Good morning... Like light seeping into the chilly winter dark, God finds a way to find us where we are. "Sue," a friend wrote, "I too have been drawn to Bonhoeffer in the last week. His little book, God Is In the Manger, has some of his Christmas sermons." Then she shared a portion of Bonheoffer’s Christmas letter [...]
Good morning... Yesterday my friend and I went to see the movie Bonhoeffer. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor, a theologian, and an anti-Nazi dissident who was executed by the Nazis in 1945 just two weeks before the war ended. Chronicled in his many books and expressed in his heroic actions, Bonhoeffer's life of faith was extraordinary. [...]
Good morning... I'm not very good at big parties, since small talk is not my forte. So when my old friend's annual Christmas cookie party rolls around, I walk in through the familiar back door with internal questions swirling. "Who will I talk with?" "Will I anxiety-eat too much?" "Might I just drink sparkling water?" Last night began [...]
Good morning... When we met for our class Christmas lunch and our final discussion of Choose Joy by Kay Warren, one friend read aloud a thought-provoking poem. ***** I Asked God by Claudia Minden Weisz I asked God to take away my pride, And God said, “No.” He said it was not for Him to take it away, [...]
Good morning... Refocusing my scattered attention, a friend sent me his favorite Christmas poems. Here is one for us to enjoy today, accompanied by the wisdom of Scripture, amplified with an uplifting song. ****** I Will Light Candles from The Mood of Christmas by Howard Thurman I will light Candles this Christmas, Candles of joy despite all the sadness, [...]
Good morning... A tender friend texted me this calming photo. I read the words aloud to myself. Slowly. Quietly. Twice. ...I relied on God’s Spirit to demonstrate God’s power (1 Corinthians 2:4b, VOICE). ...Sue... Respond to Sue privately. Sue Browse our website. suetoyou.com Enjoy our [...]
Good morning... Just before 6:00 o'clock in the middle of a busy week, the grocery store line was long, slow, ugh. After a full day of good work, I was ready to get home, ready to relax, ready to unwind, please. Finally walking out to my car, I noticed the setting sun sinking beneath the rising moon. "Stop. [...]
Good morning... As the December rush picks up, our good intentions break down. Overindulging everything, we underestimate the stress. Too much. Too fast. Too loud. Then, one of my old favorite songs meets us just where we are. "This one knocked me to the ground This one dropped me to my knees I should have seen it coming [...]
Good morning... A longtime friend texted our monthly book group, sharing with us a poem from her Advent readings -- a compilation, Sacred Journeys, by Jan L. Richardson. ****** "Annunciation” This was the minute no one speaks of, when she could still refuse. A breath unbreathed, Spirit, suspended, waiting. _________________________ She did not cry, “I cannot, I am [...]
Good morning... As we savor memorable moments from this holiday week, what experiences will leave a lasting mark? Unexpected joys. Life-shaping conversations. Painful realizations. Leftover feelings. Learning to love through whatever "is" allows us to process our part in this mystery called life. To savor means to enjoy the full flavor of something, especially by digesting every ounce [...]
