Good morning... During this winter season that feels treacherous to so many, I happened upon a new music video. Jelly Roll and Lauren Daigle have paired up to produce Faithful Through The Ages. "A raw, soul-deep anthem about a God who never walked away — even when life broke us down," writes one listener. "Jelly Roll’s gravel-hearted honesty [...]
Good morning... Last weekend, while watching a string of great football games, I noticed on all of the players' helmets two simple words: CHOOSE LOVE. Wondering the meaning behind this conscious decision, I googled, "choose love on football helmets" and this information popped up. "Choose Love" on NFL helmets and in end zones is a message of compassion, [...]
Good morning... Yesterday, after I spoke aloud the final prayer at the end of our Ministry of Movement fitness class, I intended to walk with a friend. God had a different plan. I left the church and drove to my friend's house. She greeted me with a long, loving hug, expressing her deep sorrow over the violent murder [...]
Good morning... After yesterday's post, Stoop Down. Reach Out., a friend texted me immediately: "Oh my goodness!!!! I'm so sad over here. When do you go downtown for group? I can send a zucchini bread for Mike Mike! (The same delicious zucchini bread she made our friend's 80th birthday party last Thursday.) Maybe if you go to drop [...]
Good morning... If you have ever been to PAWkids, you know Mike Mike. Humble and gentle, with a huge heart, Mike Mike is around to help in any way needed. On Saturday morning, Mike Mike found his mom dead in her bed, stabbed in her neck and her head. What a horrendous tragedy! "This family is so ingrained [...]
Good morning... As I sit beneath the growing weight of our now 40 lb. pup, Cami, I think about Philip Yancey and his wife of 55 years. My prayers go up like incense on their behalf as they drop from the public eye to work on their daily life, a life broken by his eight year affair. In [...]
Good morning... "Good morning, Sue!" her text greeted me first thing yesterday. "AHHHH!!! I can’t stop thinking about the ZESTY women and the ZESTY honest sharing yesterday - I feel one thousand percent closer to God in that transparent space than certain times in the past when I had all the perfect answers and impression of total certainty! [...]
Good morning... Happy New Year! There is no better way to recognize new phases of growth than to remember where we were while celebrating where we are. Two photos, set side by side, tell the story of natural, unstoppable growth. One is from October; the other was taken last night just after the ball dropped in Time Square. [...]
Good morning... In a constant state of amazing love, the vulnerable baby Jesus was born to be beside us. God, in human skin, was born to be beside us as we journey throughout this treacherous life. On Christmas Eve at Northside Church, as I served during the final two worship services, I was asked personally to pray for [...]
Good morning... My favorite Christmas song reached me when Steve and I were newlyweds. The acapella group Glad harmonized the meaning of that first Christmas morn with their song In the First Light. This special song was produced in 1988, when I was 25 years old. Enjoy these lyrics before experiencing this powerful song. In the first light [...]
