Scrambling Time in Church

by

It’s one of my favorite moments in Sunday morning church. Scrambling time. The children run, skip, gallop, and elbow their way to the front to sit on the steps during the Children’s Message. And then they spend half the message getting situated and comfortable, missing out on everything except how the boy next to them is just sitting too close and that bugs them. I don’t think all of them always understand the story or illustration. Some are a bit self-conscious about looking out at so many faces. A few are too young to make the Continue Reading

Grace in Real Life

by

I did better today. Showing grace. Instead of frustration. When I think about grace, I immediately go to the grace we hear about in church. The grace we read about in the Bible. The grace that captured my heart and told me that my life matters – in spite of my mess-ups. It’s about the grace I receive. It’s easier to think about God’s grace towards me…rather than me showing grace to others. Because that’s the tricky part. Living it in the real world. But today was better. Caring for someone with short-term memory and Continue Reading

Begin Now. Obey Now.

by

  Begin where you are now. Obey now. These two sentences always cause me to pause. And give me direction. They are from a devotional included in the book, Disciplines in the Inner Life. * Perhaps you are wondering how to move forward. You can’t see the big picture but know that you need to do something. But how? I know what that’s like. Let me share a bit more from these writings. They strengthen me. Encourage me. And provide me with the next step. Begin where you are. Obey now. Use what little obedience you are Continue Reading

His Words to My Heart

by

This is what I hear Jesus saying today… Are you feeling a bit weary? I know what that feels like. When my days on earth were long and the needs were great, I knew that my strength would be restored when I would go away to a quiet place. I needed to take time away from those I was called to serve, from my family, and be alone with my Heavenly Father. The work was still there…but it was more important for me to commune with Him. Sometimes it was for moments. Sometimes hours. Sometimes longer. My quiet place was often just away from the Continue Reading

Learned Early and Often

by

Hello, Friends! I’m excited to introduce you to my new friend, Connie Miller Pease. She has written and published a delightful book, Mrs. Covington’s Sunday School Dropouts. I’ve invited her to share some of her beautiful writings with us today. Enjoy! I’m rambling tonight. Indulge me. God’s kindness is beyond what we ask or imagine. We ask for some small thing that we think we need or want and He gives us that and something better besides. We ask for help and we find it in surprising places. We ask for healing and are provided with Continue Reading

Real Life, Uncommon Grace

by

I love life. Even when it is messy. I just don’t always enjoy the messy life. And, sad to say, the messy doesn’t always bring out the best in me. Sigh. But the messiness is going to come. Real life isn’t real without it. That’s because life is made up of relationships. And relationships are made up of people. And people are going to disappoint us. Our responses to those relationships—real life—will shape our homes, communities, workplaces, and world. And for that very reason, we need to live Grace. Grace shows up when Continue Reading

Mud and my Planks

by

It was a trip back home with Steve and our good friends, Pam and Barry. I was truly in My Happy Place as I showed off my hometown of Climax, MN. Once we saw “the town” and they graciously listened to me speak excitedly, passionately, at 7,148 words per minute about the people, events and wonderful memories, it was time to show them “our land.” Sooo excited about this. We drove onto the narrow dirt road between the fields a mile out of town, noticing that it was still quite muddy from last night’s rain. And then it got muddier. And Continue Reading

They are Moments

by

This I know. Those moments... When the walls seem to be caving in, Sleep doesn’t come, The world seems burdensome, And we just can’t seem to find the Joy or Peace… They are moments. The darkness isn’t here to stay. Maybe you experience those dark days the same way I sometimes do when I'm caught up in them… Believing that it will never get easier. Continue Reading

Weary From the Words

by

A lot of words have been spoken in the last couple weeks. Online. News outlets. Entertainment digests. Words about people with hearts and souls who are also very public and visible. The words reflect opinions and values and life experiences about things that matter deeply to many. So much emotion. Many of the words have been respectful and life-affirming. Some of them – too many of them – angry and ugly and judgmental. On all sides of the different topics of today. Sigh. It’s made me sad. You too? We are not called to Continue Reading

The Best Version of Me

by

Blog Alert: This post is a Proud Auntie moment! My niece, Kelsey Charron, has started her own blog. One of her first notes frames my thoughts for these comments. Life. It requires so many decisions, doesn’t it? Family choices about elderly parent’s care. Business choices about direction. Personal choices about priorities. And then it’s time to get out of bed. So as I was thinking last week about what to do, what to do, what to do… Kelsey’s writing reminded me of the importance of who to be, who to be, who to Continue Reading

Don’t Think So Hard: Just Do It

by

The lady with the easy laugh standing next to me chuckled and said… Your feet are flat on the ground, Gaye. You don’t have anything to worry about. We were watching a few of our fellow campers from The Alley Church Retreat navigate across the high cable. Well actually, I had to turn away because looking up at them swaying in the wind made me a bit nervous. Oh. My. Word. To say I was impressed with their courage and strength is putting it mildly. These ladies were amazing! And once they climbed up the pole and shimmied across Continue Reading

One of My Favorites

by

Hey, Friends… Last week I read a blog post written by Jennifer Schmidt that has really been sitting in my heart, and I want to share the link to its Hopeful message with you. Things get crazy at the end of May, right? You add all the spring activities to your real life that is already full of deadlines, appointments, crisis calls, and “I didn’t see that coming” moments… And things can start to spiral, can’t they? I found encouragement in the words from Jennifer Schmidt (www.beautyandbedlam.com) who shared her good thoughts Continue Reading

Intentionally.

by

Intentionally exceptional. Love that! I’m working with an impressive consultant, Wendy K. Walters. Her team member, Kate, uses those two words in her signature line: Intentionally exceptional, Kate. Doesn’t the phrase just inspire a whole bunch of confidence in her work and ability to deliver? It tells me that she is thinking about what it will take to be exceptional. And I will benefit from it. Continue Reading

My Running Trials

by

Drift back with me… College years. Mankato State University. Trying to get my physical education required credit completed. I chose a class that included a workout program and running.  My grade depended on how many pounds and how many inches I lost. {Good grief. What on earth was I thinking?} Around and around the track I ran. And as I ran (I use that word loosely here), my mantra was that old hymn… Continue Reading

Blah Blah Blah

by

I had come to the conclusion that the gentleman sitting behind me in 6F was never going to stop talking. It felt like his voice was sitting on the top of my head. No breaths, an intense tone, and a steady stream of words tapping my brain like a woodpecker. And we were only at the point in our flight where the flight attendant was reminding us that our seat cushions could be used as flotation devices. (We were flying from Kansas City to Dallas. Not sure which large body of water we’d be diving into.) And then…yes. His coffee was Continue Reading

You Matter

by

A few months ago when I was reworking my website, I thought and prayed long and hard about what I wanted readers to know. And the key message boiled down to the first two sentences I used on my Home Page: If we were sitting in a little café getting to know each other, I’d put my hand on your arm and whisper this to you…Your life matters. No one else can be you, and that makes you extraordinarily significant. Some of us don’t mind being seen on stage or greeted with big embraces or acknowledged with lots of attention. And others of us Continue Reading

When the World Seems Small

by

It’s a big world out there, isn’t it? But boy. Sometimes it just seems so small. When my path seems covered with more thorny thistles than rose petals… My view of the world shrinks. When disappointments and sadness and anger fill up my space… That space becomes very small. Know what I mean? Here's how it can show up in my world... Continue Reading

Hope for Prudence and for Us

by

Hope!   How blessed sounds that word. That’s one of my favorite lines from a melodrama that a group of us performed at Wooddale Church years ago. Love Rides the Rails follows the scheming and deceptive tricks of Simon Darkway (villain). He wants to control the Walker Valley, Pine Bush & Pacific Railroad. And to do that? He tries to take advantage of its owner, Widow Hopewell, and her beautiful daughter, Prudence (Heroine). The good guy in the story? Truman Pendennis. {At the end of the story Truman is tied to the tracks and Continue Reading

My Computer and a Firm Foundation

by

My computer is having a really horrible day. No, make that a really horrible week…or two. It seems to get very excited about synching. All the time. I don’t even know what that means except that it slows everything down. A lot. And spamming. Good grief. My Inbox is filled with messages about what White Kidney Beans can do for me, Luma Candles, and Walk-In Bath Tubs. Scores of them. All the time. It’s time to call in my best friends at the Geek Squad and I start making the list of what is frazzling my computer brain. But Continue Reading

Please Give Me…

by

Her cheeks were flushed and her neck was covered with the red blotches that I know all too well. Her name tag read Renee - Trainee and I think the reindeer antlers she wore on her head made her feel even more self-conscious as she tried to figure out how to enter no whip with my hot chocolate order. Oh, Jesus, please help her remember that this is just one day. Bring grace-filled people into her line this afternoon. Continue Reading

Looking for Stability

by

Feeling a little shaky this week? Wondering when the room will stop spinning and your equilibrium will return? Wishing for something firm to grasp and steady you? These words are for you, Dear Friend… My soul finds rest in God alone; My salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken. HE is your steadiness. HE is your great protector. HE is your solid place. Trust in him at all times, O people; Pour out your hearts to him, For God is our refuge. (Psalm 62) Continue Reading