Good morning... Last night, I got a text from a friend needing to change plans for today. She wrote: "I am not going to be able to tomorrow. Sad but I need to bare down on some unattended to personal issues." I texted her back right away: "The phrase 'bare down' reminds me of the process of natural childbirth. [...]
Good morning... Last Tuesday night's Women's Lenten Communion Service was the loudest communion I have ever experienced. As I said by the end of the night, "I think God loves hearing our voices mingling around His communion table, feeling at home together in His home." It was as if all one hundred and thirty-nine of us were reenacting a [...]
Good morning... Last night, I drove seven high school girls and their homemade food to Trinity House, a recovery program for men in downtown Atlanta. Once a month, my husband, who is the high school chaplain, divvies up different items on a menu, various kids volunteer to bring food, and a small group of students shares dinner with the [...]
Good morning... Yesterday's post, "A text to remember," was twenty-one years in the making, and many felt blessed by the words of our son. One seasoned male subscriber wrote: "Just wonderful, Sue!" Another young mom wrote: "Hi friend! I loved this one. It puts our world with two little ones in perspective....what we are doing is teaching them love [...]
Good morning... My husband and I recently received this group text from our college-aged son, in the middle of an ordinary day, in the middle of an ordinary week. "I don't say this enough to you guys but y'all really are the best parents anyone could ask for. I have always taken it for granted because I assumed that [...]
Good morning... No one likes to hear "No, you can't." It is even harder for us when a "Yes, you can," turns into a "No, you can't." We feel tricked. We feel cheated. We feel angry at the change. Yet, sometimes new information comes on our radar and a "Yes" morphs into a "No." That's life. This "yes" to [...]
Good morning... A good friend of mine missed the communion service on Tuesday night but received "God's Invitation into Friendship" in a profound and personal way. Last week, she shared with me over the phone that she has been diagnosed with cancer. We talked for over an hour, back and forth, back and forth, and I felt so privileged [...]
Good morning... One friend says, "I am constantly surprised by time." Time drags. Time evaporates. Time stands still. Time sneaks up. I too am constantly surprised by time. Last night was no exception. Many of us, one hundred and thirty-nine to be exact, nestled into Northside's intimate, sacred chapel to experience an amazing Women's Lenten Communion Service. Karen Riddell [...]
Good morning...On 2.12.16, I read this interesting headline on national news. "Teenager steals Air Jordans in Craigslist robbery and has his arm severed in horrific accident." Since I am co-teaching Christian Active Parenting, a parenting program in which we discuss supporting children with encouragement, clear communication, and the expression of honest emotions as they learn life lessons through natural consequences, [...]
Good morning... I began this tradition last year and got such a great response. Through Northside Church, we create a Summertime Devotional based on everyone's favorite blog posts throughout the year. Last year on Valentine's Day, I asked you to identify your favorite of my morning messages, and your response was phenomenal. So, I am asking for your help [...]
