Good morning... Recently, I received an email from a faithful, longtime friend. "In a world often characterized by division, this is an opportunity for us to come together in a simple yet powerful way," she wrote. "Research shows it takes just 30 days to build a new habit. So here's the KIND30 challenge: extend one small act of [...]
Good morning... God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing (Job 26:7, NLT). As the nearly full moon peeks through the space between our roof and the trees, I am reminded of the poem I read yesterday as I spoke briefly in all three worship services at Northside Church. I talked about [...]
Good morning... Last Tuesday was a doozy. Volunteering to help a friend who was moving, I offered to take her final leftover things to a Christian consignment store near us. Driving over, I thought to myself, "Might this be a side ministry God is directing me towards?" I can certainly pick up donated stuff from friends and transporting [...]
Good morning... One of my favorite Bible stories can be found in Luke 9:12-17 (NIV). Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him (Jesus) and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” He replied, “You give [...]
Good morning... All weekend long, gift items kept arriving on our doorstep. Toiletry packs. Beautiful, reusable bags. Bibles and Scripture cards. A bunch of brown boxes were dropped off by Amazon. Kleenex packs. Nail files and gum. Lotions and lip gloss. Some people left their offerings on our front porch. Fuzzy socks. Colorful journals and pens. Handwritten notes [...]
Good morning... Might it be time to break out of your shell? We can learn important lessons from a baby chick. The protective shell, which has been strong enough to shield the creature from the outside world, eventually becomes permeable. As the maturing bird absorbs calcium from the egg, her bones grow stronger, stronger, stronger. Additional calcium is [...]
Good morning... After writing about our need to be kneaded by God, I am drawn back to an old favorite poem. The first line begins: "It takes time to bake a loaf of bread, to grind, to knead, to wait..." Please take your time, reading these sacred words as slowly as you can. ****** It Takes Time by [...]
Good morning... I love this unique bird rising up into purple. Purple, the higher way we have been exploring with God. Purple, the masterful blending of red, white, and blue. Purple, our patchy pathway forward into God's peace, God's power, God's purposes. "Our life is an apprenticeship to the truth that around every circle another circle can be [...]
Good morning... As I walked the back roads of rural Pennsylvania, flags were everywhere. Red. White. Blue. Everywhere. It dawned on me that something new is created as we melt together the distinct colors of these manmade symbols. Red. White. Blue. Blended, these different shades become purple. I [...]
Good morning... As we enjoyed a candid discussion on the porch, my husband Steve read aloud yesterday's meditation from Richard Rohr. By request, he forwarded it to me. Now I share the wisdom with you. ****** Imagine Something Better - Author Sarah Bessey names the need to be “for” something good, not merely “against” what is wrong: Imagining [...]
