Good morning... "Dear Sue," she emailed me yesterday. "I think today was a God moment as I read Henri Nouwen's post Know that You Are Welcome and then moved on to your message, You Are Welcome Here. As we emailed back and forth, I shared that I was also so surprised by the synchronicity of the Spirit. After [...]
Good morning... "Your post about 'Welcoming Spirt' made me think of this song," she texted. "We sing it frequently at church. Anyway, many different versions but, regardless of who sings it, the words are so powerful." When I had a quiet moment I thoroughly enjoyed Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes singing live the song Holy Spirit. Then I [...]
Good morning... We are all creatures of habit. Left up to our own natural tendencies, we mindlessly repeat old patterns, again and again and again. For us to be guided by Christ's loving, living Spirit, we learn our best way to tangibly surrender ourselves to God's presence and welcome fresh power for the moment at hand. I am [...]
Good morning... I am taking my time dismantling December this year. I ponder meaningful memories as I quietly pack up our decorations. From December 2021, I am savoring many firsts. I cherish the photos from a gathering in Ohio with twenty-two of our extended family members the weekend before Thanksgiving (the first time we were all together since [...]
Good morning... Sorting through the junk in my purse, I came across the Henri Nouwen quote we discussed last month in our therapeutic community group at PAWkids. Reading this quote aloud together, I used colored pencils to highlight words capturing my attention. Might you slowly, quietly read these words aloud to yourself, noticing the words which intrigue you? [...]
Good morning... "Merry Christmas, my friend," I would personally text you if I knew each of your phone numbers. The Christ child is born, just like the promises of old have always predicted. This ruddy newborn's first visitors were the lowly, dirty shepherds. So they came as fast as they could and they found Mary and Joseph—and the [...]
Good morning... My new favorite tree ornament is a transparent two inch square holding a tiny ice skater. Handmade by our wildly creative friend Corinne Adams, this symbol sums up my Advent season thus far, gliding along almost effortlessly, empowered by the Spirit of God with us. Yet today is Monday and by the time we skate through [...]
Good morning... I love unique days when I get to experience both the sunrise and the sunset. The sunset on the Saturday night of our Advent women's retreat was absolutely spectacular, so I went to bed so excited to see the sun gloriously rise on Sunday morning. As usual, I woke early without an alarm and walked up [...]
Good morning... When my inside self feels topsy-turvy, off-balance, cockeyed, truth finally dawns: "I have elbowed God out of the way." I have stopped diligently anchoring myself in Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, forever. I have started tipping toward my own selfish whims. I hate this topsy-turvy, off-balance feeling, this experience of spinning cockeyed. It's hard [...]
Good morning... While on our women's retreat the first weekend of December, I met a small, sweet book. The Art Of Pausing: Meditations for the Overworked and Overwhelmed. In a simple, inviting pattern the authors offer poems, photographs and short reflections on the names of God, the character of our Creator from whom all blessings flow. When life [...]
