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Rest as A Sensory Experience - Thoughts of my #oneword2026

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  THE IMPORTANCE OF REST Rest is an important part of life. When God said to work six days and rest on the seventh, it was not meant to be a day of doing nothing or following some legalistic rules. It was meant for our good. God created us to love and serve him, but he also created us to need rest and refreshment. I’m writing this on a Sunday, a day which many of us take as a day of rest. I realize that some people have to work on Sunday, but it’s still important to have a day of rest, even if it’s a different day. My #oneword2026 is rest, but I haven’t thought much about it these past few months. I believe rest is important, but sometimes I put it off. Or I might be busy with writing or some other activity and forget to take breaks. So, when, in the #oneword2026 Facebook group , I saw Lisa’s challenge to think about our word in sensory terms, I was drawn in. I put on my thinking cap and began to imagine—What would rest feel, taste, sound, or smell like? WHAT DOES REST SOUND LIKE?...
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On What Does Everything Pivot?

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                                                                                      (photo taken at Long Lake in Maine) WHAT IS A PIVOT? This week's word prompt for Five Minute Friday is pivot . At first, I could not think of a thing to write about. I knew pivot had something to do with turning or maybe changing one's mind on something. Yet, I was without words, so I checked with the online Merriam-Webster dictionary and these two definitions stood out to me: a shaft or pin on which something turns a person, thing, or factor having a major or central role, function, or effect For the first definition... I thought of how the earth spins on its axis (which is like an invisible pivot) while simultaneously orbiting around the sun. Then my thoughts turned to the fact that it c...
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Suffering and a Reason for Hope

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  SUFFERING COMES TO ALL No one likes to suffer, even if it is deserved. We don’t like pain of any kind, though we sometimes unintentionally cause ourselves pain. What about suffering when we’ve done nothing wrong? Many in times past and even now face suffering because of their faith. Some have even been put to death, becoming martyrs for the cause of Christ. Scripture tells us not to be afraid: 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them or be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 16 Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righ...
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TO CRITICIZE OR NOT It is time for Five Minute Friday , and the word for this week is criticize . When we do the five-minute writing, we are supposed to just write and not worry about editing. But I always find myself editing, because I want to try to make sure it sounds coherent. So here's my offering with a little bit of editing: Criticize is a word many of us don't like to hear because of its uncomfortable connotations. Maybe someone has criticized you a lot, with much of it unwarranted. Or maybe you have been the one to offer unsolicited criticism. But we don't have to criticize in a way that brings someone down. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM Sometimes, we want constructive criticism because we've written a piece, have some music to share, or have authored a book. We've put a lot of work into these projects, so when someone criticizes, we might take it personally at first and be hurt by it. Yet, we do want to improve, don't we? So, wouldn't it be better...
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In the Beginning...

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THE BEGINNING When I saw the Five Minute Friday word prompt, beginning, these two scriptures came to mind: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light .  Genesis 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.  All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.  In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.   John 1:1-5 GOD IS ETERNAL Before our world began, there was the triune God—Father, Son, Holy Spirit. There is nothing behind God, as Francis Schaeffer would say. H...
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