Moving From Fear To Love
Good morning... In our therapeutic community group at PAWkids last week, the therapist handed out a simple drawing on a white sheet of paper. She pointed out a universal truth. "We can live in a house of fear or we can live in a house of love." On the back of my paper, I jotted down these notes. Looking at a line-up of cards with descriptive [...]
Love Letter In The Storm
Good morning... Before church on Sunday, my friend sent me this incredible documentary featuring first-hand footage of utter devastation in the North Carolina mountains. Entitled "HURRICANE HELENE: A Love Letter to Appalachia," this touching tribute captivated all of me. I soaked in the sacred offering, pondering the power of our prayers being lifted, "sending vibrations and healing energy" into this place of immense pain. The way God designed our bodies is a model [...]
How Freedom Grows
Good morning... In the wee hours of the night, I research the history of Veterans Day. Discovering an informative article, I read a concise description. "Veterans Day is a U.S. legal holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars, and Veterans Day 2024 will occur on Monday, November 11. In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between [...]
Find Quiet In The Storm
Good morning... "Here is our poem for this morning," I texted her before our monthly spiritual direction phone call. This poem, shared by a friend, has helped me through a tumultuous week. I hoped it might center her too. Now, I pray that these calming words might also envelop you. ****** Find Your Quiet in the Storm by Wendy G. Gal Some days, the world feels too sharp, Too loud, too raw to [...]
Friends Are Like Sutures
Good morning... A friend highlighted the following quote from our book, The Great Spiritual Migration by Brian D. McLaren. Together, we read it out loud. "...intrapersonal change must lead to interpersonal change. Changed individuals cross racial, religious, ethnic, class, and political boundaries to build friendships. These friendships work like sutures, healing wounds in the social fabric. They 'humanize each other,' making it harder for groups to stereotype or scapegoat. They create little zones [...]
The Weight Of The World
Good morning... "How many of us find ourselves taking the weight of the world on our shoulders?" Last Sunday afternoon, we read aloud this paragraph from page 198 in our small group study of The Great Spiritual Migration by Brian D. McLaren. "We need to solve climate change. We need to stop nuclear war. We need to end racial and religious bigotry. Before long, we collapse under the weight. We become embittered and [...]
As Trust In God Grows
Good morning... "Remember our definition of joy," Kay Warren writes on page 124 in Choose Joy. "Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things." "Do you see how trust and joy are related?" she asks. "When trust in God grows, joy has [...]
Keep Marching On
Good morning... This election day morn, enjoy Tony-winning Alex Newell and inspirational voices from Broadway as they perform Allen René Louis’ powerful new arrangement of “Keep Marching” from the musical "Suffs". The descriptor below the energizing music video explains the uplifting gift. "Joy To The Polls (JTTP) is a nonpartisan voting initiative that uses music and art to build the kind of world we hope to inhabit; one in which each person’s right [...]
Our Eternal Perspective
Good morning... As we rest in the sun on this unique day, there are zillions of things going on around and inside us. To experience an intimate and expansive view of God's eternal perspective, enjoy this fascinating video entitled Cosmic Eye. "Cosmic Eye is a short 2012/2018 film and iOS app, developed by astrophysicist Danail Obreschkow," explains Wikipedia. "It shows the largest and smallest well known scales of the universe by gradually zooming [...]
What Can I Control?
Good morning... During our therapeutic community group on Tuesday morning, we discussed things that are "out of my control" and things that are "in my control. "Out of my control" are these important facets of life. How healing happens. The scars of my past. What God thinks of me. Other's opinions. Results of my obedience. If others want healing. How you were made. When seasons come and go. How long I have to [...]
Three Things Today
Good morning... This Halloween morning 2024, I notice three things. An ending. A beginning. And the culmination of a fun season. First, today is the ending to the registration period for our "Finding Peace of Mind Through Brain Science & Spiritual Practices: A Faith-Based Symposium" being hosted at The Carter Center on November 15th. Remember? My dear friend Dr. Cathy Snapp is one of the keynote speakers, and we anticipate an incredible day. [...]
Audrey’s Rekindling Hope
Good morning... "Scanning now." Last Wednesday at 9:22 am, our Fab Five friends received this photo and this two-word text from Jennifer, Audrey's mom. (You may remember that Audrey, a beloved Northside Church member, is a freshman at Notre Dame who has been journeying with neuroblastoma since she was five and a half years old.) We all lifted fervent prayers throughout the day, trusting last week's wisdom shared by Micheal Leach. "We are [...]