Spiritual Life

O Love that will not let me go

A couple of days ago, my mom mentioned to me that she had an opportunity to share her favorite hymn with her Bible Study group. I’ve known my mother my entire life, but I didn’t know what her favorite hymn was, so I asked her to send me the words.

4Feb2010 | Mary Kassian | 1 comment | Continued

Getting Rid of the Garbage

Taking out the trash has never been so complicated. I have four garbage containers in my kitchen. Yes, four: a blue one for paper, a green one for glass and plastic, a biodegradable brown-bag-lined one for kitchen slop (food scraps), and an ominous big black bin for “evil” non-recyclables. Oh – and a couple more [...]

30Jan2010 | Mary Kassian | 1 comment | Continued

Paper Stars

Last year, just before Christmas, I spoke at a Ladies Christmas Tea about the wonder of the Season. The title of my talk was “Paper Star.” I shared how the simple paper stars hanging on my tree remind me of my family history and traditions. There’s so much more to the ornament than meets the [...]

18Dec2009 | Mary Kassian | 1 comment | Continued

Wise vs. Wild Contrast #20: Teachability

We’ve come to the end of the story, and to the last point of contrast between the wild and the wise. The simple young man who lacked sense and the wily seductress who caused his downfall are examples of two individuals who failed to walk in the way of wisdom. The Sage urged his son to pay close attention to their mistakes, so that he might learn from them. That’s why he told the story. And that’s why he wrote his book.

2Dec2009 | Mary Kassian | 0 comments | Continued

Wise vs. Wild Contrast #12: Authenticity

Mr. Facing-both-ways. His name says it all. This allegorical character in John Bunyan’s classic book, Pilgrim’s Progress, was two faced. One face pointed toward the Celestial City, and the other pointed toward the City of Destruction. Scripture talks about people who have a double heart, and are double-minded, double-tongued, and double faced.

3Nov2009 | Mary Kassian | 0 comments | Continued

Survived the Photoshoot

The end is nigh. The end of the Girls Gone Wise book, that is. So a couple days ago I went for the obligatory photo shoot that goes along with the publication of a new resource. I told my photographer friend, the very talented Julie James, of James Design Studio, that I wanted to do [...]

16Oct2009 | Mary Kassian | 5 comments | Continued

The Hows and Whys of Fasting

Did you know that Jesus expected his disciples to fast after He left? Fasting is a basic spiritual discipline for all Christians. Here are some notes from a workshop on the Hows and Whys of Fasting I presented a a Prayer and Evangelism Conference this past weekend.

14Sep2009 | Mary Kassian | 2 comments | Continued

Time to Grow!

I drove to my childhood home a few weeks ago. What memories are stored there. One of them being the very live, very icky birth of baby calves. You see, my home was right across the street from an over-eaten cow pasture and my dear mom felt that every live birth was something to celebrate. [...]

10Sep2009 | Dannah Gresh | 2 comments | Continued

A Special Job

I came across this poem this morning that reminded me of the significance of the simple. In the economy of the Kingdom, the “what” always takes back seat to the “why.” What I do is not as important as why I do it.Â Giving someone a cup of cold water out of obedience to Christ is [...]

20Jul2009 | Mary Kassian | 1 comment | Continued

I Lift My Eyes Up

I am what my mountain-dwelling friends refer to as a “flat-lander” – I live in the prairies, with terrain as flat as a freshly pressed cotton shirt.Â But every summer, when the sweet clover hangs thick in the sun-kissed air and the fields of canola turn bright saffron, I pack up my boots and bike [...]

9Jul2009 | Mary Kassian | 1 comment | Continued

A Parable of Restoration

After a lengthy, intensive restoration project, one of the greatest masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance has been restored to its original splendor and returned to its home at the world-renowned Uffizi Gallery in Florence.Â The Madonna del Cardellino was painted by Raphael in 1505 for the wedding of his friend, a wealthy Florentine merchant. It [...]

22May2009 | Mary Kassian | 2 comments | Continued

King of the Castle

“King of the Castle” is a silly, childish game, but unfortunately, it’s a game that’s played in the lives of most adults – albeit on a much more sophisticated level. In the grown-up game there are no physical hills… But still, people fight with one another for superiority. Everyone wants to be “King of the Castle.” Emotionally and psychologically we knock one another down so that we can claim the high place as our own.

21May2009 | Mary Kassian | 0 comments | Continued