Grow Like A Garden
Good morning... Yesterday, I read a tender devotional message written by a calm, compassion co-worker, a beautiful young woman with a loving and gentle soul. With her permission, I now share these life-giving words with you. ****** Northside Weekdays - April 22nd - Elisabeth Shabi I am now in the second year of watching my garden grow. When I first bought my plants and nestled them into the freshly turned earth, they were [...]
I Feel Like Santa’s Elf
Good morning... "Hi, I just talked to Agape," texted my fun friend Corinne Adams on March 25th. (Agape Youth and Family Center supports and empowers both senior citizens and school age kids from underserved families in our community.) "They wished aloud for as many as 226 pieces of Mother's Day jewelry before April 23rd! (200 kids and 26 senior citizens). I am remembering that you and Julie's Dream mentioned Agape as a possible [...]
Today’s Fresh Unfolding
Good morning... "The old song of my spirit has wearied itself out," on the first Monday of this month she read to me over the phone. "It has long ago been learned by heart so that now it repeats itself over and over, bringing no added joy to my days or lift to my spirit. It is a good song, measured to a rhythm to which I am bound by ties and habit [...]
Fast Alone Or Far Together?
Good morning... I am up in the wee hours of the night pondering this quote shared by a friend: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." The Spirit now draws me to a prayer, a prayer to enhance the art of going far together. ****** "A Blessing Prayer" by Macrina Wiederkehr What is a blessing but a rain of grace falling generously upon those [...]
God’s Colorful Design
Good morning... As I think back on our magical walk through the State Botanical Gardens of Georgia in Athens, I still am amazed at the feast of shapes and sizes, colors and textures, layers of life and sweet intimate intricacies. With God's handiwork freely on display, one unmistakeable quality of our Creator is this: we are each created by the Almighty God who absolutely loves variety. [...]
A Radical Idea
Good morning... In researching the concept of radical empathy, I ran into the video below, a captivating video which puts flesh on the bones of a refreshing idea. This Sabbath morn, please enjoy this short video and wonder with God, "How might I be an integral part of Your healing solution?" My child, never drift off course from these two goals for your life: to walk in wisdom and to discover your purpose. [...]
A Perfect Poem For Today
Good morning... "This poem plays beautifully with your post about radical empathy," she wrote. Remember? Radical empathy is "actively striving to better understand and share the feelings of others. To fundamentally change our perspectives from judgmental to accepting, in an attempt to more authentically connect with ourselves and others." I agree with my friend. This powerful poem plays beautifully with our post about connecting authentically with God, self, and others. ****** "The Place [...]
Inching Our Way Forward
Good morning... After a very significant phone conversation, she wrote me a thought-provoking text. "I just saw a photograph on Instagram this evening, the pain and the trauma expressed needs no fact checking," she wrote. "The image was a black woman holding a handwritten sign that read, 'We live in a world where trained cops can panic & act on impulse, but untrained civilians must remain calm with a gun in their face.'" [...]
Trudging Through A Valley
Good morning... "Amazing post!" she emailed after yesterday's message, With A Heavy And Thankful Heart. "I needed it!" "I’ve been trudging through the valley these past weeks," she admitted. "Dark, sad, powerless. It’s surely part of the awakening process but so not me. I’ve started the spiral of control again in my helpless attempt to save the train wreck & that has created more feelings of despair. So your post reminds me what [...]
With A Heavy And Thankful Heart
Good morning... "As I read devotions and pray, Riley soaks in God's shining light," texted a dear friend from the Friday morning class which used to meet in our living room before COVID. "What a beautifully peaceful picture!" I responded. "I love it. How is your heart feeling this morning?" "My heart is thankful for true friends and wonderful family who reflect God's love," she replied. "I am also grateful for hiking and [...]
When Love Wears Fur
Good morning... In yesterday's blog post, How To Avoid Burnout, together we witnessed the loving voice of God captured on my cell phone. As the day progressed, I was also able to witness the love of God caught wearing fur. My friend's year old puppy loves his momma dearly. To keep him company while she visited with her doctor, I brought our dog, Tate, to play with her dog, Tucket. As I prayerfully [...]
How To Avoid Burnout
Good morning... In the past fourteen hours, God's voice was captured on my phone again and again and again. I will share with you three random-seeming text strings, and you too will witness the LORD's loving presence at work among us. Text string Number One - 7:36 pm. "I have been noticing for the first time these big yellow balls all over the tree next to our gate," I texted a friend the [...]