Savor Sabbath: God Grows Among Us
Good morning... Inspired by a deep discussion over a birthday season brunch, God grew within me an opening activity for our Enneagram class this week. As about fifty women gathered together in the Chapel at church, I said, "On a blank sheet of paper, we are going to answer five simple questions. On the left side of your page, write numbers 1 through 5 and leave a space beside each number." (Now if [...]
Here We Grow Again
Good morning... Well. Your cascade of comments over the past twenty-four hours has been fascinating to me. Popping though the soil of our online community are a plethora of profound perspectives. As I sit back and witness God growing a gorgeous garden among us, I see four life-giving take-aways written in our collective handwriting. 1. We all make growth-producing mistakes in the trenches of everyday living. "Dearest Sue... We all make mistakes. I personally [...]
Mistake? Mistake? Mistake?
Good morning... "Did you read Sue's devotional? I thought it was unfortunate that she chose an unflattering story about Bryant Skinner after his death," read one text that came into my phone after yesterday's post. Oh no. I felt dread. Self-doubt. Embarrassment. What had I written that could be seen as unflattering? Had my prayed-over words been a horrible mistake? I poured over yesterday's post, a post written to honor my 93-year-old friend [...]
This Morning’s Funeral For A Father
Good morning... This morning in extra measure my soul lifts loving prayers for 93-year-old Betty Skinner. Today she and loved ones will lay to rest Bryant B. Skinner, Sr., a lifelong resident of Jacksonville, Florida, who died on March 10, 2019 at the age of 96. As Bryant's obituary reads: "He married Betty Walthour of Birmingham, AL, in 1948. They had many happy years together and raised three sons and a daughter. Betty was a [...]
Treasure Your Own Tulip
Good morning... As I flipped through my stack of favorite books for yesterday's post, I found my way back to two pages I love. The story of a tulip encourages us as we wait beneath the dark soil of not seeing, not knowing, not understanding exactly what God is growing in us. The beauty of spring popping in every direction reminds us of God's unstoppable promise, “Before I made you in your mother’s [...]
The Tale Of Our True Self
Good morning... With this Scripture verse ending yesterday's post we sense our True Self coming up like jonquils out of fallen snow: May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality] (Ephesians 3:16, AMP). I am captivated by the concept of God strengthening His Spirit in our innermost being, energizing with [...]
How Has God Wired You?
Good morning... "Beneath or inside the life we lead every day is another life," says the John Tarrant quote in the notes I borrowed from our 93-year-old friend, Christian mystic Betty Skinner. For years Betty used these notes to facilitate spiritual retreats on the Enneagram, the ancient study of the nine basic types of people. Now as I co-teach a six week class on the Enneagram, we wade into the stream where Betty's [...]
Savor Sabbath: Accept Whatever Is
Good morning... On Friday morning, our "I Feel Overwhelmed" post resonated with many of you. Some of you responded to me with kind, short, loving words. One of you texted me a beautiful picture bearing this Eckart Tolle quote: "Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you have chosen it." On Sundays as an online community, we take time to savor the week we have just experienced together. So, click six [...]
How Might I Waste Time With God?
Good morning... Yesterday's post highlighted a life-giving email from a friend. Her additional notes continue to shape me, calm me, guide me. ****** 3 Things To Do When Overwhelmed - notes from lecture by Trevor Hudson, 3/7/19 1) Consider the flood and Noah’s Ark: When an overwhelming flood comes, Noah builds an ark with great attention to its shape. 2) Our lives are shaped better by questions than by answers. Life-shaping questions take us [...]
I Feel Overwhelmed
Good morning... Important emails are piling up. I don't have time to respond to all. I feel overwhelmed. In my mind, heart, and gut are gnarly knots. I don't have time to untangle all. I feel overwhelmed. Time evaporates with so much left to do. I don't have time to accomplish all. I feel overwhelmed. Unaware of my chaotic quandary, yet at the perfect moment, a friend emails me wisdom. ****** 3 Things To Do [...]
Two Things I Love Most
Good morning... "There are two things I love most about yesterday's post," she said as she pulled out her journal to show me her handwritten gems. "One is something Lou shared and the other is something you highlighted." "I can't. God can. I think I'll let Him," she sat back and smiled as she read from her page. "I love that. It applies to so many things." She's right. Love unconditionally? I can't. [...]
One Funky Love Story
Good morning... A wonderfully wide array of women filled the Chapel at Northside Church last night as we gathered for our annual Women's Lenten Communion Service. We experienced a heartfelt talk before breaking bread to dip into wine, feeding upon Christ's sacrificial love for all: through brokenness we are made whole. Let me share with you highlights from the love story of Lou. ****** Excerpts from "My Love Story: What's Yours?" by Lou [...]