natalie’s blog

…reveals a heart that needs to be drawn closer to Jesus, the Source of true contentment.

…can only be learned in the context of unfulfilled desire.

…but not from me. This morning Dad asked me to read over an e-mail he had written to some friends of ours after finding out that some of their family members were voting for Barack Obama. (He intended to send it yesterday, but forgot to ask me to look over it until this morning, […]

Give thanks. Make known. Sing. Talk. Glory. Seek. Remember. Be mindful. Show forth. Declare. Bring. Come before. Worship. Fear before.
As I read 1 Chronicles 16 this morning, I was inspired and challenged by the realization that these are the verbs that should characterize the life of the people of God. God is the substance of […]

I came across this statement in an article I read this morning:
“The human thinks with his mind. He also thinks with words. That’s why poor language use is clear evidence a person cannot think clearly.”
This provided for some interesting discussion in our house, so I thought I would present it here for the consideration […]

A couple of years ago, I was at a group get-together and during a game of volleyball I got to talking with one of the guys who was playing. He was unmarried and was not a Christian. We continued conversing after the game and got into a discussion about various outdoor activities and the Electoral […]

Last  week, I was incredibly challenged by this statement I read in the book, With Christ in the School of Prayer by Andrew Murray. It reminded me of the importance of praying specifically and having confidence that God will answer - clearly and unmistakeably so.
“It is one of the terrible marks of the diseased […]

A number of my friends have gone onto the “mission field” and I always enjoy reading their newsletters and hearing about the creative means they are developing and employing for the purpose of sharing the Gospel with people in their respective cities and countries. From purchasing a storefront in Genoa, Italy to use as a […]

Have you ever felt the silence of God? Have you ever thought you knew what God’s will was and then found out that you were wrong…completely wrong? Have you ever felt on the edge…of losing your faith?

Several weeks ago, I commented in a phone conversation to a wise friend that I had grown much […]

The experienced guide excitedly compelled his young friend along. He couldn’t stop telling him how beautiful the place was, how he couldn’t wait to show it to him, and how much his young friend was sure to love it. His follower inhaled deeply and began the steep ascent once again. The path was rocky and […]

By Naomi Wickham, 13 years old
I was quite honored when Natalie asked me to write a guest post. Of course I couldn’t resist such an opportunity! Before Natalie asked me, I was skimming through her posts about “Thursdays of Thankfulness” and I really enjoyed them. So when I was asked to do a guest post […]

I was on my way home from a meeting the other night and misjudged my distance from the stop light when it turned yellow. I saw the light turn red above me as I reached the middle of the intersection. No big deal. An innocent mistake. Until I spotted a police officer in the oncoming […]

As I approached the front door of the brick building, I breathed yet another quick prayer that I would find favor in the eyes of the manager, or whomever I would have to speak with to resolve this situation. I had never had this experience before, so I wasn’t quite sure how to handle it […]

[Introductory note: Lydia started a Thursdays of Thankfulness theme on her blog last month. I think it’s a wonderful idea and have intended to write a post for inclusion for some time, but finally got my act together enough this week to get it done before her submission deadline!]
I vividly recall numerous occasions as a […]

The first indication of what was to come hit me full force as I sat in stunned silence, quickly scribbling down the vote counts for our Derby precincts as the Election Judge called them off shortly after the polls closed Tuesday night. Known for its conservative voting history, if Derby turned out a majority vote […]

It is surprising how frequently I get e-mails from people, specifically other teachers, who question how I can be so “Christian” in the way I present myself and my studio, primarily through my website. Probably because the music teaching business isn’t suppose to be “Christian” in nature. Churches are suppose to be Christian. Christian schools […]

What things will matter
on the day I behold
the Face of the One
Who planned my life from of old?
 
Will the endless tasks
and all the plans that I make,
the many duties of each day,
be all for vanity’s sake?
 
I pondered and I worried
and tried without rest
to fill up every day
with the things I thought best.
 
But still, the nagging […]

This has long been one of my favorite poems. It never ceases to inspire me whenever I reread its timeless message:
The Bridge Builder
An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight […]

Last week I began teaching a speech class to my three youngest siblings. One of the things we discussed is how the Lord will bring situations into our lives where it will be important for us to know how to communicate effectively with others. My challenge to them for the week was to be aware […]

This morning, an influential Christian apologist, who has also co-authored a couple of books, was the guest speaker at the church we attended in Colorado. He was an excellent and captivating speaker and I appreciated much of what he had to say. One statement he made, though, particularly caught my attention. In response to a […]