Category:
The Hard Stuff
A Tribute to Fasting and Grief
A post I wrote this week for Inspire a Fire https://www.inspireafire.com/a-tribute-to-fasting-and-grief The details of my experience aren’t significant, but the lessons are. A few months ago I did my first-ever fast. Let me tell you what l learned. First, once I knew the fast was approaching, I became hyper-aware of everything I ate. I expected…
Love Springs
Anyone who thinks that spring is gentle has never really paid attention. And anyone who thinks that love is gentle has never really been in love.
Memories. And a Net of Thanksgiving.
This post first appeared at https://www.inspireafire.com/casting-a-net-of-thanksgiving/ Memories can turn bittersweet in a second. I can be happily following the rabbit trail of my thoughts, hopping between afternoon plans and pleasant reminiscing when WHAM! It’s like a hole suddenly opened up beneath my feet, or a rock slammed me back twenty yards. Use whatever analogy you…
A Whole New World
“You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:7) The birth metaphor is more than a metaphor.
What Others See in You
This blog was originally posted a few weeks ago on Inspire a Fire. See the original at www.inspireafire.com/others-see/. Sometimes friends teach me things about myself I never knew. Like apparently I talk with my hands way more than I realized. And I eat watermelon five times faster than any other food. (Keep this in mind…
Waiting
I recently found myself in the midst of a possible house purchase. I don’t remember ever thinking, “Hey, I think I’m ready to go look for a house.” I just woke up one day and discovered I was already looking. Despite my years of happy renting, I was suddenly staring at a potential purchase. Exciting.…
Easy
Wouldn’t it be great if it were easy? That’s what it said on the back of the cereal box. It said some other things too, but my eyes stopped right there. Wouldn’t it be great? Wouldn’t it be great if it were easy? I used my pocket knife to cut around the words, and then,…
Some Doubted
I was reading the other day from Matthew 28, after Jesus’ resurrection: Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted (Matthew 28:16-17). Some doubted. I love how bluntly that is stated. One might think that having…
Doubting Thomas Sunday
The Sunday after Easter is Doubting Thomas Sunday. It’s true across multiple denominations, and it’s true whether you are on a one year lectionary or a three year lectionary. You may have heard Thomas’ story so many times you think you’ve heard it all. Come with me anyway. On the evening of that day, the…
Today’s Quote
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” ~Edward Abbey Who among us would choose difficult over easy? And yet sometimes, isn’t that the point? And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; …
Search the Blog
Categories
Join the email list to receive the latest post and occasional exclusives
Meet Janet!
Janet Beagle, PhD is the founder of The Mustard Patch. She divides her time between the Midwest and New England, and if she’s not writing, she’s probably out hiking with her 2-and 4-footed friends.