“Hope” is the thing with feathers -That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all”

—Emily Dickinson

@ourtinycottage

Latest Posts

  • To You, I Called

    A Prayer in Response to Psalm 30 Our Father in heaven, on this day of worship and praise, of remembrance and reflection,we come to acknowledge that you are God.You are above us.Your ways are not our ways; your thoughts are… Continue reading

  • Psalm 31 — My Times Are in Your Hand

    Psalm 31 meets us precisely there. “Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;my eye is wasted from grief;my soul and my body also.” (Psalm 31:9) This is not polished prayer. It is honest prayer.The psalmist speaks… Continue reading

  • I Need a Prayer Song—and I Need It Now (Psalm 38)

    Sometimes the heart insists: “I need a prayer song—and I need it now.” Psalm 38 is a template of timely prayer for anyone who has suffered or is suffering. It gives voice and emotion to the cry of the heart… Continue reading

  • Casting Cares

    I Peter 5:7:  “…Casting all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you.” Imagine yourself adrift upon a sea of trouble, tossed furiously by its waves and sinking under the load of care. Along comes Jesus inviting you to… Continue reading

  • Beatitude People: Learning to Hear a Different Rhythm

    Lately, my preaching, writing, and teaching have kept circling back to the same place: a hillside where Jesus sat down, looked at ordinary people, and began not with commands, but with blessing. The Beatitudes are familiar to many of us.… Continue reading

  • Biblical Foundations of Authority

    (Creation, Covenant, and Order) A Work in Progress Note, I prepared this as the beginning of a position paper and working document rationale for Facebook and my other platforms. Biblical authority is grounded first in creation, not coercion. Authority emerges… Continue reading

  • The Case of the Fallen Face

    Genesis 4 offers a striking image: Cain was angry, and his countenance fell. Scripture does not explain why his offering was rejected, but it does show us what happened next—God spoke to Cain, questioned him, and warned him. Disappointment was… Continue reading

  • Scattered, Not Lost

    A pastoral reflection There are seasons when life feels coherent and gathered.And there are seasons when everything feels scattered. Thoughts come in fragments.Prayers trail off mid-sentence.Good intentions pile up faster than completions.Even faith itself can feel spread thin across too… Continue reading

  • Grace Has Brought Me Safe Thus Far

    He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. Psalm 40:2 I tread cautiously on the subject of safety, for safety is an… Continue reading

  • I Want to Recognize that Voice

    “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” – John 10:27-28 I want… Continue reading

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