One year a friend sent me a Christmas card that showed a cartoon cricket playing a violin and humming the notes that danced over its head. Then on the inside, the card said: "Hum bug! Merry Christmas!" I'm feeling a bit "hum bug" myself this year. Yes I know 'tis the season to be jolly, … Continue reading A Refuge Still Remaining
I love playing with words, whether it's relaxing with a New York Times crossword puzzle, or learning to solve cryptic crosswords, or using different letters to paraphrase Psalm 23. So for my last sermon, I thought of including my own acrostic psalm of thanks in keeping with my sermon text from Psalm 111. "I will … Continue reading Thanks Be to God!
When I wrote If You're Still Hesitating, Here are 10 Reasons to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine, a number of readers asked if I would be sharing that article here as well. Others shared it on Facebook, and some even emailed to let me know that they were sending it to friends. Clearly there was a … Continue reading Dear Vaccine, Can You Change the World?
I had been invited to lead a session on self-care for a group of ministry leaders, but my host repeatedly referred to it as a session on "soul-care." After all, the "soul" and "self" can both refer to our inner being, and in the Bible the same word may be translated as soul or inner … Continue reading 25 Self-care Ideas for the Soul: for students, ministry leaders, and everyone
At this time last year, I knew that my one word for 2018 would be a phrase prompted by this wonderful painting by Linda Klippenstein: Walking Strong in the Spirit. Walking Strong in the Spirit has been a great focal point for me in the past year: as I've continued to write and celebrated the … Continue reading The Top 10 of 2018 from April Yamasaki
Today I'm excited to introduce three books from three friends that are making an impact on me. Each touches me in a different way: poetry that stirs my heart, mind, and soul; missionary stories that inspire me; and a devotional book that I'm already planning to use next year. The first excerpt is a poem … Continue reading Three Friends, Three Books
Late last night I returned from a fantastic few days connecting with people in Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (MCEC). My sincere thanks to everyone who so graciously hosted me and for the opportunity to share with you in so many ways both formally and more informally! The invitation I received to speak at the Spring … Continue reading May Jesus Walk With You from One Creative Step to the Next
"Good Friday" by Christina Rossetti speaks to me this Holy Week. Written in 1862 and now in the public domain, this poem is a devotional, self-reflective piece. "Am I a stone?" she asks--and I think of the heart of stone turned hard by compassion fatigue and so unmoved by suffering. "Am I a sheep," I … Continue reading A Poem for Holy Week
April Yamasaki 