Good morning... I love the way God bubbles up to blossom between us. The Holy Spirit nudged a loyal friend to share encouragement with our class yesterday: "Thinking of each of you and your families this 3rd Sunday in Lent. What a beautiful reflection below from my ever-favorite Henri Nouwen." ****** The Spring of Living Water by Henri [...]
Good morning... Last Monday afternoon and last Friday morning in our Self to Lose, Self to Find classes, we read the book excerpts highlighted in yesterday's post, How Our True Self Grows. In between these two discussions of a fascinating "seed" analogy, on Wednesday night I taught our young mom's class at church. As we explored the introduction [...]
Good morning... Our book for the semester is fascinating. Self to Lose, Self to Find: Using the Enneagram To Uncover Your True, God-Gifted Self by Marilyn Vancil offers mind-blowing wisdom, stretching us in intriguing, new ways. Join me now as we ponder an amazing "seed" analogy which tangibly describes the interaction between our Adapted Self (the self to [...]
Good morning... Twenty-nine years ago today, on January 6th, I gave birth to a five pound fifteen ounce little boy, three days past his due date. Look at him now. He's faithful, he's grounded, he's newly married to a Spirit-filled, gentle woman. How fun it is to see a single seed of God growing up into its own [...]
Good morning... When I was a young mom of four little kids, a wise woman from our church shared an important nugget of wisdom. "Children are not for molding," she said. "Children are for unfolding." Through the change in one single word, God continues to guide me. To me, molding means pushing, shaping, exerting control. The change of [...]
Good morning... Amid the traffic and the long lines snaking through every store, I am convicted once again, "Sometimes less is more." Less worry. Less rushing. Less anger. Less impressing. Less "My way or the highway." God, what might it mean for me to live this day really trusting that less is more? Trust in your money and [...]
Good morning... I woke yesterday to an email from our pastor announcing changes in the United Methodist Church. "In what was a solemn day, members of the 2023 North Georgia Annual Conference ratified the disaffiliation agreements of 261 churches at a Special Called Session," begins the article recounting Saturday's important gathering. Later we learn "...approximately 440 North Georgia [...]
Good morning... As I visited my new nephew in Ohio last week, I went to the bathroom before leaving for the airport to fly back to Atlanta. As I stepped back into their kitchen, I saw the sight above - the hand painted plaque I had commissioned for my sister's son and his wife when they married in [...]
Good morning... We face an unknown future, dependent on the grace of God. What is grace exactly, Lord? a. Divine favor bestowed freely on people. b. The state of having received unearned favor. c. A supernatural power granted unconditionally by God. God is full of grace. From him we have all received grace in place of the grace [...]
Good morning... Beneath this sign posted on a nearby tree, I look down to see a worm struggling wildly on the sidewalk. Flailing. Squirming. Searching for softness. I think to myself, "This is one thing I can do," and I pick up the desperate creature and lay her on a moist patch of grass. In times of chaotic [...]
