In Others’ Words: Learning to Live with Brokenness

Beth Vogtbrokenness, In Others' Words, Life, Quotes 10 Comments

Brokenness fascinates me. It seems the theme of brokenness intrigues a lot of people — a lot of writers, to be specific. Elisa Morgan wrote about it in her book The Beauty of Broken. Then there’s Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Henry T. Blackaby’s Brokenness: The Heart God Revives; Finding God’s Blessings in Brokenness  by Charles Stanley; and of course Ann Voskamp’s best-selling …

In Others’ Words: Future Trust

Beth VogtFaith, In Others' Words, Quotes 7 Comments

Sometimes things just take time. I know today’s quote by theologian Henri Nouwen talks about “the fruits of [our] labors,” and yes, there are times when our efforts don’t pay off right away. Months, maybe. Even years. You’re a fine, upstanding employee … but the promotion doesn’t happen. You do all the right “writerly” things — attend conferences, rewrite manuscripts, pay …

In Others’ Words: The Better Friend

Beth VogtFriendship, In Others' Words, Quotes 9 Comments

A few weeks ago I heard that September is National Friendship month. I liked the sound of that: a whole month celebrating, among other things, friendship. It’s also National Honey Month. And National Courtesy Month. And National Sewing Month. And National Blueberry Popsicle Month. On a more serious note, September is also National Suicide Prevention Month. And that leads me …

In Others’ Words: Don’t Forget to Remember … You

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, quote about life 8 Comments

  You should see me trying to get out the door. I slip on my shoes, gather my bottle of Sobe Lifewater, grab my purse, and head for the garage. Once I get to my car, I remember something I forgot to bring with me — my car keys maybe, or a manuscript I need to read, or my checkbook. So …

In Others’ Words: Discipline and Celebration

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Quotes 7 Comments

Two words stand out to me in Henri Nouwen’s quote: discipline and gratitude. Nouwen reminds us that gratitude is a discipline — that it takes effort to be thankful. And knowing how easily I can fall into counting my “lack of” rather than counting all the ways my life is filled to overflowing with so much more goodness than I ever …

In Others’ Words: Blessed are We …

Beth VogtFaith, Life 12 Comments

God is a God of relationship. He wants a relationship with us … and he wants us in relationship with others. One thing I know — and I write about: relationships are messy. We are  broken, messy people trying to love other broken, messy people. Sometimes, when God steps into our fumbling attempts at relationship, something beyond us transpires. I …

In Others’ Words: Friends

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Life, Quotes 29 Comments

It’s the end of a long week. A busy week. A good week. And I’m tired. I wonder how you’re feeling on the other end of the blog-o-sphere. How do you feel, as you look back over your shoulder at Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday . . . yep, it’s Friday again. I found myself thinking I had nothing to say, nothing to blog …