I was challenged to summarize my sixty years of wisdom into just 60 words.

I wanted this to be more than a fun writing exercise. I wanted this to be a heritage piece for my children. But how do you condense 60 years of life lessons into just 60 words? I knew I had to focus on the most important lesson. The one lesson which, if they would embrace it, would enable them to master all other life lessons.

Here it is, sixty years crystalized into 60 words:

As a young believer, I struggled to keep the spiritual disciplines. I knew I was “supposed to” read the Word every morning and pray. Yet, even 15 minutes of quiet seemed impossibly long.

Today, years later, I spend an hour each morning and long for more time to spend in quiet pursuit of the Lord. When did that happen? What changed my heart . . .

Many mariners died, and ships wrecked on the shoals of Destruction Island (Washington State) in the early 1800s. Salvation came in 1891 when a lighthouse with a Fresnel lens projected its light 24 miles out to sea. A Fresnel lens consists of over a thousand glass prisms assembled . . .

I got a rare and treasured gift today, a thank you card. In addition to the . . . .

Millions of decisions and details must be considered when building a house: which floor plan; where to build; what materials; who to hire; how to pay for it. The list seems endless. Even just the furnishing and decorating phase can be overwhelming. Which sink and stove and other fixtures to choose? What flooring and furniture will coordinate well together? Whew! Building a house is a huge undertaking.

Now imagine that you are building a house for God . . .

Who doesn’t love a secret? We love to hear information not commonly available. What secrets does God possess?

God reveals His secrets in relationship, to those who reverence Him enough to seek Him. God revealed . . . .

Medical science confirms what we knew all along. Yes, a broken heart can make a body sick.

My medical provider sent an . . . .

In an old fable, a king trains his pet monkey in various tasks, from using a sword to swatting flies. One day the king gave his monkey a sword to guard his chamber while he napped. Unfortunately, during his nap, . . . .

Pam left our church because our pastor “wouldn’t take a stand” on a political topic she felt passionate about. But is that the role of the church?

Is politics the vehicle for the change we want to see in this world? Will the “right” candidate revive hearts . . . .

Do you feel selfish and self-centered when you pray for yourself? I did for many years. My pastor had made me feel guilty about praying for just “me and mine.” It seems to me that Jesus prayed for Himself in the garden of gethsemane, and He is our example. . . .

This is our Bridegroom King, Jesus, speaking to us, His Bride. How have we ravished His heart? We have given Him our “Yes.”

In the context of Song of Solomon, the Shulamite bride has finally . . .

The oil lamp is a beautiful picture of our relationship with the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit supplies all our needs from His riches in glory (Phil. 4:19). However, we are responsible to fill our lamp with oil (the Holy Spirit) and to light the wick. Shining for Jesus is an intimate partnership with the Spirit of the living God.

This begs the question, “How do you buy oil?” . . . .