My husband and I watched a Ted Talk given by Margaret Heffernan on Monday night for his new job. And the speaker used a study as the illustrative story that really stuck in my mind. This study called Super Chickens was first conducted by Dr. William Muir and it studied pecking order in chickens. In … [Read more…]
I love the annunciation scriptures because it depicts the shear grace with which Mary handles being approached by the angels of the Lord and finding out that as an unwed teenager she is pregnant. And she is not only pregnant but she is to bear the Christ child. No pressure. The average person, I feel … [Read more…]
True hope can be a very powerful thing. Hope can bring out the very best in us. Biblical hope is different from desiring and wishing for something to occur. My Biblical dictionary defines hope as “trustful expectation, particularly with reference to the fulfillment of God’s promises. It’s the anticipation of a favorable outcome under God’s … [Read more…]
When you think of hospitality and welcome, what words come to mind? What images come to mind? I think as Christians we don’t spend nearly enough time contemplating the importance of hospitality in our world, in our lives, and in our experiences. We all know what it feels like to be truly welcomed and on … [Read more…]
When we think of childhood, what are some of the things that come to mind? For me, I think of running through the swamp, fishing, swimming, bike riding, baseball, playing with my cousins and friends, sleepovers, laughter, joy, and love. Childhood is often marked by fond memories. When I was a little girl, I remember … [Read more…]
When I read the nativity story yet again this Christmas season, I couldn’t help but land on the scene where a very pregnant Mary and Joseph came to an inn in Bethlehem after traveling 90 miles mostly by foot, some by donkey. They were probably tired and hungry with blisters on their feet, and she … [Read more…]
Who here likes awkward periods of silence? I have never like silence especially awkward ones. I talk a lot and feel as if every moment should be filled with some insightful words of hope. Or at least what I think of as insightful words of hope especially as I fumbled my way through Clinical Pastoral … [Read more…]
Have you ever experienced the kindness and love of another person that has changed the way you’ve lived your life? If you have then you know just what kind of blessing that is. Growing up I had a lot of self confidence issues, as is normal for many children. I was told by music teachers … [Read more…]
My neighbor is getting the wood floors replaced in her house, and as I walked the dog the other day, I was suddenly hit with the sweet smell of saw dust. In that moment, I was transported to a different time and place in my life. All of a sudden, I was a child again … [Read more…]
Praise be to God! I am thankful. I am thankful to be here. I am thankful for my family, for my friends, for the people in my congregation, and for all the possibilities of life. Praise be to God! I am thankful. How often do we truly express our thankfulness? And I don’t mean just … [Read more…]
