Good morning... Since Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight utilize images of water repeatedly, I googled, "What does water symbolize?" I discovered a fascinating quote. "Most often, water represents cleansing, life, and freedom. Water is a contextual symbol in (art and) literature...it can symbolize many things depending on how it is used in a novel or a story (or [...]
Good morning... Today I will enjoy the privilege of talking with the Preschool Prayer Moms at Northside Church. The organizer said, "I think it would be fun for you to talk about the movie Groundhog Day and liken it to our never-ending days as preschool moms, adding a scripture to encourage us along." "What an awesome idea!" My mind [...]
Good morning... In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus' closest friends fell asleep. His request of them had been clear, "Please stay awake while I pray." Yet they fell asleep again and again. Instead of an angry reprimand, with grace in his voice Jesus spoke understanding, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41b, NIV). This sentence [...]
Good morning... Okay. So God did it again. Surround-sound is the Spirit's specialty. At 2:59 am, I posted yesterday's message highlighting the various seasons of life found in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Then at 5:04 am, Henri Nouwen's 12.3.16 meditation arrived in my computer's inbox. Nouwen's words continue the Spirit's revelation: "There comes a time in all our lives when we [...]
Good morning... After a meaningful walk-and-talk with a longtime friend, God's truth became clear. I need to say "no" to an awesome opportunity, an opportunity to which I would love to say "yes". With her family just a bit ahead of ours on life's journey, my wise friend simply said, "Remember, you have another season after this one." Pondering [...]
Good morning... Over Thanksgiving weekend, I took a private walk to the nearby horse farm with our puppy of eight months. As Tate and I circled around the familiar path, I came upon a woman sitting on a rock overlooking the river. As I said, "Hello," she looked up and I saw the tearful eyes of a friend I [...]
Good morning... Do not ask me why, but I wake with my morning mind focused on an idiom. After researching the phrase my heart weds my mind. "Feathering one's nest" means to decorate and furnish one's home in style and comfort, which alludes to birds lining their nests with feathers to make them warm and comfortable. A weird truth [...]
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 [...]
Good morning... Yesterday, our youngest child had his last Middle School Field Day. This is one thing I have learned from raising our four kids: savoring "lasts" along the way is an essential key to enjoying life. Following spring football practice the night before, I picked up a carload of eighth grade boys. After dropping a few kids home [...]
Good morning... Each year for the past four years I have hosted a Bible study on Wednesday afternoons for the "moms of high school seniors" from my kids' school. Next week, I meet with a group of three moms who want to begin the special tradition at a neighboring school, and I have been asked to mentor another woman [...]
