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…
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…
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…
Attentive: Making Time for Prayer at Home
Today is Day 23 of Resetting the Rhythms of Life. As we continue our theme on home, I would like to reflect on how we pray within our homes … Welcoming God Into My Home In the quiet of the early morning, I tiptoe downstairs and make coffee. As it brews and I wake up, I gather my prayer book, Bible, journal, and favorite pen. I find a blanket to curl up underneath. With hot coffee in hand, I make…
Reminders: Oh, How We Need Them
Welcome to Day 20 of Resetting the Rhythms of Life! Today, we are going to remember all the ways the Lord reminds us of His love, mercy, peace, grace, and strength. Because just like reminders of an upcoming birthday party, meeting at church, or next week’s doctor appointment, we need reminders from the Holy Spirit to keep us focused and attentive on what matters most. Scripture Reading Take a few moments to quiet your heart. Breathe in and out. Read…
Sabbath: A Built-In Day to Pray & Rest
We have reached the end of our first week of this 31-days series on Resetting the Rhythms of Life. I am so grateful we are on this journey together! How wonderful that we end this week of renewing our prayer life on the Sabbath, a built-in day to pray, rest, and reset. If you are anything like me, keeping Sunday holy or set apart can be difficult, because our world is constantly open for business—and busyness. Sunday is often treated…