06
Sep 2019
When I met Grace she was well into her nineties. Her hair was steely gray and she was small and spry, although she was confined to a wheelchair by then. On my visits with her, the story of her life unfolded. Growing up in an orphanage run by strict religious people, she was struck or scolded if she didn’t toe the line and learned that God’s love was something you earned by being good, but she could never be quite good enough. Set loose in her late teens she lived a difficult......
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Prayer
Today there is a prayer upon my heart. Gracious God, we bring to you your people who are threatened by storms that could harm them, the land and property. Keep people and animals safe...
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Different
When I was growing up, I had one cousin with whom I was close. She was one year younger than me, an only child who lived with her parents in a large old two...
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Working Together
What about work? I have people around me who are retired and say they no longer work but they volunteer at all kinds of places, work part-time, help children and grandchildren and say “I’m...
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Family
Recently I visited in the hospital with an older man while his wife was having a medical procedure. I didn’t know them well so asked, “Do you have any family around here?” He replied,...
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Gratitude
In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul writes: “I have learned to be content with whatever I have.” In Greek that word content carries with it the sense of being grateful. Honestly, I must admit...
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Compassion
Over the past week, my Facebook “memories” have shown me wonderful monsoon-centered videos of my nephew as he plays in the rain at all stages of his life. Watching a two year-old, who is...
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Faith in…
Faith in….? Yesterday our church shared a booth with Sanctuary UMC at the Marana Star Spangled Spectacular, a big July 4th festival with music, food, booths and fireworks. We had items to give away – glow...
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Life Is Challenging
Life has many challenges. That’s no secret. Yesterday Art and I were talking about chronic illnesses and how those change and challenge peoples’ lives. There is much that causes anxiety and uncertainty in our...
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Worship
“I just worship that guy.” “I worship the ground she walks on.” When we use the word “worship” what do we mean? Perhaps we mean that we spend a lot of time with what...
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