Contemplations of a Mommy "Monk"

This summer has been glorious, warm, and filled with fresh produce.  Our backyard garden yielded plenty of  zucchini, yellow summer squash, carrots, green beans, broccoli, spinach and the sweetest corn.  In addition, we've filled our freezer with raspberries and strawberries.  Before I moved to the mid-west, I had never really had a garden (growing up in the arid southwest, it wasn't much of an option), so I had a lot of learning to do.  We fertilize our garden plot in the fall (and sometimes spring), prune apple trees in the fall, till up soil each spring and plant our favorite veggies in nice straight rows.  If it's a dry summer, we water the garden in the evenings and around the middle of July, we start picking, chopping and freezing the fruits of our labor.  Often, there are jars of strawberry, raspberry or grape jam made along with our traditional fall applesauce making day.  Someone peels, someone cooks up sauce, someone measures out ingre...

Dear Woman in Ministry,  This prayer is for you. I’m praying for you today because I know how valuable you are to the kingdom of God and I know your tender heart for God’s purposes. Lord, bless my sister with the peace that passes understanding. When things get busy and life is crazy with demands that seem unending, remind her to sit at your feet like a Mary (instead of a Martha; Luke 10:38-42 ). Give her the peace that passes understanding as she lays her burdens at your feet ( Philippians 4:6-7 ). Remind her that Your burden is easy and Your yoke is light ( Matthew 11:28-30 ) and gently guide her to the cross where she can unburden herself and trust in You. Father of our hearts, give this woman grace. Grace to respond kindly to those who criticize or judge unfairly, because You know Lord that those people are hurting and need Your grace as much as the rest of us. Mostly, give her grace as she judges herself. Let her know the overflow of Your grace ( 2 Corinthians 9:8 ...