Good morning... Before choosing a book for each new semester, I prayerfully nestle into a few chapters from a small handful of possiblilities. God knows what lies before us. God knows our every need. I totally trust the LORD to nudge: "This is the book for the season ahead." Then I put the book down before reading it fresh, [...]
Good morning... Releasing our "secondary loves" into the care of Our First Love, we are silently drawn into unity with the God who created us. I recently read a short story describing creatively the process of us melting into our true, salty self. ****** The Salt Doll by Anthony de Mello (1931-1987) A salt doll journeyed for thousands [...]
Good morning... This summer, two of my best friends and I walked through the mountains near Cashiers, North Carolina, and I snapped this photo of a pruned back tree becoming host to new forms of life, sprouting moss, supporting seedlings. This image returned to mind as I read these words aloud to our class this week. ****** Excerpt [...]
Good morning... I have been living the lyrics of an old song all summer long: "God, if a picture paints a thousand words then why can't I paint You?" Feeling drawn to the possibility of adding pictures to our everyday blog, I asked a photographer friend where to begin. She suggested two options. I could buy the latest [...]
Good morning... "Most days I eat breakfast and/or lunch on my back porch. Our dogs sit at my feet or play in the yard. The big sky opens wide to offer art lessons. Trees and leaves slow-dance with the breeze. Birds and butterflies, squirrels and chipmunks, all God's creatures frolic in freedom. Fresh air fills my lungs and rejuvenates [...]
Good morning... I love the promise given in the Message translation of Luke 1:79. Through the heartfelt mercies of our God, God’s Sunrise will break in upon us, Shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, Then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the [...]
Good morning... Hurricane Matthew has affected the lives of millions this weekend. The messy photos of wreckage from high winds and water tug at our hearts. Chaotic. Uprooted. Torn apart. We all lift prayers for the rebuilding of rummaged lives. Even inland here in Atlanta, the ripple effects are everywhere. Eerie skies and windy rain. Horrendous traffic traveling north [...]
Good morning... It has been just over six months since her son's sudden death, and she planned a beach getaway for a few inner circle friends, a tangible way of saying, "Thank you" for unwavering support. The women took time to soak in the sunset on their last night at the beach. Not long after settling into the sand, [...]
Good morning... I looked out my window and I saw eyes staring back at me. In the middle of the day from three feet away, dark eyes locked with mine. Eyes, no neck, and perfectly quaffed feathers, an eighteen inch owl was perched on my porch. We looked at each other for a very long time. Motionless. Peaceful. Soul [...]
Good morning... Spring is tipping into summer everywhere I look. The pruned back branches of winter gave way to small leafy buds this spring, and now those same trees are exploding with green growth. I watched my neighbors' lawn guys dig up still beautiful pansies yesterday. Purple and white flowers remaining poised atop thinning, scrawny stems. A few weekends [...]
