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Forsaking Perfectionism: The Living Water of God’s Love
Water. So ordinary yet capable of so much meaning. And some nights, you feel it deep in your soul. There’s a little spring that’s sometimes dry, at the base of a small valley on the trail I frequent. Tonight it’s gushing, and I’m not sure why because we haven’t had much rain lately, but it…
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New Year, New Mercies Each Day
2023 – a new year. Each day is a gift, and we get to start a new year. Thank you, God. I’ve thankfully been able to avoid some of the typical January, post-holiday blues because of some nice weather – I was able to visit three of my favorite spots after Christmas! After not being…
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God is Not Santa Claus
God’s love is not like Santa Claus – the love of God for his children is gentle and forgiving.
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Remembering
We are fickle creatures, us humans. I know for myself, I am often painfully aware that I forget – how God has worked and provided and delivered. A fall and a fracture right before Thanksgiving leaves me forgetful of all the miracles the Lord has done in my life, even in just the past 6…
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Love for the Fall Leaves
The fall leaves are beginning their descent. Their colors have brought me such joy this fall. As they make their way to the forest floor, crunching beneath my feet, there is sadness and expectation. Sadly, their glorious fall colors are short-lived (although doesn’t that make their beauty all the more poignant?). Yet this rhythm is…
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Autumn Sunshine
October opened with five straight days of rain. Hurricane Ian brought the clouds to the Mid-Atlantic on Friday, September 30th and the sunshine didn’t return in Maryland until October 6th. It’s also a transitional month within the year, a significant-and historically hard-month for me. I also turn a year older at the end of it,…
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Goodbye, September and Farewell Instagram, for Now
September is turning golden. I took a late afternoon hike last Saturday, when the trails were abandoned and the sun was beginning to set. The lowering light beams lit up a field of grass seed—I was so glad I had my camera to capture some of the beauty, and that there was no one else…
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The Gift of Scout
Sad news friends, and anyone who has enjoyed pics/videos of my adventuresome and handsome dogs… My sweet Scout has died. I am heartbroken. It was all very sudden and unexpected a few weeks ago—he would have only been 7 in August. He went from a seemingly healthy dog, hiking on a Saturday afternoon, to breathing…
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A Weekend Filled with Feelings
It’s a weekend filled with feelings. Full hearts,longing hearts,struggling hearts,broken hearts,grieving hearts,and grateful ones too. Hopefully, we can see it,not as a weekend of haves and haves nots, but days to look more closely for grace. To hold grief and gratitude, equally as each emotion needs to be honored. We are women of complexity, far beyond…
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Spring Watch: Trusting the Underground Work
Patience is a practice that yields deeper fulfillment.
Bethany Peck
Reflections on Life, Faith, and Beauty