No Wi-fi Or Cell Service
Good morning... We have been preparing for this morning for a very long time. Today my husband, Steve, and I fly to Maine with twelve inner city PAWkids students and six chaperones, sponsored by the non-profit formed in my friend's honor, Julie's Dream. What an unpredictable adventure! "Built on Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) conservation land and located at the confluence of Second Roach Pond and the Roach River, Medawisla Lodge and Cabins, part [...]
Where Is Our Freedom?
Good morning... This fourth of July 2021, where is our freedom? In these early morning hours, three Scripture verses merge in my mind to reveal God's expanding truth. Our freedom is more than a flag bearing stars and stripes, more than hot dogs and hamburgers sizzling on a grill, more than fireworks lighting up the pitch black sky. True freedom is about Christ gently living on through us to free the impoverished, to [...]
Seeds of Gratitude
Good morning... "Gratitude is a seed you plant," said the minister at the celebration of Eliza's twenty-eight year old life. "This seed grows up into joy. Radiant joy comes from planting small seeds of daily gratitude." Though her body was riddled with cancer, Eliza's radiant joy was unmistakably contagious. This week Henri Nouwen also encourages us to plant seeds of gratitude in our everyday lives. ****** DAILY MEDITATION | JULY 2, 2021 - [...]
Thy Will Be Done
Good morning... Sometimes a song sings just what we feel. I am hoping this music video adds another dimension to our ongoing discussion about the will of God. Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:9b-10, KJ21). ...Sue... Note To Sue Past Posts Donate [...]
In This Upside Down World
Good morning... As you can imagine, after our past two posts which wrestle with "the will of God," I have received many heartfelt emails from fellow followers of Christ trying to explain the philosophy of life stabilizing us during tumultuous times, like an anchor steadies a ship. I will share a heavy handful of our treasured thoughts. "These are such powerful questions to explore," writes one reader. "I remember Ken Boa coming to [...]
Meet Me On The Veranda
Good morning... "Would you like me to seat you inside or out on the veranda?" asked the hostess. "I would love to sit on the veranda," my spirit leapt. As I enjoyed a quiet meal to myself, I thought about the word "veranda." By definition, it is a large, open porch, usually roofed and partly enclosed. Rarely stumbled upon, the last time I encountered the word was in my reading of the treasured [...]
This Is Not God’s Will
Good morning... "This is not God's will," the minister said at the celebration of Eliza's vivacious, twenty-eight year old life. "This is outside the will of God, but not outside the love of God," he tried to explain the deep mystery of grief. But I had just written in our blog post, "I entrust Eliza’s life to God’s higher will and God’s impeccable timing." So which is it? Was Eliza's release from a [...]
Why Would A Child Go Blind?
Good morning... As I prayerfully consider the story of Ginny Owens, this beautiful singer/song writer who lost her sight at age three, I can't help but wonder, "God, why would you allow an innocent child to go completely blind?" I'm not the only one who has struggled with this question. In John 9:1-7 (TPT) we meet the disciples of Jesus as they wrestle with similar thoughts. Afterward, as Jesus walked down the street, [...]
The Longest Day Of Our Year
Good morning... "Sue," she emailed me, "I wanted to share this 'heavenly' picture of the full moon that I took this week after some storm clouds had passed through. I was awestruck by what I was seeing. It is from a back deck at the beach on the longest day of the year! Use it whenever you want or when a moonlight passage inspires you!" This gorgeous moonlight photo piques my curiosity, so [...]
Touched And Comforted
Good morning... "I have been out of touch but reading and connecting with you most mornings," she wrote. "I am so heartbroken and encouraged by the beautiful and tragic story of Eliza." "When I saw the title of your message I'll Walk Through The Valley," she continued, "I thought to myself, 'I haven’t heard that song in a while. I should listen to it today.' Well, in typical Sue fashion, the beautiful song [...]
Hard And Healing
Good morning... "Thank you for posting the music video of I'll Walk Through the Valley," my friend wrote after yesterday's blog post. "It's so hard to watch Ginny Owens sing this song, but so healing too. This song got Eliza through so many dark days - along with Psalm 23." As we step forward into this new day, let's quietly experience the comfort of Psalm 23, expressed in The Passion Translation. The Good [...]
I’ll Walk Through The Valley
Good morning... I was deeply touched by the song performed at the celebration of life for twenty-eight year old, Eliza. When I got home from the reception following the service, I googled the song title and found the music video below, performed by the original artist sitting at the piano, staring ahead, and singing through her own dark valley of blindness. Now I'm drawn to Psalm 60:1-3 in The Passion Translation, Bible verses [...]