Good morning... Worries well-up naturally from our aching gut through our heavy heart to permeate our mixed-up mind. At their essence, worries are simply an invitation into prayer. Let me show you what I mean. For example, instead of incessantly worrying "How am I ever going to homeschool my kids online again this fall semester?" we pray, "God, [...]
Good morning... "I am appalled by your blog and photo," the woman commented after yesterday's post. "How can it be true that we all grow up into God over time? That thought is too inclusive." "Too inclusive." The phrase lingered as I woke from sleep. This was a quote not from a real woman, but from a critical [...]
Good morning... Experiencing constant transformation, we are rooted where we are planted, we are undeniably interconnected, and we each grow up into God at our own rate over time. I love this photo which provides a visual expression of our individual lives extending up into the light of the Giver of life. At the time God made Earth [...]
Good morning... Sunday may be the day that feels most different during this world wide pandemic. For many church-goers across the globe who are used to gathering face to face, close together, week by week, online worship has replaced onsite worship for this unusual period of time. Churches are now negotiating, "What will it look like to come [...]
Good morning... As I put my feet in my shoes yesterday, I thoroughly enjoyed a socially distanced walk and talk with a dear, dear friend. She introduced me to an acronym I had never met before, an acronym recently shaping her evening prayer time. G.L.A.D. stands for Grateful. Learning. Accomplish. Delight. She ponders the following questions with God [...]
Good morning... Sitting with two of his three siblings, I witnessed our youngest son get his high school diploma. Hidden beneath my mask, can you envision my proud-momma smile? It was certainly a memorable, one-of-a-kind celebration. Outside in the football stadium. Social distanced, wearing masks. 80% chance of rain earlier in the week turned to delightfully cloudy with [...]
Good morning... As we wake on the final Sunday of July 2020, our minds meander toward fall. Masks. Social distancing. Balancing our need for safety with our craving for human contact. This will be an audacious autumn. In the shadow of a growing death toll, we are made keenly aware: "Life is short." Will we do stuff that [...]
Good morning... When I think of a lamb, I think of this sketch. I received a copy of this print after one of our four miscarriages. Instinctively I knew that the soul of the little being inside me had been scooped up and embraced by the loving care of our Lord. What do you notice about this simple [...]
Good morning... She prayed over me as we finished our monthly spiritual direction phone call, and her words landed in my open journal: "LORD, these mixed emotions are so tender. There is so much wrapped up in the place where Sue is sitting. We know You are a resurrection God. We don't know what will be resurrected from the [...]
Good morning... "Everything that could go wrong yesterday did," she emailed me, "and this morning didn't start off any better. I felt totally abandoned by God, even though I know He tells us, 'I will never leave or forsake you.'" She was right, God has promises repeatedly, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." The Lord himself [...]
