We Hang On By A Thread
Good morning... This week, two friends are heading into surgery. They will step through the anxious uncertainty to arrive on the other side ready to heal into wholeness. Right away, God's healing power will be actively at work. Hang on to that thread. This week, two of my dear friends will be going through divorce mediation. The dream life they each envisioned is unexpectedly unraveling. When unraveling occurs, our thread of truth is [...]
Living “Toes Up”
Good morning... This, the first day of August, marks a change of season for many families in our community. This month, summer quietly comes to an end and the school year too soon begins. What a perfect time to look closely at who we are becoming. Becoming who we really are, we consider these three questions today. How might you describe an absence, a sense of bewilderment that invites the possible? What are [...]
Death Doesn’t End Our Story
Good morning... To add fuel to our process of becoming who we really are, might we prayerfully consider these questions today? In what way are you living with death? What decisions have quieted you? Which one clear word fits you today? Often clarity comes when we take time in silence to listen for God's leading. As we age, we make peace with death. Listening to our daily life, we learn what quiets us. [...]
Are You Sharper Or Rounded?
Good morning... On our way to becoming who we really are, consider today's centering questions: At the groggy beginning of the day, how might this day change you? How might you describe the corners of your life, sharper or rounded off? Sharper or rounded off, how does this feel to you and to others? A friend texted this week, "I love the saying, 'The easy choice now makes life hard, but the hard [...]
Questions Before Dark
Good morning... Beneath tonight's full moon, I revisit an article sent by a friend at the start of 2026, an article entitled "Questions Before Dark." For the rest of this week, we will unpack these poignant questions, questions which point us toward who we really are. We will begin today with the writing in its entirety, then we will pull it apart, taking space to reflect, day by day, as July quietly tips [...]
Become Who You Really Are
Good morning... A longtime family friend sent me this conversational poem. "I thought you would enjoy it," she said. ****** “Hello God” by John Roedel Me: Hello God. God: Hello… Me: I’m falling apart. Can you put me back together? God: I’d rather not. Me: Why? God: Because you’re not a puzzle. Me: What about all the pieces of my life that fall to the ground? God: Leave them there for a while. [...]
Give Everything Then Let Go
Good morning... Sharing how she felt about her recent break up after six years of dating, our daughter began reading aloud a quote she had just posted. "Give it everything you've got, then let go. Show up fully. Take the risk. Have the hard conversation..." her voice trailed off into tears. "You read it," she said. So I picked up where she left off. "Put your whole heart into it. Leave knowing you [...]
Ben Sasse At 8 PM
Good morning... Tonight at 8:00 pm on CNN, Ben Sasse and his wife will be interviewed about their experience of facing his death from stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The articulate, well-respected former senator is using his final months on earth to talk about family, faith, and living life fully. Enjoy life with your dearly loved spouse all the days of your pointless life that God gives you under the sun—all the days of [...]
Love, Darkness And Dedication
Good morning... "I love the image of Jesus’ outstretched hand ❤️," she wrote after yesterday's post. "Right now I have had some devastating weeks with complications after my cancer treatment. Slowly recovering and welcoming all medical and psychosocial support. 🙏 Been in hospital for 9 days surrounded by love and dedication. Love, Margit." You might remember Margit, my lifelong friend from Norway who lived with our family for a year during her junior [...]
Forming A Circle Of Support
Good morning... One friend is a beloved member of four women's ministry classes at Northside Church, two weekly, one monthly, and our summertime study group. This morning, she heads into total hip replacement surgery. Our groups have formed a circle of support around our friend, texting encouragement, lifting prayers, believing in God's power to heal. Over the past few days, a cascade of loving messages have been woven into our text strings. One [...]
You Will Love This
Good morning... She simply wrote: "You will love this!" and shared the following story a lonely, little boy who is growing a community. I do love it, and so will you. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaoWZybEYR-/ Each of us must strive to please our neighbors, pursuing their welfare so they will become strong (Romans 15:2, VOICE). ...Sue... Respond to Sue privately. Sue Browse our website. suetoyou.com [...]
In The Middle Of Life’s Muck
Good morning... Loss. Surgery. Rehab. Divorce. Caretaking. Health challenges. Alzheimers. Addiction. Heartbreak. Many of us are facing many hard things. "I am claiming these words these next days," one friend wrote to our Sunday afternoon class. "If you are betwixt, if you are between, if you are in the midst and the middle and the muck, if you have left what you have known and cannot yet see the way ahead, this is [...]