It is 1897 in Holland, Michigan. Socialite Anna Nicholson has fled there to work through her feelings after being jilted by her Chicago fiancé for attending the wrong church. In a different part of town, Geesje de Jonge has been asked to write her story for the 50th anniversary celebrations of Holland. As Anna ponders […]
christian living
Under the Butternut Trees
I spent much of my blogging break working busily ‘as unto the Lord’ in the kitchen, the garden, the car, and elsewhere, but some of the best hours were spent under our butternut trees. It was my favorite spot this summer, a place of open-eyed prayer, read alouds, chats, and much-needed rest. It was a summer […]
Thoughts on Finding God in the Hard Times by Matt and Beth Redman
We all face hard times sooner or later, and they can seem unbearable and never-ending. One of the crucial questions we face then is, “Can we still praise God when life is hard?” “Yes!” exclaim Matt and Beth Redman who wrote the song “Blessed Be Your Name.” With numerous references to the Psalms of lament, […]
Giving Thanks Every Day
There is so much to be thankful for, isn’t there? We all have adequate food, clothing, shelter, and so much more. Compared to much of the world’s population, both now and throughout history, we are incredibly blessed with ‘ordinary’ gifts. But sometimes we are not even aware of these gifts. Sometimes we actually do […]
Review: Living Forward by Hyatt and Harkavy
Sometimes we just drift through life, responding to daily urgencies without any clear sense of where we are going. Of course, there are seasons when this is necessary. When there is a new baby, when someone is seriously ill, when a loved one temporarily becomes over-busy, during a move, or during other demanding situations, our goal […]