Good morning... As 2019 tips into 2020, today is a day of looking back before we move forward. As I reminisce about the experiences of our online community this year, there are three things for which I feel most grateful. This is the year we shifted from me taking summers off from daily blog writing to become an [...]
Good morning... Blinking open his five senses to novel sights, smells, and sounds, the newly born Jesus ...was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn’t even notice (John 1:10b, MSG). Noticing Immanuel, God's powerful presence with us, does not happen immediately. Often, especially during the hectic of the holidays, we have a hard [...]
Good morning... In my dream I had gotten a brand new car, and the next morning I woke thrilled to spin away on my spiffy fresh wheels. Pushing the automatic opener attached to my pristine sun visor, I opened the garage door to make my car's maiden voyage. Fiddling with the new feel, I put the car in [...]
Good morning... Every year the month of May swirls out of our control, ripping up our school year routines, not yet sprouting the seeds of summer. Weddings. Graduations. Goodbyes and hellos. May holds crowded space for the death to what was, the "What next?" of right now, and the unpredictable nature of a brand new birth. Inviting a [...]
Good morning... From worm to harrow, from insect to iron, from the Bible verse that concluded yesterday's post on the evolution of our God-given-self, I did not know the meaning of the noun harrow. Harrow, as a verb, is more familiar to me. To actively harrow means to rob, ruin, ravage. To strip, spoil, severe. To destroy, devastate, demolish. When [...]
Good morning... Waiting for my son's Eagle Scout booklet to be bound at Fed Ex, I browsed the tall circular card rack. Whoever comes up with these hilarious expressions of common emotion gets a gold star in my gratitude book. I fell so in love with one birthday card that I bought two copies, one for my 82-year-old [...]
Good morning... "I absolutely love the checkmark visual," one subscriber wrote after Saturday morning's post. "The word descent makes me think of falling completely in love and being totally dependent on God at happy times - my wedding and the birth of our children - in addition to the really difficult seasons." She's right. Painful life seasons (the [...]
Good morning... Life-changing experiences shape us into our best selves, one checkmark after another. Let me tell you what I mean. We all know what a checkmark looks like, right? A descending line. Touching down to a bottom base before changing the trajectory of motion. The uptick of an ascending line growing to a higher level than ever [...]
Good morning... Her text was short. "Needed a sign today." Then she shared one photo...one cartoon. I texted back. "Both of these are so so perfect. Your before and after is stunning, a work of art created and recreated by the God of the universe." Jesus said, “You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person [...]
Good morning... "Supposed to be nearing 80-degrees today, so our 4:00 pm lacrosse game will be a scorcher!" yesterday I texted my parents and sister who each live in small towns near Cleveland, Ohio. "Enjoy your Saturday. What are you all up to?" "Track meet got rained out today and it's supposed to snow tomorrow," my sister replied. [...]
