Michigan summers are a great time to relax on the beach or at a cottage on one of the many lakes in this great state. Being by a body of water automatically invites me to quiet contemplation. What else invites such rest? A child sleeping in its mother’s arms. Psalm 131 invites us to rest […]
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We are in the midst of summer storm season here in Michigan. Some find storms frightening, others exhilarating. Storms in marriage can be terrifying or an opportunity for healing. It all depends on how we look at them. Storms in Marriage I love taking a walk during a storm. The raw energy unnerves me and […]
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Psalm 130 is written by someone who has hit bottom. Many are hoping we have hit bottom or will hit bottom soon for the coronavirus. What does hitting bottom look like? Hitting Bottom In addiction treatment they speak of hitting bottom. It isn’t until the addict hits rock bottom that they are ready to make […]
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Summer in Michigan often means vacation or weekend getaways to one of the abundant lakes in this great state. Marriage often means doing activities that you don’t love, but that your partner does. Fishing on the Great Lakes Every day for two weeks, they get up early in the morning and head out on their […]
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“Grass doesn’t grow on a busy street!” Or so the cliché goes in regards to bald heads. The image of grass growing on a bald head stuck in my head this week as I reflected on Psalm 129. Psalm 129 Psalm 129 is composed of two sections. The first – a message of trust. Despite […]
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Michigan is a great state for riding bikes along the many trails. It’s great exercise, safe during this pandemic and good for your marriage. Riding the Falling Waters Trail They love cool summer mornings, riding thier bikes along the Falling Waters Bike Path. She looks over at her spouse and can see she’s holding him […]
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When asked what was necessary for happiness, Freud didn’t go on a long philosophical discourse. He said “Love and work… work and love, that’s all there is.” He may very well have been referring to Psalm 128. Psalm 128 Another wisdom psalm, Psalm 128’s focus, like Psalm 127, is that happiness comes from fear of […]
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Guest post by Ken Wyatt on how stress related to growing old together can tear a couple apart or be a catalyst for greater intimacy. In Sickness and in Health We are at a time in life when the body has left its youth behind and finds itself in an increasing struggle to preserve physical […]
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There was a time when a nap was a regular part of my day, back when my children were small. Then I seized every opportunity to nap, sneaking naps while they napped or when they were in school in preparation for evening meetings that were a regular part of parish ministry. Sleep, whether at night […]
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The season for mowing lawns is upon us here in Michigan. Here’s one way to make a routine chore interesting – creating lawn art! Lawn Art He calls it lawn art as he raises and lowers the lawn mower and creates a checkerboard design on our front lawn. I call it too much time on […]
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