Good morning... "Oh my gosh," I emailed the Creative Director collaborating with God and me to write from scratch our Gift from the Sea interactive study. "We simply MUST finish this powerful Week Four material with one awe-inspiring song!" (See the music video below.) After being captivated by this video, I thought, "No wonder I feel like I am [...]
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... "I have been drawn to spend less structured time with God during this pandemic," she admits, "but somehow I am sensing God's presence more and more. Quotes from yesterday's post put words to my experience: 'There is no place that Jesus is not.' Jesus is in our hearts, our homes, our world. 'Bidden or not bidden, [...]
Good morning... "Our tendency is to run away from the painful realities or to try to change them as soon as possible," Henri Nouwen's morning meditation from yesterday joins our life-giving conversation. "But cure without care makes us into rulers, controllers, manipulators, and prevents a real community from taking shape. Cure without care makes us preoccupied with quick [...]
Good morning... "Loving can be a difficult business," writes Roberta Bondi on page 35 in To Love As God Loves. "It is impossible to grit the teeth and love, no matter how much we want to. That is because human effort is only one of the two basic elements necessary for the fulfillment of all Christian goals and [...]
Good morning... Since 2006, God has organically grown my spiritual gifts in the rich soil of Northside Church. I have seen many staff members come and many go, but one person I have seen stay, grow, and flourish is Dr. James Johnson, our Director of Adult Discipleship. During this period of pandemic, our church has begun sharing online [...]
Good morning... Thirty-three years ago today, I walked down the wedding aisle with my dad. Then I walked back up the same aisle married to Steve Allen. I don't think there is any other choice in my lifetime that has paid off such deep, divine dividends. I just finished my annual journey through the pages of Gift From [...]
Good morning... Clever creativity has spread wildly during this time of coronavirus quarantine. This playful poem, forwarded to me by many kind folk, is one of my favorite displays of Jesus' regenerative joy born this Easter morn. ****** How the Virus Stole Easter By Kristi Bothur With a nod to Dr. Seuss ? Twas late in ‘19 when the [...]
Good morning... It strikes me that many of you do not know my husband, Steve. You have not seen him. You have not heard his voice. You have never been in the same room. So during this time of social distancing, I thought I would share with you, on this memorable Maundy Thursday, the virtual chapel service Steve [...]
Good morning... The following devotional message, written by my husband, arrived in my inbox on the same morning nine of us women from our Monday Bible study group packed two hundred and fifty Super Pack Boxes at the Action Ministries warehouse. Each box was filled with non-perishable goods to help one family of four to supplement their food [...]
