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Blog
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A Prayer on Thanksgiving
Inspired by Habakkuk 3:17-19 by Brenna Nail As families gather to fellowship, I feel a wound in my heart. I may be surrounded by people, but my soul seeks a perfect love and peace. Even if this year has brought new pains, Even if the holidays are a reminder of a...
For Church Leaders: How to Support Emotionally Wounded People (Everyone)
Throughout our lives, we all experience emotional wounding and trauma. We live in a fallen world, and no one escapes life without suffering, pain and, in many cases, some form of trauma. Unfortunately, many church leaders I've worked with over the years struggle to...
The Soul of Desire: Discovering the Neuroscience of Longing, Beauty, and Community
For those unfamiliar with the writings of Curt Thompson, M.D, he is a Christian psychiatrist that writes at the intersection of faith, neuroscience, and interpersonal neurobiology. What follows are what I consider some of the key points made in the book and a few...
A Prayer For Rest
by Brenna Nail Lord, my mind is tired as it wanders through every task the day calls for, yet I am unable to slow my stream of restless thoughts. Lord, my body aches as it performs its duty to take me from one place to another, working endlessly to carry out each...
A Story of Divorce, Grief, and Gratitude
“The work of the mature person is to carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other and to be stretched large by them. How much sorrow can I hold? That’s how much gratitude I can give. If I carry only grief, I’ll bend toward cynicism and despair. If I have only...
Lectio Divina–A Form of Scriptural Reading, Meditation, and Prayer
Friends, I'm pleased to introduce you to an emerging writer (who also happens to be my niece) Brenna Nail. Here, she shares her first experience with Lectio Divina, a form of Sacred Reading. Discover how God met her during her prayerful reading of Scripture. by Brenna...
Why Reading-the-Bible-through-in-a-Year Plans Never Worked for me
At the start of each new year, many Christians throughout the globe set an intention to read the Bible through in a year. Several Christian organizations and ministries even offer “read-the-bible-through-in-a-year plans” to guide believers through the process. Indeed,...
Vision behind the Site: Visio Divina
I'm pleased to announce the launch of my new website created by Paraclete Multimedia. They have created a number of sites for me, and this one may be my favorite. To those considering a new website or a fresh of an existing website, I highly recommend their services....
Can Art Heal?
Friends, this is a post a wrote several years ago that is speaking to me in this season. I hope it speaks to you, too. Can tapping into our creativity help us transcend chronic pain and illness? Can art heal not only our bodies but also our soul and spirit? Questions...
Harnessing the Power of Place
Not long ago, during a time when stress and fatigue had taken their toll on my body, I booked a weekend away at a local bed and breakfast. Nestled in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, I watched breathtaking mountain sunsets, delighted in deer frolicking in the...