A Walk Through the Parables: The Narrow Way

September 15, 2014 by

A Walk through the parablesMy daughter has a knack for squeezing into places she shouldn’t.

She climbs under our kitchen chair then freaks out when she gets “trapped” between the four legs.

She squishes between the desk and file cabinet, then squalls for help when she tries to exit a different way.

She attempts to dismount a chair through the back and then hollers when her head won’t fit through without turning it a specific direction.

There are a lot of tight, narrow spots that she can get stuck… And believe it or not, us adults can get stuck too.

Not in narrow places, but in the wide, open spaces of complacency and procrastination.  [Read more…]

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A Walk Through the Parables: The Samaritan

September 8, 2014 by

As an army family, being “neighborly” can be something of an awkward situation.

It is no secret when a family moves in or out of the neighborhood. The massive amounts of flying cardboard and huge semi trucks loading up thousands of pounds of personal belongings kind of give it away.

Being neighborly on post is not an easy task. Most of the time, folks keep pretty much to themselves. I am sure it is because they (ok we) are all busy and the effort it takes to build a relationship when they are probably moving to a new duty station in the next 12 seconds is, well, a lot of work.

But we try to be good neighbors. We really do. Sometimes it is well received, other times they just eat our “Welcome to the neighborhood” chicken dinner and we never hear from them again. (And they may or may not keep the Tupperware containers we served it in.)

Here’s the deal: We don’t have to be in the army to be neighborly. Heck, we don’t even have to be neighborly to only those in our neighborhood.  [Read more…]

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A Walk Through the Parables: The Banquet

September 1, 2014 by

A Walk through the parablesI am a pretty social person.

On a scale of 1-10, I would say I fall somewhere around a 12.

My personality loves interacting and entertaining (except for the part where I have to prep and clean the guest bathroom.) Sure, I love time to myself, but I really enjoy hanging out with folks.

This used to be no big deal “back in the day” when I was footloose and fancy-free.  Just myself (and my studies) to worry about. I didn’t attend every social event but it would take a pretty big college exam to keep me from “just dropping by.”

Now, as a wife, mama and minister who lives a couple thousand miles from family, I have to mark the “Regretfully will not be attending” box more than I would like.  [Read more…]

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A Walk Through The Parables: The Tenants

August 25, 2014 by

Sometimes stories in the Bible make me grimace.

Not because I have a weak stomach but because this following Jesus business is dang serious.

There is a lot at stake and I am constantly asking God to do a “heart-check” to make sure my pulse still beats for Him… Because let’s be honest, it is crazy easy to get distracted in our world full of “bright and shiny” instant gratification teasers.

Which is what today’s parable is all about… Brace yourself. It’s about to get real all up in here as we dig into the Parable of the Tenants, found in Matthew 21:33-46 and Mark 12:1-12.

A Walk through the parables

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A Walk Through The Parables: The Two Sons

August 18, 2014 by

A Walk through the parablesAs a Christian, I sometimes feel like I have multiple personalities.

But in all actuality, those alleged split personalities are really just the yucky places in my heart (see also: sin) that are constantly at war with my call to be like Christ.

It’s exhausting, I tell you.

If we are honest with ourselves, there is probably a little bit of hypocrite in all of us. We say one thing and do another. We know how we are a supposed to love/behave/react as followers of Jesus but before you can say “Stop right there, word vomit!” we do or say something that might make folks raise a quick eyebrow as to our heart status.  [Read more…]

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A Walk Through the Parables: The Vineyard Workers

August 11, 2014 by

When my sister and I were growing up, it seemed like every other conversation with our parents ended with the phrase “It’s not fair!”

My sister got to take a bath second which mean a slightly later bedtime. It’s not fair. A Walk through the parables

I had to spend my precious time waiting for my sister to get her stuff together after school to give her a ride since I was already able to drive. It’s not fair.

Little brother, who was 12 years younger got to live like an only child because we were long gone. It’s not fair.

I could go on… but I won’t. Because this “It’s not fair” jam really shows my ugly side.

Yuck.

But when we really think about it, we probably all have a side like that… And most of us can probably relate to the experience of the workers in the vineyard as we walk through the Parable found in Matthew 20.  [Read more…]

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A Walk Through the Parables: The Mustard Seed

August 4, 2014 by

I have always been on the small-ish side of things.

I don’t mean small-minded or super small in girth, but small in stature.

That’s right. I am short.

On a good day I reach the incredible heights of five feet, two inches.

I was “that kid” who never debated my place in line on class picture day. It was always front row on one of the ends, so my short little self could be seen long after we said cheese and the film was developed.

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A Walk Through the Parables: The Weeds of Life

July 28, 2014 by

A Walk through the parables

I have recently discovered that yard work is somewhat therapeutic for me. That realization alone is kind of a big deal, since during my childhood yard work was one of my most dreaded chores, right up there with cleaning bathrooms.

But now that we are grown-uppish with our “own” home, at least until the army says otherwise, I enjoy watering the grass, dreaming about planting more flowers (when the budget allows) and yes, even weeding the flower garden. [Read more…]

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A Walk through the Parables: Lost is Found!

July 21, 2014 by
Lost and Found - Laura Johns

Photo via Laura Johns @ Flickr

I like to think that I am a gal that has it pretty together. Ish.

I keep my task list nearby.  I make a menu each week to keep things organized (and to make grocery shopping a less-harried experience.) I try to stick to a cleaning schedule to keep our house kind of sort of minimally maintained on weekly basis.

If something is lost, usually I know just where to look. Which is really good news, because finding lost items is not my Beloved husband’s forte. (He is usually the one losing stuff… “Hey lover, have you seen my wallet/phone/keys/etc?) [Read more…]

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How Does your Garden Grow? (Parable of the Sower)

July 14, 2014 by

A Walk through the parablesWhen I was growing up, I had a love-hate relationship with that precious spring Saturday when all signs (from my mother) pointed to the fact that it was garden planting day.

I loved going to the greenhouse and picking out the little plants and seeds. I hated the work that would soon ensue.

I loved the thought of tasty veggies in a few months, but I hated the wait.

I loved the variety of our family’s garden: Strawberries, blackberries, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, peppers, corn, green beans, okra, onions… But hated when the bugs took out some of my favorite varieties.

I loved playing in the dirt, but hated the “rules” that had to be followed for the plants to survive and thrive.

I loved watering the garden, but hated dragging the hose all over Timbuktu to get it there.

Yes, it was a love-hate relationship.

Now, I miss having a garden– even the hard work that it included. We live on post with a teeny tiny backyard and there really isn’t much space for a garden.

But I still dream… And sometimes those dreams weave their way into my spiritual life. [Read more…]

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