Good morning... Loss. Surgery. Rehab. Divorce. Caretaking. Health challenges. Alzheimers. Addiction. Heartbreak. Many of us are facing many hard things. "I am claiming these words these next days," one friend wrote to our Sunday afternoon class. "If you are betwixt, if you are between, if you are in the midst and the middle and the muck, if you [...]
Good morning... She mentioned a line from a poem by John O'Donohue. I searched and discovered the poem in its entirety. Featured in To Bless the Space Between Us, this beautiful writing offers us solace by suggesting that our deceased loved one remains present in our hearts. ****** On the death of the beloved: Blessing and Funeral Poem [...]
Good morning... Today we will gather to honor the tender life of Jessica Martin. The simple quote above captures her essence. Jess loved very, very deeply. She listened attentively. She whispered prayers often. When moments of peace settled in, she fully embraced them. Jess gave her time to God and to the people who mattered most. Her very [...]
Good morning... During the dark night of our soul, we slow down to simplify everything. Do not chase. Simply bloom. Stay rooted in Christ. Grow in grace. Trust God's timing. What belongs, He will bring. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through [...]
Good morning... Last Wednesday, I spent quality time with a new friend from Northside Church. She’s been a very active member for a long, long time, but, as she has taught art to kids during the day for over twenty years, she’s never been able to take one of the daytime classes I teach each semester. Now in [...]
Good morning... From all sides we are bombarded. Wars and worries. Death and depression. Anxiety and addiction. Conflict and confusion. Pain and problems. Into life's cacophony, my neighbor sent a centering image. Slow down. Notice blessings. Love the people on your path. “Eternal Lord, [...]
Good morning... Well, two things can be true. First, after playing terribly and losing 4-1 to Belgium in last night's game, the USA soccer team will not win the 2026 World Cup. Second, I love a creative commercial which brings to life our high hopes as a hosting nation. Stepping over the division, controversy, and corruption running rampant, [...]
Good morning... This is one of my favorite pictures of Charlie, our first grandchild. His official name is Charles Shepherd Allen, and Charles means "free man." This name matters a lot to our family, because Charles (Charlie), like all of us, is born into the freedom Jesus Christ purchased on the cross, once and for all. Christ has [...]
Good morning... For months and months, I have diligently prayed for my lifetime friend in Norway. Just now, we are exchanging emails in the middle of this dark night. She wrote yesterday. "Thanks for keeping me so close! The summary from today’s consultation is that the current treatment does not work anymore. The oncologist suggests alternative chemo, maybe [...]
Good morning... When we urgently pray for clarity, like we did in yesterday's post, we watch expectantly for whatever happens next. We went to bed praying for our friend's deep need for God's guidance. Then we woke to the following text. "As you get out of bed in the morning, be aware of My Presence with you. You [...]
