Good morning... When our four kids were growing up, going to Lovett where their dad was the chaplain, we would always take a picture before they jumped into the car for their first day of school each year. Here is a charming example of our annual ritual, celebrating one "first day of school" with a photo. Last week, [...]
Good morning... "Hope you are having a good summer," she wrote. "When I read this, I thought of you. It reads like words you would write." What a kind compliment. ******* a blessing for when gratitude is hard to come by, June 16th devotional by Kate Bowler I have a complicated relationship with gratitude. Gratitude, on one hand, [...]
Good morning... A dear friend watched our dogs while we were vacationing as a family near Banff, Canada. Sharing photos, she texted, "Hanging on the porch this morning! Please soak in every last drop of that cool weather while you can. Summer has definitely arrived here in ATL! We miss you." [...]
Good morning... Every single morning, the power of the living Christ rises like the sun. Do we sense it? Do we trust it? Do we notice God's quiet, reliable movement? Our only task is to stay plugged into the Source of eternal power. My friends, this single act, this [...]
Good morning... Scrolling through photos I took over the weekend in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, I am struck by the dichotomy of this expressive photo. Look at the details. What do you see? Now up in the middle of the night, I reflect on my way of living and wonder, "Am I learning to welcome all or [...]
Good morning... Yesterday, June 9th, hosted two special birthdays. My mom turned 86 years old in Ohio, and Audrey DeShetler turned 19 years old here in Atlanta. Born on the same day, sixty-seven years apart, both of these women have a strong drive to live life fully. After falling [...]
Good morning... Our deepest hope is Galatians 2:20, quoted here in the New Living Translation. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. The [...]
Good morning... "Why bother?" asks Sean Thomas Dougherty. Then, he answers his own question. "Because right now, there is someone out there with a wound in the exact shape of your words." Painful wounds and healing words meet at the right moment. Here, at the crossroads of wounds and words, God's presence is palpable. Might the power of [...]
Good morning... When a friend from our Friday group sent the quote and image above, we collectively embraced the eternal truth. "Hearts united in pain and sorrow will not be separated by joy and happiness," says Khalil Gibran. "Bonds that are woven in sadness are stronger than the ties of joy and pleasure. Love that is washed by [...]
Good morning... Parents age. Heck, we all age. Might we enjoy supporting this natural process? As we mature, life's essentials become key. Eating. Sleeping. Feeling well. Nurturing friendships. Connecting with family. Remembering good times. I enjoy visiting my parents in Ohio, because I quite easily relax into their slower pace. Coffee. Banana. Peanut butter. Conversations about life. Planning [...]
