Good morning... “Stillness is not about focussing on nothingness; it’s about creating a clearing. It’s opening up an emotionally clutter-free space and allowing ourselves to feel and think and dream and question,” writes author Brene Brown on page 108 of The Gifts of Imperfection. Stillness. Create a clearing. Open up emotionally. Protect clutter-free inner space. Allow feeling, thinking, dreaming, [...]
Good morning... As I stir from sleep, one phrase fills my focus: "Unlimited Possibilities." Though I took tons and tons of notes during our two-day retreat, on the tip of my brain's tongue, this morning after, rest two distinct words: "Unlimited Possibilities." Unlocked by this one two-word phrase, biblical promises begin bubbling up from my gut, through my heart, [...]
Good morning... Envisioning our collective journey being lived upon a timeline, we pause. Looking left, we see where we had been before our recent four-day technical glitch. Now we pause to look right. At the moment of disconnection where was the Spirit leading us? I was working on a post quoting Parker Palmer: "Depression is the ultimate state of disconnection." [...]
Good morning... In important matters, God gets our attention. His "surround sound" method of speaking cracks me up. After yesterday's post, I Made A Mistake, my friend emailed me: "This should make you chuckle. Look what is in my inbox this morning!" ****** Subject: Inspiring Quote for February 23rd, 2018 "I hope that in this year to come, you [...]
Good morning... She wrote me a short, sweet reply after yesterday's post, The Prayers Of A Child, in which I presented this pondering point, "Thinking back on yourself as a child, what regular rituals may have been your first forms of prayer?" "In response to today's blog. . . playing Jacks on the smooth, cool, shaded concrete front porch of [...]
Good morning... "I have been receiving such confirmation through you, my stewardship coach, and my therapist that reading Let Your Life Speak will be beneficial in discerning vocation," writes Mary from Charlotte, N.C., the author of the words from our recent post, Gratitude Holds Hands With Grief. She says, "Here is what really jumped out at me so far, 'True vocation [...]
Good morning... Scary feelings. Scattered thoughts. Struggles strangle. We are overwhelmed. Too many needs. Too many options. Too many expectations. We are overwhelmed. Difficult decisions. Demanding deadlines. Depression descends. We are overwhelmed. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7, NIV). But God is invisible and God does not talk like us and God [...]
Good morning... A few days ago I posted Prayer Is Free Time With God, writing: "A momma bird and her young one capture my attention. Her wide wings fly beneath, guiding, guarding, giving confident trust. The individuating creature flaps a unique set of wings. I sense: 'No one can fly for us, we must engage our whole self.'" "You fully [...]
Good morning... As we walk away from what has been and step toward what will be, she sent me a beautiful prayer written by Leighton Ford, a mentor for emerging Christian leaders from across the globe. ****** Lord, give me I pray: A remembering heart for the things that have happened An attentive heart to what I have learned [...]
Good morning... "Many years ago I was a part of a church in which an upcoming vote would decide the church's future," writes Jan Johnson on page 153 in When the Soul Listens. "I asked God to show me the wiser choice, but no insight came. All I seemed to hear was 'Don't forget to love." "I replied, 'And?'" "I [...]
