Working Together as the Body of Christ

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Cor. 12: 27)

A few months ago, when it was too cold to walk outside, I decided to change up my exercise routine and work out inside. I signed up for some free workout videos, some of which were much more vigorous than my usual walk. My Yorkie, Lilly, watched from her comfy spot on the couch. She likes to walk, but working out just isn’t her thing.

Not long after a particularly spirited workout, the pain set in. At that point, I’d been exercising for almost a month, so I thought my body had adjusted. But that day, I woke with an aching hip, and the pain spread to my knee and my back. After a few days of rest, the pain subsided, and I could move normally again. I resolved to stick to walking and forego the more energetic workouts for a while. Continue reading “Working Together as the Body of Christ”

A Father’s Example

“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Cor 3:2-3)

From praying before meals when I was a child to demonstrating a strong work ethic, my dad is a man of conviction who leads by example and supports and encourages his family.

When I was growing up, I learned the value of a good education by watching my dad earn multiple degrees and become a teacher. He didn’t need all those degrees to teach, but he enjoyed the process of learning, and he taught me to enjoy it as well. When he attended summer school in Stillwater, he took my brother and me to class with him a few times. It’s an experience I still remember to this day. Continue reading “A Father’s Example”

Pruning Encourages Growth

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (Jn. 15:1-2)

My garden looks better than ever this year. After the deep freeze we had back in February, I wasn’t sure anything had survived. However, the roses are glorious, and May’s unseasonably cool temperatures encouraged my flowers, vegetables, and herbs to take off.

Each year, I prune my rose bushes in the fall or early winter. They look so sad and desolate after pruning—just dry, thorny sticks reaching for the sky. Continue reading “Pruning Encourages Growth”