Simultaneously, my friends and I shouted, as if loudness affected the quickness of our words, “Not it!”“Not it!”“Not it!” Well, quickness counted. Because whoever was last to get the words out became the infamous IT, the one who had the hard task of tagging the rest of us who scrambled about the yard, arms flailing,Continue reading "Playing Psalms: Goodness and Games — Tag"
Playing Psalms: Games and Goodness — Red Rover
Try to visualize with me -- two lines of young kids, facing opposite each other, each side linked at the arms. The teams stare down at each other, nearly growling with anticipation of the ensuing battle. The hum of expectancy rises to a fevered pitch as the first side hollers out loud, “Red rover, redContinue reading "Playing Psalms: Games and Goodness — Red Rover"
Playing Psalms: Games and Goodness — Red Light, Green Light
My friend proudly took her place at the front of the gym, standing with her given authority before our class. With hands on hips, she twisted her body around and hollered, “GREEN LIGHT!” Her back to us, we ran toward her with all our might from the back of the gym, hoping to tag herContinue reading "Playing Psalms: Games and Goodness — Red Light, Green Light"
Fresh
Photo by Jony Ariadi on Unsplash Bright green and crisp. Loud crunch as each piece breaks into my mouth. Perfect balance of sweet and tart as the fresh apple's juices flow. New year, fresh start. Begin again -- carry with me all I've learned. Look ahead. Hope instead of dread. Rhythms and routines. Playlists andContinue reading "Fresh"
Playing Psalms: Games and Goodness — Hide and Seek
Hands over my eyes, I count loudly, “One, two, three….” My heart speeds up as I get closer to twenty, anticipating the fun of finding my hidden friends. “Twenty! Ready or not, here I come!” And, off I run, feeling the summer breeze on my face, smelling the freshly cut grass, grinning wide for allContinue reading "Playing Psalms: Games and Goodness — Hide and Seek"
Playing Psalms: Games and Goodness — An Invitation
I don’t think there’s ever been another New Year so highly anticipated by the masses of our lifetime as 2021. When we consider all the challenges of the past year, we are more than eager for a new beginning. It's after a year like 2020, we wonder -- from where does our hope come? PsalmContinue reading "Playing Psalms: Games and Goodness — An Invitation"
Playing Psalms — An Advent Series, The Epilogue
The “Hallelujah Chorus” still thrumming in our ears and hearts, we collectively wonder if that’s it. It always seems to happen -- we wait and watch for Christ’s coming each year, then all at once Christmas is over. That same feeling of loss settles over us now. We want more. That’s when we realize theContinue reading "Playing Psalms — An Advent Series, The Epilogue"
Playing Psalms — An Advent Series, Act 4
As the curtains rise, so do our hopes! It’s time for Act Four of Playing Psalms. Our hearts, in equal measure, eagerly anticipate what comes next and despair of this production’s conclusion. Because we’ve already peeked at our playbill, we know that this Act will include parts of Royal Psalm 89. Act Four, Scene OneContinue reading "Playing Psalms — An Advent Series, Act 4"
Playing Psalms — An Advent Series, Act 3
The lights flicker, indicating the end of intermission. Picking up our playbill, we note that Act 3 of Playing Psalms will portray Psalm 110. Interestingly, the playbill goes on to explain that Psalm 110 is the most quoted Psalm in all of the New Testament. By a lot. We wonder why that would be, butContinue reading "Playing Psalms — An Advent Series, Act 3"
Beyond
As I drove north toward Oklahoma, my shoulders tense and mind whirring, I turned on some of my favorite Christmas songs that evoked worship and praise. And sang as loud as I could. By the time I got where I was going, my worries had subsided and my focus was back on Jesus. Yes, my circumstancesContinue reading "Beyond"