When Horrible Happens
What do we do when horrible happens? The dreaded results say, "The cancer is back." The voice inside us verbalizes the unspeakable, "I'm filing for divorce." The phone hands us the forbidden truth, "There are no survivors." What do we do when horrible happens? We grope for God in the very same place all of creation began. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the [...]
Progress
Good morning... Progress is an interesting word. When we emphasize the first syllable, progress, then the word is a noun, meaning onward movement toward a goal or to a more advanced stage. Growth or unfolding. Evolution or development. Breakthrough or advancement. When we emphasize the second syllable, progress, the word becomes a verb, meaning to grow or develop in scope, severity, or complexity. To better or to advance. To increase or to improve. God [...]
Do Not Neglect Your Gift
Good morning... I was twenty-five years old in 1988 when my pen touched a journal for the very first time. Having put my best foot forward to snag my husband of a year, my less acceptable foot planted her self prolifically on the page. Journaling became my daily release, my best form of prayer, my own private lifeline. I had recently graduated with my Masters Degree in Human Development and Family Relations from the [...]
God’s Love Is Released Through “Sue2You”
Good morning... God's timing is perfect. Months and months ago, I signed up for a retreat weekend with one of my favorite authors, Paula D'Arcy. At the time, I had no idea we would be transplanting our private google group "Ladies on Line" into a larger, more accessible container called "sue2you". The retreat happened to fall on the weekend before the September 1st launch of "sue2you". Before sending us off into a time of [...]
Our Limbs And Our Leaves
Good morning... Driving out of our neighborhood on the way to school, our fourteen year old son said, "Look at how different all of the trees are on the street." Some had brilliant colors, reds, yellows, oranges. Others were still bushy with tons of green leaves. Still others were completely bare, they had already shed their leaves for this year's season. What an interesting observation. Isn't this true about ourselves spiritually as well? Some [...]
Faith-Facts-Feelings
Her mom taught her three specific words in a very important order. “Faith. Facts. Feelings.” These three words would be repeated anytime a challenge arose or a decision was faced, “Remember, we focus first on faith, then on the facts, and finally on our feelings.” As evidenced by the rosy cheeks on her adult daughter’s face, this mother’s advice is wise and practical, trusting and enduring. The engine of our train is driven by [...]
Welcome Aboard The Train Of Life
A friend sent me an anonymous short story comparing the journey of life to a trip on a train. I toyed with the words, enhancing their spiritual nature. Enjoy this embellishment touching our truth. When we are born, our creator pushes us from the womb into the world. “Welcome aboard the train of life!” Our inner circle expands from God’s constant care to include the presence of our earthly parents. As wide-eyed kids, we [...]
Embracing Our Cracked Pot
I hate it when my flaws hang out. Following in Jesus’ footsteps, I secretly wish I could be the second perfect person to walk this earth. But my flaws are unavoidable and, with even my best intentions, stuff regularly falls through my cracks. When I begin to feel down on myself, I remember the story of the cracked pot. I google “cracked pot story” and instantly it pops up. A water-bearer in India had [...]
Back Door People
You are definitely a back door person," he said as I left the party. "Most everyone else came through the front door, but not you, you are a back door person. You should write a blog about that." I went out the door and down the back stairs, jumped in my car and drove straight home. Hopping on my computer, I effortlessly wrote my blog 'about that.' We all need our back door people. Back [...]
Seeds Released By Fire
I discovered something amazing when our family hiked and camped in Sequoia National Park. “Whenever most people see a forest fire, they automatically think about all of the trees and bushes that are being destroyed. After the fire is over, the landscape looks like a blackened scene of destruction. But did you know that some plants and trees actually need fires in order to survive? A number of plants rely on fire to [...]
Peace Birthed Through Pain
She said, “I feel like I’m walking around with an expiration date stamped on my forehead,” as she spoke to us thirteen months into her twelve to fifteen month prognosis. She said something else I will never forget. “I do not believe that God caused my cancer. But, I do believe He has allowed my cancer. I believe that God saw the cancer cells dividing in my brain and I believe He had the [...]
How To Wag More
“Bark less. Wag more.” I love this bumpersticker wisdom, but truthfully when I have the urge to bark, I don’t naturally wag. To wag more each day I must exchange my barking spirit for God’s Spirit that wags. Here are the traits of God’s wagging Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22, NIV). In contrast, the spirit of my human nature barks [...]