Good morning... "Our sweet Bettina went home tonite," Kitty Crenshaw texted Cathy Snapp and me at 10:22 pm on August 17th. (These two gifted friends are the co-authors of The Hidden Life Awakened, a holy book chronicling the life of Betty Skinner.) "Betsy asked me to go and anoint her body. It has been such an honor." "It is [...]
Good morning... In unison with me and Betty Skinner's friends and family, so many of you have been lifting loving prayers on her behalf, praying at Betty's request that Jesus come and take her home. Tonight our tender prayers were answered. Now Betty rests at peace with her very best friend Jesus. “Let not your hearts be troubled. [...]
Good morning... "Mom has been down with a virus," said the caringbridge message written by Betty Skinner's daughter, Betsy, on August 11th. "She was not tested for Covid, and has been in isolation for the past several weeks. The health center is again prohibiting visits to rooms, and she wants no porch visits. She says, 'I feel so [...]
Good morning... After yesterday's post, Life Is A Marathon, I received a brief email from Gina Palermo, the artist who snapped this stunning photo beginning and ending our morning message. "That pix reminds me of the scripture that says that the Lord will come in the clouds… Rev 1:7 - Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and [...]
Good morning... The faithful family of my friend has endured loss after loss, tragedy after tragedy, heartache after heartache, year after year. For decades I have walked alongside as a compassionate, committed prayer warrior. On Sunday, June 13th, I received this text from my forever friend. "Please keep an eye on your phone today," she requested. "We don't [...]
Good morning... "How has your day been?" she texted me on Saturday. "Special. Really special," I replied. "I spent the day copying notes from the final prayer journals of my friend Julie Harlan. I enjoy learning the deep roots beneath Julie's Dream, the non-profit started in her honor. She is all about authentic relationship, about getting kids outside [...]
Good morning... "Good morning, Sue," emailed a reader I have never met from Tennessee. "Just had to share that your message on marriage came to me on what would have been our 34th wedding anniversary, having been married at Northside United Methodist Church June 6, 1987. You and I, as believers, know that there are no coincidences! Thanks [...]
Good morning... Yesterday I unpacked this quote in our blog post, What Is Joy? Remember, my friend sent me the photo above along with these words: "Thought you would like this. From a wonderful collection on the Black experience. She has a beautiful poem by the same title." So I googled the title and pulled up the poem, [...]
Good morning... I am grateful God has given me a special friend who always tenderly reminds me of the deep meaning behind this long Memorial Day weekend. Yesterday he sent me a moving YouTube video, a gift that I now share with you. As I scan the young faces of the talented young men and women in the [...]
Good morning... On the birthday of my faraway father, I went to an outdoor memorial service for my friend's dad, a celebration of life hosted at the duck pond near his earthly home. Life-giving stories were shared. Tenderizing tears were shed. Together we experienced these words printed in the bulletin. ****** PRAYER OF REMEMBRANCE Leader: We will remember [...]
