My latest devotion is available from United Methodist Communications. You can read “Respond to God’s Grace with Generosity” here.
Generosity is about so much more than just money. I want to be more generous with finances, but also in my relationships. Every day is so full, that I get laser-focused on what has to be done, rather than opening my eyes and heart to opportunities around me. My personal goal for the month of November is to be more mindful for ways God invites me to be generous. Would you join me?
A teen in our community died by suicide this summer. Even more recently, a father died by suicide. I run out of fingers before I finish naming my friends who have lost someone dear to them to suicide. The world is better with you here. Suicide is never the right or only answer.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a wealth of resources. You can find both national resources, as well as those within your state. In a crisis, you can call or text 988 anytime. In Minnesota, the Department of Human Services site has many resources as well.
I have put our local and county crisis lines, as well as our local police in my teens’ cell phone contacts. In addition, they have 988 and the NAMI number. I told them what they were and why they were now contacts in their phones. I encourage them to share with their friends. We do not know what is in someone else’s mind, and I never want someone to believe they are alone.
Diversity has become a buzz word, and lately with a negative connotation. However, in his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes about the importance of diversity within the church. You can read my latest article on umc.org here.
1 Corinthians 12 precedes the famous chapter on love that is often read at weddings. Paul segues from his discussion on the variety of gifts by saying that he will show us “an even better way.” That way is love. When we love our neighbor, we can celebrate our differences, and be grateful that we are not all carbon copies of each other.
My latest article on umc.org is about the ways the United Methodist Church is united in mission across our global connection. I also get to highlight the ministry in Ukraine that one of my colleagues is leading. You can check it out here.
Also, thanks to my editor and former student, Laura, who always makes my articles better.
One of my favorite parts of our church is the music. I even got to join the choir for one song last fall, and I hope I will get to sing with them more often this fall. The girls have had the opportunity to play their instruments, sing with the children’s choir, and even have had some solo lines. Since they are in band and orchestra at school, I love that they get to use their voices at church. Music there is not the same each week, and can range from a brass group to bluegrass, along with piano and organ music.
Our fantastic music staff and volunteers have introduced me to lots of new music. One of the songs that has really touched my heart is “Plowshare Prayer” by Spencer LaJoye. I encourage you to watch the video, with lyrics or read the lyrics. A plowshare is the sharp blade that breaks up and turns over the soil to create the field ready for planting. Isaiah 2:4, Joel 3:10, and Micah 4:3 all talk about beating “swords into plowshares” as fighting ends.
I pray if a prayer that has been used as a sword
Against you and your heart
Against you and your word
I pray that this prayer is a plowshare of sorts
That it might break you open
it might help you grow.
I am praying the Plowshare Prayer as I pray for peace. I hope you will listen to this song and join in praying with me. May all hardened hearts be broken open to others so that we may love one another as Jesus taught us to love.
I wrote another devotional for umc.org. You may access the article here. In it, I share about how the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion in The United Methodist Church unite us, and help us grow in our faith. I also share about some recent experiences at church.
This week we turn our focus to Jesus’ final days, crucifixion, and then celebrate the joy of Resurrection on Easter. I invite us to consider the women who stayed with him, even when the men ran and hid.
I’m quoted in this article about the tradition of Mary Magdalene, towards the end. Heather Hahn does a great job explaining how Mary Magdalene has been viewed throughout the centuries.
The podcast “Get Your Spirit in Shape” will air an episode on Good Friday, April 18, 2025 that includes a conversation about Mary Magdalene with me and the host, Crystal Caviness. You can access it here.
Finally, my original devotion about Mary Magdalene invites us to stay with Jesus to the end during Holy Week, and then to proclaim the Good News that He is Risen on Easter and always. That article is here.
The season of Lent this year is from Ash Wednesday, March 5 – Easter Sunday, April 20. I have a few resources to share with you, that I am using this Lent.
First, you can read more about the season of Lent here, in a blog I wrote in 2022.
Ash Wednesday is one of my favorite worship services, because our humanity is highlighted. As the ashes are drawn in the shape of a cross on your forehead or hand, the pastors say, “from dust you have come, and to dust you shall return.” Or something similar. Right now I could use that reminder, that everything is temporary. While good news is fleeting, so is all the bad news. A day to us is but a blink of an eye in the timeline of the world. Even when things feel scary, unmanageable, or infuriating, we know that there are many good people in the world. We can speak truth in love. We can stand up for what we believe in. I learned this kid’s song, “Stand Up, Stand Up” by Miss Katie, in church about ways we can take action. You can listen here. We can do our part to make sure our little area of the world is better because we are sharing our love.
Not every Christian church will have an Ash Wednesday service. If you are looking for one near you, I always recommend this, which is a tool to find a United Methodist Church near you. I am sure there are other tools, but this is my denomination.
Many Christians give up something for Lent to “fast” from it. Others take on a spiritual practice. Both are designed to help you focus more on God during the 40 days leading up to Easter. One thing I am doing is using the book Draw Close: A Creative Companion for Lent by my friend and colleague Stephanie Dunn. You can buy it from Upper Room Books or other sites. Here is a preview. I tend to use words, and I am sure I will as I contemplate each day’s word and reflection. I hope that I also let my other creative parts doodle, or at least not use only words to express my feelings and thoughts. #DrawCloseLent
Finally, this Lent, I invite us to consider using Mary Magdalene as our guide as a way to follow Jesus. You can find my devotion here, on my denomination’s website umc.org.
However you decide to journey through the Lenten season, I hope it draws you closer to God. You are a beloved child of God!
Thanks for all the support! Mom received all good news from her appointments today. Time is needed to complete healing, and then I am sure there will a need for acceptance. At least it was awhile for me before I could address all the emotional aspects of cancer and surgery.
So much to celebrate! Regular testing and knowing your body makes a difference. Reminder to do monthly self-exams and annual mammograms.
These are breast cancer cells. I wear this necklace to celebrate that I no longer have them in my body. Though it has been over nine years since my breast cancer diagnosis, it is still an everyday reality for me. Lately it has become even more so.
My mom has breast cancer. I am leaving tomorrow to be with her during her surgery and recovery. This is her 4th time to have cancer, but the first 3 were Ewing’s sarcoma. Now breast, which can be a secondary cancer to Ewing’s. We’ve known for several months, so I have had a lot of time to process and work on my own feelings in therapy.
Her type is different from mine. However, there are some similarities: same breast, two separate spots, radical mastectomy with lymph node biopsy. Pathology will determine any next steps. Her age is on her side.
Being the “expert” on breast cancer is a responsibility I did not ask for, yet usually I am happy to share my story. I am just so grateful to be alive, and want to be supportive and walk alongside others. Having it be my mom, though, has been challenging. I want to be there for her, obviously, but I also do not want it to be in my family. I do not love that my preteen and teen daughters are having to deal with breast cancer again. Luckily, mom and I don’t have the BRCA 1 or 2 genes, but the potential to get breast cancer is still in their minds.
I worked through a lot of my grief from cancer in therapy years ago. However, mom’s diagnosis has brought it all back. Especially as we prepare for her surgery this week, I am remembering more than I would like. A mastectomy is a loss of a body part, though one that is easily hidden. Occasionally, I will be shocked to look down and see nothing there. My scar is beautiful, though.
In September I had my own scare, and the diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound showed nothing. All this was happening while my mom was also doing testing, so it was a worrisome time. Since then I have had my annual checkups with my ob/gyn and oncologist, and both gave me physical exams. Next month will be my annual mammogram.
This is your reminder to do monthly breast self-exams (male or female), and to schedule your annual mammogram if you are over 40. No matter your age or gender, have any suspicious lumps or bumps checked out sooner rather than later. Vigilance matters.
Here is the one minute commercial about breast cancer that aired during the Super Bowl. As Wanda Sykes says, early detection makes a difference. It did for my mom.
I would appreciate any prayers, good vibes, and positive energy you send our way. As female medieval English Catholic mystic Julian of Norwich wrote, “all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”
Redheadedrev 