Tag: Cassie Watson

Links for the Weekend (2025-07-25)

Posted onAuthorRyan Higginbottom

Each Friday, I’ll post links to 3–5 resources from around the web you may want to check out.

You Don’t Need Another Prayer Technique

Cassie Watson writes about her use of techniques in an effort to grow in prayer. And she explains why “humble dependence” was much more helpful than techniques.

Jesus also encourages us to imitate the persistent widow (Luke 18:1–8). What kept her coming repeatedly to the judge for help was that she was desperate. She knew she was powerless to resolve the situation on her own, and she knew who did have the power. Jesus wants us to come to our Father with this kind of desperate dependence because we know his character. We can humble ourselves under God’s hand and bring our anxieties to him who cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7).

How can I care for my elderly parents without burning out?

Here’s an answer to this question in video form (a transcript is also available). This should be helpful for all caregivers, regardless of the age of those being cared for.

First and foremost, remember that you are a finite human being. You may be exercising sacrificial love, but you do it as a person with limitations of your own. Sometimes caregiver burnout—that is, running low on the spiritual, relational, and physical resources that fuel daily life—sometimes that happens because we somehow think we can and must transcend our finiteness. But God calls you to serve others in deep dependence on him with an awareness of your finiteness. You are not the Messiah, nor am I. But we do draw our strength from the One who is the risen Lord and Savior.

Our First Sandcastle

Our poem of the week: Our First Sandcastle, by Tom Busillo. This sonnet is about an encounter on a beach, with a heartbreaking final line.

On the WPCA Blog This Week

This week on the blog we published an article I wrote called How to Abound in Hope. If you haven’t already seen it, check it out!

Note: Washington Presbyterian Church and the editors of this blog do not necessarily endorse all content produced by the individuals or groups referenced here. 

Links for the Weekend (2022-08-19)

Posted onAuthorRyan Higginbottom

Each Friday, I’ll post links to 3–5 resources from around the web you may want to check out.

Is Your Gospel an Urban Legend?

What’s the difference between Santa Claus and Jesus? From our behavior and our stories, our children should be able to see a big difference.

I imagine that it was not too difficult, even when our girls sort of believed Santa was a real person, to separate the importance of Santa from Jesus because our familial life didn’t revolve around Santa. We didn’t read every day about Santa or discuss how Santa would want us to treat our friends at school. We didn’t talk about the importance of Santa for our everyday life. Dad didn’t write books about Santa or preach on Sundays about Santa. When we sinned against our kids, we didn’t come to them for forgiveness out of a desire to make Santa look beautiful. We didn’t tuck them in with prayers to Santa. And the community of faith we raise our kids in isn’t devoted to Santa. In the grand scheme of things, learning Santa wasn’t real was not a huge deal.

Look Until You See

Cassie Watson urges us to behold beauty in all areas of our lives, especially those where it might be hardest to discover.

When I’m feeling crushed by my to-do list or discouraged by my weakness, I need to slow down and look ever more carefully until I see. In my ordinary days, there’s my niece’s giggles, letters in the mailbox, delightful endpapers in picture books, and Australasian figbirds. The more I look, the more I see. 

Overcoming Sinful Anger

With some help from Jonathan Edwards, Nick Batzig takes a look at sinful anger.

The issue of sinful anger is one that is not addressed enough in theologically conservative circles. It is one leading mark of self-righteousness; and, is a sin of which we need to repent and against which we must watch and pray.

A Sonnet on the Transfiguration

The poet Malcolm Guite has written poetry celebrating and reflecting on different parts of the church calendar. This poem on the transfiguration of Jesus is particularly good.

Note: Washington Presbyterian Church and the editors of this blog do not necessarily endorse all content produced by the individuals or groups referenced here.