As we enter this season, I am asking myself some difficult questions to guide me through this holy time of year. I pray this checklist may offer you some guidance as well.
Author Archives: Nicki Dechert Carlson
INSTINCTIVELY His
The familiar pop and whack of tennis balls hitting the strings of a racquet filled the air, accompanied by the high-pitched squeak of tennis shoes abruptly starting and stopping on the asphalt tennis court. My daughter, sweating profusely and after missing the last eight shots in a row, put her hands on her kneesContinue reading “INSTINCTIVELY His”
ATTENTIVELY HIS
My newly-turned-sixteen-year-old daughter sat beside me in the passenger seat while I drove her to school in the darkness of early morning. She exudes joy regardless of the time of day, while I am decidedly not a morning person. My girl loves nothing more than riding in a car, windows all the way down withContinue reading “ATTENTIVELY HIS”
FOR THE LOVE OF DAVID
The doorbell rang and I got up from the couch where I was watching a Disney movie with my child who was home from school sick that day. Opening the door, I saw an elementary-aged David Palestrant and his mom, Doe Palestrant, who lived on the street behind us. “Hi!” I exclaimed. “WhatContinue reading “FOR THE LOVE OF DAVID”
Genealogically His
This morning started in a not-unusual way for me: praying in the shower. Knowing I had carved time out of my schedule today to write this laity devotional, I specifically prayed, “God, clear out my own ideas of what I should write about, and instead, tell me what You want to say.” I finishedContinue reading “Genealogically His”
ANXIOUSLY His
This morning I very intentionally went outside to the back deck, coffee in hand, for some quiet time with God. I earnestly tried to let go of the worries and fears that seem to obsessively and endlessly circle my mind lately. Just moments before, inside the house, I shared with my husband my recent strugglesContinue reading “ANXIOUSLY His”
PERFECTLY His
When I was in high school, a coach by the name of Grant Palmer asked me to lead a devotional for a Fellowship of Christian Athletes gathering. Despite my nerves about speaking so vulnerably in front of my peers, I selected a Bible verse, prayed over it, and wrote out a message. I choseContinue reading “PERFECTLY His”
TIMELY His
I dropped my son off at kindergarten one morning and went for a walk. I almost gave up on the endeavor, after a lengthy, last-minute phone call had delayed me; nevertheless, I headed up the residential street on foot as the morning sun attempted to suck the previous night’s rain from the earth. I passedContinue reading “TIMELY His”
NEWLY His
Late one Saturday afternoon when my son was four years old, I left the house to celebrate the impending arrival of a friend’s baby. Upon returning home and tucking my child into bed, he asked, “Did the baby get all clean, Mommy?” I replied, “Sweetie, the baby hasn’t been born yet. But, why did youContinue reading “NEWLY His”
REASSURINGLY His
I returned to in-person worship inside my church building two weeks ago, for the first time in a year. When the world as we knew it came to an abrupt stop, I imagined a return to worship filled with jubilant singing, clapping, and shouts of praise, punctuated by a buoyant, contagious energy. The room wouldContinue reading “REASSURINGLY His”
Expressively HIS ... 