scorecard
If I’m hanging out with you, it’s because I like you, or because I want to get to know you. Maybe I shouldn’t have to say that, but as a (kinda loud) Christian, I want to make sure you know that you are not a project. I have no ulterior motives. I am not judging […]
