Come Away to a Deserted Place … and Rest
This is Week 2 of The Desert Shall Rejoice, a Lenten blog series by Sarah Damm. Each week of Lent, she offers reflections and invites us into prayer.
Led by the Spirit, We Enter the Desert
Today, Sarah Damm begins a new blog series, The Desert Shall Rejoice. For the next six weeks of Lent, she will share reflections, provide a Scripture passage to read and meditate on, and offer journal questions for further reflection.
Centered on Christ: Inviting God into Your Lenten Plans
This Lent, Sarah Damm shares four simple steps to invite the Lord into our Lenten plans and keep Him at the center of the season.
The Day I Learned: I Do Not Suffer Alone
Walking into my doctor’s office, I was filled with tentative hope that this follow-up visit would bring me one step closer to healing. Chronic health issues were taking a toll on my whole person — body, mind, and spirit. I knew I needed help. But the medications I was trying were not making a dent in my overall well-being. In fact, the latest one seemed to make me feel worse. As I gave my name to the receptionist, the look…
The Our Father: An Invitation to Daily Prayer
Lord, teach us to pray … (Luke 11:1) For most of my life, The Lord’s Prayer has not been my favorite. And I am not sure why. After all, this is the prayer Jesus taught us! And therefore, it seems essential to following Him. By teaching it, He was inviting us into the intimate union He shared with His Father. Yes, this is not only the prayer He taught; it was the prayer He prayed! So, why don’t I desire to pray The…
Are You a Writer, Too?
The written word is near and dear to my heart. It has been for as long as I can remember. I’ll never forget my junior-high journalism class, learning how to write captivating headlines and opening paragraphs that pull the reader into a story. Writing has been something that served me well as a student and made me successful as a career woman. But it wasn’t until I learned what blogging was in 2009 that I began the journey of discovering…
Reliving the Christmas Story in Our Hearts
It is just an ordinary night. Although I am young and small, I am learning how to tend sheep. I’m even in charge of two small lambs. The stars are shining brightly, and all is quiet and calm. Suddenly, the sheep begin to “baa” in anticipation of something unknown. The older boys check the perimeter, but there is no sign of an intruder. The elders encourage us to settle down, and we huddle close together. I gaze again at the…
Saying Yes to God … Even When We Don’t Feel Ready
Over the last three Sundays of December, we have heard the promises of Christ’s coming. We have been encouraged to “not become drowsy from … the anxieties of daily life” (Luke 21:34). We have been invited to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Luke 3:4). And when we asked, “What should we do?” (Luke 3:10), we were told of the Messiah and all He would do for us. Now, on this fourth Sunday of Advent, we hear, “Blessed are you…
Better Late Than Never: A FREE Advent Prayer Journal Just for You
Yesterday, we celebrated the first Sunday of Advent! And to be honest, I was barely ready for it. Yes, I set up our Advent wreath and Jesse Tree, but I already feel anxious about everything I have to do in the next 21 days. (Yes, Christmas Eve is three weeks from today.) Maybe you are feeling the same way—a bit weary about the busyness of Advent and Christmas? We want Advent to be prayerful and peaceful, but that desire is…
Being Present to November: It’s Not Christmas Yet
If I had to guess the calendar date based on my favorite store’s décor, I would get it wrong. Fall pumpkins, cornucopias, and leafy garlands are nowhere to be found. Only messy remnants of Halloween remain on the clearance racks. Instead, I see Christmas trees, twinkle lights, and stockings. Signs and symbols of December, not early November. Whenever I see Christmas coming too early, I feel rushed and anxious. Suddenly, I think I am behind, as if I’ve missed a…