prayer – Page 2 – A Grain of Salt

Where do you put your BUT?

Published March 25, 2025

What does a conjunction—a part of speech that connects contrasting ideas—have to do with hearing God? In the case of “but,” it becomes a bridge between despair and hope, between our human frailty and God’s sufficiency. This small yet powerful word helped me discern the difference between the enemy’s voice of self-condemnation and God’s voice of love. Many years ago, I joined a group of wise, older women reading Peter Lord’s Hearing God. It was…

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The Connecting Cap

Published March 3, 2025

I was eager to return home after a week on the West Coast. The early morning ride, the shuffle through security, and the familiar ritual of finding my gate with a book in hand were all part of the journey. Travel is never just about the logistics—it’s about the people we meet along the way. A delay and gate change brought me to Gate N3, where I settled in and took a moment to notice…

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Presence and Prayer

Published February 17, 2025

Last week, I shared a story and a lesson on how to begin sheltering friendships in my blog. This blog post is a lesson on how to continue doing so. Throughout my years of homeschooling and serving in leadership roles within churches and nonprofit organizations, I’ve had the opportunity to run many events. One spring, I was leading a two-day tournament where students spent their time delivering speeches—again and again, in multiple rooms, to multiple audiences.…

January Meandering

Published January 20, 2025

In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen Light a candle – Creative Co-op has some fun candle shapes. Lectio 365 NUUN – Martin Luther King Day – A book recommendation for children. The Story of Ruby Bridges – I love this book and how it elevates Ruby Bridges’ faith in God.

Listen to your Father

Published December 9, 2024

It must have been during my first year at the Naval Academy. I don’t recall my specific offenses—perhaps I had failed to carry my weight, or maybe I’d dared to speak out. What I do remember was bemoaning the rough treatment of women, especially as it concerned me, to my father. He listened, of course. My father, a proud graduate of the Naval Academy Class of ’42, had been forged in a very different fire.…

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Gathering Round the Table

Published November 25, 2024

Growing up, Thanksgiving was a big event in our home—often bringing together 30 or more people. We’d always pull in an extra table to fit everyone. I can still picture my mom in the kitchen, managing the chaos, while I mostly stayed out of her way. Those days, with my parents at the center, are long past. Now, as my parents are gone and my siblings have their own families and traditions, the shape of…

Category: prayer