The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness (Jeremiah 31:13). God’s lovingkindness is all around me, and I see Him pulling me in tighter and tighter==closer to Him and closer to understanding and enjoying intimacy with Him. Here are a…
Tag: Culture
Here on the Mountain…
Rain is a precious commodity anywhere but especially in Cyprus. Last week we had a steady stream of sprinkling from heaven that soaked the ground and filled our hearts with joy at the same time. Every time we visit Cyprus we find ourselves joining the locals’ prayers for rain. The land is so dry right now,…
Imperishable Ornaments
I love all of this! Balance my life, Lord, to an eternal perspective. Help me discern what is important and not important according to heavenly vision. Help me show your glory to the world through what you have made me on the inside and not what I present on the outside. “Instead of that, it…
Internal Foundations
I read a blog today that piqued my interest. The blogger found her life shifting, changing, moving too fast… She felt planted on uneven ground without a solid foundation. She longed for “an internal foundation” that could calm the unknown and the shifting… She longed for a safe place to belong. I loved her…
Meze Last Night
Yesterday was the most beautiful day we have had in the past week here in the mountains of Cyprus. The sun warmed the house, so we didn’t need to turn the heat on all day. I really enjoyed basking in the light and soaking in some vitamin D. I have been sick with an old-fashioned cold for…
The Inauguration Poem 2009
I have wanted for some days to write a few of many thoughts about the inauguration poem, “Praise Song for the Day,” by Elizabeth Alexander; but I have been busy with life here in Cyprus. My definition of poetry is “the distillation of language.” Robert Frost said, “A poem should begin in delight and end in wisdom.” Michael…
The Rules are Different
After traveling for about 24 hours with flying time and layovers altogether, I was glad to board the last flight into Larnaka, Cyprus. To my knowledge we were the only Americans on the flight. And this is when you really leave your culture, homeland, and flannel comforts behind… You forget about being an American at all, or a…
That Gnawing Emptiness…
Here we are standing thigh-deep in glittering red and green–or in my case, the glittering white of the season. It’s not going away for a couple more weeks–it will only intensive. Love or loathe it, Christmas celebration is part of the cultural life-cycle that spins our immediate world. Lights, sparkle, candles, scents, ribbons, baking, colors–all of…
Four Days of Feasting…
This is the kids’ table. Thanksgiving was incredible. Great people and great food–even if I cooked most of it! And lots of thanks to Mom and Beth for their great contributions! After dinner, Ed, a friend of ours who is a missionary in Cameroon, gave us a mini-piano concert. The house rang with classical music….
Scary Good!
I just finished the Pioneer Woman’s creamy mashed potatoes, and they are scary good! This is a recipe for Thanksgiving and Christmas alone, otherwise put it away. It could be heart attack on a plate–there is so much half and half and butter and cream cheese. Since mashed potatoes are so labor intensive, I like to do them…
Bonnie Saul Wilks 