Good morning... After our recent post, God's Crazy Love, a handful of you wrote affirmation. "Love this!!!" "Today's devotional was so beautiful." "Thank you for this message especially in this crazy time of year when it should be so quiet and calm. He is a good good Father." "Merry Christmas and thank you for making each morning brighter for me." [...]
Good morning... I knew I would be cutting time close when I scheduled the appointment last week, but, as an eternal optimist, I thought, "I can do that, then I can go there." Then when an important, long-standing "there" moved up its start time, my newly committed "that" would no longer fit without rushing. As I opened myself up [...]
Good morning... Walking with my friend, we were stunned to see a dying cardinal lying on the sidewalk. The little creature was slowly moving his bright red head, looking around, blinking his eyes, but his chubby body was stationary, paralyzed on the pavement. When I said, "Oh, let's pick him up and put him in a soft, private place," I [...]
Good morning... A "breath prayer" can be lifted any time, any where, alone aloud or silently in a crowd. Usually nine syllables or less, breath prayers can calm our anxious thoughts. Richard Foster, Christian author and theologian in the Quaker tradition, writes: “Commenting on breath prayers, Theophane the Recluse notes, ‘Thoughts continue to jostle in your head like mosquitos. To [...]
Good morning... "Your post today inspired me to think about how to deal with ourselves when we start to panic," a friend texted after reading yesterday's message, Trust God In Life's Noise. She continued, "We are told to 'breathe.' What if we thought of that breathing (which should be long on the inhale and even longer on the exhale) [...]
Good morning... As I sense God in the silence, I trust God in life's noise. In silence, I sense God's loving tone, God's calming texture, God's slow-steady timing. In silence, I sense God's inviting maybes, God's subtle movement, God's deep-high meaning. In silence, I sense God's guidance before me, God's presence within me, God's protection around me. As I sense God in the silence, I [...]
Good morning... A few months back I agreed to facilitate a Sunday school class at a large, local church this morning. I have loved teaching this class in the past and was looking forward to collaboratively learning with this great group again. Earlier in the week, I had exchanged emails with the organizer, sharing the topic, finalizing the details, [...]
Good morning... Heading into the holidays, we need reminders. Yet we must remember: It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth—this defiles a person (Matthew 15:11, CSB). Especially when we eat like crap, we are wise to rise from the table, to curl up on the couch, and to talk [...]
Good morning... In an unusual act, I set my alarm for just before 3:00 am, intending to pause and to change the message I had pre-programmed very early in the morning. A fifty-five year old husband, father, and friend to many was laid to rest yesterday, four days after he died in a freak car accident. I wanted to [...]
Good morning... When fully experienced, Scripture can be playfully powerful. This morning, we will soak in the wisdom of Psalm 51:12-15 (MSG). While we slowly read aloud each animated analogy, let's pause, pray, and ponder. Tickling our thoughts, stirring our feelings, releasing our imagination, might the Spirit yearn to softly saturate all of our many layers? Soak me in [...]
