The Legacy of Encouragement

At his funeral, one by one they came up to the pulpit. They shared story after story of how my dad’s life had intersected theirs. Often a coffee shop the setting. He poured words of encouragement over them as the coffee flowed. Men in their 20s talking of him giving them vision for their life. […]

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Not Sitting. Not Running. Standing!

A few weeks into the year, here are some of the thoughts stirring in regards to my word for 2013- STAND. As I prayed, imploring what does it mean to stand, a whisper came: It is not sitting. It is not running. Well that is helpful, was my first response. But as I thought more […]

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Rainy January Transitions

I was sitting on our front porch. Journal in my hand, it is one of my most peaceful ways to start a Saturday. Atypical warm weather just a week after snow fell and fell. Snow that had quieted our busyness. Now warm currents created a misty, foggy day. Springlike smells in the air. Now only […]

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Wesley Covenant Prayer

“I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. […]

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Dive

Early on, I stayed at the surface. Plenty of pretty things to see here. Snorkeling level of my faith. Content. Close enough to come up for breath and avoid danger. Years pass. The invitation keeps repeating. Dive deeper. Deeper still. There is beauty and marvels not many eyes have seen. Will I let go? Beyond […]

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Opportunity Cost and my resistance

Fingers ready for Five Minute Friday to be back. Anticipating. Here comes the word: Opportunity. I stare at my screen. Short on words. And I realize, opportunity swirls around as negative in my mind. Opposed to trust. Maybe I confuse it with being opportunistic. Surely that’s not good. Or perhaps it’s my MBA days and […]

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OneWord 2013- Stand

The beautiful canvas blocks displayed on the counter. Colorful. Inviting. I was at my first women’s retreat since my husband had come on staff at the church. I suppose that is important to say since in some recess of my mind, I was thinking of what they were thinking of me. The artist had taken […]

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The (blogging) year in review

Here we are, the last day of 2012. It also marks six months since I began blogging. I’m learning in this new world of blogs that the end of the year seems to be the time to remember top posts from the year. Thinking of that, along with the anniversary, prompts me to remembrance. Remembrance […]

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Shall be white as snow

  It has been snowing in Western Pennsylvania since Christmas. The blanket of snow has slowed us down. Keeping us close to the manger. This morning I took the puppy out. He has dismantled a wreath. And as I saw the berry torn apart from it’s home, this verse comes to mind. And I wonder, […]

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The Thrill of Hope

As we sang “Oh Holy Night” at church on Christmas Eve, the words jumped out in a new way. Again emphasizing the Life that Jesus birth brought. I wrote a few days ago that this season God has been drawing me to Christ’s humanness. To the fact that there were many years between Christmas and […]

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The Flu and Jesus Humanness

This past Friday morning my achy body laid on the sofa. I could hear the laughter of my son playing legos with his Abuela upstairs. A late night airport run the night before had brought my mom into our home for Christmas. Even in my forties, my body must know it can now crash. Now […]

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My sleepy son and trusting where Love reigns

“Mama? Mama?” His sweet, sleepy voice calls from the top of the stairs. It’s after midnight, I’m staying up too late with Christmas to-dos. I don’t respond verbally, but rise from my chair and head towards the stairs. By the time I reach them, I see he has turned and headed back to his room. […]

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