How Close is Too Close?
Sunday at church our Pastor, Dr. Bob gave a wonderful message on Hail to the King. He spoke of the triumphal entry Jesus and his disciples made into Jerusalem. “Hosanna’s!” were shouted as Jesus came into town riding upon donkey. Jesus knew that the rest of his ministry would be confined to this city, this place called Jerusalem. With him on this journey were 12 men. Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas; James son of Alphaeus and Simon, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot…..All ordinary,...
read moreThe Second Sentence
The other day I was trying to explain to Grace about why her brother Jackson was doing something, she replied…” I know, he was just made that way.” Unconditional love, grace and acceptance out of the mouth of a little sister! Rare, I give you that. Shouldn’t we all practice the art of Extending Grace? But it can be so hard. Why do we look at others imperfections and see “A Piece of Work” instead of a “Work of Art”? We all have our quirks, likes, styles and personalities! It’s what makes...
read moreRest Stop PLEASE!
Today I am letting my soul catch up with my body! What a crazy week last week. You know those times when you are so busy that nothing or no one gets the best of you. Even YOU! We beat ourselves up, knowing we need to slow down but have to ride it out the best we can until we come to an exit. It’s like needing a “Potty” stop on a long deserted highway! Are we there YET? We all have weeks like that where we are anxiously looking for the next rest stop! Well today I found it. Exit 3/22/2010. I am getting out, stretching my soul,...
read moreBuckle Up!
One of the girls in my weekly girls group shared a story about how she was in a very difficult place the other day. My friend was emotionally spent and said the only way to describe how she was feeling was that it felt like she was in a car going too fast without a seat-belt to keep her safe. Well, we all know how that would feel. Out of control, scary and nerve racking to say the least. She went on to explain that she was sitting in her car at a light in tears as she desperately called out to God….“Help! What do I do?” Just...
read moreA man after my own heart…..Henri
“Somehow original sin, that inner anguish and brokenness that is beyond our own doing, becomes the place where we touch our original blessing. Somehow our broken fathers, our limited mothers, our neurotic brothers, our confused sisters, and our own inner struggles work to create in us a hunger to move beyond our pain. “My soul is restless,” as Augustine says, “until it rest in you, O Lord.” Once we approach intimacy with God dwelling within, and once we accept others and ourselves as we are, we may begin to...
read moreMerrill Lou Who
Do you ever get a thought going in your mind and you turn it, twist it, mull it, bake it, sit in it and then finally it kinda falls into place. Go with me for a minute (or two) on this one…. The other day someone emailed me about being in a bad place and then finished it with…“I’m sorry to burden you with this on this beautiful day as you are always so upbeat and encouraging.” It kinda made me stop and think. I am encouraging, but it is part of my job as well as one of my gifts. I can be very upbeat but you could...
read moreAn Unhurried Life
I am reading this wonderful book by John Ortberg called, The Life You’ve Always Wanted. Each chapter is like a delicious course in living. This book has challenged me, brought delight and stirred me, but this latest chapter sent an arrow into my Type A personality heart! The chapter is called An Unhurried Life. “Hurry is not of the devil; hurry is the devil.” Jung writes. As I was reading the book I found myself shouting a few “AMENS” knowing that I was the choir and needed to hear this sermon. Ortberg states,...
read moreThe Comings and Goings: Part 2
This is part 2 of my comings and goings….Yes, I have written about this before but it is a constant in our life especially in the lives of parents….Birth, school, driving, college, home again…. then off to the world! Our hearts get pulled, twisted, tugged, cut and healed in this process. When my sweet son Andrew went away to New York to attend the Culinary Institute of America I thought I would just die, I missed him so much. But I lived and adjusted to life without Andrew under the roof. To be honest, as each of the...
read moreFirst Love
Yesterday, my daily lent study by Henri Nouwen ( I love this man) was on Love and Relationships. It talked about the “First Love” and the “Second Love”. First love is from God, who loved us and knew us before we were born. The second love is from everyone else. At times we expect from the second love what only the first love can give. As soon as we demand a first love, unconditional, total love from another human being, who is limited in their ability to give and receive, we will be disappointed and let down. Oh what...
read moreWon’t you be my neighbor?
Today we had an amazing guest speaker at our church. She started with singing about living waters then challenged us to move outside of our comfort zones and into different neighborhoods. To really be a neighbor, to love, extend grace and show others God’s love without boundaries or exception. Her song and message stayed with me all day long. The touching story with Mr. Rodgers song…”Won’t you be my neighbor?” Are we able to let go of the pride, fear and comfort and really be neighbors to one another? To be humble...
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Merrill Is a mother of 5 who has found her calling in sharing her experiences from life with others. She can help you break out of your routine to live life to its fullest potential.