We Gather Together In Grief
Good morning... I met a best friend over the coffee pot at Northside Church in 2003. In kindness, she reached out to me yesterday morning. Keenly aware of the tragedy I described last week in our post She Died Unexpectedly, my dear friend texted, "Hey I was thinking about you last night and this morning and I assume you are attending worship at Kairos Church today. I pray that the Spirit will move [...]
Slow. Notice. Love People.
Good morning... From all sides we are bombarded. Wars and worries. Death and depression. Anxiety and addiction. Conflict and confusion. Pain and problems. Into life's cacophony, my neighbor sent a centering image. Slow down. Notice blessings. Love the people on your path. “Eternal Lord, with Your outstretched arm and Your enormous power You created the heavens and the earth. [...]
We Comfort One Another
Good morning... Soon after she read yesterday's post She Died Unexpectedly, a close friend texted me the encouraging prayer pictured above. “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you [...]
She Died Unexpectedly
Good morning... In addition to my weekday work as Women's Ministry Director at Northside Church, I have joined my husband Steve on many Sundays as he has helped out a little Presbyterian church nearby. With their beloved pastor leaving, the small church family needed an ordained pastor to step into temporary gaps. As needed, he would pray and preach, lead communion and perform baptisms, offer pastoral care and guide the ministry to men. [...]
Give Amid The Summer Slump
Good morning... This summer, our Northside Church family is making 200 bagged lunches on Mondays and 200 bagged lunches on Wednesdays and taking them to PAWkids to share with our friends in the Grove Park neighborhood. For three Mondays in a row, I have joined in the fun, tangibly connecting with my two favorite non-profit organizations. [...]
Everything Can Happen
Good morning... Well, two things can be true. First, after playing terribly and losing 4-1 to Belgium in last night's game, the USA soccer team will not win the 2026 World Cup. Second, I love a creative commercial which brings to life our high hopes as a hosting nation. Stepping over the division, controversy, and corruption running rampant, it is fun to come together to cast a unifying vision, believing "Everything Can Happen," [...]
The Wonder Of World Cup
Good morning... The 2026 World Cup action has been thrilling and frustrating, exciting and heartbreaking, bonding and controversial. Tonight the USA team plays Belgium at 8:00 pm, and many across the globe will experience the wide range of emotions wired into each human heart. "The world is meant to meet," is a phase that lingers from one of my favorite World Cup commercials. The goodness of God shines forth as we meet, connect, [...]
Charlie Means “Free Man”
Good morning... This is one of my favorite pictures of Charlie, our first grandchild. His official name is Charles Shepherd Allen, and Charles means "free man." This name matters a lot to our family, because Charles (Charlie), like all of us, is born into the freedom Jesus Christ purchased on the cross, once and for all. Christ has set us free! Stand fast therefore in the liberty whereby Christ has made us free, [...]
Our Grandson’s First Visit
Good morning... A friend just happened to send me this happy yellow saying on the morning our first grandson visited our home for the first time. I witnessed this enduring truth in action. Charlie is being smiled into smiling, loved into loving and eventually he will be talked into talking and sung into singing. This is the embodiment of true [...]
Find Me And Free Me
Good morning... Since our two years of training ended in 2017, four of us spiritual directors meet monthly by phone for peer supervision. We live in different states and see one another very rarely, but our two hour conversations are some of my favorite moments every month. This month the person facilitating read aloud an opening prayer written by Ted Loder. Listening intently, we were hooked by different phrases. Before our fertile phone [...]
Her Incurable Cancer
Good morning... For months and months, I have diligently prayed for my lifetime friend in Norway. Just now, we are exchanging emails in the middle of this dark night. She wrote yesterday. "Thanks for keeping me so close! The summary from today’s consultation is that the current treatment does not work anymore. The oncologist suggests alternative chemo, maybe in August. She says my body, especially the bone marrow, needs rest. I agree totally! [...]
Watch What Happens Next
Good morning... When we urgently pray for clarity, like we did in yesterday's post, we watch expectantly for whatever happens next. We went to bed praying for our friend's deep need for God's guidance. Then we woke to the following text. "As you get out of bed in the morning, be aware of My Presence with you. You may not be thinking clearly yet, but I am. Your early morning thoughts tend to [...]