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Blessings,
sue

 

 

It’s happening right now. 

For the rest of February and into March, Echoes of Grace will not be available as I (we … thank you to my husband) update and make some needed changes. 

You will be glad we did!

I’ll be back in touch!

Thank you for your patience!

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”
Jeremiah 31:3

I wonder, might February feel like this to you? I so appreciate Ros’s words. Her very real story might just speak to your soul as well.

It is dark outside as I write, February a hard month for the soul. Why are you downcast, O my soul?

The ceiling lights are on in this loft room, not the lamps.

Why are you downcast?

I am downcast. I am trapped, in a windowless winter.

How long O Lord?

I do not find myself in mental torment, nor in great despair. But lifeless somehow, washed-out.

I have been away for a few days, to a vibrant city full of art and history and beauty. I spent time there with a newly-adult daughter. We laughed. We walked. We ate; we thought of nothing but joy.

The return home has been stark. Perhaps to be expected after an enlivening trip, but it cuts deep. I liked myself in a city full of vitality. I enjoyed the liveliness I saw. I didn’t need to generate or contrive anything just respond, effortlessly, to all the vivacity.

Here, in this house, with the circumstances we find ourselves in, I feel the burden of being a life-bringer. Someone who brings animation. Hope. Fun.

I see the little one, so limited, so small. Do I fear for what her life will become? I fear for what her life will become. I fear that she will never be well. That her life, and mine, will remain small, controlled, deliberate. Not wild, free and alive.

As I sit with these thoughts on this windowless night, I wonder where the chink of light will come in. What consolation will I find in a landscape that seems so desolate? I don’t want to have to squint for glitter. I don’t want to have to purse my eyes and scan the horizon for a dot of hope to cling to. I want this windowless winter to be over, for spring to come, new life..

The Psalmist, finding himself similarly in distress, asks his own soul a question Why are you downcast?
In doing so, he models to us someone prepared to steward their own soul. Someone, who, in finding themselves in mental turmoil, doesn’t slap on a smile and pretend their sorrow doesn’t exist (suppress), nor give in to the anguish and allow it precedence over everything else (sink). No, what we see the Psalmist doing is stewarding. He doesn’t suppress his emotions, he doesn’t sink into them, he stewards them.

To steward an emotion is to recognise that however big it feels, however overwhelming, there is an edge to it, a perimeter. And beyond that perimeter is something far greater. And that thing that is far greater is something of God. It is love, it is hope, it is constellations and wisdom unending. God is, and always will be, bigger than the very depths of our sorrow and despair.

The Psalmist, in questioning his own soul, wasn’t saying Wind your neck in, stop being ridiculous. He wasn’t saying Your pain is insignificant. He was saying However terrible you feel, however stuck your life is, however deep the pain, or the fear, or the regret. However ‘big’ whatever it is you’re feeling is……God.

God.

Don’t you remember, O my soul, who God is? .

I wonder to myself why I am struggling to reconcile to the ongoing difficulties and limitations of this season. It’s been two and a half years, it’s no longer a surprise. Why do I sense such a resistance inside? Such frustration, as though my wings are clipped.

It was Pascal who wrote Events are not a structure within which God encloses us.

Yet so often we see the constraints of our circumstances as some kind of prison, trapping us. But God invites to view our limitations differently. He invites us to see our lives entirely differently to what is often our instinct. For in the Kingdom of God, no pain is wasted. No sorrow is meaningless.

The chief aim of man is not to enjoy a life with ease and comfort and success.
No, it is to glorify God and enjoy him forever!

I am telling this to my own soul as I write. I am telling my own soul that God is bigger. That my enjoyment of him is not limited by the difficulties of this season. I am telling myself that it is possible to be wild, free and alive, without ever being able to leave the house..

Even as I write, I am aware of the fragility of my grasp on this hope-filled perspective. I may well be clinging onto this truth now as I write, but I don’t feel at all confident that I can stride into whatever tomorrow will bring with a resolve to look upwards rather than inwards.
And so, in this dark evening moment, I take comfort that the Psalmist does not instruct his soul to have hope in himself, but in God. I’m entirely dependent on God, even for the capacity to steward my own soul.

For the heart of stewarding, first and foremost, is submission. Over and over again we submit ourselves, with all our emotional inelegance, into the arms of the One who knows all things. The One whose chest is big enough for us to beat against. The One who frames our suffering so tenderly with his love. Only when we allow ourselves to release these weights unto him, do we realise that this ‘framing’ is actually an embrace. For underneath are his everlasting arms.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God. Psalm 42:5

There is an encouraging, amazing narrative recorded for us in I Kings 17:1-16. Elijah predicts a drought, “there shall be neither dew nor rain these years,” (v 1).

 

“And the word of the LORD came to him:” (v 2) with a plan for his provision, drinking water from a brook and ravens to feed him. Those birds brought him bread and meat morning and evening.

 

 

Elijah trusted God’s provision. “So he went and did according to the word of the LORD.” (v 5)

Eventually that provision dried up; and the word of the LORD came to him again directing him to Zarephath where a widow would feed him. (v 8&9) Elijah went.

Little and its synonyms appear six times in verses 10 through 13: a morsel, a handful, a couple, and little 3 times.

Elijah asks for a little water and a morsel of bread.
The widow responds, “I have only a handful of flour … and a little oil. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks…” (v 10-12)

Elijah knew the trustworthiness of God and was able to minister to and encourage the widow. “Do not fear …” God will provide. And he shares the words of the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty,” (v14)

The little, the morsel, the handful, the couple was more than enough for Elijah, the widow, and her son.

Can I trust that the little God provides for me is enough?

Matthew 17:19-21 records the incident when the disciples were unsuccessful in healing the man with a demon.
The father of the man goes to Jesus who “rebuked the demon … and the boy was healed instantly.” (v18)

The embarrassed disciples came to Jesus privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” (v 19)
Kudos to the disciples, they came to Jesus. They wanted to understand, to grow in their faith.

“Because of your little faith … If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed … you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ … nothing will be impossible for you.'” (v 20) Their little faith was not a descriptor; it was the reason for their un-success.

Moving mountains was a common metaphor in Jewish literature for doing what seems impossible. It communicated truth to the disciples. They might have remembered Isaiah 40:4.

Am I willing to trust that the little faith God gives me
can move the mountains in my life?

As I’ve been meditating these past several weeks on the phrase, O you of little faith, God has led me to these applications:

RECOGNIZE where I am in my story. What is challenging my faith. Why am I tempted to name it little faith?
REHEARSE God’s character. He is omnipresent, omniscience, and omnipotent.
REMIND myself of His promises.
REQUEST – pray like the disciples, “God please increase my faith.” Luke 17:5

“Fear not, little flock,
for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Luke 12:32

What do you hear from God as you meditate on these little faith passages?
Matthew 6:25-34
Matthew 8:23-27
Matthew 14:28-33
Matthew 16:5-12
Matthew 17: 19-21

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, January 2026

 

Anxiety, a current tidal wave crashing all around.

“I’ve been thinking about why I’m afraid to go to church.”

These were my friend’s words, my friend who for years has not only gone to church but has been very active in leadership in the women’s ministry at her church.

I was honored that she trusted me with her story.
I was encouraged that she was pondering her fear.

But was she really experiencing fear or was it anxiety?

Fear – the response to an awareness of real danger.
Anxiety – the anticipation of a possible future danger.
Merriam-Webster dictionary

 

Matthew 5, 6, and 7 could be thought of as one of Jesus’s manuals on discipleship.

Matthew 6:25-34 is all about anxiety. 

Anxious, anxiety’s verb appears 6 times in these 10 verses. Three times in an invitation, do not be anxious; two times in a question, why are you anxious; and one truth statement, tomorrow will be anxious for itself.

 

 

Each of the invitations starts with a “therefore”. Because of what was just said, therefore …

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life …” (verse 34). That invitation comes after the exhortation to lay up treasure in heaven (verse 20). Money is needed to buy food and clothing, and God provides. The comparison with the birds teaches about God’s provision (verse 26). Do not be anxious.

 

And our need for clothing is compared with Solomon (verse 29) and the lilies of the field (verse 28). “Will he [God] not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (verse 30). “Therefore do not be anxious saying, … ‘What shall we wear?’ … your heavenly Father knows …” (verses 31 and 32).

 

 

My anxiety is related to my faith, my little faith. OUCH!

God knows my needs. It may be food and clothing. It may be understanding how much God loves me. Perhaps it is knowing that God has a purpose for my life. Maybe it’s trusting that God is sovereign in my current hards: my friends struggling with physical issues, or uncertain futures.

Because He knows, His discipleship offers this invitation and this promise:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33

Therefore, I do not even need to be anxious about tomorrow.
I needed to memorize this verse. I need to review this promise. I need to trust its offer.

And I ask:

God, what would it look like to trust you today with my basic needs?
God, what would it look like for me to seek your kingdom today?
God, I’m feeling anxious about meeting up with my friend for lunch. Can you encourage                               me?
God, I’m feeling anxious about returning to church. What is really going on?
God, what about our future? What are Your plans?

God also knows my level of faith. “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” Romans 12:3 (underline mine).

With the faith God has given me, I can walk confidently, even in my very real anxieties.

God is with me!

“The Lord is at hand (near);
do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:5-7 (parentheses & underlining are mine)

God knows my realities … those things that cause anxiety.
God knows my level of faith … what He is trusting me with.
God is with me!
God gives promises, promises that surpass my human understanding.

Matthew passages speaking of “O you of little faith”:
Matthew 6:25-34
Matthew 8:23-27
Matthew 14:28-33
Matthew 16:5-12
Matthew 17:19-21

Copyright: Sue Tell, January 2026

 

 

 

 

 

“O you of little faith …”
Matthew 14:31.

That’s me!

Or should I say, that’s how I sometimes describe me. It’s not my identity.

Luke 16:10, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, …”,
My scripture for 2026, set me on a journey
looking at the word little in the gospel of Matthew.***

Matthew 14:22-33 is the account of Jesus walking on the water toward the terrified disciples in the middle of a storm. Jesus knows that in the midst of this storm, the disciples might not remember his authority over the wind and the waves that they personally experienced when Jesus was in the boat with them, asleep. (Matthew 8:23-27) This time Jesus is not in the boat with them; however he saw their predicament and came toward them walking on the water.

The last few verses record Peter’s reaction. “Lord, IF it is you, command me to come to you on the water. (Matthew 14:28, capitalization is mine.)

Peter wants more proof than Jesus’s words. Jesus had initiated toward the boat full of disciples, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27) But Peter …

Jesus is an initiator. He initiated toward the entire group of fearful disciples. The Bible does not record the disciples calling first to Jesus. Perhaps they thought it was worthless. After all they were a long way from shore. (Matthew 14:24) Distance does not affect Jesus. He is a responder.

Jesus recognized their fear and his rescue mission was immediate.

At Peter’s lack of trust, Jesus invites, “Come.” (Matthew 14:29) Jesus met Peter where he was. He didn’t scold for his unbelief. He invites. And when Peter’s trust waivers, he is close enough to Jesus to grab his hand. “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him.” (Matthew 14:31)

 

Jesus immediately rescued. He met Peter at his point of need.

And then he commented and asked, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31)

I find encouragement in this narrative. I’m in good company. O you of little faith were Jesus’s words to Peter as he began to sink walking on the water.

Sinking … that’s part of my story too.

Don’t they know what I have to offer? Those words float through my brain far to often.
Why wasn’t I asked to minister to that group?
Why wasn’t I invited to that training?
Sinking questions.

As I remember the stories that fit with those questions, I’m not sure I felt as though my rescue was immediate. It sometimes seemed a long time in coming.

But God.

But then God in His GENEROUS GENTLENESS and perfect timing reminds me,

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”
Jeremiah 31:3

I reach for Jesus’s hand and trust once again.

 

Copyright:  Sue Tell, January 2026

*** “O you of little faith” appears in several Matthew narratives:
Matthew 6:25-34
Matthew 8:23-27
Matthew 14:28-33
Matthew 16:5-12
Matthew 17:19-21

Or … “One who is faithful in very little, is also faithful in much …” Luke 16:10a, ESV.

I just finished re-reading the gospel of Luke in my quiet times during December. I said to Bill one morning, This is so good. I should read the gospels more often! I guess I naturally lean into the epistles.

God used His megaphone to remind me of three important truths!

First, Luke 16:10 has long been a scripture that God has used to speak His desires, His truth to me. Sue, be faithful in what I’ve entrusted you with. Receive instead of initiating. And it stood out again.

I was excited about initiating and inviting a small group of friends to walk with me through a book and it’s accompanying study in the new year. I knew it would minister deeply! I was also considering taking advantage of a series of free coaching times. I wanted to learn the difference between coaching and discipling, or being a cross-generational friend? 

Then I listed my current commitments, including things I do with Bill. I listed other desires, like hospitality and coffee with friends. And I made room for the unexpected.

“Sometimes we need to give ourselves permission to be old.”
Thank you Bill! (Well, maybe)

I’ve heard my husband say this more than once. And really, am I in that “old” category?

And then other words slipped into my thinking: extrovert, stewardship, capacity, reality. What was God whispering to me?

Secondly,  When Luke 16:10 came to mind so did Psalm 92:14,

“They (the righteous) still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green.”

Age does not equate to spiritual fruit-bearing! I needed to hear that.

Thirdly, Jeremiah 31:3 is still true.

“I have love you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”

God and I had a conversation. I asked,

What would it look like to experience Your faithfulness in the new year?

Three things immediately came to mind.
* God’s faithfulness is a by-product of His love that doesn’t change.
* I needed to trust His wisdom and His care.
* God says He has continued His faithfulness. I needed to turn around, look back, and remember how I’ve already experienced it.

Faithful is my word for 2026.

My heart is to be faithful to the ministry God has entrusted me with while remembering that faithfulness is one of God’s best qualities. God is continually faithful to me. So for me to grow in Godliness (God-like-ness) is to grow in faithfulness.

“Little is much when God is in it.”
William Carey, the father of modern missions

 

“God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling,
not because of our works
but because of His own purpose and grace,
which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”
II Timothy 1:9

 

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, December 2025

 

 

Yes, it’s January 1, 2026.
Yes, it’s winter in Colorado.
Yes, this morning I sat outside on our deck. 
Yes, our new fire pit was lit and my weighted blanket covered my lap.
Yes, and of course my morning coffee.
It was delightful!

“Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”
from Matthew 11:28-30, The Message

Those were the words on the sticker on the side of my mug. It was God’s message for me … and may it be for you as well as we start the new year!

Next Thursday, January 8, 2026, Echoes returns with its first post of the new year.
See ya’ then.

 

 

 

Christmas morning may be history, but this is a wonderful prayer for every morning.

Merry Christmas, my Friends!

Reminder: Echoes of Grace returns on Thursdays in the New Year.
First post, January 8, 2026!

 

 

“And Mary said,
“‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,'”
Luke 1:46, 47

Elizabeth’s affirmation led to Mary’s worship, her song, The Magnificat.

A quick review of where we are in the story …

Mary’s first response to Gabriel was a question, Luke 1:34 … How will this be?
Mary’s second response was submission, Luke 1:38 … let it be to me according to your word.
Mary’s third response was, Luke 1:39 … running to visit her older cousin Elizabeth.

Who would you have run to with similar news? It’s interesting the scripture doesn’t record for us that she ran to Joseph, the one she was pledged to be married to, or to her mother, but to Elizabeth who herself was living with a miracle pregnancy. Elizabeth, possibly the only one who would understand.

I remember like it was yesterday hearing the voice of God in my quiet time that morning during my senior year of college as I read Romans 15:5 and 6. It spoke to my friendship with Bill. I closed my Bible and ran to the next dorm. I just had to share my news with my friend. It was a couple of weeks later when the time was right to share with Bill. I understand Mary.

Some thoughts to ponder:

1. Elizabeth’s affirmation reminded Mary that the source of her new was God. What would it look like for you to remind others that the source of their blessings was God?
2. What words have you heard from God that have been a blessing, a wonder to you during Advent this year?
3. In the midst of your Christmas celebration, what will it look like for you to pause and listen for God’s words to you?

Merry, Merry Christmas!
Emanuel, God is With Us!

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, December 2025

 

The first week of Advent, I presented some questions relating to Mary. Last week, the second week of Advent I traveled to a piece of Elizabeth’s story. This week, Mary and Elizabeth are together.

Gabriel has visited Mary and left her as Mary communicated to the angel her trust, “let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38.

The very next thing the scriptures record for us is Mary quickly going to visit her much older cousin, Elizabeth, who also is experiencing a miraculous pregnancy. “In those days Mary arose and went with haste …” Luke 1:39 (italics mine).

Elizabeth’s welcome tutors us.

Elizabeth blesses Mary.
Elizabeth affirms Mary’s faith.
Elizabeth acknowledges and reminds Mary of the source of her blessing.

What can we also learn from Mary and Elizabeth at this point of their journeys? For you to think about …

1. Who are your people, the people you hasten to in the midst of your reality?

2. Who are the older women, possibly by age, maybe older in the faith who have walked ahead of you?

3. Who might God bring into your life this week that you can bless and affirm? Affirmations are more than compliments, they are acknowledging what God has created in the life of another.

Questions 1 and 2 remind me of a very significant piece (not involving pregnancy) of my journey. I’ll add an addendum in the comments later today. 

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, December 2025

 

 

 

 

A miracle – INDEED!
A message from God – YES!

Elizabeth was “advanced in years”,  Luke 1:7; “in her old age”, Luke 1:36.  Elizabeth was well beyond the time of child bearing; she was an old lady when she conceived John.

She was also a godly woman. The scriptures call her righteous, of the daughters of Aaron, and she walked blamelessly with God. Luke 1:5, 6.

And Elizabeth was barren, she and Zechariah had no child. In those days barrenness was considered a disgrace. Other’s whispered, she’s barren. It felt like being reproached. The Message rendition calls it her “unfortunate condition”.

On some level do you identify with Elizabeth? I do.

Even though I was walking with God, at least as best as I knew, there was something missing, a barrenness in my life, an unfulfilled desire, an Elizabeth-like piece. It was my unfortunate condition and I felt it deeply.

And like for Elizabeth, God intervened. Elizabeth responded in two ways. She acknowledged her pregnancy was from God. Then she “for five months kept herself hidden” Luke 1:24. The Bible doesn’t tell us what Elizabeth did during that time. My guess is she spent a lot of time in worship and prayer.

For you to consider:

1. What are the unfortunate conditions in your life that have led to unfulfilled longings?

2. How have you experienced God intervening for you?

3. During this second week of Advent, how might you follow in Elizabeth’s footsteps?

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, December 2025

 

 

 

Advent, looking forward to the arrival of Jesus; and Christmas – the most wonderful time of the year, and perhaps one of the busiest!

My heart tells me, Sue, slow down. Savor this sacred season. But sometimes reality fights with desire.

Can my heart and my reality come together?

I have an idea. Echoes of Grace is trying something new this Advent.

I’m going to post each MONDAY (just for December). Each post will highlight a familiar scripture from the gospel of Luke and a few questions to focus our meditating, our hearts on the truth this wonderful story offers.

I’ll be praying for you … and for me … that these familiar scriptures will come alive in all new ways for us.

“But familiarity often does bad things to us.
Often when we become familiar with things, we begin to take them for granted.
… we tend to quit examining them.
…we quit noticing them.
… we tend not to celebrate them as we once did.
Familiarity tends to rob us of our wonder.
And here’s what’s important about this:
what has captured the wonder of our hearts will control the way we live.”
Come Let Us Adore Him, Paul David Tripp (Italics, mine)

For this first week of Advent, let’s ponder together the words of Gabriel to Mary recorded in Luke 1:28.

What posture do you need to assume to hear God’s voice greeting you this week?

Gabriel’s message to Mary began by acknowledging her identity. How do you describe your identity?

What message are you hearing from God this week?

In your current reality, what will bring you great comfort and perhaps great courage in knowing God is with you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two other opportunities for you:

1. Boundless, a ministry of Focus on the Family, also offers a weekly Advent experience. This year my good friend Lisa Anderson, director of Boundless, partnered with Mark Bates, our former pastor to walk us through John 1 this month. There is a brief video and also thoughts to ponder. You can find it at

Advent

Or text, “advent” to 32728.

2. The gospel of Luke has 24 chapters. Why not read one a day from now until Christmas Eve? By December 24 you will have read an entire account of Jesus’s life, and wake up Christmas morning knowing WHO and WHY we celebrate. 

 

copyright: Sue Tell, November 2025

 

 

 

 

In our Presbyterian church, I grew up singing the hymn, We Gather Together every Thanksgiving. It was as much a part of our Thanksgiving celebration as the huge feast we enjoyed with all our cousins and second cousins every year.

But I never knew the story behind the words of this hymn. And probably it wouldn’t have meant a lot to me until I studied the book of Judges in our church Bible study this fall.

Yikes, there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own eyes! That sad theme travels throughout the entire book. And the third lines of the each stanza could have been written in the time of the Judges,

“The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing:”
“So from the beginning the fight we were winning:”
“Let Thy congregation escape tribulation:”
(These are the original third lines of each stanza.)

The lyrics were originally written in 1597 as a secular Dutch folk song celebrating their victory over the oppression of the Spanish Catholic church. It became a Christian hymn by Dutch Protestants fighting for religious freedom. The theme of God’s providence runs through its words.

Theodore Baker (1851-1934), a 19th-century musicologist brought this hymn to the United States.

As I was growing up and singing it, I was always reminded of thankfulness for the harvest of blessings we know, not freedom from religious oppression.

In studying Judges, over and over, we saw the wicked oppressing; the fights, the tribulation. And the truths of the third verse was more encouraging than ever.

A few years ago, I re-wrote the lyrics of the third line in each stanza (the hymn is now public domain), to speak the truth of the Gospel. Italicized lines are my words.

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing —
He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
He loves us completely, He calls us sons and daughters;
Sing Praises to His name — He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
His purpose transcending, our lives without ending;
Thou Lord, was as our side — all glory be thine.

We all do extol Thee, Thou leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our defender wilt be;
Let Thy congregation live in great anticipation:
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

This year our Thanksgiving table will be quite simple as Bill and I celebrate together. Whatever your Thanksgiving table looks like, may thanksgiving be your reality. 

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, November 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The scriptures were not written TO me; but, they were written FOR me.
And FOR YOU!

The first line above is an important principle of Bible study. The second line, “and for you” is a truth that God has been whispering to me over the last many years.

What I’ve heard from God, isn’t just for me. It’s for me to encourage you.

“For this reason, I Paul,
a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles —
assuming that you have heard of the
stewardship of God’s grace
that was given
TO me, FOR you,”
Ephesians 3:1,2 (capitalization mine)

And this is the scripture I’ve prayed over for my words on Echoes of Grace for many years:

“the church,
of which I became a minister
according to the stewardship from God
that was given
TO me, FOR you,
to make the word of God fully known,”
Colossians 1:25 (capitalization mine)

My husband, Bill, and I often listen to and are deeply ministered to by Sinclair Ferguson’s podcasts. Sinclair Ferguson is a Scottish theologian, scholar, author, and pastor. His accent makes his words shine even brighter! His devotional podcast is Things Unseen.

Recently he was talking about God’s providence. “God’s providence is an investment in His ways.” He went on to say, “God’s purposes IN you are not only FOR you, but for the blessing of others.” TO me, FOR you. 

God’s providence works in and through me
for His Glory, Our Good, and Other’s Blessings.

He sited the story of Joseph in Genesis for example. We can read that entire narrative in an hour. But it lasted about 15 years for family reconciliation to become reality.

I can identify. Can you? God allowed me to know the story of Joseph, because I too have hard family situations. The narrative was not written to me, but it is recorded for me.

My sister struggled with lung disease for years. We often connected across the miles by phone. My tears flowed freely the evening that she responded to Jesus’s invitation to join his family. God in his wisdom and providence wrote this story. My salvation story was not only for me, it was also for my sister, a gift to me for others.

I’m reminded of Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me (pursue me*, chase after me**) all the days of my life.” I can only see what is behind me if I turn around and look. When I look and see what God has entrusted to me, I can pass it on; it is also for you.

My prayer as I pen these posts is that my words will deeply minister to you!

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ
for the sake of the faith of God’s elect
and their knowledge of the truth, 
which accords with godliness,”
Titus 1:1 (underlines mine)

 

* pursue from the New Living Translation.
** chase from the Message.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, October 2025

 

 

Mom and I were sitting in her kitchen one morning a few years back enjoying a simple breakfast together. I asked her, Mom, what is your favorite Bible passage? She didn’t hesitate, “Psalm 23”.

There is so much that I too love about the very familiar Twenty-third Psalm. The more I read and meditate on its truths, the more encouragements I hear from God.

The engraved stone that rests on our fireplace hearth above was a gift to me from two friends after Mom moved to heaven. On the stone, Psalm 23:1 is in the New Living Translation. My shepherd supplies ALL that I need!  Often in the mornings I sit in our overstuffed chair that faces this stone and pray, God, what are my needs that You want to supply today? It isn’t too long before I hear His whisper.

Sue, will you trust me for that hard conversation you’re anticipating?
Sue, will you allow me to lead as you lead Bible study today?
Sue, will you listen for my wisdom as you make that decision?

Several weeks ago I was pondering verse 6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,” The thought came, I only know what is following me, when I turn around and look back. Looking over my shoulder I see God’s goodness in many ways. He led in that crazy decision to go to Michigan for college; His Word was clear to both Bill and me as we sought His counsel on our friendship turned marriage; His presence was a gift as the tears flowed in many situations. God’s goodness and mercy have been abundant. Because they have followed me, it’s easy to expect they will continue to follow me.

Recently I was connecting with my friend Melody. She and I did a TrueFace study together.

I asked her what scriptures speak to her about being beloved. I was surprised when she responded “Psalm 23, especially in The Message or The Passion Translation.”

“Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.”
Psalm 23:6, The Message (underline mine)

“Only goodness and tender love pursue me
all the days of my life.”
Psalm 23:6, The Passion Translation (underline mine)

The New Living Translation, also uses the word pursue. “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.”

Not only does God’s great love follow me, God chases after me and pursues me with His love! YES, Psalm 23:6 speaks loudly, it shouts God’s love for me, for you.

I John 3:1 is one of my favorites about God’s love for me.  I’m wondering, what are some of your favorites? What does it look like for you to listen to their truths?

“She must abide with this epiphany, let it distill. She could not go rushing about, stuffing it into her spacious compartment of Reason.” from My Beloved, by Jan Karon. What does abiding in God’s love, letting it distill look like for you?

You might want to check out the music video, Still Waters by Leanna Crawford.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, November 2025

 

 

 

Tip: If you haven’t read the two previous posts, I encourage you to read them first. Scroll down.

“I was (we were) created for relationship.”
Amy Ellenwood

And some of my most special relationships are the friendships of the women who walk this journey with me.

This picture was snapped a few years ago when Jean and I led a retreat for a small group of others in Estes Park, CO.

One of the biggest things I appreciate about Jean are her questions. She is forever interested in me, in what I’m studying, in what I’m learning. Every phone conversation starts with, Sue, what are you thinking about these days?

And I’m learning a ton from Jean about ministry where God currently has you. Jean is a widow and lives in an  Over-55 community. Almost every week she has a prayer request about another of the ladies she is developing a friendship with.

Last week she was telling me about her current project to minister to her grand-children, her youngest cross-generational friends. She is personalizing a wide-margin Bible for each of them adding some of how God has met her next to the appropriate scriptures. I plan to copy that idea. THANK YOU, JEAN!

Although I knew Jean as a fellow Nav-staff and author, I did not know her personally until she initiated toward me. I still remember sitting in the coffee shop and asking those getting-to-know-you questions. I had no idea of the blessing Jean’s continued friendship would be to me that day.

If our friendship had rested on my seeking her out, it would not have happened. I would have been too intimidated to go first. After all, Jean is a published author!***

Fearing disappointment can keep us from a great cross-gen friend.

Peer friendships are just as valuable as cross-generational friends. I first met Paula in a Bible study at a mutual friend’s home. Because of her heart for growing in her spiritual life, there was an instant bond. Over the years we have done several studies together, memorized scripture together, and more. Paula might be one of the best affirmers  I know.

Cross-generational friendships don’t need to last forever. Agreeing to read a book together and talk about what you’re learning is a method of mentoring. Establishing the parameters with the end in mind offers freedom to say yes.

I’m learning the importance of avoiding the why question. Who, what, when, where, how are easier to respond to.

Curiosity and listening are key components for cross-gen friends. “When we posture ourselves to listen, we’re automatically paying attention to the other person which in turn paves the way to understanding them.” from Desperate Woman Seeks Friends by Kristen Strong.

Avoiding assumptions and advice will help cement friendships. Allow your questions to lead your friend to God for answers. 

Mentoring or cross-gen friendships may not last forever. I’m learning to see them as the gift they are for the moment.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:”
Ecclesiastes 3:1

*** Books by Jean Fleming: A Mother’s Heart, Feeding Your Soul, Pursue the Intentional Life (my favorite)

Copyright: Sue Tell, October 2025. Some ideas from the Amy Ellenwood presentation referenced last week.

 

What a joy to call Amy Ellenwood my friend. Last month we had both returned to our sending church for their annual mission’s conference and Amy was speaking at a women’s event on mentoring. What a great evening!

Amy started the evening sharing from her personal journal. She graciously offered to let me share her words here.

“The long walk from my lonely little cabin on Long Lake to the other side…where a godly woman opened her kitchen and her heart to me.…became a well worn path in my first years of marriage and ministry.

A path toward sacred space and sacred conversations …This woman was intentional about having thoughtful conversations about spiritual things on that holy ground.

I learned there. I grew there. I wept there. I was honest there. I was heard there. But most of all, I met Jesus there…over and over again.

One of the greatest losses for me when we moved to Czech was leaving that sacred space of her warm inviting kitchen… her warm inviting heart. This had been my first taste of what having a mentor could be like.

Now I was in a new place, far from this woman whose presence had become a sanctuary of love and truth for me, I could find no one. No one that looked like her, or fit my image of what a mentor should look like.

• When I first came to the mission field.  I walked into a group of women so gifted, seemingly so secure.
• I didn’t know where I fit, or if I could fit
• Fearing rejection, or disappointment, I told myself I didn’t need them…bur it was more like I didn’t want to need them.
• For  years I took care of myself…looked to Mel and the Lord to meet those needs for friendship..and  felt pretty godly doing it.

But it got lonely.  I was created for relationship.  

• With God, yes.  With Mel and my kids, yes.  But also with other women.
• I realized “I don’t have it all and I need the body of Christ.”

You could hear a pin drop in a room of over 100 ladies as Amy vulnerably shared her story.

The word mentoring communicates. I call mentoring cross-generational friendships. It eliminates any pressure I may feel in relating to another. My heart is to walk with my friends like Amy’s friend on Long Lake did with her.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another
to love and good works …
encouraging one another …”
Hebrews 10:24, 25

Amy encouraged us to think about our friends, those special people who have encouraged us, who have indeed mentored us. My list grew as she shared categories of friendships.

I’m thankful for Shirley who prayed with me as my faith became real and invited me to my first Bible study.
Then there is my friend and neighbor Beth, who is always available to help in many diverse ways.
Janine’s wisdom continues to minister deeply to me.
I remember telling Kathy that I’d never want to lead a TrueFace cohort if she wasn’t available to lead with me.
Paula’s affirmations over the years offer deep encouragement through texts, phone calls and that occasional lunch.
Ronni and Mary are current friends. We encourage each other as we share stories about the friends God has given each of us.
Trisha’s long-term ministry to the women in her church is an example I want to emulate.
Amy’s vulnerability is a gift to me and many others.
Kay, Mary, Melissa, & Louise are trusted peer prayer friends.
Diane, Sue, Karen, & Barb are my recent hospitality mentors.
Karen  is a hinge who has opened doors for me.
Leslie has been a wonderful writing mentor.
Jean, Linda, and Pat, a few years ahead of me in age, are cross-generational friends who ask timely questions and allow me to hear from God.
The writings in the books of Ruth Haley Barton and Ruth Chou Simons continually mentor me as friends I’ve not known personally.

Cross-generational friends sometimes drop in for a brief visit. Some span years of connecting. Some I’ve not even met! All have added to who God created me to be. As Amy said, each are a beautiful flower in our gardens that God is cultivating for our benefit.

Coming next Thursday some of the practical ways cross-generational friendships develop. Please come back.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, October 2025

 

 

 

 

“The closer you are to God,
the closer you become to your friends.”
Sinclair Ferguson

That is my experience.

Bill and I have been part of a couple’s group for almost 25 years. The four other couples have become great friends!

I started writing these words in Moab where 8 of the 10 of us were enjoying the great views and amazing hikes in Arches National Park. Bill, Ed, and I hiked a circle that took us to and through Broken Arch. For me, it was harder than anticipated. Several times I sat and scooted down or up the rock faces. (I may be smiling in the picture, but it was a scary scoot for me.) Even the guys sat and scooted up this one! It was more challenging than the picture communicates! But, I’m writing about it.

Friendship magnifies when it includes creating memories with others. This trip to Moab is a great memory. But friendship includes other ingredients as well – in no particular order …

Trust. On that hike, God called on me to trust the words, the patience, and the hands of the guys to help me navigate the landscape. I’m glad to be sharing the experience with you.

Often I call on my friends trusting them with my responses and emotions to life experiences. I need their love, their wisdom, and their care.

Fun, Tears, and Coffee. Yes, they go together. Colorado Springs abounds with coffee shops. Marcy and I decided to try a different one each month. FUN! We’d order our coffee and find a quiet corner to catch up. Life is hard. Often catching up included tears.

Transparency and Vulnerability. They are not the same. I control how transparent I am. I decide how much I will trust others. Vulnerability invites. Vulnerability says, I want to be known. Vulnerability releases my fears. Please ask. I’ve experienced the questions of others often lead to my ah-has. In the telling, I breathe easier; I find perspective; next steps clarify. Friendships deepen when vulnerability defines them.

Lean in and Listen. Carla was younger than me. She noticed the tissue I pressed to my eyes that evening as the meeting ended. She risked. She didn’t shrink back. She walked with me back to our hotel room. She listened. I remember no words. I remember her presence. She was a gift to me that night. Her presence still tutors me.

Affirming the Image of God in my Friends. Letting my friend know I see them. I see their gifts. I see who God created them to be. Friends tell friends what they see. “Friendship at the soul level should be spoken.” Stephen Smith.

Knowing my Lane. I’m not a counselor. I haven’t experienced her reality. I don’t have the answers she needs. I can’t fix it! But I can be a friend by allowing her to lead the conversation.

I have friends who are professional counselors. I’m so thankful for the gifted-ness they bring to the body. And I’m always amazed! It’s in their questions, their curiosity, their kindness that I hear the voice of God, the beginning of healing. Once in a while, I still feel the nudge, Sue, call Kimberley. 

Praying. A praying friend is a safe friend. Mary ALWAYS end our conversations with, let me pray for you. What a wonderful gift. Praying can happen silently or out loud. Praying can happen by text, over the phone, in an email or letter.

“The greatest gift my friendship can give you
is the gift of your belovedness.”
Henri Nouwen

“A friend loves at all times …”
Proverbs 17:17

More coming …

Copyright: Sue Tell, October 2025

 

 

 

 

My camping history hails back to my childhood. Girl Scout camp was one of the highlights of my summer. Fun-filled days were punctuated by meals in a dining hall prepared for the likes of young girls. After s’mores and singing around a campfire at night, our bunks in the small cabins welcomed our dreams. Good memories.

But our I do, challenged my picture of camping.

We were as poor as church mice in those early days of our marriage. The thought of vacation was a pipe-dream, until we were gifted $125.00 designated for vacation.

Bill researched — before the internet — how to make that gift s-t-r-e-t-c-h! His conclusion — camping! YIKES!

We purchased our first tent, a 2-burner propane stove, and a styrofoam cooler, packed our Chevy Nova, Luke (named for Luke 17:10), and headed for a small campground on Starrett Lake in southern Wisconsin. This did not line up with my camping memories; this was roughing it! We prepared our own meals. No dining hall. The bunks became sleeping bags. And those small cabins were replaced with a canvas tent.

What if we didn’t like camping? We wasted that $125.00!
This thought rumbled through my mind.

But the thought was in vain; we fell in love with camping!

Several years and two young teens later, we traded our tent for a pop-up camper. I felt like we moved into the Hilton. The pop-up camper was later traded for an off-road pop-up. We were campers!

Then last summer, the we waved good by to our off-road pop-up, and welcomed a small travel trailer with a bathroom! Camping officially morphed into glamping. Glamping — our vacation of choice.

Enjoying being together in the beauty of God’s creation attracts us each summer.

We do a lot of reading, fiction and non-fiction during our camping trips. “A Walk in the Park” by Kevin Fedarko was a favorite this summer. The park is the Grand Canyon. The book follows the journey of Kevin and a photographer friend as they backpacked the entire length of the canyon. Not my usual genre, I was captivated by their story. Truly a page-turner — that is except when the tension was too much and I closed the book for a day.

One of the many quotes that caught my attention was, “As much as we love our stuff, sometimes not having it opens you up to communicating with the landscape and truly being present, don’t you think?” page 171.

I would alter these words to communicating with God and truly being present to Him.

Some of the stuff we didn’t always have while glamping: cell service, internet, texting ability, our phones. No mail service, no USPS, no UPS, no FedEx, not even Prime! No calendars to be checked each day, no time constraints. No sounds of the city.

But we did have: great conversations; fun competitions (we’re Scrabble fanatics); simplicity; freedom; soul-filling times with God; the music of water tumbling over rocks; long walks; the majesty of God’s creation all around us; renewed perspectives; the company of birds; laughter; wine; and sometimes new friends, fellow glampers.

 

“It is in silence that we habitually release our own agendas
and our need to control
and become more willing and able
to give ourselves to God’s loving initiative.
In silence we create space for God’s activity
rather than filling every minute with our own.”
Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Ruth Haley Barton, p. 35

Each morning I sat outside our travel trailer enjoying the sounds of water and looking across the creek at the majesty of God’s creation. Early hikers dwarfed by the tall evergreens offered perspective to the greatness of God.

Silence happened. I was awed.

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
Isaiah 6:3

 

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, October 2025

 

 

 

 

Aleisha and I have not met in person. But we know each other by the similar hearts God has created in us. I am blessed by her friendship.

I love Aleisha’s communication creativity. In 10 brief story images, she shares radical truth in a way that I never could. Thank you Aleisha.

May Aleisha’s words encourage you to trust the truth of Ephesians 1:6, you are accepted in the beloved! 

“Only let Him–the One who loves you more than life itself–live His resurrection life through you.”

 

You can connect with Aleisha at …
https://www.facebook.com/aleisha.boersema/
https://www.instagram.com/graceunleished/
https://www.graceunleished.com/

 

 

My friend Ashley pointed me to Philemon in early August and I’ve been captivated by God’s wisdom through Paul in this short letter ever since. My ESV and NLT Bibles together have led me on a journey.

Paul’s letter to Philemon, his family, and the church that meets in their home is motivated by a request, a hard request. Really an invitation to live out the theology they have embraced.

I think I know the memories and the emotions that Paul’s request aroused.

 

 

The letter asks Philemon, his family and church to live out forgiveness.

FORGIVENESS!!!

That’s a big ask.

“And I am praying, that you will put into action
the generosity that comes from your faith
as you understand and experience
all the good thing we have in Christ Jesus.”
Philemon 6, NLT

Paul’s request is couched in affirmations.

I am praying … Paul is not assuming.
He is asking God to lead.
He is trusting his friends to hear from God.
He is trusting their mature faith.
the generosity … Paul knows this is no small request.
generosity that comes from their faith … This is not a people-pleasing request.
Again, he is acknowledging the maturity of their faith.
put into action … Paul is trusting their theology will lead to application.
as you understand & experience … understanding leads to theology
experience leads to trust
all the good things we have in Christ Jesus … Paul offers a framework.
He asks them to consider Jesus.
He points them to the power to obey.

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones…
if one has a complaint against another,
forgiving each other;
as the Lord has forgiven you …”
Colossians 3:12 & 13, ESV

Their emotions may still have been raw. I’m sure they hadn’t forgotten.

Paul is praying that they will not respond according to their emotions, rather according to putting their theology into action.

A few sentences later toward the end of his letter, Paul adds this affirmation,

“I am confident as I write this letter,
that you will do even more.”
Philemon 21, NLT

It’s been many, many years. I still remember. Forgiveness had been offered and received. I practiced what my theology required. But the obedience of forgiveness doesn’t cancel memory.

That’s okay. When something triggers memory, I have the truth of forgiveness counseling my heart. The memory is real. So is the truth of forgiveness.

“… forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Luke 6:37, ESV

God is trusting me that I’ll allow the memory to lead me to practice the truth of forgiveness, again.

Because we live across the US from each other, we rarely cross paths. That was about to change.

Because of a mutual friend, we were going to be in the same place, at the same time, in the same room.

Like for Philemon, the forgiven person was long-distance. And Paul is asking Philemon to close the gap … to welcome the person (Onesimus) face to face. There was a choice.

I too had a choice. I could avoid the face to face meeting. Honestly, that was my desire.

But was that putting my theology into action?
Was that remembering what Christ had done for me?

I chose to be present.
I chose to trust.

Zooming out a little more on Paul’s letter, there are two sets of bookends surrounding his request. One is in the word, refresh. Paul notes in verse 7, that the “hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.” The you is Philemon. Verse 20 asks, “Refresh my heart in Christ.” The my is Paul.

“… those who refresh others
will themselves be refreshed.”
Proverbs 11:25, NLT

The second bookend is the grace of God. Paul begins his letter offering the grace of God. Philemon 3. His very last words highlight grace as well. Philemon 25.

God’s grace is the fuel that will lead Philemon’s response.

“… My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
II Corinthians 12:9, ESV

As I drove away that afternoon in Colorado rush hour traffic, my heart was at peace; truly my heart was refreshed. God’s grace was sufficient.

No wonder, Paul’s letter to Philemon captivated me.

Copyright, Sue Tell, September 2025

I’ve shared the backstory in the book, Praying Through Loneliness, compiled by Kristen Strong.

 

 

 

I was out to breakfast last December with my 12 year old GRAND-daughter, Naomi Ruth. Can you guess what her favorite book of the Bible is? The narrative of Ruth recorded for us in the Old Testament is one of my favorites as well.

And there is so much I’ve missed!

In the Ruth narrative, Naomi is a good illustration of identity, rather mis-understood identity.

The Biblical Naomi and her family lived in Bethlehem during the time of the judges. “In those days, there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 (underline mine). That phrase occurs four times in the Judges narrative: 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, and 21:25. Besides the great political upheaval, there was a severe famine happening. Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, decides to protect and provide for his family by moving them to Moab, a gentile nation, where he heard there was food.

In the course of time, Elimelech dies and Naomi is left a widow in this foreign land. Their two sons take Moabite women to be their wives. Then both sons also died. A childless widow is in a very precarious position lacking long-term financial support. (ESV study Bible) Sorrow upon sorrow.

But hope was real. Naomi heard that the famine had ended and there was once again a long-anticipated harvest and food in Bethlehem. She returned to her own country, to the land of her faith. One of her daughters-in-law, Ruth, returns with her. 

It seems that Naomi’s understanding of God’s character was wobbling. She was thankful for God ending the famine. She acknowledges His sovereignty. But in her mind, God’s goodness is called into question. “… the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” Ruth 1:20. “Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” Ruth 1:21.

The name, Naomi, means pleasantness or delight. This was not describing Biblical Naomi at this point. As she returns to Bethlehem, and her friends recognize her, “… Is this Naomi?” Ruth 1:19, Naomi reacts. “She said to them, ‘Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara’ …” Ruth 1 20.

Mara means bitterness.

Naomi gave herself an identity based on her circumstances.

Have you ever done that? I know I have.

For many years I looked around me and didn’t like my circumstances. Yes, I was a born-again believer, and I was believing God should be dealing differently with me. I compared. I based my identity on my circumstances. On some level I knew God loved me, but it wasn’t affecting my beliefs. It was not good.

Although I didn’t communicate a different name to my friends, I felt the distance, the bitterness that Naomi felt. Life shouldn’t be that way!

These words from John Mark Comer’s book, Being An Apprentice of Jesus, ring true. “It’s about being a person who not only is loved by God, but also is pervaded by the love of God.” To be pervaded, to be permeated, to be saturated by.

Naomi’s reality intersected with mine. We knew God’s love theoretically. We were not experiencing his love, being pervaded by His love. Our perceived identities spoke more loudly.

Naomi’s story invites me to trust, to trust all of God’s character, not just the pieces I understand.

My meditations have morphed over the years. I now start most days reminding myself of my God-given identity. I John 3:1 is a favorite passage for me,

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God. And that is exactly who we are!”

And then I pray, God, what would it look like for me to trust who you say I am today?

I want to be pervaded by the great love of God. I also pray it for my GRAND-daughter, Naomi Ruth. I want my Naomi to enter her teen-age years knowing her identity as God’s beloved child.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, May 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

On this ordinary Tuesday as I glanced through Facebook, this phrase stopped me, saturated with the sacred.

My thoughts went back to when my sisters and I gathered around Mom’s bed. Her eyes were closed, her breathing shallow, our hands holding hers. We prayed, we sang, we told stories, we whispered scriptures into her still-hearing ears. It was a holy moment. We were saturated with the sacred.

Then my mind traveled back farther to the summer of 2015. Our precious grandson spent 12 weeks in four different hospitals. As I spent time walking the halls with him cuddled in the front pack, or many nights feeding him a bottle and rocking him to sleep before falling asleep myself on the hospital cot, God’s presence was very real.

Those were holy moments, saturated with the sacred.

But what about today on this very ordinary day? I’ll go to the dentist; buy yarn for a new project; walk the dog; and squeeze in some laundry and computer time. Is today saturated with the sacred?

YES it is! The question becomes, am I aware? Am I experiencing the sacredness of today?

Oswald Chambers puts it this way in My Utmost for His Highest,
“It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God–but we do not.
We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life,
and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people–
and this is not learned in five minutes.”

In Exodus 3, Moses is having a conversation with the Lord. Part of God’s words to him are, “… the place of which you are standing is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5. The notes in my ESV Bible help me understand. “The instructions to Moses are followed by a reason that emphasizes the place where he is standing. The very ordinariness of the location helps make the point that it is holy ground, not because of any special properties of the place but only because of God’s presence.”

Today is an ordinary day for me. And the place where I am standing is holy too. God has promised his presence to me as well. It is saturated with the sacred.

“… I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5

“… I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20

And so I prayed: Father, today, I thank you for your presence with me. I thank you for your love and trusting me with your purposes. I thank you that all of today is saturated with the sacred, that I am standing on holy ground. God, I so want to live that reality on this ordinary day. Amen.

“Nowhere” is not the conjunction of no and where but,
rather, the conjunction of Now and Here, which is actually
Everywhere and is the only spot that we can truly experience God.”
Ruthless Trust, Brennan Manning

“Incline your ear (listen diligently), and come to me:
hear, that your soul may live;”
Isaiah 55:3

Copyright, sue tell, February 2023, updated June 2025

Capacity-–that word, that concept has been much on my mind the last few years.

I became more aware when my friend Carol commented on the phone one afternoon, Sue, you use that word a lot. Hmmmm, I tend to talk about what I’ve been thinking about.

Okay, true confession. I’ve thought of my capacity as it relates to age and diminished physical capacity. Well diminished from what it used to be … a year ago or five years ago. Capacity was a negative, a sad thought for me.

 

Well, that’s my excuse!

Then Ruth Haley Barton in her excellent book, Invitation to Retreat, challenged me with this question, “How are your sacred rhythms resulting in an increasing capacity to be available TO God FOR others?” page 102 (underline, mine)

“For this reason I Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus
on behalf of you Gentiles–
assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for you,“
Ephesians 3:1, 2

“As each has received a gift,
use it to serve one another,
as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”
I Peter 4:10

My underlines highlight God’s desire for me and my desire. They are cross-references of Colossians 1:25 that I’ve mentioned before.

Suddenly capacity wasn’t a word that communicated less. Capacity was lining up with many of my desires from the last 25 years. It could communicate more.
Capacity was not a threat; it was an affirmation of my current reality.
Capacity didn’t diminish; capacity could grow.
Capacity didn’t change my calling; capacity clarified my calling.
Capacity wasn’t connected to my calendar or age; capacity was connected to my time with God!

All this led me to ponder these questions … and others:

Is there sufficient space in my day so my desires are an overflow of my listening to God?
Are there decisions I need to make to bring that desire to reality?
Are my mornings a reflection of what will grow my capacity?

I want my answers to be YES!

“So we do not lose heart.
Though our outer self is wasting away,
our inner self is being renewed day by day.“
II Corinthians 4:16 (underline, mine)

“For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father …
that according to the riches of his glory
he may grant you to be strengthened with power
through his Spirit
in your inner being.“
Ephesians 4:14 and 16 (underline, mine)

My heart is that my inner self, my soul is renewed day by day. My heart is that my capacity reflects God’s heart for me … and for you.

What helps you feed your capacity? Let’s help each other.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, August 2025

 

 

Echoes of Grace plans to return September 4, 2025

In the meantime, did you have an opportunity to read the July posts on “rest”.  This has been such a good summer for me meditating on this concept. All the July posts were repeats. I found it so good to remember. New words coming in the fall. 

However, if you weren’t able to read them and have time now, my personal favorite two posts are Rest Secure which posted July 31 and Soul Rest in Restless Days which posted on July 10. Just scroll down from this post and you’ll find both of them.

Rest – an important, very common concept.
For the remainder of July, Echoes of Grace is highlighting rest,
from my writing in previous blogs.
But not just rest, SOUL REST is taking the forefront.
As you journey through July,
you’ll see similar concepts, different stories, and different scriptures all
associated with SOUL REST, the engine that drives all real rest.
At the end of each piece, I’ll highlight a book that has ministered deeply
to me in this area.

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Significance, purpose, knowing the reality of rest – these words, these concepts were far from my thoughts that awful, fateful evening at our quadrennial mission’s conference in Florida.  I was hurting. It would be years before I would really experience the significance and purpose that God had for me and learn to rest in it.  That night I only knew my right now – and that hurt, a lot.

Comparison and jealousy reared their angry heads. I let them have their way. And I sank deeper and deeper into the pit of despair. I just wasn’t good enough!

Not being good enough had deep roots. Stories from my childhood, the turbulent teens, into college, our marriage and ministry. The illustrations were numerous and found their life in comparison.

Looking back, I called that evening the low point of my spiritual journey.

Returning to the same venue with many of the same people four years later, it wasn’t comparison and jealousy that ruled, it was insecurity. Questions proliferated. Were my steps of the past four years real? Did healing happen? Was it strong enough to let me rest in my new found truths? Am I maturing?

Perhaps that first time wasn’t the low point, but rather a turning point, the beginning of a new foundation; a place I would find myself returning to over and over.

I was aware and unaware that night. Aware of the symptoms; unaware of the disease.

At first I treated what I knew – the outward manifestations, the symptoms. I turned to my Bible to study comparison. I memorized, “Those who compare themselves among themselves are not wise.” II Corinthians 10:12. I spoke transparently on the topic watching heads bob up and down. Others, many others understood. It was comforting at first. I was not the only one.

But nothing changed. I needed the disease diagnosed, the why of the symptoms. When talking with a practitioner was suggested, I balked.

Was I really that bad?

I was!

There was a parallel story, my husband’s story. Although he too experienced bumps along his journey, he had climbed the occupational ladder consecutively leading larger and larger teams with greater and greater responsibility. He was currently serving as one of the vice-presidents of the mission we are associated with. It was his role that offered me identity. Not good.

Then he crashed. Physical symptoms led to emotional realities and depression soon followed. A hard reality, a rocky path. A path we both needed.

A wise friend, a friend we had known for several years, noticed and risked reaching out. He directed us to a practitioner, a counselor who accurately diagnosed.

Nothing had changed inside me. I was still leery of counselors and had no desire to meet one up close and personal. But this was my husband’s issue. I’d go along for the ride.

Hesitantly at first I accompanied Bill still holding the practitioner at arm’s length. But that didn’t take long to change.

The next two weeks were life-transforming as an accurate diagnosis became obvious, both for Bill and me. We heard truth. We began to learn how to embrace truth. We experienced hope. The disease was exposed and attacked. It was the beginning of my rest journey and it was good.

There were still rocky patches. But comparison was dissipating.

It would be many years before I would understand and embrace more fully the concept of rest and its connection with all I had been experiencing. There have been many steps along the way. And they will continue.

“Let the beloved of the Lord
rest secure in him…”
Deuteronomy 33:12

I’m learning what it means to rest secure.

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“What God cares about, and deeply, is our needs. And it’s this simple: you and I have an inescapable need for rest.”  The Rest of God, Mark Buchanan

Copyright, Sue Tell, March 2021, July 2025

Echoes of Grace is on vacation for the month of August.
It will return on September 4, 2025.
See ya’ then.

 

Rest – an important, very common concept.
For the remainder of July, Echoes of Grace is highlighting rest,
from my writing in previous blogs.
But not just rest, SOUL REST is taking the forefront.
As you journey through July,
you’ll see similar concepts, different stories, and different scriptures all
associated with SOUL REST, the engine that drives all real rest.
At the end of each piece, I’ll highlight a book that has ministered deeply
to me in this area.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trust, the hinge between Listening and Rest.

I was weary … weariness stemming from busyness that was physically and emotionally taxing. In my spiritual life an opportunity more than ever to apply what I’ve been learning about rest and resiliency this year. It felt like diving into deep water.

 

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (italics mine)

This scripture is a life-line. As I’m learning to trust its truth, I’m experiencing rest because

Listening and Trust and Rest are first cousins!
Trust – the hinge between Listening & Rest!

As building my ark (a safe haven for rest) continues, I’m learning that listening to God Leads to trusting God which leads to experiencing rest.

• Noah demonstrated that for me in the words recorded in Genesis.  Noah walked with God (Genesis 6:9); Noah found favor with God (Genesis 6:8); Noah listened to God and obeyed (trusted) (Genesis 6:22, 7:5); Noah experienced God’s faithfulness (Genesis 8:1); Noah worshiped God (Genesis 8:20). Noah lived out his name, the one who brings relief or rest (Genesis 5:29).

I want to be like Noah,
a woman who walks with God,
listens to God,
obeys (trusts) God,
worships God,
and experiences God’s faithfulness and rest.

Trusting the truth of Matthew 11:28-30 is the diving board for me, the key to living as Noah and experiencing rest.

Here are a few of the lessons that are leading me to rest.

1. Rest is an invitation. Jesus invites me to come to him in the midst of my weariness. He asks me to learn from him … not learn of him or about him. Jesus is able to rest in the midst of the storms of his life. When I learn from that, I can respond to (trust in) his invitation for rest is for me too in the midst of the storms of my life.
2. Circumstances don’t invite me to rest; circumstances invite me to trust which leads to rest. When life is especially hard I begin to pray, God, your yoke doesn’t seem easy or light at the moment, it seems HEAVY. But I want to trust that what you are allowing as I walk with you is light. So will you take the heavy and leave me with the easy and light. Amen.
3. Rest is a choice. Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, a Silicon valley strategist says, “You have to resist the lure of busyness, make time for rest, take it seriously, and protect it from a world that is intent on stealing it.” His words seem true to me. In the midst of our travels there were times when I had the opportunity to trust that rest was important and to opt out of certain good activities and choose rest. One afternoon in North Carolina, I slipped out from the conference to wander through the shops of Black Mountain. For me that was so restful. (And I even purchased a couple of Christmas gifts.)
4. Trusting Ephesians 2:4-6, I have been affirmed in my spiritual practice of sitting and staring. “But God … made us alive … raised us up … seated us with him …” It is very restful for me to start each morning with a cup of coffee, sitting in my favorite comfy chair, and enjoy God’s creation outside my windows. Or, if the weather co-operates, sitting outside on our deck. The quietness of this time leads me naturally to listen for his voice. It is good. After several days of sitting on airplanes, sitting in meetings, or even sitting with friends enjoying a good meal, sitting with God leads to rest.
5. To rest is to practice humility. I won’t respond in trust to Jesus’ invitation or Noah’s example, unless humility leads the way. I was challenged with Hannah Anderson’s words in her book, Humble Roots, “As long as we refuse to accept our pride is the source of our unrest, we will continue to wither on the vine.” And, “When Jesus calls us to take his yoke, when he invites us to find rest through submission … He is calling us to safety.” (chapter 2)

Rest flows from Trust. Trust flows from Listening. Listening, trust and rest are first cousins; trust is the hinge.

Thinking through these questions from Matthew 11:28-30 has led me to trust and to rest.

Where are my places of heavy laden-ness today?
Do I want rest in those places?
What would it look like to respond to Jesus’ invitation to come to him today?
How can I learn from him today?
Do I believe that he is gentle and humble? How does that relate to me?
Am I willing to give him those things that are heavy and trust him with his light burden for me?

” … in returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
Isaiah 30:15

Building my ark of rest has been a several year journey and I suspect God will continue to teach me.  You can follow this journey by reading through these past blogs:
https://suetell.com/reflecting-on-the-gallop/

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My Ark

My Ark, An Update

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“… contemplation … opens the soul to view the heart of God. … True contemplation has no agenda other than learning to rest in God.”   When the Soul Listens, Jan Johnson

Copyright: Sue Tell, March 2022, July 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rest – an important, very common concept.
For the remainder of July, Echoes of Grace is highlighting rest,
from my writing in previous blogs.
But not just rest, SOUL REST is taking the forefront.
As you journey through July,
you’ll see similar concepts, different stories, and different scriptures all
associated with SOUL REST, the engine that drives all real rest.
At the end of each piece, I’ll highlight a book that has ministered deeply
to me in this area.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

God, what does it look like for me to trust you today?
Amen.

That is the prayer I offer to God almost every morning.

I’m trusting God FOR his answer.
I’m also trusting God WITH his answer.

Two little words — two BIG different realities.

And those realities are often beyond my human imaginings.

Philippians 3 talks about the SURPASSING WORTH of knowing Jesus. (verse 8).

The fruit of knowing Jesus invites me to experience the fruit of the Spirit, those qualities described in Galatians 5:22 and 23 and to rest in God’s character. Each of those qualities can be defined in big, surpassing terms. Truly, the fruit of the Spirit surpasses my human understanding. I’m learning that God’s answers to my daily prayer offer big surprises. My prayer life is challenged!

LOVE – Ephesians 3:19 says that God’s love SURPASSES knowledge.  So the only way I can know if I’m resting in and trusting his love is if I experience it. That leads me to a new request, God please let me be aware of your love. What in my experience is showing me your love today?

JOY – Gabriel announcing the gospel in the familiar scripture, Luke 2:10, calls it GREAT joy. Almost daily I pray for 10 different friends who are battling cancer.  Can I rest in and trust that God’s answer  is providing great joy for them and me with his will.

PEACE – “And the peace of God, which SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7. Again that word “surpassing”. Trusting God and resting with his answers is trusting that in my humanity I’m not going to get it.

KINDNESS – Titus 3:4 & 5 shed light on God’s kindness.  It is LOVING kindness and it is a result of his mercy. Mercy, God has no obligation to offer it.  He shares his loving kindness because he is sharing his character. When I pray,  God what would it look like to trust you today, I am humbled. He is answering because of loving kindness motivated by his mercy.

PATIENCE – Paul speaks of God’s patience displayed in Jesus as PERFECT patience.                            I Timothy 1:16. As I type, I’m sitting on an airplane soaring home to Colorado. I should have prayed this morning to rest in and trust God with patience as I connected with different air travel realities. My patience was far from perfect.

GOODNESS – Zechariah 9:17 also calls God’s goodness GREAT, “For how great is his goodness…” I often struggle with understanding God’s goodness. Is it good that two of my friend’s children are struggling with Epilepsy? It sure doesn’t seem so.  But as I pray for Luke and Anna, I’m asking God to show his great goodness.

FAITHFULNESS – Psalm 91:4 describes God’s faithfulness as a SHIELD. A shield offers protection.  In praying to trust God FOR his answers and WITH his answers,  I’m praying for his faithful protection. And I’m learning to rest. I need to be reminded.

GENTLENESS – Jesus describes himself GENTLE. “I am gentle”, Matthew 11:29. The root of Jesus’s gentleness is his inherited nature.  In being gentle, he is being himself. And his gentleness leads to rest. Trusting leads to rest.

SELF-CONTROL – Throughout the gospels, Jesus demonstrates self-control. Or possibly another way to say it is, he is trusting and resting in God’s control. Matthew 4 is the best example. Jesus is in the wilderness. Satan is testing; Jesus is trusting. His trust led to angels ministering to him.  He rested in God’s truth.

Trust is resting in God’s character which always surpasses my human comprehension.

“Let us then with confidence
draw near to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help, in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16

My prayer life is changing. What about yours?

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“When we are settled in God’s love at the core of our being, the waters of the soul become much clearer.” Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Ruth Haley Barton

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, January 2024; July 2025

 

Rest – an important, very common concept.
For the remainder of July, Echoes of Grace is highlighting rest,
from my writing in previous blogs.
But not just rest, SOUL REST is taking the forefront.
As you journey through July,
you’ll see similar concepts, different stories, and different scriptures all
associated with SOUL REST, the engine that drives all real rest.
At the end of each piece, I’ll highlight a book that has ministered deeply
to me in this area.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Covid-19 continues its march across our globe, through our land, into our homes, conforming our lives to its harsh realities, I’m learning to allow my mind to rest on the ancient paths and walk on them. In the process I’m discovering soul rest.

Like the Israelites, we’re standing at a crossroad. We have choices. What is the good way?

God is offering an opportunity for transformative resetting. The prophet Jeremiah is offering wise counsel.

Be still; quiet my heart; what might God want me to hear today? All this before I open my Bible or journal. It’s been my key to listening to God, my standing and looking.

“The secret of living in a busy world is not at the circumference (merely reducing our activities), but at the center (refocusing our hearts).” Leighton Ford.

God took care of reducing our activities; for me it is refocusing my heart.

In March when stay-@-home became the new reality, we received a letter referencing that popular phrase from a few years ago, What would Jesus do? The writer suggested changing it to, What is Jesus doing – in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Caring and kindnesses that were happening in March — and still are.

And my question, though still the same – What should I be doing? — has a different tone.

In March, God led me to five answers. As the restrictions of stay-@-home were relaxed (in Colorado, our governor is now saying safer-@-home), God continues to define how I think about my question. My answers this month, although similar, are not the same. I’m finding these answers not only tell me what to do, but how to live leading to soul rest as well. Ahhhh, a good thing.

1. Stay engaged with God. I’m yielding to God to lead the discussion as I spend time with him in the mornings. Each day, I quote from memory Psalm 23, and then ask, What would it look like to trust him with these truths today? God, how are you showing yourself as my shepherd today? God, in the midst of this pandemic, how are you restoring my soul? God, how can I trust you with my anxieties (my fears)? Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weights him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Last week God’s good word came to me from Philippians 4. In the first nine verses there is only one do not (have no anxiety). There are seven dos. And two wonderful promises: God is near; he is with us (verses five and nine). And God’s promise of peace is repeated in verses seven and nine. Trusting God’s nearness and his offer of peace lead me to soul rest.
2. Stay informed, but not over-informed. The abundance of news available can lead down a path of depression and fear. Trying to understand all the confusing statistics leaves my mind spinning. Yes, I scan the news, both local and national, almost every day; it is a scan not an in-depth reading. My husband, Bill, stays more on top of the news and I ask him about once a day, “Is there anything new I need to know?” Trying to understand all the news does not lead me to soul rest.
3. Both limit and use technology. Communicating is greatly dependent on my cell phone and my computer these days. I am thankful for this technology. I also realize that if I take advantage of every invitation coming my way, screen time will dominate my life and I will squander the opportunities and purposes of God for that day. Soul rest will suffer. More than ever, I need to discern the good from the best. Or as C.H. Spurgeon said, “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong, it is the difference between right and almost right.”
4. My ministry in the “cracks”. We live on a dead-end street with 11 residences, each surrounded by five acres of Ponderosa pines. We don’t naturally run into our neighbors. I have a different relationship with each. My extroverted personality makes it easy to reach out.  But what is the best way to reach out to each individual neighbor? So I ask, This week, where are the cracks in their front doors? I’m praying to be sensitive.

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap,
but by the seeds you plant.”
Robert Louis Stevenson

5. Masks, blueberries, and wine. Several weeks ago I resurrected my sewing machine to sew masks for our family. I emailed the neighbors and asked if I could make them masks as well. I was surprised and thrilled when I received five orders for masks.

I’m learning that my neighbors want to help me too. One called to say she was on her way to buy groceries and asked if she could pick up anything for me. “Yes, blueberries”, I responded. Blueberries are certainly not essential, but we enjoy them. When my mask-wearing neighbor dropped the blueberries on our front porch, she also left a bottle of wine. Community is a two-way street. I too need to practice the humility of receiving. We have each other to lean on.

Allowing community to do its good work, invites me to exhale. It offers soul rest.

What offers you soul rest in these restless days?

As I’m practice these habits, I experience the reality of Jesus’s words …

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (underlines mine)

 

“The gospel is the invitation to let the heart of Christ calm us into joy,”  Gentle and Lowly, Dane Ortlund.

Copyright, Sue Tell, May 2020, Updated July 2025

These two pictures from Google Images remind me of the 4th of July when I was a child. Dad always went to town on the 3rd of July with chairs to reserve our places at the parade in the morning. It was a BIG deal. LOTS of fun. GREAT memories.

Not pictured is the family picnic in our backyard that came next. Dad would fire up the grill and burgers and dogs were always the menu for the day.  What could be better?!

Our day concluded with fireworks at the baseball field. We spread out our blankets, got comfortable on our backs, and kept our eyes trained on the sky. The show always awed!

I’m thankful for these memories. Our 4th will be a bit quieter this year. Bill and I will enjoy the day at our cabin in the mountains.

However you enjoy your day, may it be a blessing and exactly what you desire!

 

Some other special memories from Echoes of Grace return next Thursday. See ya’ then.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, June 2025

 

 

A friend of mine took a picture drawn by her eight-year-old, put it in a frame, and hung it on a wall in their home. When her son saw his artwork framed and displayed, he was elated. His little heart inherently knew that the frame meant something. The four small pieces of wood communicated importance, and care, and love to him.

Frames do that: they draw attention and encourage us to notice things we usually might not. Frames prompt recollection and give significance to otherwise ordinary things. Frames communicate value.

Interestingly, God frames things too.

Once Jesus took His disciples to the temple. There He sat them down and asked them to notice the thing no one else was noticing, a widow giving from her heart all she had.

“And he sat down opposite the treasury
and watched the people putting money into the offering box.
Many rich people put in large sums.
And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.
And he called his disciples to him and said to them,
‘Truly, I say to you,
this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.
For they all contributed out of their abundance,
but she out of her poverty
has put in everything she had, all she had to live on’.”
Mark 12:41-44

Jesus saw what others did not. Jesus framed the widow. He asks us to do the same.

Children are amazing at this practice of framing. Just try going on a hike with a toddler — they notice everything. Every bug, stick, rock, and leaf is worthy of a pause. It’s important enough to share with you so you can join in their inspection.

Similarly, God notices us — Psalm 139 is a great example. He places us in His frame as He pays attention to every detail of our lives, communicating value, and care, and love for us.

Some questions to ponder:

What does it mean to be noticed and framed as beloved by God, and how might we notice Him in return?
Is the practice of noticing, of framing difficult for you? How might you develop it?
How has a time of being noticed by God, or by another affected you?

Jenni first published this article on Overflow, a ministry of Train-Develop-Care, The Navigators.
January 14, 2025

Kristen at her favorite place.

As a young girl of ten, I loved writing stories of romance and hard-fought love. Make no mistake: I knew nothing of such topics except from what I learned while watching television shows such as Dallas. (My parents had their strengths, but supervising my television viewing wasn’t one of them.) And in case you’ve never seen Dallas, let me assure you that ideas of love from its characters, like J.R. and Sue Ellen, weren’t exactly what you’d call healthy and wholesome. And it would be a couple of years before I fell in love with reading classic stories involving more age-appropriate sweethearts such as Anne and Gilbert, Laura and Almanzo, and Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. One late afternoon, my daddy noticed me writing furiously in my pink journal under an oak tree at our Oklahoma home. He walked over to me, knelt down, and asked, “Whatcha writin’ about, honey?” I didn’t even look up as I told him dreamy plot lines of fascinating people in far-off places. After listening, he patted me on the back and said gently, “Wow, that sounds like an exciting story! You know, though, a lot of good writers write about the people and places they know.” “Uh-huh,” I said, waving my hand flippantly in the air. I thought, What could I possibly write about as a country girl in Oklahoma!? Boring to the max. In college, I put my love of writing on a shelf as my social life and schoolwork took center stage. At that time, I also met a good-lookin’ fella named David. A few years later, we married and had three beautiful babies together. When those babies were young and David was across an ocean from me, the evenings were mighty lonely. Remembering how writing often felt like a friend, I picked it back up from the shelf and began exercising that muscle after the kids fell asleep. Taking my dad’s advice, I started writing more about what I knew – or at least what I was learning – about marriage, motherhood, military life, and friendship. Why have I always loved writing? There are several reasons, but the one that stands out most is because I love stories. This love came from my dad, who used to tell bedtime stories to my sisters and me every night. As we snuggled under our Holly Hobbie bedspreads, he told us tales of growing up on the Oklahoma prairie with a large, loving family. He entertained us with stories of mischief involving his horse Smokey and his dog Queenie. By sharing those stories with me, my dad anchored and comforted me within my own story. There’s something about seeing our story within the Father’s that anchors and comforts us in the story we’re living today. Whether you’re a writer or not, your life is a story. You may have chapters that you’d like to cut out and throw away. At the very least, you’d like to rewrite some pages. Perhaps parts of your story read like a tragedy or maybe even something that could’ve worked as a script for Dallas. I get that because parts of my story read that way as well. I have chapters I’d like to change where the choices of others hurt me terribly. I’ve also made choices that I’d like to go back and change as they’ve negatively affected others. If this describes you, too, know that we’re both in good company. David from the Old Testament experienced terrifying plotlines because of the actions of others, like a king bent on trying to kill him (1 Samuel 18:11 – 1 Samuel 23). David himself made terrible choices that brought devastating consequences to others, too, like summoning a married woman to his bedroom and then having her husband killed (2 Samuel 11-12:23). David repented for his sins and even though his life’s story held heaps of heartache, he said that the Lord “…has redeemed my soul out of every adversity…” (1 Kings 1:29). You and I are no different: Our own broken and bewildering plotlines won’t end before reaching a redeeming conclusion, too. Recently, a portion of Colossians spoke a fresh message to my heart. Here, Paul prays for the people of Colossae to be “…strengthened with all power, according to [God’s] glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:11-12, emphasis mine). You have inherited a good story because you are written into His story, and the story He is writing is very good. No matter that it includes broken relationships, broken hearts, and broken people. In God’s hands, no story is past redemption. We have that assurance because God sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross so every wrong could be made right. This is what I’ve come to know: No plot is too far gone, too hope-gone. If you can’t yet see the good in your story, take heart. Hope always dawns as God takes the most tangled mess of a tale and turns it into a tapestry of grace. May this truth about your story within the Father’s story anchor and comfort you today.

Biases and Jesus Yesterday I found myself in Philippians 4 for my Bible reading. Two small verses caught me. In verses 2 and 3, we find Paul pleading with two women in the fledgling church at Philippi, to “be of the same mind in the Lord.” These two women had “contended for the Gospel” alongside Paul – laboring and struggling to make the Good News known. They loved Jesus. And yet, now they found themselves in a place where they could not see eye to eye.  At odds.  In conflict. How easily we can find ourselves in a similar place. At least, I can. Especially when I have a strong opinion about something. Something I believe in, or believe is right. I can step into a conversation or decision-making process unaware of the bias quietly shaping my perspective. When that happens, I may push for my own agenda or become so attached to a certain outcome that I stop truly listening to others…and Jesus. This creates division between me and a brother or sister. I begin to dismiss their views, silently writing them off in my heart…discounting their perspective. Recently, I read a suggestion that challenged me: “Pray for indifference.” Not the apathy kind of indifference, but a posture of surrender—where I become indifferent to my own ego, position, comfort, or need to be right. Instead, my heart is fully set on what God wants. His will. His purposes. His agenda. A question that helps me is: “What must I surrender within myself for God’s will to be fully realized in and among us?” Paul urges the same mindset when he calls the two women in his letter to resolve their conflict—not by one overpowering the other, but by each choosing to think with the mind of Christ. To agree because they are both in the Lord. Agree. Hold my hands open. Loosen my grip on my agenda, and seek His instead. It’s about surrender—offering up my opinions and submitting my idea of what is “right” to the One who truly is. The only way I can do this is to stay close to Jesus. Stay so close to Him, so yielded to Him, that I have the same attitude Jesus did. “He humbled Himself. He did not demand and cling to His rights as God. He laid aside His mighty power and glory, He became a servant…” In Philippians 4:5, Paul urges the women to “let your graciousness be known to everyone.” Oh, that is what I want to be true of me! Not insisting on my way, but yielding, gentle, kind…gracious. My “graciousness evident to all.”  May it be true of all of us. Thank you, Amy!

This Cat’s Meow shelf-sitter, a gift from my very musical friend Kathy, stands on my desk, a testimony to God bringing together the plot and the theme of my life.

The Plot: the different chapters, the events, the story-line.
The Theme: the message communicated throughout the story-line.

“He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.”
Psalm 40:3

For many years this is one of the scriptures that has caught my attention. It is recorded in my purpose section of my journal. Each time I review it, it reminds me that God wrote, and is continuing to write, a song in my heart and that He’s going to use it to attract others to Himself.

Really? My song? Now that is a miracle!

I am NOT musical! I laugh even thinking that a scripture that speaks of a song, of music would capture my attention. Yes, God has a sense of humor.

But God indeed has personally encouraged me with the promise of Psalm 40:3.

When I think through the plot of my life, I see the theme of Psalm 40:3.

From the stumbling, bumbling early days of my toddler faith, to the insecure days of my teen-age faith, to the loooooong quarter century of comparison in ministry, to who I am becoming now, the theme is consistent.

God did do something in my heart. He gave me a new song, a song based on His character, not the plot lines of my life. He is developing His theme. Others are hearing the theme, the new song, and are attracted and invited.

The more clearly I see this theme in my various plot lines, the more humbled I am. Only in Jesus do our plot lines and our theme coalesce.

The plot is reality.
The plot has purpose.
The plot bows to the theme.

In the short 4 chapter Ruth narrative, Naomi didn’t begin to understand the theme of her story until the end of the second chapter. In her mind, the plot line was pretty negative: a heathen culture, being widowed, both her grown sons dying, Ruth’s insistence of returning with her to Bethlehem. Naomi re-named herself Mara “for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” Ruth 1:20. Although she acknowledged God, she didn’t see His theme at work.

“Blessed is the man who took notice of you.” Ruth 2:19. Now Naomi is beginning to get a glimpse of God’s theme in her life. As her story unfolds, God’s theme is revealed, to her and to us. She experiences the theme song God is writing through her story.

Recognizing the theme, is recognizing God’s love in action. It provides hope and confidence for the future. The plot will continue to unfold. Sometimes it will be a joyful plot; other times it might be a difficult plot. But the theme, the promises of God will remain constant.

Only in Jesus do our plot lines and our theme coalesce!

What is the theme God is writing in your life?

1) “I waited patiently for the LORD;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2) He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
3) He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.”
Psalm 40:1-3 (italics mine)

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, May 2025

 

 

TWO BIG MINISTRY TRUTHS …

“And he said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter see on the ground.
He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.‘”
Mark 4:26, 17 (italics & underline mine)

First:  You know, I have no idea how God plans to use one of the gals in my Bible Studies I facilitate in significant ways in His kingdom, for His glory.

Patricia was in the very first Bible study I led as a one year old college student believer. I’m awed by the ministry she and her husband have had over the years in the states and Eastern Europe. Patricia has been involved in the English language camps developing programs, writing Bible studies, and training the small group leaders to study the Bible for themselves while improving their English at the same time.

I think of Linda, a neighbor during our Illinois days. We met one day as I was praying  while pushing our son in his stroller. As I passed Linda’s home, I noticed her Swing-o-matic in her front window. We both had sons named David about the same age. We started reading the Bible together. Linda’s heart for God shines as she is involved with the women in her local Catholic church.

 

And then there is Paula. We landed in the same Bible study in our local church and she and I connected deeply. She calls me her mentor. In reality we mentored each other. Paula has had amazing influence in her family, her church, and through the ministry of TrueFace. She calls herself a visionary connector and she lives that out well! I’m honored to call her my friend.

This week, Bill and I had breakfast with Erin, a recent college grad. She shared some struggles and we were so encouraged by her vulnerability and her desire for spiritual growth. We’re excited for how God will use Erin. We know not how.

Because I have no idea how God will use my friendships for His kingdom and His glory, I’m very motivated to be generous with affirmations, to notice God’s work in the lives of others and to verbalize it to them.

“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.”
Psalm 138:8

Secondly:  It’s not about me and my friendships. It’s not about my ministry. It’s not about what I do. God is the one who is at work!

“I planted,
Apollos watered,
but God gave the growth.”
I Corinthians 3:6

God offers me the privilege of planting. God sometimes allows me to water. But God is the one who takes my planting and watering efforts and brings the growth. And God is able to do far more abundantly than all that I ask or think! Ephesians 3:20.

And this leads to a third truth: I may never know what God is up to in my friendships; and that’s okay. Jeremiah 29: 11 is still true, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Brandon said it well, “As the dance floor thrummed and the people mingled, I had a striking realization. This wedding, these people, would not be here if we had not followed the Lord’s leading to move to the Northeast.” Bill and I are very thankful for Brandon and Ashley and the amazing influence they have had among college students and others because they moved from Iowa to Connecticut.

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW!

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, May 2025

In His wisdom, God has created us with needs — needs, not weaknesses!
Love is the process of meeting needs.
Affirmation is love.

I desire to be generous and intentional with affirmation.

A while ago I attended a two-day conference where we were asked to do an affirmation exercise.  We were divided into groups of two and given of list of over 150 affirming words.***  We were asked to circle all the words that would affirm our partner and then choose five to verbally share with stories to back up our choices.

I learned three big lessons about affirmation that day.

Josey (not her real name) was my partner.  She and I had a fairly new friendship having met only three months previous.  There are many of those new friendship details that I didn’t know about her.  However, I found it easy to affirm her.  What a delight.  First affirmation lesson, I don’t need to know a person well to affirm them. 

Josey’s choice to attend the conference demonstrated her heart for God, the heart to grow as a Christian, and her desire to continue to build our friendship. These qualities allowed me to verbalize to her who God created her to be, affirmation. 

Later in the day on one of our breaks I was visiting with a young wife.  Her words were, “my husband is not good at affirming me”.  I felt sad that that was her experience.  And I also wondered if she was missing some of her husband’s affirming ways.

I have experienced words of affirmation voiced by my husband Bill. And often I experience his written words of affirmation.  I love the cards he chooses for me and personalizes. Often those cards stand on my dresser for months!  I wish I had saved those early letters he wrote when we were just beginning to know each other.  I need to be more of a romantic!

Second affirmation lesson, affirmation takes many different forms, like …

Serving another, they are seen and affirmed.
A hug can communicate affirmation. I remember one day … I.WAS.MAD! I was stomping around the kitchen. I looked at Bill and said, “Do you even believe I love Jesus?” He smiled and wrapped me in his arms and said, “Of course I do.” I melted with his physical affirmation and words.
Stories communicate affirmation. Especially those stories we are unaware of. Twice in the last 7 months, my husband heard stories from long-lost friends sharing how his ministry has resulted in the transformation of hundreds. He never knew!
Affirmation can be shared ahead of time — and understood later. Our son makes it a habit to write liturgies for the family on their special days. I’m quite sure 4-year old Leah didn’t understand her Dad’s words when he noted how her actions affirmed who God created her to be.
As I spend time with God in His word, I often hear His affirmations. I call this, affirmation by meditation.

A third lesson on affirmation is a hard one and also displayed itself during the weekend.  Another friend was sharing about her experience with the affirmation exercise over a meal. The affirming words had ignited her shame. She shared when her friend affirmed her artistic bent, she heard that as “I’m not organized”.  Every word used to affirm her, she had a “not” for.

I can be guilty of that as well.  Many times others have recognized my strength in hospitality.  Often I have put their down with this sentence, “No big deal, that’s easy for me”.  How dishonoring to God who created me to be hospitable and is delighted when I use my home to minister to others. Third affirmation lesson, even a positive thing like affirmation can ignite shame and feelings of unworthiness.

 I’m learning to not let the response of others affect my affirmations.

I enjoy affirmation. I need affirmation to help me live out who God created me to be. God is the ultimate affirmer and He often uses others to communicate His love. Because I desire to grow in godliness, I need to grow in affirming the good things I see in others, and to humbly receive the good others see in me.

Could it be that affirmations are God’s messages to me?
Could it be that affirmations are something I need to trust and develop?

I desire to be generous and intentional with affirmation!

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well”.
Psalm 139:14

“It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ,
and all for your upbuilding, beloved.”
II Corinthians 12:19

*** I have copies of this affirmation exercise. Would you like one? Respond in the comments.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, May 2025

 

 

 

 

Choking on My Tears is the original name of the article I wrote for Praying Through Loneliness. 

Although a totally different application, these words spoke the truth my heart needed to hear. Thank you Janine. Your words continue to minister. Please read on. Are you identifying?

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18

I was brokenhearted and feeling very alone.

The speaker finished. The pews were emptying; the ladies smiling and chatting with each other as they walked from the sanctuary – except me. I sat glued to the pew, my head in my hands, my tears flowing.

Janine waited patiently. She didn’t ask. She didn’t hold my jacket and nudge me into leaving. She recognized God at work.

I felt so alone. Why were they so upbeat? Am I the only one using Kleenex after Kleenex? It seemed so.

But I wasn’t alone. Not only was the Lord close, my friend Janine was too.

Choking on my tears, I began to gulp out my story.

She listened quietly.
She didn’t ask questions.
She didn’t share a scripture.
She didn’t try and coax me out of my reality.
She allowed me to be me.
She responded, “Awareness is huge!”

Awareness is huge. How did that help?

I wiped my eyes once again as I pondered her words.  

And I heard from God. Janine’s words were the encouragement I needed; they offered hope.

Through the message from the speaker, I heard again of God’s great love for me. I also realized I had been trying to prove my worth to God by my doings. That night, I became aware. Awareness is huge. The message and Janine’s words set the stage for transformation.

I was brokenhearted in a good way. I’m so thankful I invited Janine to come with me.

I dried my tears, my loneliness dissipating. My next steps of spiritual growth were showing themselves. I was aware. Grace!

Lord, thank You that you use our friends to speak encouragement and truth. Thank You for the speaker that night. Thank You for Janine. Thank You for Your great love that opens the door for transformation. Thank You that You meet us in our aloneness.  Amen.

Sue Tell

Awareness is the first step towards transformation.

God uses His family to transform feelings of loneliness.

 

 

This is me and our pastor’s wife, Karen Hodge, a few years ago after enjoying coffee at the Glen Eyrie castle. They were new to our church and we were getting to know each other. In the process of Karen sharing her story, she called herself “a hinge”. As a door is connected to its frame by a hinge (or three); Karen’s heart is to be a hinge connecting others to opportunities that fit them. Note the hinge in the above photo.

I appreciated her analogy that day, but didn’t internalize it.

Sometimes you just need to hear something more than once for it to click.

Last month Bill and I were part of a retreat for the Navigator collegiate staff from our Central Plains region that includes campuses from Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

The Sunday morning speaker called our staff team on those campuses hinges. They were the key, the hinge to college students hearing about Jesus. This time I internalized it.

In this chapter of my journey, I don’t often connect with college students. But I do often connect with women who do connect with students. And I too am a hinge as I steward my calling.

I am a hinge for them connecting them to Jesus as affirm them in their calling.
I am a hinge for them connecting them to Jesus as I connect them to the Word.
I am a hinge for them connecting them to Jesus as I encourage them in their journeys.
I am a hinge for them connecting them to Jesus as I share pieces of my story.
I am a hinge for them connecting them to Jesus as I steward my calling.

I’m a hinge as I facilitate Bible studies for ladies in our church.
I’m a hinge on our cul-de-sac as I live and share the gospel with our neighbors.

Karen has been a hinge for me several times. I’m so thankful for the opportunities she has opened for me.

We are all hinges. As we all walk with Jesus, as we steward who God created us to be, we have opportunities to influence others for the sake of the kingdom, to be a hinge.

Perhaps it’s in our churches. Perhaps it’s in our neighborhoods. Maybe it’s in the workplace or at the gym or book club. Maybe it’s in our families with siblings or with grandchildren.

Another phrase my pastor’s wife uses is we’ve been entrusted to invest. God has placed us in relationships, opportunities to invest or be a hinge for that person. They NEED you!

“You then, my child, be strengthened
by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,
and what you have heard from me …
entrust to faithful men
who will be able to teach others also.”
II Timothy 2:1 & 2

Timothy was Paul’s hinge!

Where are you living your hinge responsibilities?

 

Copyright:  Sue Tell, April 2025

 

“Do not lie to one another,
seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed in knowledge
after the image of its creator.”
Colossians 3:9 and 10

My resurrection journey has been a journey of ongoing transformation by continually putting on my new self. 

A friend once said to me, Sue, stop being so hard on yourself. One area I tended to be hard on myself was in my doubts. I too often identified with the father of the of the young boy with the unclean spirit in Mark 9. In his desperation the father pleads with Jesus to heal his son. You hear his heart in his words, if you can do anything … have compassion … help us. Mark 9:22.

The man’s belief and his doubt coexisted and collided. He was human. He was honest. I get that. I’m glad in his honest humility, belief won out. “I believe, help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24. Jesus healed his son.

Like the father in Mark 9, I have doubts.
Like the father, I’m growing in faith.
Both can coexist and collide

I am hard on myself when I let my feelings run wild, override truth, and corrupt my beliefs. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “Most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself.”

The disciples struggled as well. When Jesus appeared to them after the resurrection, he said, “These are my words that I spoke to you … He opened their minds to understand the scriptures … Thus it is written …” Luke 24: 44, 45, 46 (Italics mine). Jesus was reminding the disciples to remember and to trust what they’ve seen and heard.

I believe in the resurrection. I always have. I love celebrating it every Easter. The resurrection is the key to the gospel! Without the resurrection, there is no life!

And like those first disciples, I need to continually remind myself of what Jesus has said, of the scriptures, of what was written. I need to remind myself of gospel truth.

Paul Tripp said it this way, “No-one is more influential in your life than you are, because no-one talks to you more than you do.”

In my humanity, I can often listen to my doubts instead of talking truth to myself. God reminds me of my need to listen to him, to listen to and trust truth. “It is impossible for God to lie,” Hebrews 6:18.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Romans 15:13

The scriptures are full of promises, of hope. God has offered us the privilege of trust.

I’m experiencing new peace, new joy, new hope, and a new steadfast anchor for my soul. I’m listening to and trusting the truth recorded for me, for us.

“The Resurrection is the victory of love.”
Pope Francis

One of my favorite Easter songs is Rise My Soul; The Lord is Risen. You might want to check it out.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, April 2025

 

 

Similarities and differences.

“‘Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.'”
John 11:32 (italics mine)

Mary’s first words to Jesus are the same as her sisters Martha’s first words (verse 21), if only you had been here …

The tone behind their words elicited different responses.
Their hearts communicated.
And they received a response in line with their hearts.

With Martha, Jesus reminded her of truth. With Mary, Jesus wept.

Mary and Martha responded similarly when Jesus visited them previously as recorded in Luke 10:38-42. After welcoming Jesus into their home, Martha is distracted by preparations for the dinner. She is annoyed that Mary, who sits at Jesus’s feet to listen to him, isn’t helping with the meal. “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” Luke 10: 40, NLT.

In both narratives, Mary is at Jesus’s feet. “Mary sat at the Lord’s feet, listening …” Luke 10:39. John 11:32 records, “When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet …”

Mary honored who Jesus was. I imagine her sitting and listening grew her trust in Jesus. It set a precedent that helped her respond appropriately when Jesus visited on the occasion of Lazarus’s death.

With both sisters, Jesus met them where they were. Martha needed to be reminded of truth; Mary needed the softness and the kindness of Jesus.

How has Jesus met me where I am? How have I experienced resurrection?

At church that evening, Jesus knew I would respond to the message of the singers. I heard the gospel and responded, new life, resurrection.

A few years later, Jesus met me with the truth from the Word; Romans 15:5 & 6 set a new path for me, resurrection.

Several years later, Jesus met me in the hard of my reality. My path was a three year wait. It felt like a Friday, but resurrection was coming.

Jesus met me through my tears and the guidance of counselors helping me to understand my identity, resurrection.

Jesus continues to meet me as I practice being a “Mary” sitting and listening at his feet, resurrection.

What have your resurrections looked like?
How have you experienced Jesus meeting you?

May this Resurrection Sunday remind, encourage, and bless you.

He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed!

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, April 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha is very sick. Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and Jesus were close friends. (This is the Mary who poured the very expensive perfume on Jesus’s feet as recorded in Matthew 26:7 and John 12:3, not the woman in Luke.)

So when Lazarus fell ill, it was natural for Mary and Martha to send for Jesus. “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” John 11:3. The NLT translates the relationship as your dear friend.

However, Jesus did not come right away. Odd! He loved Lazarus, and Mary and Martha. He had the ability to heal him. He healed many who he did not even know. In the very beginning of his ministry, Mark 1:32-34 records his healing of many who were sick. But Jesus did not immediately come.

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.” John 11:5 and 6. Is that how you would have responded? Is that how love demonstrates itself?

But when word arrived that Jesus was on his way, impetuous Martha ran to meet him. This same Martha who previously when Jesus came to visit, ran to meet him and greeted him with, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?” Luke 10:40.

This time she greets Jesus with, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:21. An if only story line is a narrative of regret. It shifts the story from what is to what might have been.

Martha’s expectations didn’t line up with her reality. But she seems to back pedal with her next words. “But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” John 11:22. Please Jesus, heal our brother. I know you can!

Jesus assures her, “Your brother will rise again.” John 11:23.

But Martha’s understanding was limited. Even the Pharisees believe in resurrection.

I can often be a Martha. If only … 

If only I hadn’t chosen to accept that job …
If only I had invited her to come along …
If only I was chosen for …
If only we had gotten to the doctor sooner …
If only they knew what I had to offer …
If only I was more tech savvy …

A story line of regret. A story line of not trusting. A story line of questioning the sovereignty of God. My understanding can be so limited!

Twice in this narrative, at the beginning and at the end, Jesus declares Lazarus’s illness and death is to show the glory of God. John 11:4 and 40. Twice Jesus declares that Lazarus’s story is for the sake of the sake of others. John 11:15 and 42. Jesus’s heart if for me, for us, for our good.

There are no if only’s in God’s economy.

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us,
but to your name goes all the glory
for your unfailing love and faithfulness.”
Psalm 115:1, NLT

Last week, April 4, was Resurrection and the Disciples. If you missed it, scroll down.
Next week, April 17 is Resurrection and Mary. It’s interesting that Mary also uses the phrase, if only. But there is a difference.
April 24, Resurrection and Me.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, April 2025

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.
Whoever believes in me, though he die,
yet shall he live,'”
John 11:25, ESV

John 11 records the narrative of Lazarus’s death anchored by Jesus’s words, I am the resurrection and the life. 

Verses 1-16 record the narrative of the disciples and their reaction to Lazarus’s death.

But before we’re aware that Jesus is with his disciples, Jesus makes this bold assertion to Mary and Martha, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God” John 11:4. As the story plays out, we see that not only did Mary and Martha experience the glory of God, so did the disciples.

I get Mary and Martha’s desire. They know Jesus can cure the illness. I often look at the hard swirling around, and I want Jesus to change it. I know he can. And Jesus’s plans are far better than my desire for short-sighted change because of his love. (More on that next week.)

The narrative switches to Jesus and his disciples. Jesus’s ways don’t make sense! He makes the decision to stay where he was with the disciples for two more days. I’m thinking Mary and Martha don’t understand. Where in the world is Jesus? Lazarus is his dear friend and is very ill. John 11:3. The disciples don’t understand. Jesus deciding to wait doesn’t make sense.

“Finally (after two days), he said to his disciples, ‘Let’s go back to Judea.'” John 11:7, (parentheses mine). This course of action definitely doesn’t make sense to the disciples. They reminded Jesus that only a few days ago the Jews there were trying to stone him! Why return to Judea? Why are we not heading to Bethany where Lazarus is lying in bed sick? I imagine questions such as these flying through their minds. The disciples were possibly not only concerned for Jesus, but also for themselves.

Jesus was concerned about the faith of his disciples. “and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you (disciples) may believe.” John 11:15.

I’ve spent many hours pondering Jesus’s claim.
Many days I’ve prayed, God, help me to live with the expectancy of resurrection power. Help me believe.

It was time to soak in the narrative recorded in John 11 and make it my own.

Jesus’s heart included more than his three good friends and the disciples. “... I said it out loud on account of the people standing around, that they may believe…” v.42.

As I read this narrative, I’m one of those standing around. I’ve heard the words of Jesus; I’ve seen the ways of Jesus, and I don’t get it.

But Jesus is more interested in my faith than in my understanding.

Jesus was willing to be misunderstood, to grow faith. Jesus orchestrated the details to lead to God’s glory. Jesus was living his identity.

It was the late ’90s. I was frustrated … well perhaps more than frustrated. Like the disciples, I didn’t understand God’s ways. I had a big desire to minister to women. And in my limited perspective I didn’t see that happening. So I gave up. Although not literal death, I decided to die to that dream. My wait was not two days. My wait was three years. Three years of wearing a mask and pretending, I was okay with life.

But God. God had planted that desire in my heart. I was misunderstanding his ways. After three years, I experienced the resurrection of that desire. For your sake, Sue, for your faith, I waited all the while working in the background to bring resurrection to your reality. 

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for:
it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”
Hebrews 11:1, NLT

The question became personal, Sue, have you experienced resurrection? Sue, is your faith limited to your experience? Sue, do you believe?

If my faith is limited to experience, I do not have faith. I do not know resurrection.

I identify with the disciples who walked with Jesus 2000 years ago. As a follower (a disciple) of Jesus now, I still struggle. And in the midst of the struggles, I’m learning to pray, God, what does it look like to trust your resurrection power today?

“Jesus told her, (Martha)
‘I am the resurrection and the life.'”
John 11:25, NLT (parentheses mine)

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, April 2025

 

 

 

 

Can a command also be an invitation?
This is the question I’ve been pondering.

I love invitations. They offer a choice. Commands sometimes threaten. Am I able to fulfill them?

According to Hebrews 4:12, “… the word of God is living and active…” Do I read like I trust that? If the Word is living, does that mean I can have a conversation with God?

Or am I reading words on page that may or may not relate to where I’m living today? Am I reading merely to check off my Bible reading chart? Am I reading because that is what a good Christian is expected to do? Am I looking for something or am I listening to the God of the universe, the God who calls me His child? The God who invites.

Looking or listening?

I’m realizing my reactions, my questions, my communication with God as I answer the above questions speak to my desire and experience as I read.

Recently I listened to a sermon on John 15:1-17. If this parable is familiar to you, you know  that the point of this parable is fellowship with God. (All parables have one main point.) It is the last of Jesus’s “I Am” statements. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1.

The word abide might have jumped into your mind. It’s used 11 times in the first 17 verses of John 15 in the ESV. In the NLT and the NIV, abide is translated remain. The Message rendition of this passage further clarifies with the terms, live in me, make your home in me, being joined to me, remain intimately at home in my love.

So how do I understand abide? Is it a command? Is it an invitation? Is it both? What does it look like to obey?

“If you abide in me,
and my word abide in you,
ask whatever you wish,
and it will be done for you.”
John 15:7

It is a command. But I’m thinking this command is also an invitation to mature (verses 8 & 11), to experience answered prayer (verse 7), to be aware of God’s love (verse 9), and to experience joy (verse 11).

God is offering me an invitation, a choice.

So I might ask, God what does it look like for me today to stay intimately connected to you? (The Message) How can I abide in you? What does it mean for your words to abide in me? (ESV) What does it mean for me to remain? (NIV) What invitation are you offering me today?

I think I’m being invited into conversation and into a deeper friendship with God. It seems to me that this command is an invitation.

Could that be true with other commands in the scriptures? Might my obedience show I’m responding to God’s invitations? I want to abide, to remain, to be intimately at home in His love!
I want to grow my relationship with God.

For many years I’ve prayed the words of Psalm 112. “Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!” (verse 1) Fearing the LORD could also be translated, walking appropriately in the presence of God. So one who fears the Lord is one who is walking appropriately with God by taking great delight in his commandments. I can’t think of a better way to show God that I delight in His commands than to view those commands as invitations for deeper connection with Him.

“I’m challenged to read the imperatives (the commands) of scriptures
as invitations to enjoy my identity as the beloved child of God; to walk with Jesus.”
Russell Moore

I’d love to know your thoughts.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, March 2025

 

 

Please tell me, I’m not the only one!

Have you ever thought you might be the only one?
Have you ever heard the same message from multiple sources?

If you answered yes to either of the above questions, be assured, you’re not alone!

It was only one week. The Bible study I participate in is studying Acts. We were reviewing Paul’s testimony in Acts 22 that week.

As I sat and listened to the speaker on campus a few nights later, sharing on Matthew 28, he referenced Paul’s testimony in Acts. I heard the voice of God.

Then the pastor in church that Sunday preaching through James emphasized a similar point. Okay, God, You have my attention.

The pastor spoke about the metaphor James uses in chapter one of a mirror. “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.”
James 1:23, 24.

The pastor went on to explain, our natural face is the face of our birth. It is the picture of who God created us to be; the purpose we were born with. It challenged — Who did God create me to be? How can I live that out?

As Paul recounts his testimony of how he came to Christ in Acts 22:6-16, he shares how when he fell to the ground, was surrounded by a great light, and heard a voice (verse 7), he immediately responded with a question, who are you Lord? (verse 8). Jesus identified himself and Paul (then still Saul) follows it up with a second question, what shall I do Lord? (verse 10).

Jesus was no longer that carpenter from Nazareth he had been persecuting. Saul knew Jesus was his Lord!

As Paul shared his testimony in Jerusalem. He started by identifying himself as a Jew, from Tarsus, a citizen of no obscure city (Rome), educated by Gamaliel, zealous for God (“as all of you are this day.”) He continues by how he persecuted and delivered to death followers of the Way (Jesus).  Acts 21:39-22:5.

And then he shares his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road. And those two BIG questions:

Who are you, Lord?
What shall I do, Lord?

Jesus responded to his first question, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting’.
Acts 22:8.

Jesus, the one who gave Saul his identity. Jesus held up his mirror and Saul beheld his natural face, the person he was created to be.

Saul’s next question was the natural follow-up, what shall I do, Lord?

I pondered my background and God whispered, — your identity doesn’t rest in your family of origin. Your identity doesn’t rest in where you were born. Your identity doesn’t rest in your education. Your identity doesn’t rest in you zeal. Your identity rests in me, in being my child.

“But to all who did receive him,
who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God,
who were born, not of blood
nor of the will of the flesh
nor of the will of man,
but of God.”
John 1:12, 13

The second question is just as important. Ananias answered that question for Saul a few verses later. “The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness …” Acts 22:14, 15.

God reminded me of two importants that week. He reminded me of my identity. He reminded me to be asking, what would it look like for me to trust you today? Or in Paul’s words, what shall I do, Lord?

Who do you see when you look in your mirror each morning?
How might God respond if you ask, what would it look like to trust you today, Lord?

Copyright: Sue Tell, March 2025

 

 

 

 

 

Go?
Delay?
Postpone A-GAIN?
Cancel?

By the time you’re reading those questions, we will know the answer.

 

 

Our soul waits for the LORD;
he is our help and shield.
Yea, our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
Let they steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
even as we hope in thee.
Psalm 33:20-22, RSV

I remember the date, February 16, 1969, two days after Valentine’s Day.

Bill came over to my dorm that Sunday evening excited to share with me. We had been dating for about a year, and had mutually agreed to take some time off to discern God’s heart for our relationship.

February 16, 1969 is the date we mark as our engagement!

Bill shared how the above scripture confirmed his desire for our future together. All the plural pronouns — “our”, “we”, “us” — six times in the three verses spoke God’s heart to him and for us.

There is also another theme running through these verses, waiting, trusting, hoping. The words of Psalm 33 spoke a promise to us, a promise without timing. It would be 3 1/2 years before we married.

This week is another opportunity to wait, to trust, to hope. Different circumstances, the same need. The questions at the top were our reality. Our plan was to leave for a campus visit in two days. But the weather! Ahhhhh, Colorado!

I snapped the above photo as I sat on our deck that morning with only a sweatshirt for warmth. The sun and the blue-sky gave no indication of the blizzard slated to come our way within the next seven hours!

As I enjoyed the morning, I reviewed that promise. Waiting, trusting, hoping were still relevant.

But God pointed me to the second line, “he is our help and shield.” Our shield, John Calvin in his commentary on The Psalms, describes as an impregnable fortress. 

My mind wandered to another truth that God has whispered to us many times in our marriage, Psalm 84:11. Two phrases stood out: in the first line, God is described as a shield.In the third line, no good thing does he (God) withhold. 

God’s shield is for our protection; it is our impregnable fortress.

God will not withhold good. Our good is also the good
of those on the campus we are planning to visit.

Those truths allow me to rest with the questions: go, delay, postpone, cancel!

Psalm 33:20-22 is the doxology for a Psalm on God’s steadfast love. God’s answer rests in his steadfast love. Calvin also says, “… there is nothing better than to commit our welfare to God.”

Promises do not have an end date!

Update: The blizzard turned into a fairly minor winter storm. We were glad to be able to go. And now we’re home again enjoying spring-like weather.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, March 2025

 

 

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A quick personal note: For those who sign up to follow Echoes of Grace, I also send a brief devotional email. I add a bit more to what I share on the blog. And I always include the link to the current blog, a reminder that new words are live. If you haven’t signed up, please do! I’d like to include you with my friends who receive this Mailchimp note.  Now for a story from our wedding.   FMA, sue

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“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you;
I will never leave nor forsake you.”
Joshua 1:5

My wedding day, the day I had dreamed about since I was a little girl, was arriving soon. I had reserved the church, hired the caterer, and invited the wedding party. My gown waited for me in the bridal salon.

And then, the hurtful phone call: both friends who had agreed to stand up with me changed their minds and backed out! Both of my bridesmaids deserted me.

Abandoned by those I called friends, my grief was real and deep. Feelings of loneliness overwhelmed me as questions raced through my mind. How do I share this news with my mother? What will people think of my friends?

I was confused and devastated as my dream wedding turned into a nightmare. Tears and more tears fell until I thought I’d have none left to cry.

And then Jesus’ cry to God from the cross echoed in my heart. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46).

I found comfort in knowing that Jesus knew what it was to be forsaken, abandoned, and alone. I heard God whisper, Sue, I am trusting you with this story. How will you respond? Will you return My trust?

And I remembered.

“The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:5-7).

God is near. He hears my prayers. His peace goes beyond my understanding, and my responsibility is to trust Him.

And to forgive as Christ forgave me (Ephesians 4:32).

By the grace of God, I am friends with both of these ladies today. God say my hurt and whispered truth. I forgave and received His peace. I was never alone.

Father, thank You for the stories You entrust me with–
even those that are painful in the moment.
Thank You that You are forever with me.
Even when I felt abandoned and alone, You were working in my heart to show Your wisdom and glory.
Thank you for Your trustworthiness and grace.
And thank You for how this story echoes Your heart.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

God works through abandonment and loneliness to demonstrate His trustworthiness and grace.

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This is one of my stories shared in Praying Through Loneliness. This 90 day devotional book includes stories from several women from college age to grandmas (like me). You will recognize the names of some of the contributors, others will be new to you. Although you may not identify with the specific stories shared in each devotional, you will be able to plug in your own story and you’ll identify with the feelings each brings. I highly recommend this book for your edification.

 

Who am we? Why are we here? These questions, tightly interwoven are crucial to enjoying who God created us to be.

“For we are his workmanship,
created in  Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand,
that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:10

 How do plan, purpose, and passion inter-relate? How do these words speak?

“For we are his workmanship,”

I am his — God’s — workmanship. No question. These words shout truth, these words shout identity. “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13. I belong to God. I am his child. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” I John 3:1. No question!

Being his workmanship defines who I am, my created identity.

Part of his workmanship, is not only physical being, it is our heart, our passions, our purpose, God’s design for all of me.

“Created in Christ Jesus for good works,”

Growing up, in my college years (when my faith became real), even into early years of marriage, this was a foreign concept. I didn’t even think about it. I was just putting one foot ahead of the other.

But God. God had a plan. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,” Jeremiah 29:11. Although I memorized that verse early in my Christian life, I wasn’t listening to its truth. It was encouraging in a nice kind of way, but knowing the words is merely information, not transformation.

I longed for transformation. Transformation resulting from living my purpose.

“Purpose is the DNA of your soul, knit into you from the moment of conception. It is the pattern from which everything about you originates. You don’t find purpose. You live and let purpose reveal itself to you.” Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD.

If you looked at my life in those early ministry years, you might think, I know what’s important to Sue. I think I knew too; but there was a disconnect. I was living from perceived expectations, not from an understanding of purpose.

“God not only loves you very much
but also has put his hand on you for something special.
Something happened in you.
Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word,”
from I Thessalonians 1:4-9, The Message rendition

God loving me leads to my life being an echo* of his Word. Identity leads to purpose.

And it is God’s purpose being lived out through his children.

“God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works
but because of his own purpose and grace,
which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”
II Timothy 1:9 (underline mine)

I am the work of God’s hands so that he might be glorified! Isaiah 60:21. My purpose is not about me. It’s about God’s glory.

“which God prepared before hand,”

This is security, the source of significance;  this is grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8 and 9.

Another of those early scripture memory verses that I divorced from its context. Because of the grace of salvation, not my works, God endowed me with purpose.

“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me:
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.”
Psalm 138:8

“that we should walk in them.”

We should walk. I hear God’s heart in three ways: there is a path (walk in them);  I should keep moving; and the translation is walk — not run.

This speaks of passion. I want to continually be walking on the paths God has created for me.

What about you? What do you hear from these scriptures?

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, February 2025

*The name, Echoes of Grace, comes from this scripture.

 

Several months ago I had an argument with someone I’ve known for years. It was an unexpected clash, not par for the course of our relationship at all, and I came away from it shocked and a little bruised.

The gnarly part was that there didn’t seem an obvious way to resolution; as well as feeling awash with the emotions of it, it wasn’t clear how to move forward.

Such incidences are unwelcome aren’t they? In this situation it was a conflict, but it could very well have been an illness, or an accident or any kind of bad news. Something happens and the waters of life are stirred up. We’re disoriented and don’t know what to do next..

My strategy for the last few months has been to keep this incident on a shelf in the corner, attempting to pretend it doesn’t exist. In the main that’s worked quite well, but every now and then something will happen that brushes up against the as-yet unhealed bruise, and I find myself unable to ignore the discomfort. The throbbing pulsates right through me, and it’s as painful as ever.

This happened a few weeks ago. A completely different person did something that hurt my feelings a little, and I found myself reacting disproportionately strongly. I was awash with indignation and feelings of being hard-done-by, and even as I was experiencing them, I knew the throbbing was the original wound, rather than the current smite.

So the next morning, I reluctantly took the conflict down from the shelf where it had been gathering dust, and sat with it and the Lord.

Before me I had the words of Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Words poured out of me as I described to the Lord the stew I found myself in. Disappointment. Frustration. Anxiety. A litany of injustice and hurt.
As I sat with the words, I felt low. I’m drowning.

Then, as sometimes is my habit, I started to draw a stick man, carrying a big weight. I knew that in order to put on the easy yoke of Christ, I would first need to shed the yoke that was currently weighing me down. Release and receive. So I sketched myself with a bundle of hurt, bigger than I could carry.

I didn’t want it any longer.

When it came to sketching the yoke of Christ that I had been given in exchange (for it is not possible to wear two different yokes at once), I drew it as a soft collar around my neck, and coloured it in with the orange highlighter I had next to me. I scribbled the word grace on it.

As I sat with the image of a stick man wearing an orange collar, it immediately reminded me of a type of buoyancy aid we might wear while watersporting. A buoyancy aid of grace.

The significance of this picture hit me straight away. I was awash in choppy seas and couldn’t see dry land. I’d spent the last few months treading water with this issue, and I was tired: not at all confident that I wouldn’t sink.

The relief was immediate. I could almost feel the soft inflated plastic around my neck, inviting me to rest my weary self.
Beneath, the waves remained dark and choppy; I still couldn’t see the shore. But my legs no longer had to uselessly flail.

I could float..

In the weeks that have followed, the gnarly unresolved situation has continued to aggravate. But something significant has shifted internally.

I’m no longer afraid.

It’s strange to say, but there have been moments when being aware of this buoyancy aid of grace has led me to feel something of a playfulness, which seems odd when the situation remains prickly. I’ve got enough experience of being out on the water to know that being held upright, safe, in a large choppy loch is actually quite…fun. I’ve found myself internally challenging Jesus Come on then, the pressure is off me, show me how you’re going to resolve this situation with your grace. It’s not an abdication of responsibility as such, but a sort of sacred detachment, an acknowledgement that my life is not my own.

I don’t know what I need to do to get to steady ground with this issue, but one thing I’m confident of is that his grace IS sufficient; his power is made perfect in my weakness. .

When we come to Jesus with our tangled situations, what we’re effectively calling out is Save me! We’re crying out from the midst of the storms.

The buoyancy aid we’re handed doesn’t immediately remove us from the squall. Circumstances don’t immediately ease.
But we are safe. Our heads are above water. We will not be drowned.

And that’s true whatever the cause of the gale. Life has unexpected weather almost every day. We are utterly dependent on these buoyancy aids, but often we try and swim on our own. There’s no need! There’s no need at all, yet our stubborn instincts are so quick to tell us otherwise.

Such is the miracle of life in Christ that our hailstorms are an invitation to be carried. To float, safe and free, in the arms of the One who is our buoyancy aid. Who always keeps our head above water. Who always leads us home.

At Bible study last week, our leader asked us each to bring one of our favorite scriptures on God’s love to study this week. Because I pray over it almost daily this scripture popped into my mind.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!”
I John 3:1, NIV

It speaks of my identity. More than a wife, a mother, a grandmother, I am a child of God! I live out those other identities through that reality.

It speaks of God’s nature. He lavishes his love! According to the Oxford Language Dictionary: bestowing something in generous or extravagant quantities. Miriam Webster says, bestowing profusely.

God generously and profusely loves me (us) by bestowing his love, by calling me his child.

Earlier this week, Sonja and were talking about our love of flowers. When our husbands show up with bouquets (thank you Valentine’s Day), we care for them. We diligently trim the stems; we give them fresh water; we feed them with those tiny fertilizer packets. And we enjoy them for a time. But their time is short; there are no roots; nothing to keep them nourished and growing; they are not planted.

“Blessed is the man …
his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water
that yields fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.”
Psalm 1:1-3

“The righteous flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD;” Psalm 92:12, 13.

I question. Are these just familiar, encouraging scriptures, or am I putting myself in a place to allow them to transform me? Am I planted?

Do I want my life to look like the short-lived beauty of the flowers or the beauty of the trees.

Paul exhorts in II Thessalonians 3:5, “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” (italics mine)

Direct my heart. What does it look like to allow God to direct my heart to his love — to not just know scriptures in my head, but to truly embrace them?

Knowing is not enough!  Knowing is head knowledge; believing is heart knowledge. 

Trust is the key to moving that knowledge from my head to my heart.

So I pray, God, what would it look like in the midst of the hard realities swirling around me to trust your love, to allow myself to be directed to your love? 

Directed to the steadfastness of Christ. The dictionary challenges as I look up steadfastness — the unwavering love of God.

Often the stories surrounding me feel like a roller-coaster with major highs and lows, not even keel, steadfast, unwavering.

God asks, will you Sue, allow me to direct you to my steadfast, unwavering love even in your roller-coaster reality? 

YES! I have no choice.

My faith cannot be rooted in my ability to understand.
My faith must be rooted in trust.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirst for you;
my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked up you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied …”
Psalm 63:1-5 (italics mine)

The scripture I’m bringing to Bible study is II Thessalonians 3:5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, February 2025

 

 

 

 

 

Vigilant: the state of being alert, wide awake, aware of danger.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful.
Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion …”
I Peter 5:8

 

 

Watchfulness: being observant, continuously attentive, eyes open to God.
WordHippo – “proactive engagement with one’s spiritual life”.

“Continue steadfastly in prayer,
being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Colossians 4:2

 

Two similar concepts with two different foci. Both necessary.

Vigilance is the idea of danger, that which is to be avoided. As believers we need to be aware.

Matthew 4 records the narrative of Jesus being led by the Spirit … to be tempted by the devil, his adversary. Tempting, one of the main tools in the devil’s toolbox was his weapon of choice after Jesus had been fasting for 40 days. The devil tempted, command these stones to become bread. Jesus, you’re hungry, fix your problem. Jesus knew truth; he knew the devil’s tactics; he quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, “… man does not live by bread alone …”

Jesus was vigilant, wide awake to the devil’s schemes.

I was in the congregation squirming on those uncomfortable folding metal chairs. She was on the platform weaving story after story captivating those around me, but not me. My focus was in the wrong place. Why wasn’t I sharing my story? I have more to share than she does and better stories. COMPARISON!! The devil was having a hay-day with me. Like Jesus, I knew the truth; I knew the scriptures say, II Corinthians 10:12, “… they who compare themselves among themselves are not wise.” But unlike Jesus, I chose to ignore it. I chose to wallow in my pity-party.

I was not practicing vigilance.

I was (am) aware of my propensity to comparison. It’s an area I MUST practice vigilance.

I’ve learned the habit of reviewing the scriptures — almost daily — that speak to me of God’s purposes for me; that speak of my identity; and that speak truth into the lies I’m most susceptible. I need to be vigilant!

Watchfulness, being continually observant of God at work is also necessary. Watchfulness, like vigilance, requires attention; attention focused on God.

Above my computer desk are two framed pictures of my oldest and youngest GRANDS. Jack, now 18, is a three year old in the top picture. He is seeing a rainbow for the very first time. His awe is obvious as he stands un-moving and looking.

The bottom picture is 18 month old Leah. It was snapped in December 4 years ago. She is holding a string of tiny plugged in Christmas lights. She too is awed as she sits un-moving and looking.

Have you ever seen a circular rainbow, a Sundog? Bill and I were in New Mexico on a rare weekend away. As we sat on the patio of the Bed & Breakfast we were visiting, this beautiful phenomena appeared, a Sundog, a first for me.

I was mesmerized. My eyes were open to another of God’s amazing creations. I sat and stared, giving continuous attention, engaging, watchful.

Watchfulness allowed me to receive God’s gift of a Sundog that morning. Watchfulness wows and points to our amazingly creative, caring, loving God.

Vigilance and watchfulness both necessary in growing our relationship with God.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, February 2025

 

 

 

 

The 19th century tale of Hansel and Gretel tells the story of two impoverished siblings who are cast out into the forest and have the foresight to lay crumbs of bread along the way to mark the path back home. In the original German fairy tale, home was not a safe place, and nor was the forest. The breadcrumbs were eaten by birds and the children ended up almost being eaten themselves. Good comes in the end, though, as the children are reunited with their loving father, and those with ill-intent towards them are vanquished.

In recent years I have oft given thought to the picture of breadcrumbs being left in the forest to mark the way home. Simple provision, serving both as sustenance and guidance. Is this not entirely the way God deals with us? I have thought to myself Giving a morsel for us to consume, that also calls us home, unto him?

Over the last months these thoughts have merged with another story of people in a perilous place being fed and shown the way home. In Numbers we read the story of the people of Israel being led to the Promised Land, and being fed each day by manna, which miraculously appears for them to collect.

This manna has caught my attention.

The people of Israel were fed…but discontent. They wanted to store the manna up so that they didn’t have to collect it each day. They wanted something different, something that seemed tastier to eat.
It’s not difficult for me to imagine myself as a discontent Israelite, not appreciating the significance of what I was being given. Perhaps growing bored. Definitely wanting to fill the store cupboards with provision so that I know I can last a wee while without needing God to provide any more.

But God didn’t give them store cupboards so the they could last a wee while without needing him. No, God used to the daily provision of manna to communicate something profound:

Every day, for the rest of your lives, you need to look to me for everything you need.

It’s uncomfortable to have to live day-to-day, spiritually hand-to-mouth, part of us resists it. And yet this is exactly the way God invites us to live: as baby birds who perpetually open their mouths to be fed.

Recently it has been my resolve to be really delighted with the manna. To choose to look for the provision – in whatever form – and take joy in it.
But sometimes it’s not as easy as that. Sometimes the manna is really hard to spot. There isn’t an aisle in the supermarket that blares out ‘Manna!’. Life is so cluttered. Noisy. Demanding. More often than not the manna can easily be overlooked.

And this is where Hansel and Gretel come in. In the darkness of the forest as they walked, noises, trees and peril all around them, their eyes strained to look for the one thing that would lead them home: the breadcrumbs on the path.

We are Hansel and Gretel, lost and in danger. Our Heavenly Father goes ahead of us in the forest and drops breadcrumbs of manna each day for us to eat and follow. His manna-breadcrumbs cannot be eaten by birds, nor stolen by thieves. We need not question whether they’re there, but we do need to train our eyes to see them.

I have found pausing in the evening to look back over the day invaluable in learning to recognise the manna. Sometimes it’s so hard to see things in the moment, but as we look back we re-remember ordinary events as being embellished with the divine. Sugarcoated with grace. Thankfulness sharpens our vision with a readiness to see.

These breadcrumbs of manna mean that though we face many forests or deserts or valleys, we can never be lost, and never truly be in danger. For we are children of a Good Father, who goes before us. Whose Spirit keeps on highlighting to us the manna of his grace. His provision. His protection. And let us not imagine anything meagre in these manna-breadcrumbs, for they are a feast. When we learn to see them we will find that we cannot help ourselves but see them everywhere. Liberally spread over every aspect of our lives: His love will lead us home.

 

I invite a few close friends over for a grown-up, winter tea party, and before they arrive, I rhythmically move around the table arranging crustless sandwiches, lemon bars, scones, and cream. I set out my beloved Noritake gold rimmed plates, teacups, and saucers — our wedding china. I smile remembering all the times I’ve used this china, and I think about how thankful I am to get to love on my friends and myself by using it once again. The good life is for giving ourselves and others a little attention by enjoying the good things rather than keeping them hidden away. I set out the porcelain tea bag holders and little stirring spoons. I realize I forgot the water goblets and then, out of the blue, I remember that one friend won’t be joining us. Suddenly, uninvited tears show up before the party. It’s silly to be crying, really. I mean, this friend didn’t die. We didn’t have a big fight or a dramatic falling out. Our friendship just changed, unfolded into a new season. And that new season has me a little sad because I just miss her. I stare at the dining room chair at the end of the table and briefly contemplate taping her picture to the seat-back. Or maybe even just leaving one seat empty in her honor? I don’t, of course, because that would be weird. But sometimes we want to give the loss a tangible space to be remembered. After all, loss is the tagalong companion to love, and it’s impossible for loss not to receive attention alongside the love. 2025 is only a week old, and my heart holds sadness for a friendship that doesn’t look the way it used to. For you, maybe there’s a sadness for the same — or from a different kind of relationship that doesn’t look the way you wish. As you gingerly walk into the newness of 2025, perhaps you carry old sadness from the previous year’s friendship heartbreak. If that’s true for you, I humbly offer these five truths to ease the changing seasons of friendships: 1. Give yourself time and room to feel sad. Don’t skip over the sadness. Give yourself permission to mourn the loss for an appropriate amount of time. Let it have its time, but don’t let it boss you into believing that God doesn’t care about you or that Jesus has abandoned you because that will never, ever happen. He is with you always (Matthew 28:20) . 2. Don’t assume there’s something wrong with you. When a friendship or other relationship changes, it’s easy to look inward and think, What did I do wrong? While introspection is necessary in gaining self-awareness and apologies are sometimes in order, odds are good the relational change was more about her than you. Instead of looking inward, look upward and assume that for now, God simply wants your attention elsewhere. Trust God with your reputation as well as this situation (Psalm 135:14). 3. Believe God continues to give His best to you and will withhold no good thing from you. This includes people who are best for you (Psalm 84:11). 4. Pray God’s best for your friend. Whatever the particulars behind the changing friendship, let’s remember to represent Jesus well by letting the situation bring out the best in us, not the worst (Luke 6:27-28). 5. Fervently thank God for the friendships you do have. Even if it’s just one friend, and that friend moved five states away. Or even if that friend is the one preoccupied with a new baby or grandbaby or busy with a new job. Thank God for who is present at your table and in your life (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It takes courage to hold our relationships in upturned palms instead of squeezed in our tight fists. It takes strength to carry yourself with a posture that says, You are welcome to stay here as my friend, but I won’t force it. Some seasons call for staying in a particular friendship. Other seasons call for keeping our distance from someone we’re not called to be in community with—whether that’s our choice or not. In those moments, may we continue to give ourselves a little attention by enjoying the good things — and good people — around us. And may we also see all the ways God gives us gifts that are signs of Love present everywhere.   Kristen, a friend from church is also the compiler of “Praying Through Loneliness”. The following story first appeared in this book. Available at your favorite bookseller.

I love ministry.
I love writing Echoes of Grace.
I love speaking when God opens those doors.
I love connecting with friends, in person or by phone.
I love hospitality.

Those words recorded in my journal a few weeks back are all true, I think.
But I choked on that last love. Do I really love hospitality?

It sounds like you’re not excited about this brunch. My sister’s words when I was telling her about the brunch I was planning. You’re right. I’m not. She heard it in my voice.

But I love hospitality, don’t I? And isn’t hospitality biblical?

“Do not neglect to show hospitality …”
Hebrews 13:2
“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
I Peter 4:9
“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”
Romans 12:13

Qualifications for the overseers, the shepherds, and widows all include hospitality in their lists. I Timothy 3:2; I Timothy 5:10; Titus 1:7

Loving hospitality is loving God’s word. I was feeling convicted!

I have nice things and I enjoy using them. Why was I struggling this time?

“Because of the LORD’S great love we not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22, 23 NIV

I was feeling consumed! Can something I love, or think I love, be all-consuming?

It had been a full Advent and Christmas season. There had been multiple opportunities for hospitality. I loved each one. And, I admit I was tired. I was feeling consumed, spent, used up.

True; but why? I kept pondering my conundrum.

The Merriam Webster dictionary says that hospitality is the friendly and generous reception of guests. And the distinctiveness of Christian hospitality is it’s about the guests; hospitality is other centered; hospitality is central to the gospel.

While hospitality is other centered, it also does not belittle the host; hospitality does not take away from who God created me to be.

But I needed a shift in my thinking.

Hospitality is not about creating a 5-star presentation; it’s about welcoming guests!

I love setting a nice table. But I began to realize I was allowing the presentation to eclipse the very reason for hospitality.

Being Intentional (my word for 2025)
led me to four lessons I need to practice relating to hospitality.

1. Capacity. Perhaps four major opportunities for hospitality in one month is too much in this chapter of my life. I allowed myself to be consumed. Sometimes I should intentionally say “no”.

2. “Because of the LORD’S great love…” Those six words at the beginning of Lamentations 3:22 were convicting. I intentionally review God’s love for me at the beginning of my devotional time daily; that is normally. I had let that habit slip in the busyness of the season. My bad!

3. The opposite of being consumed is being safe-guarded, being sustained. I was looking for my sustenance from others instead of hospitality being given to others. I need to intentionally remind myself of the reasons for hospitality.

4. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God …” James 1:5. I must intentionally ask God for his wisdom. Is this opportunity for hospitality in your will?

“the church, of which I became a minister
according to the stewardship from God
that was given to me for you…”
Colossians 1:25. (italics & underlines mine)

God has given me a stewardship, and that stewardship is for the benefit of others. God has entrusted something to me … enjoying hospitality … to invest in others.

Loving hospitality is who I am. Practicing hospitality is living out my creation. But because of my lack of intentionality, my focus was blurred.

Biblical hospitality roots out self-centeredness, deepens fellowship with others, and honors God.

My desire is to be intentional and hospitable while remembering those four lessons.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, January 2025

 

 

 

 

 

“Let me be so taken by what you show me
and by what you say to me
that your vision and hearing become my guide in life
and impart meaning to all my concerns.”
Henri Nouwen, The Only Necessary Thing

What a great scripture and a great prayer for the new year.

Yet, do I live like the paths God chooses for me drip with abundance? Am I allowing God to impart meaning to all my concerns? Sometimes I do, and sometimes I question.

It’s been said that 70 is the new 50. I like that and I don’t like that.
I don’t want to be where I was 20 years ago spiritually.
But I would like to be where I was 20 years ago physically.
And therein is the problem.

When reading an Advent devotional a few weeks ago, the Holy Spirit whispered, I am and I also am.

Do you remember Gabriel’s initial communication with Mary in Luke 1? Gabriel called out Mary’s true identity, O favored one (or greatly loved one), Verse 28. Then Gabriel shared his news and the reason for his visit.

Mary questioned, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”  Verse 34. Mary responded with truth, surface level truth. Gabriel lovingly and patiently explained.

“And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord;'” Verse 38. I suppose her words could have also been translated with this below the surface truth, I ALSO am.

Mary knew she was a virgin.
She also knew she was a favored one, a servant of the Lord.
She knew both her surface level truth and her below the surface truth.

There are surface level truths that define me — female, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, neighbor and more. And like Mary, I too am a favored one, a below the surface truth.

“and having put on the new self,
which is being renewed in knowledge
after the image of its creator.”
Colossians 3:10

As I read those words, I hear God’s voice, Sue, live from your below the surface truth, your new self. Live out of who I created you to be.

Living from my below the surface truths defines and refines me. I need reminders. As I remember, God’s purposes for me are highlighted. Gabriel was God’s instrument reminding Mary. Reviewing the truths I’ve recorded in my journal are the instruments God uses for me. The rough edges of my life are smoothed; God refines.

This is my desire and my challenge! I am and I also am.

My word for 2025 is intentional. Being intentional is one of my keys for living our of who I ALSO AM! The holidays were a hard lesson. And re-affirmed to me the importance of being intentional.

Next Thursday, January 16, I’m sharing my story about hospitality, and intentional-ity, and living out of my below the surface identity, who I ALSO AM! God’s paths do indeed drip with abundance!

“The unfolding of your words gives light:
it imparts understanding to the simple.”
Psalm 119:130

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, January 2025

 

When you have time this joy-filled Christmas, you will be blessed by this very creative offering. I especially loved the renditions of Joy to The World (first half) and Away in A Manger (second half).

Merry, Merry Christmas!

Our family is visiting, so Echoes of Grace will take one week off to enjoy them.
See you January 9, 2025!

 

 

 

I’ve been captivated by the preposition, unto, and the very familiar pronouns, us, you, me of the Christmas story this Advent.

Unto, another archaic word, a preposition that leads to the personal pronouns. Pronouns that tell me that the Christmas narrative is a gift for me — a gift for you!

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light:
they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, unto them
hath the light shined …
For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given:”
Isaiah 9:2 and 6, KJV (italics mine)

The people who walked in darkness are the ones who have scorned the invitation of the gospel. But the Light (Jesus) has continued to come to them. Because unto us, all of us, the Light continually comes. God is always initiating.

Every day the gospel invites. Every day I choose — will I keep looking at my surrounding circumstances, or will I trust truth. The choice is for all of us.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior
who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:11, ESV (italics mine)

Gabriel’s words are directed to a smaller group, a group of shepherds. Unto you, shepherds, a Savior has been born. The shepherds trusted.

Like for the shepherds, the Savior has been born for me, and for you. This thought brings a big smile.

And God often gets even more personal.

“… Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”
“And behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son …”
“… You shall call his name Jesus.”
“… The Holy Spirit will come upon you
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you:“
” … let it be to me …”
Luke 1:30, 31, 35, and 38, ESV (italics mine)

This time Gabriel is speaking only to Mary. The you is a singular pronoun. Mary recognizes truth and with great humility responds, let it be to me. Mary knew she was hearing from God personally.

Those are the words, the personal words, that often get recorded in my journal. It’s easy to forget and I want to, need to remember. Those words lead to great joy.

I was meeting with a friend for lunch recently. I knew she had walked through some very tough stuff. My heart was to love her well, to encourage her. Yet I was questioning. Earlier that morning as I was making coffee, my eyes rested on this truth that I have standing above my kitchen sink, “Greetings, O favored one (greatly loved one), the Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:28, italics mine) That morning those words were the pronouns, the truth I needed to hear, I needed to trust. Big exhale. It was a message for me. They led me to faith and to joy.

Leslie Weatherhead, an English theologian and author wrote, “the opposite of joy is not sorrow. It is unbelief.” Believing Luke 1:28 planted a seed of joy. It was joy because I experienced the joy Jesus reminded me of, the Lord is with you (me). I trusted the gospel.

“And the angel said to them,
‘Fear not, for behold I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.'”
Luke 2:10

Unto us, unto you (plural), unto you (singular), the Child was born!

May the joy of Christmas be your reality!

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, December 2024

 

In Phil Wickham’s song, The Manger Throne (official music video below) I heard God’s whispers to me.

“And this will be a sign for you:
you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths
and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:12

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us …”
John 1:14

Every December our prized nativity scenes come out of storage and welcome the Christmas season. The baby lying in the manger is the focal point. Birthdays are always times of celebration.

“Glory be to you alone
King who reigns from a manger throne
My life, my praise everything I own,
To Jesus, the King on a manger throne.”

Christmas points us to the manger. Jesus was born in a stable. Jesus was a human baby. “The Word became flesh.” These words from John’s gospel, God becoming man, help me understand.

Jesus was born into a family committed to God. His earthly father was a carpenter. His growing up years allowed him to “… increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52

Jesus spent three years ministering deeply to all kinds of people. God was glorified through his life.

“From heaven to the cradle
From the cradle to the cross”

“Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said,
Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
And having said this he breathed his last.”
Luke 23:46

“You will die for our redemption
And you’ll rise so we can live.”

“He is not here, but has risen.
Remember how he told you,
while he was still in Galilee.”
Luke 24:6

And then the throne. The throne was always the destination. The manger a stop along the way. Gabriel’s words to Mary.

“And behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall call his name Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.
And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,”
Luke 1:31, 32 (italics mine)

The book of Revelation gives a more complete picture of the throne of God and of the Lamb (Jesus). Revelation 22:1

“No longer will there be anything accursed,
but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,
and his servants will worship him.”
Revelation 22:3

Revelation 22 also offers a description of the city of God. There is water flowing through it from the throne of God and of the Lamb (verse 1). The tree of life is on either side of that water way (verse 2). “No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.” (verse 3). His servants will see his face, his name will be on their foreheads, and God will be their light. (verse 4).

John’s response is to fall down and worship the angel.

“but he (the angel) said to me (John),
‘You must not do that!
I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets,
and with those who keep the words of this book.
Worship God.‘”
Revelation 22:9 (italics, parentheses, and underlines mine)

I’m drawn to the manger. And I’m seeing a throne. I’m learning a new depth of worship.

The gospel of Luke shares the whole story. In 24 chapters, Luke walks us from prophesy, to birth, to the cross, to resurrection, to the throne. An appropriate read for Advent.

Jesus is the King, the one who was placed in a manger, now reigns from a throne.

 

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, December 2024

 

 

 

Christmas is less than three weeks away. Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus. And in our culture, we celebrate. Special church services, decorations, parties, family gatherings, gifts, cookies to be made — all requiring preparations, lots of preparations … all crammed between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I love the Christmas season. I love Christmas music. I love the special programs at church. I love  having friends in for a Christmas brunch. I love that our family will be visiting. I love Christmas cookies. I love that our anniversary is also in December. I love how our culture honors this season with decorations.

And I love the Christmas story. I read it every year. BUT, truly, what do my days communicate about my gaze? What am I beholding? What does beholding even mean?

Behold is an archaic word rarely used today. But in the days when the King James Bible was being written, it was a very common word. It is used 1298 times in the KJV!

The Hebrew word for behold is chazah meaning to gaze, to contemplate, to discern, or steadily fix your eyes upon.
The Greek word is idou which signals emphasis and asking for special attention.

In the ESV Bible, the word behold appears 9 times in the Christmas narrative in Luke 1 and 2. (1:20, 1:31, 1:36, 1:38, 1:44, 1:48, 2:10, 2:33, 2:48)

God wants to communicate something BIG! Both with Zechariah and with Mary, God sent an angel with his message starting with the word, behold. Beholding is important!

“And behold, you will conceive …” Luke 1:31.
“And behold, your relative Elizabeth …” Luke 1:36.
“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord …” Luke 1:38.
“For behold, when the sound of your greeting …” Luke 1:44.
“For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; …” Luke 1:49.

Mary knew the significance of the word behold. For her it was a common word with huge significance. I’m challenged with her response.

Mary didn’t initially understand the angel’s message. But she didn’t disregard it. She “tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.” 1:29. Mary’s beholding led to reflecting.

Mary believed and responded in submission to the angel’s words. “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” 1:38.

Mary deflected the glory to God. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,” 1:46. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months. Do you wonder what filled her days in those months? What was she contemplating? Where was her gaze?

Behold, Christmas is coming! In less than one month. I’m challenged, what will fill my days as I look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus? How am I beholding? Where will my gaze be?

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus …”
Hebrews 12:2, NIV

I love how the first two verses start. Behold and be blessed.

Copyright: Sue Tell, November 2024.

PS. A few other scriptures using the word behold:
Matthew 1:20 – But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord …”
Matthew 1:23 – “Behold, the virgin shall conceive … Immanuel” Also Isaiah 7:14.
Matthew 28:20 – “… and behold, I am with you always …”
John 1:29 – “… Behold, the Lamb of God …”
John 19:5 – “… Pilate said to them, ‘Behold the man!”
John 19:26 – “… ‘Woman, behold, your son!'”

 

 

This might be the best Thanksgiving advice I’ve ever heard!

Really, who has room for the Apple Pie after the turkey and all the fixings!!

I’m taking my friend’s advice and enjoying my Apple Pie while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Thank you, Maggie!!

 

 

Advent posts 2024 coming to Echoes of Grace next week.

 

 

“I had no idea how much I was learning until I wanted to share it with them.”

These are Kaylee’s words. Kaylee is a sophomore at the University of South Carolina. During a retreat with her sorority sisters, she shared with them what she was learning about studying the Bible. A light-bulb moment for her.

You know what I love about this?

I bet it’s entirely possible that we too have no idea about what God is doing in us and through us. God works in ways that are totally hidden to us.

While back in the mid-west a year ago I shared a journaling method with Ashley to help her focus her prayer life. About a month ago I was with Ashley again. Guess what? She excitedly pulled out her new journal to show me the scriptures she is using to focus her prayer life! I had no idea!

But what about those HARD stories?

My husband wasn’t selected for the promotion. With tissues in tow, I took my Bible and hymnbook out to the deck the next morning. I desperately needed to hear from God.*** A few hours later I collected the wadded-up tissues; my heart was returning to trust.

Thirteen years later that story, our story was important for our friends to hear. We cried together.

And then there was the invitation that never came. That was devastating for my high school self, and again for my college-aged self. My identity was at stake!

Sadly, I allowed those teen-aged stories (and many others) to shape what I believed about myself. That was before I understood the gospel of grace; before I understood God’s love for me; before I’d memorized Philippians 1:12, “… what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”

God orchestrates our stories for his glory and our good!

“My story is important not because it is mine, God knows,
but because if I tell it anything like right,
the chances are you will recognize that in many ways it is also yours.”
Telling Secrets: A Memoir, Frederick Buechner

Be very encouraged my friend! We have no idea how God is working in us and through us! Your story is amazing!

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than
all that we ask or think.
According to the power at work within us,
to him be the glory …”
Ephesians 3:20, 21

 

***Full story another time.

Copyright: Sue Tell, Nov 20024

 

Nearly 3′ of snow blanketed our property this past week, the first week of November!Appointments were cancelled; Molly’s surgery (our pup) was put off; the brunch I was planning to host with Karen — postponed; school’s and offices closed; no Bible study this week. For 3 1/2 days we lived under the reality of a winter storm warning, an Albuquerque Low. (Google can explain better than me.)

Do we have enough food in the house? What about gas to power the snow blower? What if we NEED to get some place? There was plenty to raise the anxiety thermometer.

Yes, we knew it was coming — well we knew snow was in the forecast. And, yes, we did make a trip to the grocery store … along with the rest of the city. But WOW, it was a much bigger storm than anticipated.

As our storm warning was winding down, I padded from window to door with camera in hand, desiring to capture the beauty of the hard. The blue Colorado sky began to reappear. The sun created lovely patterns on the snow as it shined through the tall Ponderosa Pines. I was awed.

The picture above is one of my favorites. The sky, the sun, the snow, the shadows, the deer track in the foreground, the tip of the small pine almost touching the ground surrounded by many larger pines. So much in one picture. It began to whisper God’s truth. I needed this metaphor.

The small pine was bending under the weight of the heavy wet snow; not breaking. I’m sure as the sun melts the snow from its branches, it will stand tall again. It’s lithe, flexible, and yields. Possibly it’s a Rocky Mountain White Pine. Although surrounded by the more mature, taller Ponderosa Pines, their presence could not keep the storm from influencing their smaller neighbor.

Do I, do you sometimes feel like the smaller pine? Does the weight of the storms of life cause me or you to bend to the ground? Are we flexible enough, lithe enough to recover? Will we yield to what God ordains and trust we’ll stand tall again?

Six truths are grounding me as I’m bending under the weight of this Albuquerque Low.

1. 

   Standing Tall Again

    Remember, Sue, the origin of the storm.
   Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens declare … the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
   Isaiah 55:10 – “For as the rain and snow come down from heaven …”

2. Remember the purpose.
   Isaiah 55:10 – “… watering the earth, picturing His word … accomplishing God’s purpose …”
   Isaiah 55:12 – ” … joy … peace …”
3. Remember to listen.
   Psalm 19:1-4 – “The heavens declare … day to day pours out speech … their voice goes out …”
4. It’s an opportunity for trust.
   Psalm 20:7 – “Some trust in chariots … horses (plowed roads), but we trust in the LORD our God.”
   I Peter 3:4 – “but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart …”
5. Remember God’s promise.
   Isaiah 41:10 – “fear not, for I am with you …”
   Phil 4:5-7 – “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious …”
   Matthew 1:23 – ” … they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).”
6. Enjoy the beauty.
   Psalm 96:6 – “Splendor … majesty … strength … beauty are in his sanctuary.”

My heart stilled; my soul rested; I am standing again; I needed to listen.

Copyright: Sue Tell, November 2024

 

 

 

 

I snapped this picture on our camping trip earlier this fall. A morning of quiet.

I penned the words below a month  earlier after returning home from our Sanctuary. Another place of quiet.

Did you read last week’s post, The Loneliness of Busyness? If not, please scroll up and read it first. This post will make more sense with that context.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From my journal, August 5, 2024 …

I’m sitting on our deck watching the Aspen leaves bend in the gentle breezes. A dog barks in the distance. The tall Ponderosa Pines almost … but not quite … hide the dirt road. We live in the woods. Sometimes a car passes. The birds visit. It is quiet.

We just returned from three weeks at our cabin, our Sanctuary in the Wet Mountains. It was so very quiet there. The quiet here is different.

At our Sanctuary, we spent long mornings with coffee, reading, journaling, and occasionally looking up to enjoy the view. Green Horn Peak, the 12,352′ mountain anchors my view to the east; The Sangre de Cristo mountains are to the south. Deep blue skies with feathery white clouds above. Sometimes the contrails of a plane too high to even hear its sound as it flies by chalk the blue with white. The birds offer their greetings. It is quiet.

The quiet of our Sanctuary is a deeper quiet, a soul-penetrating quiet. It invites listening.

“Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD;”
Hosea 6:3

Hearing from God seems somehow easier at our Sanctuary.

We’re back home now at our home in the woods. Although the quiet is not the same, our Sanctuary time cemented something deep in my soul.

I want … no I NEED those times of quiet.
I want … no I NEED those times of listening, of being attentive to God.

Rest Re-establishes Routines.

The quiet was a type of rest, re-orienting me to the importants.

I return home with new resolve — Keep the discipline of quiet a reality here.

“The careful balance between silence and words,
withdrawal and involvement,
distance and closeness,
solitude and community
forms the basis of the Christian life and should therefore,
be the subject of our most personal attention.”
Henri J.M. Nouwen, Out of Solitude

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My August 5 journal entry speaks again. Like Mary and Martha (from last week’s post), I hear the voice of God, Sue, re-create those regular times of quiet and be attentive to the voice of God.

My seat now is in my writing room. Weather invites me in. But my three large windows look out. I start my mornings enjoying God’s creation from the inside. It is quiet.

Quiet mornings are my intentional decision to mark the next several weeks.
What are your ideas for creating quiet in the midst of your reality?
Let’s help each other.

Copyright: Sue Tell, October 2024

 

As the calendar turns to November, once again the story of Mary and Martha speaks.

“Now as they went on their way,
Jesus entered a village.
And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary,
who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.
But Martha was distracted with much serving.
And she went up to him and said,
‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?
Tell her to help me.’
But the Lord answered her,
‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,
but one thing is necessary.
Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken from her.'”
Luke 10:38-42

Three players: Jesus, Martha, Mary.
Three contrasts: But, But, but.
One application.

Jesus knew his identity; he recognized the ripe teaching moment. He was gentle with Martha, Martha, Martha. I picture Jesus saying her name softly, invitingly showing care. He also affirmed Mary. Contrary to the culture of the time, Jesus welcomed women learning as well as men.

Martha had the gift of hospitality. She welcomed Jesus into her home. And immediately wanted to serve him, presumably a meal. Martha found herself abandoned and alone. She was focused on her gift instead of the giver. Even our gifts can be mis-used when put ahead of the giver. Martha was distracted. She also recognized Jesus had the ability to change the circumstance she found herself in. Tell her then to help me.

Mary sits and listens. She recognized Jesus and knew he was worth listening to. Jesus highlights her choice.

The scriptures highlight three contrasts:
Mary sat but Martha was distracted with doing.
Martha’s request and Jesus’s response.
The many things and the one thing.

We’re coming off a busy and wonderful season of travel and lots of people. I love connecting with new and old friends.

I wouldn’t characterize myself as a Martha this past month. And I definitely wouldn’t characterize myself as a Mary. I missed my Mary times.

I’m left with a yearning and a decision. The holidays can also be very people-full busy times.

That’s okay. Like you (I imagine) I’m looking forward to November and December. And I need to remember, “My daily decisions become the mechanism of translating my holy intention into holy living.” The One True Thing, Howard Baker.

I hear the choice in front of me. Let the busyness of the season lead to loneliness in my friendship with God. Or preserve time in the midst to enjoy the one who calls me his friend and defeats the loneliness of busyness. How will you choose?
“You are my friends … I have called you friends.” John 15:14, 15.

“but one thing is necessary.
Mary has chosen the good portion,”
Luke 10:42

Copyright: Sue Tell, October 2024

 

 

 

 

or Affirmation 4.0

Meditation — Making space for God. (This is my personal definition and a way to describe my devotional times.)

But that wasn’t always true. As a young believer and for many years after that, making space for God looked like a check chart. Have I read the next chapter in my Bible? Have I prayed today? Am I ready for Bible study?

Was I really making space for God? Or was I making space to do what I thought a Christian should do? Was I developing my friendship with God or was I merely reading words on a page?

Granted, as a new Christian, my knowledge of the Bible was lacking. My concept of a friendship with God was non-existent. Truly, I did need to learn the big story of the Bible.

What I’m learning is that meditation — reviewing, praying over, and trusting scripture — especially the scriptures that speak the truth of my identity is what is teaching me God’s story.

Meditation is affirmation! Meditation is God’s plan for me to hear his love, his truth speaking deep into my soul. Meditation is building my friendship with God.

Henri Nouwen in his book, The Genesee Diary, says it this way: “There you can be with him who was before you came, who loved you before you could love, and has given you your own self before any comparison was possible. In meditation we can come to the affirmation that we are not created by other people but by God, that we are not judged by how we compare with others but by how we fulfill the will of God.” (italics mine)

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
…
his glory will be seen upon you.”
Isaiah 60:1
“Your people shall all be righteous;
…
the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,
that I might be glorified.”
Isaiah 60:21 (italics mine)

God is our very BEST affirm-er!

Affirmation 1.0, click here.
Affirmation 2.0, click here.
Affirmation 3.0, click here.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, May 2024

 

God is SO kind.

I was struck by this afresh as I listened to a sermon series on the story of Ruth last week. When Ruth sacrificially chose to leave the only home she’d ever known, and follow her mother-in-law to Bethlehem, she could never have imagined the kindness the God of Israel would lavish on her.

Over and over, God positioned people along her path who would show her little acts of kindness. Boaz included her among his people giving her a place among his servants. He invited her to his table, and provided nourishment for her body and soul. He instructed his servants to be generous, all while protecting and guarding her.

He saw her. He saw the sacrifices she had made, even if no one else did. And he honored her and gave her dignity.

My Savior God has done the same for me.

He saw me in my obscurity and He singled me out. He gave me a place in His family. He included me even when I didn’t belong.

He invited me to His table and has nourished me ever since. He gave me the privilege of working in His harvest fields. He even sets up a guard around me, to protect my heart and my mind.

And countless times, I have experienced His kindness and care through His servants. God positioned many different people along my journey whose seemingly insignificant acts of kindness shaped my identity, brought the Kingdom of Heaven to earth and let me experience the love of my Father firsthand.

It makes it so simple, really. So often, I get caught in the trap of seeing the big things people do for God as the things that matter. I was thinking about this on my run, when I saw my widow friend, Nad’a walking toward me.

I haven’t  seen her in a couple of months because of all our travel and work, and I immediately felt guilt wash over me because I am not an everyday friend to her. How could any of my little drops in her big bucket of loneliness make a difference? But as the truth of Ruth’s story penetrated my heart, I realized that I wasn’t trusting God. I was acting as it if all depended on me.

And in that moment, I knew He wanted me to show kindness to Nad’a – even if it felt small. Even if I didn’t think it was enough.

I had just baked some zucchini bread at home, so as I drew close to Nad’a, I called out to her and asked if I could bring some over and have tea with her. We had a really sweet afternoon filled with talking and tears … and it counted. That little drop made a ripple.

We get to bring the Kingdom to someone when we put what is “not nearly enough” in Jesus’ hands and trust Him to meet the need. Somehow, when my little loaf of zucchini bread passes from my hands to His, it miraculously becomes satisfying and filling to someone He has called me to love. And it marks someone’s journey … and reminds them of the kindness of our Savior God.

It was true for Ruth. I know it was true for me. And I am trusting that it was enough for Nad’a this week.

Jesus is a multiplier. He takes the little we give Him and makes it so much MORE – even a little time … or a little loaf of zucchini bread. If, when He invades and interrupts my everyday routine, I offer whatever I have to Him, I get to partner with Him in renewing the whole world.

“I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting system
through which God speaks to us every hour,
if we only tune in.”
Xavier U.

“O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Psalm 8:1

This past week, Bill and I were in Estes Park, CO, the front door of Rocky Mountain National Park with our Splendid Friends, our couple’s group of over 20 years. The highlights were many — good friends, good food, and enjoying God’s creation.

It’s said that a picture is worth 1000 words, so I’m going to share some of the beauty … and some of the fun … we experienced this week and allow God to speak through his creation.

Kay’s friend who now lives in heaven, shared this question with Kay one day as they were enjoying a walk together. What makes the music of the brook? The answer, the water flowing over the hard things. Isn’t that true of so much of our lives? Our music is communicated through our hards. The last morning I sat by the river running next to our condos and contemplated how my hards have been the notes of my story.

Elk can even be seen in town. Had I been on the correct side of the car, I could have almost reached out and touched them!

One afternoon Kay, Beth and I wandered into town to walk through the shops. Estes Park is definitely a tourist town. But we enjoyed the warm autumn weather and our friendship. Another thought from Kay’s friend Eva: “A friend (an affable person) loves (an attitude of the heart) at all times,” (an abiding experience). Proverbs 17:17.

At home, my annuals on our deck continue to bring joy during this surprisingly warm Colorado autumn.

And it is always a special joy to share these times with my husband.

“In the beginning,
God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, October 2024

 

Affirmation – I’ve been talking about this a lot this year. It’s my word for 2024.

According to Dictionary.com, affirmation is the assertion that something exists or is true.

I’ve been practicing affirmation with words. My friend posted several pictures of her grandma on Facebook. There were no words. But her grandma was very much affirmed.  Affirmation comes in many ways.

Paul defined affirmation in his letter to the Corinthians …

“… It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ,
and all for your upbuilding, beloved.”
II Corinthians 12:19

Receiving the upbuildings of another is affirmation.

Last month my husband received a huge affirmation. A friend from our California days (about 30 years ago) was in town for AFA Parent’s Weekend. He reached out and invited Bill to breakfast. Remember that sermon you preached on I John 4:18, “There is no fear in love…”? God met me that morning, and my life was changed. God used your words powerfully.

Since then our friend has gone on to create men’s retreats to pass on the good news of I John 4:18. He has shared the gospel with over 80 who have responded and become Christians. WOW! What a gift his words were to my husband.

The same week I received an email from the husband of a close friend. He shared that his wife, my friend, is celebrating 50 years of leading Bible studies. He is surprising her with notes from many who have been blessed by her teaching. Would I contribute? 50 YEARS!!! During that time, Pam has gifted many as she’s led them in trusting God and His Word. I’m honored to call her my friend.

I first met Pam when she was a student at the U of Illinois. I was her first Bible study leader. I wish I had a picture of our small group huddled in that dorm room opening the Word of God together. (Those days were long before cell phones!) His request was an affirmation for me.

Back then I was clueless to the potential of one college student. The thought that one of these students would go on to lead other women for 50 years was not even in my thinking.

This fall I’m co-leading a Bible study on the book of Acts at our church. I’m especially affirmed to be trusted with this opportunity as I’ve never personally studied Acts. My heart is to pass on the affirmation to the ladies in our not-so-small group.

I’m no longer clueless.

My desire is to look at each of the ladies in the group and see the image of God. I want to see potential for the Kingdom. I’m trusting that being together with these ladies will have a much bigger outcome than I can even imagine. I want to look back on this group that God has entrusted Shelly and me with, and say WOW!

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
not the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”
I Corinthians 2:9

Affirmation is important; affirmation is encouraging; affirmation opens the doors of potential.

Most importantly, affirmation points to the work of God in another’s life. I’m praying to be aware.

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us,
but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love
and your faithfulness!”
Psalm 115:1

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, September 2024

 

 

 

 

As I’ve penned Echoes of Grace for the last 14 years, over and over I’ve been surprised by the stores I’ve remembered, the stories God has brought to mind, like memorizing Jonah 2:8 many years ago.

“Those who cling to worthless idols
…”
Jonah 2:8 NIV

I don’t remember why I originally memorized that verse.

Last June as I listened to Vanessa Hawkins message on I Am The Door from John 10 at the Gospel Coalition* conference, and a few weeks later listening to a message by Nancy Wolgemuth on a Revive Our Hearts Video, God began weaving together threads that have been dangling for years. Nancy quoted Jonah 2:8 in her talk.

Vanessa spoke of the thieves and robbers who try to get into the sheep fold by another way. The sheep knew … and anyone else at that time … that there is only one door, one way for the sheep to go in and out and find pasture. John 10:1-10.

She also spoke of the deep longings, the desires that God has given us. They are good desires; they come from God. But when they become all consuming to me so much so that I become like a thief or robber in going after them, they become idols.

Idols! That’s a strong word.

Perhaps a modern day way of saying that would be when climbing the proverbial ladder to reach my goals becomes all consuming, then that goal has become an idol!

It was a light bulb moment.

God created in me a heart for him and a desire to minister to women. But my reality didn’t look like my expectations. So I became like a thief or robber trying to climb that ladder to create what I thought would bring my reality into line with my expectations. My desire had morphed into being an idol.

And in the process,

“… forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”
Jonah 2:8 NIV

“Those who pay regard to vain idols
forsake their hope of steadfast love.”
Jonah 2:8 ESV

I knew I didn’t want to forfeit grace or forsake the hope of what God, the good shepherd, has promised. I didn’t want an idle faith.

I needed to learn the gift of trust. God, please show me what it would look like to trust you with the heart you have created in me. What would it look like today?

I still do not remember why I originally memorized Jonah 2:8 in NIV all those years ago. But I do know that God was beginning to weave a truth into my heart that I needed to live by.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10

* You can listen to Vanessa Hawkins message on the Gospel Coalition website, TGCW24.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, September 2024

 

“I am nothing more than my worst moment.”
Henri J.M. Nouwen, Five Lies of Identity

It was August 16 … a few weeks ago. I experienced a worst moment that morning!

I am not tech savvy and on August 16th, it was obvious. Computer frustration reared its ugly head a-GAIN!

Computer frustration is not good for Echoes of Grace.
Computer frustration is not good for my patience.
Computer frustration is not good for my relationship with my husband.

I have Henri Nouwen’s Five Lies recorded in my journal. When I turned that page that morning, I realized … and I smiled (really) … I knew I was buying into lie #4 (above) and it was threatening my identity.

“And we know that for those who love God
all things work together for good,
for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 (italics mine)

This very familiar truth stopped me in my tracks. It forced me to ask, what is the good in this situation.

“… I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”
Jeremiah 31:3

You know now, I don’t remember the root of my frustration that morning.
I do remember God’s faithfulness to me.
I do remember God gave me a glimpse of the good.

My computer frustration wasn’t the bottom line. It was a symptom that needed to be dealt with.

I really wanted to prove my worth with my words, a-GAIN. I needed the computer to cooperate.

Once a-GAIN I prayed, God, what would it look like to trust your goodness right now? What does your faithfulness look like?

God’s whisper, his answer came immediately. Even if your computed doesn’t do what you expect, what you desire, your identity is not in jeopardy! You, Sue, are my beloved child. It’s my purpose that needs to be communicated, not yours.

” (God,) who saved us and called us to a holy calling,
not because of our works
but because of his own purpose and grace,
which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”
II Timothy 1:9 (italics & underline mine)

Deep breath.
Thankful that God knows me, and claims me as his child.
Thankful for God’s purpose and plan that I can rest in.

Is there something that is threatening your child of God identity today? I’d love to pray for you.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, September 2024

 

 

WELCOME BACK …
and
HAPPY 14TH BIRTHDAY, ECHOES OF GRACE!!

Who is this crazy lady who pens Echoes almost every week?

As Echoes starts its 15th year, I thought I’d share with you a significant part of my story. I recorded this video earlier this summer. It’s about a 21 minute listen and I hope you’ll find time to tune in. And as always, feel free to share it with your friends.

If you haven’t already signed up to “follow” Echoes of Grace,  please do. That puts you with a group of friends who I also send a more personal brief devotional email to once or twice a month. I’d love to have you join us; it’s my birthday gift to you.

Here’s the link for my video …

https://collegiatenavigators.org/heart-of-discipling-women-collection-4/

Under the heart, click “Explore” and scroll down to find my interview.

Now it’s your turn. I’d love to hear more of your story.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, summer 2024

 

 

 

I love summer. Time to rest; time to read and journal; time with friends. And it’s not over yet!

I love fall. The cooler days; the colors; the celebrations; and more opportunities to be with friends. And it’s just beginning.

This fall I’m returning to facilitating a small group Bible study at our church. It’s been a while and I’m excited to be back.

For me, September has always marked new beginnings.

It started with school days, then teaching days coinciding with collegiate ministry, and church ministry. That’s a lot of years of September beginnings. My calendar, a 9-month, 3-month schedule kicks off (pun intended) every September. Old habits die hard.

I bet many of you are also blessed to lead small groups.

As this September new year rolls around again, it’s good for me to remember … and I’ll share with you … my top 10 lessons of small group leading. Perhaps these will help you too.

1) Don’t go to my closet and pull out my leader hat. Be who I am. Share vulnerably. Everyone is growing.

2) Keep peeling the layers of the onion in my life. No matter how many times I’ve been through the material, approach it as if it’s the first time.

3) Partner in leading. Invite your friend to lead with you; take advantage of her strengths. Affirm her often.

4) Communicate regularly. Invite the people in your group to meet for coffee or come for lunch. Call, text, email – let them know you want to be a friend.

5) Share other resources you happen upon freely. Learning doesn’t always initiate with me. Blogs, magazine articles, you-tube videos. The resources never end.

6) The value is in the group! Listen and learn from the others. If I don’t, I miss out big time. Give them the pedestal.

7) A leader, no. God gave me this group to help facilitate what we are all learning. We’re in this together.

8) Pray, pray, and pray again. For yourself, for your friends in the group. For wisdom, for ears to hear, for the Word to truly be living and active for each group member.

9) Set up anticipation. I’ll share how I heard from God next week. Or something similar.

10) Know when to take a semester off to re-charge your spiritual batteries.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, August 2024

 

“Behind the gas stove top in the kitchen is a glass splashback which, over the years, has had bits and bobs stuffed behind it. There’s a couple of the girls’ drawings from yesteryear, and most recently, a poster we made to publicise our Hogmanay ‘Survivor’ themed party.

In the top left hand corner is a little painting I did years ago, to represent the story of Mary pouring nard (perfume) over Jesus’ feet in John 12. The whole story is compelling, but I had found myself captivated by the end of verse 3 –

And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

John 12:3b

I remember pondering how this woman, sacrificing probably her most prized possession for Jesus’ sake, had altered the aroma of the whole setting. It occurred to me at the time that our love does that – it changes the atmosphere of the physical spaces we find ourselves in. It might not be actual perfume, but the scent of our love, our sacrifice, our adoration, our joy, is redolent for all to breathe in.

The little painting in the kitchen has been there for over a decade and I have long since stopped looking at it. I enjoy the colours, and don’t really know how to remove anything from behind this glass screen anyway, so it’s remained. But I’d forgotten the heart of it. I’d forgotten how I’d felt drawn into the story, inspired to view my life, in a sense, as a living sacrifice, setting the atmosphere with grace.

I wonder also if over time the sweeping pinks and golds have served to paint the picture of Mary worshipping her Lord with a kind of elegance that most of the time seems difficult to relate to. This is Mary, we know, Mary who sat at Jesus’ feet while Martha tidied the kitchen. Mary who seems to know, at any given time, that her devotion and focus is Jesus. It’s easy to imagine her, with her long hair and steady devotion, as graceful, steadfast. It’s more difficult to imagine her running around like a banshee, which is something I have plenty of experience of.

.

This week past, though, I’ve had reason to look again at the painting over the stove. I spent a bit of time with another woman who anoints Jesus’ feet with perfume, this time not Mary with Lazarus in John 12, but the sinful lady who washes Jesus’ feet with her tears in Luke 7, in the house of Simon the Pharisee.
Both women washed Jesus’ feet with perfume, and dried them with their hair. Both women made huge sacrifices; these alabaster jars would have cost the equivalent of thousands and thousands of pounds.
The stories differ, though, in the emotion expressed. The sinful woman, who wasn’t named, was likely a prostitute, unwelcome in the Pharisee’s house; an outcast. It says she ‘stood behind Jesus at his feet, crying‘ (v38) and then proceeded to wash his feet with her tears.

Here was a woman, bereft, who knew that the only place she could go was the feet of Jesus. And once she was there, she instinctively knew that she had to give him everything, so spilt her precious perfume for him. (Mary from the first story knew this too, to her credit; it’s my interpretation of her story that became somewhat two-dimensional, rather than the woman herself).

Jesus says later on in the sinful woman’s passage (v 47) ‘I tell you that her many sins are forgiven, so she showed great love. But the person who is forgiven only a little will love only a little.‘

We know from Jesus’ other teaching that this woman was no more or less sinful than anyone else, but what was different was her awareness of her own sin. There was no doubt in her mind that Christ was everything, everything she needed. She was so aware of her own lack that it allowed for her love to flow freely. And the whole house smelt beautiful because of it..

Something of the messiness of this lady’s situation has allowed me to engage with this principle again. The principle being that we’re invited to give all that we have, all that we are, at the feet of Jesus. And the aroma of that sacrifice infuses all the physical places, and earthly relationships that we are part of. What, in particular, we asked to give to Jesus doesn’t matter so much – we don’t have jars of perfume to pour out of – but we are asked to come as we are, and worship him. To sit at his feet in our lack, and to receive his love.

This week has been a messy week. I’ve stared at the picture behind the stove as I’ve cooked, and I wondered to myself What do I smell of? What scent is infiltrating into my surroundings? Because it sure doesn’t smell like perfume. It smells like fear. Disappointment. It smells like agitation and pressure. I haven’t had time to sit around pouring anything over Jesus’ feet. I don’t think I’ve got anything beautiful to give you Lord.

And what I have realise is that the perfume isn’t the most important part of these stories. The most important part isn’t what I sense I have, or have not, to bring to Jesus.

The most important part is Jesus.

Jesus.

These women whose lives are an example to us are only there to point to Jesus.
Jesus, full of grace, who is not only worthy of our total adoration and the sacrifice of our most expensive possessions, he is there to receive us in our place of lack. He receives us in our lack and meets it with his love.

The wisdom of both of the ladies is that they knew this. The beautiful aroma wasn’t from the perfume, it was from their dependence. It was from their desperate and determined decision to sit as close to their saviour Jesus as they humanly could.

And so in a week where upset has heaped upon upset, without any of the elegance or long hair of these ladies, I’m invited to plonk myself before he who is my home. I’m invited to come as I am, with the worship of my sorrow, and receive his grace.

And that – or rather he – is the sweetest smelling fragrance of them all.”

Thank you again Ros for how you bring the word of God to life.

 

Today I am going to share a pretty major secret. I would claim it is the most important secret, and the true bedrock to our faith. This secret is trust. Trusting God is a broad overarching principle that is the foundation to our journey of following Jesus. But here is the key: God has designed us with an innate fundamental longing to be loved—and trust is the secret to experiencing this love that only he can give us.

Said another way, trust unlocks love.

This idea is a bit complex as “love” is a multifaceted concept. In order to understand how trust unlocks love, I think it’s important to define the word. I’ll be using a very practical definition of love that I got from the founders of Trueface which describes love as the process of meeting needs.

Love is the process of meeting needs.

Think of this more as a working definition than a one size fits all definition of love. Love is our most fundamental desire. If we boil down all of our wants and desires, the primary desire inside all of us is to be loved.

And scripture points us to this. If you have any experience with faith, you know the broad concept: “God is love.”

1 John 4:7-8 tells us:

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Genesis 1:26 “. . . then God said,  ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.’”

God is love, he has made us in his image, and my life affirms these truths deeply. Even if you aren’t a Jesus follower, you can get your head around this, right? I long to be loved. We long to be loved. When you boil everything down, it is our heart’s truest longing.

Now, what does that really mean? What does this love actually look like? To understand this idea, let’s think of love as a bicycle with two wheels: the first is being needed and the second is being known. If love is the bicycle, these wheels, being needed and known, represent the two most critical yearnings or components within us to realize what we desire and what we are designed for. The two fundamental yearnings within us. If you are human, you share these core needs.

Now let me unpack what I mean when I say need:

• We have a need to feel valued. Do we matter? Are we important?
• We have a need to feel chosen. Would we be missed or are we worth fighting for?
• We have a need to feel significant. Are we contributing in a meaningful way? Does my work have meaning?

The other component is being known. If you have ever been lonely, you are already aware of this fundamental desire because the truth is:

• We have a need for attention. I see this need in my kids who ask if I am watching them or when I will play with them.
• We have a need to be affirmed. I feel this in my craving to be told I’m doing a good job or that I have what it takes. For example, I have been back working out at the gym and lost ten pounds over the past couple months and waiting for Emily to mention that she notices a difference.
• We also have a need to be understood. That’s why asking questions is a great way to love. The people you feel most connected to are often people who are interested in understanding who you are and how you feel. That’s why one of the best ways you can love others is by asking questions, kind of like Jesus did.

Now that we understand our greatest needs and desires, let’s review:

Love is the process of meeting needs—the giving and receiving of needs being met.

We feel loved when others meet these needs we have and we love others by meeting their needs. It’s important to know that these longings are valid and central to our lives. It’s also important to be aware of how we are meeting them, and who we are looking to to meet these needs in our lives.

What do we depend on to meet our needs?

This is where we circle back to our key ingredient of trust. We must rely on God to find what we are looking for. We have to trust God—not ourselves or the answers of the world.

This longing for love is central to our design, and it is a centerpiece to this war of the world vs the kingdom of God. Our world, with its subtle lies, tells us that we can find or meet our own needs. If we think hard enough about it, we can manifest it. If we hustle hard enough, we can make it happen. There is definitely merit and truth to working hard and pushing towards your dreams, but the evil one is clever. He manipulates these needs and desires and spreads lies that feel like truth. The world says they have answers for what we are looking for. That we can fill the longings of our own hearts. That we can find value in our own abilities, affirmation in our money, validation from the opposite sex, and the significance we crave from our jobs. All without God. Why would we need him? We can do it all ourselves.

But here’s the truth: these are all lies.

How and what we look to to answer these longings matters and is central to the war of our hearts.

Our longings are the central battleground for both sides: our Heavenly father, and the evil one.  Each is fighting to provide us with the needs we are longing for. But only God wants these needs to actually be filled, the evil one is just trying to deceive us so our true needs are never met.

God made us with a healthy desire for attention.

The lies say, “I can do enough, be enough to get the attention I deserve.” Conversely, we see Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, which was an intimate expression of attention. To us living today, we are given the Holy Spirit who will never leave us.

God made us with a need to be affirmed.  

We can receive affirmation from the next cute guy or girl who gives us attention–on screens or in person. Or we can seek that affirmation in relationship with our Father in heaven and others in healthy ways. Who we gain our affirmation from is one of the biggest battles we will face.

God made us with a desire to be known.

The world says if people really knew you, there is no way anyone could love you. So the world’s game becomes only letting others see the “best version” of you. The world tells us to conform in fear, but the Father says he knows me intimately and knit me together in my mothers womb. And in healthy relationships, like with the guys in my small group, I can choose to put my mask away and be vulnerable. They know what I am struggling with, and they love me more, not less.

God made me to live a life of purpose.

My pride says I need to do something significant to deserve or earn love. Jesus said, nah, there is nothing you could do to get any more or less of my love for you. Trust me and I will invite you to partner with me in my kingdom work which will be of great purpose.

God made me with a desire to have significance and value.

My pride says that my money, my roles or position, prove my value. Jesus says, you are a son of God, a saint, a new creation imparted with my righteousness, someone worth dying for.

The evil one offers effective and compelling lies because they give us the momentary illusion of meeting our needs of value, significance, and being known—but they don’t last. They are temporary and come up wanting. All of us have tasted a piece of what the world offers and we know this is true. These “answers” are momentary, they feel good or satisfy for an instant and then we’re left empty again. The simple truth is the lies will never deliver what they promise.

Jesus made us right in relationships in order to experience radical love. We were created with these needs so that only God could meet them. He knew we couldn’t achieve these longings, and that the world’s answers wouldn’t satisfy the true desires of our heart.

The secret to experiencing life with God is trust. Trust is how we unlock and experience love. Trust is how we move towards what Jesus made possible.

Trusting God is letting God love us.

It is a posture of humility, of receiving. Trusting God is letting him meet our needs.

Here are some questions for you to reflect on:

1. Where am I putting my trust the most? Is it in me, others, institutions, God, my career, somewhere else?
2. Which of the God-given needs of attention, affirmation, being known, purpose, and significance is the most difficult for you to acknowledge? Which is the easiest?
3. Who have you allowed to meet your needs in love?

 

TrueFace posts a brief blog every day. You can sign up on this sight and a reminder will come to your email each time a new one posts. I think it’s well-worth the space on your devise. Their words always get me thinking and lead me to grace.

https://www.trueface.org/blog/trust-the-secret-to-experiencing-life-with-god

 

THE SHAME CYCLE

I’ve spent far too much time asking myself two questions: What is wrong with me? and Why can’t I get it together?

These aren’t kind questions. They are condemning. They’re laced with a nasty idea: shame. Up until a few years ago, I wouldn’t have known to call it that. But then a friend gently helped me see the narrative that shame speaks: You’re not enough. You’re not worthy of love. Something is wrong – beyond even Jesus’ repair – at the core of your being. And worse yet, it tells me that nobody else is quite as bad as I am, leaving me feeling hidden and alone.

I had tried so many times to “fix” myself. As I struggled with sexual sin, anxiety and an intense drive to earn others’ approval, I would vow to make changes. Inevitably, I cycled back to sin, which left me feeling like a failure, only intensifying the shame.

But over time, God began to remind me of His narrative, a story that is louder than the story of shame. He is not repulsed or frustrated with me. He would never, ever speak shame over me. I began to see how Jesus treated people who struggled with shame (John 8:1-11; Luke 7:36-50). His love, combined with His truth, caused them to come out of hiding.

I am learning that I no longer have to remain hidden but can actually invite Jesus into my shame. His voice tells me that I am accepted, chosen and redeemed, made righteous and blameless by his blood – regardless of how I feel. I don’t have to “fix” myself.

Freed by the love of Christ to tell the truth about myself, I am seeing a new cycle emerge. I am finding the courage to practice vulnerability with my friends. Authentic relationships are emerging, and more truth and freedom is taking hold. This is good news!

Are there any areas of your life where you wrestle with shame? Would you be willing to sit with the Father and allow Him to speak into those very places, listening for what truth He wants to speak?

Once you’ve done that, think of a friend you could practice vulnerability with. Take a step of courage and invite them into this part of your life. Who knows, you may even hear them say, “Me too!”

Additional Resources

The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves by Curt Thompson

The Shame Exchange: Trading Shame for God’s Mercy and Freedom by Steve & Sally Breedlove and Ralph & Jennifer Ennis

Boldly I Approach, a song by Rend Collective

 

 

 

This flag was presented to my Mom at Dad’s memorial honoring his service to our country in World War II. He was part of the Army Air Force. He rarely spoke of his experience, and I wish now I could ask him more questions. The Silent Generation.

As a child, the Fourth of July, was a fun beginning of the summer holiday. (School never got out until the third week in June.) A big parade started our day and the fireworks ended it with grilled hot dogs and hamburgers sandwiched in the middle.

Living in Colorado Springs, the home of five military installations, and having many friends who have served our country, the Fourth has taken on deeper meaning.

What does the Fourth mean for you?

“For freedom Christ has set us free;”
Galatians 5:1

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, April 2024

First a Surprise … When I write, I control what I share. Not so much on a podcast! A few months ago I agreed to be a guest on the “Lifted to Hope” podcast. In two episodes I share a piece of my spiritual journey that relates to shame and being on the staff of a Christian ministry. Shame, one of the outcomes of believing lies. It’s a bit scary to be vulnerable on a podcast. But I’m reeling in my feelings of insecurity and sharing the links with you. Perhaps God will whisper to you. If so, feel free to share these links.

https://www.louisesedgwick.com/podcast/101/
https://www.louisesedgwick.com/podcast/102/

And now, this week’s post.

I need a uniform for significance.

When I was a student at Hope College, I was a member of a local sorority, Kappa Delta Chi. Like all the other sororities on campus, we were easily identified by our uniform. For us it was a tan skirt and blazer. I wore it with pride. It provided an identity. Everyone knew I belonged. The relationships that grew out of that association were important to me.

And it fed into something I believed. I need a uniform for significance. I needed something to communicate to you, I’m significant.

That was a lie! My significance did not rest on the clothes I wore.

Close to the same time I pledged the sorority, my fledgling faith was also growing. I was learning the basics of my Christian life, like how to grow my friendship with God, how to experience my new identity.

The concept of lies was not a part of those days. But as I’ve learned to trust my identity — the beloved child of God (I John 3:1) — God has been whispering, Sue, are there other things you are placing your identity in? YES!

No longer is it Kappa Delta Chi, but could it be ministry? Could it be being a gramma (my spelling)? Could it be …? What uniform do I feel I need now?

A uniform draws attention to me. My heart is that my life draws attention to God. These are two of the verses I pray over to re-center me, to help me TRUST TRUTH.

“Do not let your adorning be external —
but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart …”
I Peter 3:3 and 4

“We carry this precious Message around
in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives.”
II Corinthians 4:7, The Message rendition

My heart is that my life (not the clothes I wear) adorns the gospel. So I pray, God, what does it look like for me to adorn your gospel today?

It was important for me to identify that lie.
It was more important that I identified  and replaced it with truth that counteracts it.
It is MOST important that I practice TRUSTING that truth.

Knowledge of truth does not transform.
I need to trust the truth.
When I trust the truth, I experience the truth.
When I experience the truth, I am transformed.

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us,
but to your name give glory,”
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.”
Psalm 115:1

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, May 2024

It’s all up to me!

Dr. Neil Anderson in his book, Victory Over Darkness, shares several truths about how satan wants us to think about our identity and how God’s word speaks truth into those lies.

Satan’s lie: You get your identity from what you have done.  God’s truth: You get your identity from what God has done for you. Thank you for this reminder, Dr. Anderson.

What pride when I think it’s all up to me. Yet in some situations I confess … and repent … that I think that. After all, I’m the spiritual one. And they know that. My friend identifies with this and she words it I have to be the one to make it happen.

Over and over, God reminds, my identity is based on his truth, not my doings. My identity is based on what God has done for me. I often pray over these truths …

“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me:
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.”
Psalm 138:8

“I planted,
Apollos watered,
but God gave the growth.”
I Corinthians 3:6

“And I am sure of this,
that he who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion …
Philippians 1:6

“And it turns out, a me centered view of anything, including one’s theology,  is the lens through which we end up seeing the skewed idea of never being enough…”. Ruth Chou Simons, When Strivings Cease, page 119.  I highly recommend this book.

Truth: It’s NOT all up to me. This little child, does not have it (whatever ‘it’ is). And neither do I. God’s got it.

God will fulfill his purpose for me which happens to be all bound up in his love. (Psalm 138:8) God has a place and a desire for me to contribute, but he keeps the responsibility for the results in his court. (I Corinthians 3:6 and Philippians 1:6)

Matthew 4:1-11 records the narrative of Jesus being tempted by the devil. In each of three temptations, the devil goes after places of vulnerability, like hunger. In the first instance, Jesus had just finished a 40 day fast and naturally was hungry. “And the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he (Jesus) answered, ‘It is written, Man shall not live be bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Matthew 4:3 and 4.

In each of satan’s temptations, he shoots his arrows at places of Jesus’s identity.

In each of the temptations, Jesus responds with truth, with the Word of God. Jesus is secure in his identity. In Jesus’s reality he is teaching me how I need to respond to the lies I tend to believe, those places of my vulnerability. Those places where the arrows are aimed at my identity.

As I look over the list in my journal of the lies I tend to believe and the truths that counteract them, I realize everyone is somehow a picture of how I view myself. Each speaks to my identity.

“For the word of God is living and active,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing to the division of soul and of spirit,
of joints and of marrow,
and discerning the thoughts and intention of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12

My Faith is Too Small!

It was October, 2019. I returned to our great room in tears, tears of joy! I could barely mumble out to my curious husband what I’d just experienced as I spoke with my sister struggling with COPD across the country by phone.

She prayed with me. She trusted Jesus as her personal savior.

That was the beginning of a new depth in our relationship. For the next several months, we spoke on the phone almost daily. Twice I boarded a plane to be with her. Every conversation pointed us to Jesus. Sometimes it was my sharing scripture with her. More than once it was she sharing Bible narratives she remembered with me. Whatever we shared became the fodder for our prayer together that day.

My faith was definitely too small. Would our sister-relationship ever change to sisters in Christ? I didn’t think so. My faith was way too small!

One evening she reminded me of the parable of the mustard seed.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed
that a man took and sowed in his field.
It is the smallest of all seeds,
but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants
and becomes a tree,
so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
Matthew 13:31 and 32

The size of the seed is not an indicator of the size of the plant; the size of the potential buried deep in the seed.

“‘But if you can … help us.’
‘All things are possible for the one who believes.’
‘I believe; help my unbelief!’
… his disciples asked him privately,
‘Why could we not cast it out?’
‘This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.'”
from Mark 9:22-29

I believe; help my unbelief! So often this is my plea. Truth tells me my unbelief is not the issue. Jesus is able. Am I praying?

So often I want to do; Jesus asked me to pray, to trust his ability to do.

“For by the grace given to me …
think (of yourself) with sober judgment,
each according to the measure of faith
that God has assigned.”
Romans 12:3 (parentheses mine)

Commentators don’t agree of the phrase, measure of faith. Does that mean that we all have the same amount of faith? Or does it mean that we have differing measures?

Whatever, God has assigned my measure of faith. So God has assigned what he is asking me to trust him for. If I think my faith is too small, my standard is higher than God’s!

“Now to him who is able to do
far more abundantly
than all that we ask or think …”
Ephesians 3:20

I remind myself of this truth often signing all my correspondence with FMA, Far More Abundantly.

Even as I pen these truths that counteract the lie that my faith is too small, I think of a very difficult situation. It’s easy to think, this is impossible; my faith is FAR too small to trust God with this one. And I’m challenged, where is my focus? On the perceived impossible and my small faith or on God who is able to do far more abundantly than all the I even ask him for or think about.

What about you? Do you struggle with thinking your faith is too small for your current reality? I encourage you along with me to trust these truths. Or perhaps there are other truths God has whispered to you. Please share!

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, June 2024

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!”
Psalm 139:17

When I think of Psalm 139, verse 17 isn’t the first truth that comes to my mind. I think about how God knows me so very well (verses 1-6). Or I think about how God personally created me (verses 13-16).

Those are wonderful truths. And I need to trust them.

But I will only trust them, if indeed they are precious to me!

I am a no-longer!
or
Accessing my belonging-ness based on my opportunities.

When I checked my email that morning, I read of the ministry of others asking for my prayers. It was the perfect set-up. Satan whispered, sue, you are a no-longer. You are no longer needed in the kingdom except to support others in their very important kingdom work. Ouch! The lie was confirmed.

A few hours later the text arrived with a question. Sue, what topics do you feel are important for me to cover with the staff women I’m leading this summer? Affirmed! I’m still needed. Perhaps I’m not a no-longer.

Truth, however, is not based on circumstances. Truth is based on truth.

The email paragraph led me to a lie. My conclusion from the text paragraph did not lead to truth. It only confirmed where I was placing my value. The see-saw of reactions to the email and the text could easily be repeated. My value was in jeopardy!

Thankfully God reminded me of how precious I was to him. Isaiah 43:4 is true. I am precious to him and because of that he has plans to use me in kingdom work.

The question remains, how precious to me is God’s word?

The answer is in where I place my trust.

I needed to take that reminder from God, and pray … God, what does it look like for me today to trust, to really believe, that I am precious in your eyes and you have a plan for me? And that your word is providing precious food for me today?

God brought another familiar verse to mind …

“For we are his workmanship, (my identity)
created in Christ Jesus for good works, (my purpose)
which God prepared before hand, (my security)
that we should walk in them.” (my pace)
Ephesians 2:10

The truth! I am not a no-longer. Big exhale.

“These feelings, strong as they may be, are not telling me the truth about myself. The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God’s eyes, called the beloved from all eternity, and held safe in an everlasting embrace.” Henri J.M. Nouwen, Life of the Beloved. (Italics within the quote, mine.)

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, June 2024

 

 

Right living overflows from right believing!

“Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not … go astray after a lie.”
Psalm 40:4

“Your real new self will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for him.”  C.S. Lewis

“The gospel frees me from my opinion of myself.”  Brennan Manning

“So we have come to know and to believe (trust) the love that God has for us.”
I John 4:16
If we don’t TRUST God’s love, we are susceptible to self-inflicted monikers.

“Truth is the ultimate healing elixir. Spend time seeking it to undo the damage of debilitating lies.”  Jan Johnson

“Most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself.”  Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“No one is more influential in your life than you are, because on one talks to you more than you do.”  Paul Tripp

Lies are self-limiting beliefs reinforced by the filter through which we see life.

All of us have come to believe certain lies about ourselves. My biggest lie is I’m not good enough. That is the first on my list followed by several others.

I’ve found it’s not hard to identify the lies I allow to define me; the hard thing is fighting them with truth. John 8:44 testifies that the devil is the father of lies, “You are of your father the devil … (he) has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him … he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Almost daily during my devotional time, I turn to the pages in my scripture journal that record truths that counteract my lies. I read the truth; I pray over the truth asking God to help me to trust it. The applications vary by the day. This practice is transforming me.

“Sanctify them in the truth; you word is truth.”
John 17:17

“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”
Psalm 51:6

I’m wondering, does one of these quotes particularly catch your attention?

I’m available if you would like to connect. sue@suetell.com.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, April 2024

 

 

BGO — Blinding Glimpses of the Obvious!

I experienced a BGO last week while reading the words of my friend.

You may know I often pray …

God, please grow my knowing
…
Help me to live with expectancy;
the expectancy of resurrection power,
the expectancy of knowing you.

Expectancy — not deciding how God will reveal Himself.
Expectancy — a willingness to experience God in the midst.

Resurrection — implies something big; something hard; something suffered.

So when I pray for the expectancy of resurrection power, I would have known suffering. Or resurrection power wouldn’t be needed.

BGO – I’d been praying this long before I knew I would need it.

Jesus knew the power of resurrection after he knew the reality of the cross.

John 1:12 is one of my favorite identity scriptures. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right (or the power) to become children of God”. A child needs lots of help with understanding. As God’s child, he knew I needed that help. And as Peter testifies in his first letter, … the darkness turned to light. I Peter 2:9.

Resurrection is needed for physical healing. It is recorded in Mark 5:21-34, the physical healing of the women with the flow of blood for 12 years. She came to Jesus in desperation and is made well. Jesus declares, “your faith has made you well;”

We’ve prayed earnestly for friends living with cancer. And now they are cancer free. Resurrection power. You have stories, I’m sure.

Resurrection is needed for perspective. The path seemed long at the time. He was living with major depression and burnout. Isaiah 33:6 was a life-line, “and he (God) will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;”

God has blessed abundantly from the lessons of those times as we’ve had many opportunities to share.

Resurrection is needed for acceptance. Not all our friends lived to see their cancer cured this side of heaven. Some met Jesus face to face. As they traveled the rocky path, their countenance, their words, the freedom they were experiencing in those days was nothing short of resurrection power. Several ministered deeply to me.

Resurrection is needed for anticipation. we rejoice in hope of the glory of God … we rejoice in suffering that produces endurance … character … hope that does not disappoint or lead to shame. From Romans 5:2-5.

These glimpses into the truths of resurrection, truths of the obvious will keep me praying to experience resurrection power. I imagine there will be more BGO’s.

“Not that I have already obtained this
or am already perfect,
but I press on to make it my own,
because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”
Philippians 3:12

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, May 2024

The morning was bitter cold — cold enough to freeze the water in the airplane. And without water a plane is not allowed to fly. Not even a short 18 minute jaunt from Colorado Springs to Denver.

We boarded, unaware of the frozen water line issue, and waited. Waited an abnormally long time. And then the pilot’s voice over the intercom. We knew then we’d miss our connecting flight. Our escape winter vacation was taking a detour.

Almost 200 of us were taking this detour. Almost 200 passengers missing connections, facing the reality of plan “B”.

Disappointed we exited the plane and joined the long line to be re-booked. Two airline personnel at two computers to serve the almost 200 customers, some mad. It was not a pretty scene.

We were behind “Mr. Type-A”. Finally it was his turn. He was invited to computer 1. We were next. Within a few moments we were called to computer 2 several feet away.

Our agent worked hard on our behalf to get us to San Juan, Puerto Rice, our desired destination. Typing away, checking possibilities, asking questions — could this work?

As she typed, agent #1 came over and whispered in a loud way, to our agent, he’s a type “A”. Her frustration obvious.

Just the week before I had finished a brief study of Paul’s letter to Titus.

Titus had been left in Crete to help restore order to a very ungodly group of people. Titus 1:5, 10-16. The Cretan culture was a mess — not unlike the airport that morning. I don’t want to judge, but Mr. Type “A” seemed like he would fit in with those from Crete.

What was the culture I was offering that morning?  Would frustration emanate from me — or patience, understanding, and kindness?

Just as Titus was called to be a culture carrier to Crete, I was entrusted with being a culture carrier at the airport that morning.

“… And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom
for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14 (Italics mine)

“For such a time as this”, might it be that God orchestrated these details, this detour, so that his culture, his character would be set on display for those around us? My friend Karen says, “The world will evaluate the truth of the gospel by the way we live.”

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession,
and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
For we are the aroma of Christ…” II Corinthians 2:14 and 15 (italics, mine)

The Hyacinths in this lovely bouquet fill the atmosphere around them with their wonderful aroma. I’m invited to stop and enjoy every time I walk by.

That’s my desire for my life. That the aroma emanating from my life will carry the character of God, the Christian culture to all I pass by. Even on those frustrating days. I don’t want to be labeled, type A.

“but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart
with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which in God’s sight is very precious.”
I Peter 3:4

We did eventually arrive in San Juan.
We slept on the plane.
We did not miss any planned meet-ups.
Our luggage stayed with us the entire detour.
We were very thankful for our agent who worked hard on our behalf.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, May 2024

 

 

Mom and I were sitting at the kitchen table that spring morning. I asked her, what is your favorite scripture? She knew right away; it was Psalm 23. But then she apologized feeling like many would call the Twenty-third Psalm their favorite. Was it just because it was so well-known that she claimed it?

I understand her thinking. And I also understand her choice. This spring Psalm 23 has been my favorite scripture too.

I’ve been reading Leslie Leyland Fields recent book, Nearing a Far God. And her chapter on Psalm 23 has been the need of the hour.

Advertisement: BUY THIS BOOK! It might just be the need of the hour for you as you read, underline, and think what God is saying to you through the Psalms Leslie highlights. It is available through Navpress, Amazon, or in your favorite bookstore.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.”
Psalm 23:1-3

In these opening verses I’m meeting a shepherd, a protector who knows my greatest need. I’m meeting God through the metaphor of a shepherd. Leslie reminds in her book (page 94) that metaphors do not re-write scripture, nor do they re-name God. Metaphors provide language and pictures to connect us to God.

The first line communicates the thesis of the Psalm to me.
The last line reminds me that this picture is for God’s glory, “for his name’s sake”.
The personal pronouns, my and me, are used no less than 5 times in 3 verses. David’s words are also for me. I’m an image bearer.

The New Living Translation communicates verse 1 this way, “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” It causes me to ask, Am I recognizing God as my provider … TODAY?

What do my green pastures, my still waters, and His restoring my soul look like for me at this juncture?  As I’ve pondered this question, three answers are surfacing:  taking our dog for a walk in the woods; having time to read in the evenings; and enjoying times in the morning being with God in the quietness of place, with coffee, meditating on His Word, reviewing my identity and my purpose.

 

 

“He leads me in paths of righteousness”. That can speak to the big picture. There is a right path for who God created me to be as a woman, as a writer, as a wife, mother, and grandmother, as a child of God. But what about TODAY? There is a right path for me today. So I ask, what is today’s right path?

 

 

 

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and yous staff,
they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4

There is so much in that one verse!

Even though – I’m living in this current circumstance; the storms can be pretty stormy.

I will fear no evil – I am not afraid because …
You, God, are with me. Your presence is real. God is aware. My firey furnace is no more firey than what Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego experienced. Daniel 3:16 and 17.

Your rod and your staff – God is a protector. He knows how to wield the shield and keep the arrows at bay. You have the necessary tools and weapons. From my study, I understand the rod is a symbol of God’s strength and used to fight off the wild animals. His staff is a symbol of guidance and his loving-kindness used to hook around a wandering sheep. Sometimes God uses my husband as a staff; sometimes my community; always his Word.

Oh what comfort is communicated in verse 4.

“You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;”
Psalm 23:5a

When I think of God’s table, a picture of our Thanksgiving table surfaces. It is ladled abundantly, with far more than I actually need. The serving bowls overflow; the aroma draws me in; the taste stays with me for days — even through the left-overs; family and friends enjoy the feast with me.

But today isn’t Thanksgiving. What does God’s table look like for me today? It’s a table of provision; it’s a table representing my needs and providing for them. That’s why I pray with thankfulness before eating.

That table is prepared not only in the safety of home, but in the presence of my enemies. Who are my enemies? I’ve discovered that comparison is an enemy. I’m still susceptible. People-pleasing is an enemy. That shows itself regularly as I ponder invitations. Sometimes even my own desires can be an enemy. “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” James 1:14. And the snare of the fowler (Psalm 91:3) refers to hidden traps. I need to be conscious of what I’m not aware of!

“you anoint my head with oil:
my cup overflows.”
Psalm 23:5b

This signifies for me the purpose and affirmation of God. I’m set apart. Colossians 1:25 is a scripture promise God has given me. I (like all God’s children) am a sent one. John 20:21, “As the Father has sent me, even so I’m sending you.” My cup is full and overflowing with good things because God is showing me his path for me that he intends to pour out for others.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,”
Psalm 23:6a

Surely — there is no room for doubt; absolutely! Zechariah 9:17 speaks of God’s GREAT goodness! Mercy is a gift, not based on behavior. Titus 3:4 and 5 bring both attributes together in one reality. The Message rendition of this verse reads, Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. God, I want to be caught!

“and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.”
Psalm 23:6b

What wonderful assurance!

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, May 2024

 

 

Affirmation 1.0 – my word for 2024. Click here.

Affirmation 2.0 – affirming beyond complimenting. Click here.

Affirmation 3.0 – noticing the character of God through the life of a child.

Our son Jeff is an excellent communicator. (I know I’m his mom. Please indulge me.) Jeff has started writing liturgies to celebrate special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.

Our youngest GRAND-child, Leah (Jeff’s daughter), turned 4 last month. With Jeff’s permission, I’m sharing the liturgy he wrote for Leah’s birthday. I loved how he shared the character of God through the life of a precious 4-year-old. It took affirmation to a whole new level for me. May it for you as well.

 

I imagine at Leah’s young age, she doesn’t understand all her dad and the rest of her family have noticed about God through her life. But as she grows, I’m trusting she will come to see, understand, and appreciate these words of affirmation.

I’m very thankful for Leah Jane (my middle name is Jane too) and the joy she brings to our whole extended family. And I’m very thankful for Jeff seeing God through Leah’s life and stretching my understanding of affirmation.

 

Copyright: April 2024

 

Chapter 3. For chapter 1, click here; for chapter 2, click here.

“The main work you have in front of you is working on your own feelings of anxiety. Bring that to Jesus …” Those were the words my wise counselor friend, Travis***, shared with me.

Yes, I was anxious about my new reality; yes, I was feeling very insecure; yes, I was wondering what questions are even okay to ask; how much should I initiate? I was in a bad place trying to navigate this new reality on my own.

Yes, I was praying. But no answers seemed to be forthcoming. Until, I opened up with Travis.

Both Bill and I have known Travis and his wife for several years. We have followed his journey and have always appreciated his wisdom and respected his friendship.

I knew I needed his wisdom. I connected with him via email. His encouraging response was a game-changer for me. He affirmed the plan already set in motion. He offered great hope.

Jesus knows this story and is actively at work.
And here is the best news of all – you simply get to be who you already are.
“You get to keep doing what you are already good at.”

Travis’s words and his wisdom diffused my anxiety. God reminded me …

“Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth.”
Hosea 6:3

So, what did it look like for me to press on in knowing the Lord in the midst of this circumstance?

My Top Six (in no particular order):

1. Don’t hide. I didn’t share with everyone. But I approached a few trusted friends and asked them to pray along with me.

2. My trusted friend group grew. I shared with a few more. It was good for extrovert me to be able to talk with someone about this. These trusted friends had not had the same experience. That was irrelevant to their willingness to walk with me.

One day I mentioned it in a letter to K who lives in Michigan. She wrote back and shared she had had a similar experience. I had no idea. It is history for her now, but in her story, God met me. I learned new things that is helping me with expectancy. Allow my expectations to morph to expectancy.

3. Timing is important. Travis mentioned some questions I might pose. So far I have not felt the freedom to follow through. But truly it’s a matter of timing, not insecurity.

4. Related to timing is let them lead. Currently I’m not initiating, I’m following.

5. God reminded me of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her pregnancy could have been a blight on her family, to her fiancee but she didn’t let fear immobilize her. She asked Gabriel questions. She immediately ran to Elizabeth who was also experiencing a miraculous pregnancy. She needed her understanding. I’m thinking Mary was also an extrovert. And even before Jesus was born, Mary was able to praise God for her reality.

6. Counsel with God’s Word, not just my experience. I needed to be reminded of the good news of the gospel in Romans 8. I can KNOW with CERTAINTY …
* When I don’t know how to pray, the Spirit intercedes for me. Verse 26.
* The Spirit’s interceding is always according to God’s will. Verse 27.
* We know that God is at work. Verse 28.
* God is at work in all things. Verse 28.
* God works for good in all things. Verse 28.
* God is working at conforming us to the image of his Son. Verse 29.
* Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love. Verses 36, 38, 39.
* We can live as conquerors because of God’s love! Verse 37.

My prayers are growing in courage and hope. My anxiety is dissipating.

What helps you in your unwanted surprises? Could they be a gift?

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, April 2024

*** Travis Stewart, MA, LPC, NCC
travis@wtravisstewart.com
wtravisstewart.com
reflectiveprayer.com

 

 

 

This week’s post is a continuation of Hidden Love.  If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to click on the link and read it first.

Some realities are easy to turn into requests for prayer. My aunt has the flu; my GRAND broke her arm; my friend was recently diagnosed with cancer. These are okay requests. Please pray with me.

A few years ago, my husband was sharing with a Sunday school class about the clinical depression he lived with for a year. Everyone but one had left. The one approached and looked to the left and then to the right. Assured that they were now alone, he asked in a whisper … are you on medication? For that man, his struggle with depression was not a thing to be shared, not okay to ask for prayer. Finally he felt safe to say (whisper) it out loud. The key was hearing another share first.

More recently Bill and I participated on a panel on mental health. The large room was filled with teens and 20-somethings that knew about this reality first hand. They all knew each other. They didn’t know they had common struggles. Just showing up for the panel discussion brought a sense of okay-ness to their reality. They were not the only ones.

Depression, mental health issues … are these prayer requests that are okay to voice? My experience tells me, maybe, maybe not. My friend who counsels those with eating disorders told me, “I have found that people, even professionals, can feel even more intimidated with eating disorders.”

What about eating disorders for me? Or homosexual behavior; or transgender realities? My first reaction … keep this hidden. It is not okay to share this with other praying friends.

I realized I placed a hierarchy on prayer requests. Not all are to be shared. Believing that, leads to isolation and anxiety.

“So we have come to know and to believe
the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God,
and God abides in him:”
I John 4:16

God asks, Sue, will you trust my love for you … even in this circumstance … and abide in it?

“The secret is Christ in me,
not me in a different set of circumstances.”
Elisabeth Elliot

The key: abiding in and trusting God’s love for me!

Some realities scare me. They affect relationships. They can lead to shame. Anxiety is real. I prayed alone. It was not okay to share with others. I kept in hidden. Nothing changed in me.

My reality shouted fear, not trust.

“The Lord is at hand. (near)
Have no anxiety about anything,”
Philippians 4:5,6, RSV, parentheses mine

I knew that verse. I wasn’t abiding in and trusting the truth I knew. Have no anxiety wasn’t my reality. And so I was not experiencing the promise offered, “and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7.

Several years ago, my friend Kara who was struggling with severe breast cancer shared this wisdom with me … Ask, how am I living, not how am I doing?

Her wisdom is changing my okay-ness with what I ask prayer for. Her wisdom still calls me to abide and trust. Her wisdom is calming my anxiety.

To be continued: Next week on Echoes I will share how I’m living in the midst of this new reality. What I’m learning about the okay-ness of sharing, and how it is calming the anxiety. So do come back next Thursday for chapter 3 in my journey.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, April 2024

 

“A Prayer to Begin the Journey

God may I live within limits, of my body, my mind and my spirit.
God may I live within limits, of my calling, my community, my capacity.
God may I live within limits, of who I am and who you want me to be.
May I learn to live in the place of trust, and wrap my heart around your presence.
May I learn to still my mind and listen, attentive to the quiet whispers of your voice.
May I attune my ears to your words, and savor the sacredness of each moment.
May your ways echo in the depths of my being, so that all I am and all I do, flows from an experience of your love.”
Return to Our Senses: Reimagining How We Pray, Christine Sine

 

“If you are going to enter this divine dance we call prayer, you have to surrender your desire to be in control, to figure out how prayer works. You’ve go to let God take the lead. You have to trust.”
A Praying LIfe, Paul E. Miller

 

“Holy Spirit, open the eyes of my heart to pay attention to the movements you are making in my own soul to clear our what must go for something beautiful to grow. Help me to hold curiosity and worship together. As I meditate on the touch of Jesus draw me into worship. Father, forgive my constant state of hurry. Help me embrace the limits of my time and return time back to you as a gift. Jesus, you are so beautiful. Help me to pay much closer attention to God, my soul, and the people you put into my path today. Amen.”
A Spacious Life, Ashley Hales

 

“Praise is the rehearsal of our eternal song. By grace we learn to sing, and in glory we continue to sing.”
C.H. Spurgeon

 

“God, what does it look like for me to trust You today?”
One of my daily prayers.

 

“… The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
James 5:16

“I do not cease to give thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers,”
Ephesians 1:16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will never experience Resurrection Joy until I die to the fact that I can grasp it intellectually.
I cannot.

With my head, I’ll not comprehend it. Only in trusting is Resurrection Joy reality.

Joy was the topic for the one day women’s event “Refresh” at our church. After Lisa kicked off the day with a message on joy, the women chose three different workshops to attend on the topic. I had been asked how I experience joy and to lead one of the workshops.

I struggled. I’m embarrassed. Really should it be that hard??? Where do I find joy? What should my joy topic be?

I do experience joy in my friendship with God, in spending time with Him. But would that be scratching where the ladies are itching? Possibly, yes … but I was feeling insecure.***

A few weeks later, I sent an affirmation text to a friend I had recently visited. Her spiritual growth had been delightfully obvious. I wanted her to know I noticed.

She responded, “Thank you Sue!! I am definitely a VERY different person from a decade ago. (And I sure like it! :-))”

Her response was an affirmation to me. I too am finding great joy in who God created me to be. Okay, I admit, I’m in my 70’s. Why did it take me so long to rest in this joy?

Finding joy in God’s creation of me, of you. That would have been my joy topic. And I bet it would have scratched where many itch.

My friend’s response, and my acknowledgement is not pride, it’s humility. Being who we were did not result from years of self-effort or ladder climbing. It was acknowledging and trusting God’s resurrection power in our live. There is great joy in recognizing and living out who God created us to be. Allow trust to lead to joy. My heart is to spread this gospel joy.

“I have been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20

“… you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
… my soul knows it very well.”
Psalm 139:13, 14

“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.
To write the same things to you is not trouble to me
and is safe for you.”
Philippians 3:1 (italics mine)

* The Pasqueflower is usually the first perennial of the season to bloom, often around Easter. The word pasque derives from the French, paschal which means Easter. It’s purple signifying dignity, grace, nobility, rebirth, renewal. This photo was snapped by my friend Linda Blanch.

*** This ended up being a moot question. Bill and I were out of town and I was not able to attend.

Copyright: Sue Tell, March 2024

Cross-Shaped Love has dominated my thoughts this Easter as once again I’ve been pondering the Resurrection

I have been overwhelmed by the”breadth and length and height and depth” (Ephesians 3:18) and God’s amazing creativity and ability to communicate his love to me.

Knowing intellectually about God’s love is important.  Experiencing God’s love personally makes it real. But to cement his love in my heart, I need to remember.

The cross, the resurrection, and Peter, Mary, and Thomas who were there that first Easter help me remember.

I need to remember Peter who knew God’s love; he experienced it first hand as he walked with Jesus; but, like me, sometimes he forgot.

God is omniscient and he knows faith is fragile. In his love, he says to Peter, “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” (Luke 22:32) Peter was about to walk into the biggest test of his faith yet. God knew, Peter didn’t.

In a way I’m like Peter; in a way I’m not. Like for Peter, God knows what is ahead for me, I don’t. I find great comfort in the truth that the Spirit is praying for me too in my fragile faith. (Romans 8:26)

Initially Peter denied that his faith would fail. His relationship with Jesus was tight; wouldn’t that stand the test of the trial? “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” (Luke 22:33)

How would you respond if you heard God saying he was going to be praying for you that your faith would not fail? I think I would know that I needed that prayer. God’s love for Peter and for me is evident in his prayers.

I know the message of Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” I need to experience it and I need to remember the experience especially when like Peter my faith fails.

I need to remember Mary Magdalene. She stood outside the empty tomb crying, and through her tears didn’t recognize Jesus standing right by her; she assumed he was the gardener. Gently Jesus initiates toward her, “Mary”. He called her by name and she recognized him. (John 20:11-16)

How many times in the presence of my tears do I not recognize Jesus standing right by me?

I’ve memorized I John 3:1, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” I know the truth of these words and I want to experience and remember the Father calling me by name every day.

I need to remember the story of Thomas, one of the twelve, encourages me. He knew Jesus; he had traveled with Jesus; he was a personal witness to his many miracles. But he struggled with the Resurrection. “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails … I will never believe.” (John 20:25)

Jesus, in his great love for Thomas, knew and met him on his turf inviting him to touch him; and again with gentle words, “Do not disbelieve, but believe.” (John 20:27)

He desired Thomas to not only have a memory of knowing him, he wanted him to again experience his presence, and be reminded of his love.

God desires that I know his love,
that I experience his love,
and that I remember his love.

As Lent draws to a close and Resurrection Sunday is upon us, our church family will celebrate communion together Friday evening, Good Friday. And in the very real grief of Jesus’ death on the cross, there is also the reminder of the hope of Easter. Jesus’ cross-shaped love is as real for me, for us, as it was for Peter, for Mary, and for Thomas.

“Do this in remembrance of me.”
Luke 22:19 (italics mine)

Blessings to you as you celebrate Easter,
Sue

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, originally April 2019

 

 

 

I was caught up short, convicted. Is it really my story? Is it really your story? Or is it Jesus’s story?

“You yourselves bear me witness, that I said,
‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’
The one who was the bride is the bridegroom.
The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him,
rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.
Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.”
John 3:28, 29 (bolding mine)

John the Baptist understood his purpose. The above words are his response to his disciple’s worrisome observation about all the people going to Jesus for baptism.

John knew his story. He embraced his purpose. His story was really Jesus’s story.

“It’s like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story.” Patrick Rothfuss, author.

As a believer, my story … your story should be about Jesus. As image bearers, we should be reflecting Jesus; we should be reflecting truth, reflecting the glory of God.

John used the illustration of the bridegroom and the one who stands with the bridegroom (the best man, in our modern understanding). The best man hears the bridegroom’s voice, I do. He hears the promise; and he rejoices WITH the bridegroom.

Not only does he recognize the joy of the bridegroom, his joy is also now complete.

Is that what my story sounds like?
Is my story telling Jesus’s story?
I am experiencing joy in my story?

And that’s where my journals come in. Have I told you about my journals? They are an integral part of my devotional time.

Yup, I regularly keep two journals. The spiral bound one with the picture of the bird will get used up in about six months. This journal records my miscellaneous thoughts. Some of those thoughts will journey into this blog some day (see the colored tabs).

The other is my leather journal, my scripture journal, my prayer journal, my most important journal. This is the journal where I make space for God and I hear his voice. This is the journal that offers God’s perspective. It gets used, not used up.

This journal turns my story into Jesus’s story.

It’s divided into sections, each containing scriptures that lead my prayer life: my identity, my purpose, the lies I tend to believe and God’s truth, the scriptures I pray for my husband, our sons and their wives, our GRANDS.

“… Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3: 29, 30

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, March 2024

 

 

 

 

Life is hard. Sicknesses. Physical ailments. Relational disruptions. Death. Emotional distances. Losses abounding. Sufferings all around. Faith tested.

God’s love seems to be hiding … at least from my human perspective.

The camper was hooked to our car. Our two young GRANDS were safely strapped in their car-seats. We were on our way to Mueller State Park and their first camping experience. Just before our last turn to the left, the road was blocked. The police informed us that a semi truck had turned over and was blocking the entrance to the park. Our camping trip was over before it started.

Three year old Jack querried , Does God know about the truck? Does God know it’s blocking where we want to go?

Isn’t that the question we’re all tempted to ask? Does God know? God, where are you?

“Abba” is the Aramaic word for Father. It was the everyday language that Jesus uses. It conveys the idea of authority and the intimacy of a loving Father’s care. (ESV study Bible, Matthew 6:9) It’s how Jesus came to God in the Garden of Gethsemane. “And he (Jesus) said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Mark 14:36.

 

Earlier this spring I found myself crying Abba Father, take this cup from me. God, do you know? Your love seems hidden.

I knew the answer. God knows.

This new hard wasn’t a blip on the radar of God’s love.

This new hard was an invitation to pray.
This new hard was an invitation to trust.

At first, my prayers centered around the new hard, my current blip, take this cup. At first they didn’t move me to the yet not what I will.

It was the yet not I (in some versions, nevertheless) that drew me back to God. It was trusting the truth of his Word that brought the peace and calmed my heart.

God was not hiding!

Trust unlocks love.

My prayers changed. God’s Word tells me that his love is steadfast. My question changed. God, what would it look like for me to trust what your Word says today; trust in the midst of this new hard. I want to experience your love. Amen.

My new hard is still hard. I continue to pray that God will take this cup away. And I will continue to remind myself to trust his love even in the midst. Trusting his love looks different each day.

 

These words, these truths and the rest of Psalm 121 are anchoring my trust.
“My help comes from the LORD,” (verse 2)

Love is not hiding. God is not hiding.

 

 

 

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, March 2024

 

These pre-schoolers are demonstrating my dancing skills. The last time Bill and I danced together — well except square dancing — was at our wedding.

I am not musical!
I can’t carry a tune.
I don’t stay on key (whatever that means).
And Bill claims he’s not musical either. Hmmmm!

And therein is the problem.

“He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.”
Psalm 40:3

My heart’s desire is that God uses me to introduce others to him — for my friends to put their trust in the Lord. But if it depend on my song? YIKES!

“It is clear to us, friends,
that God not only loves you very much
but also
has put his hand on you for something special …
Something happened in you …
Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word, …
you’re the message!”
I Thessalonians 1:4-9, The Message rendition, bolding mine

It’s not about my musical ability, singing or dancing. It’s not about what I cannot do.
It’s about who I am, who God created me to be. It’s about the heart he gave me and the desires he birthed in me. It’s about what God can do.

God will take his work of art (me) and allow it to bless others (you) — even if I’m not musical!

Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book, LIfe Together, encouraged me. “Speak to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19). Our song on earth is speech. It is the sung Word.” page 59.

Will I let go of my understanding of the “song” God gave me?
Will I say, like Mary, “Let it be to me”? Will I embrace the “song” he did give me?

“Praise the LORD!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the godly!
Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King?
Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
For the LORD takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation.”
Psalm 149:1-4, bolding mine

“Just keep dancing!” were the words the elderly couple shared with the newly weds at their wedding. So much wisdom. Thank you to Katie for sharing her story and prompting these thoughts.

How do you see God taking pleasure in you?

Copyright: Sue Tell, February 2024

 

 

 

I’m starting a new practice on Echoes of Grace. Every so often I plan to share three quotes that have ministered to my heart without explanation. My prayer is that you too will hear from God in these words. And please comment. Allow your thoughts to minister to others.

 

 

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

 

“Only when you know yourself as unconditionally loved — that is, fully received — by God can you give gratuitously. … When you know yourself as fully loved, you will be able go give according to the other’s capacity to receive, and you will be able to receive according to the other’s capacity to give.”  Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love, pages 65,66.

 

“Though still insufficient as an illustration, I picture this access as akin to receiving an invitation to dinner at the White House. You can’t get in unless you’ve been granted an invitation. You must access that invitation by receiving it, opening it, RSVPing for it. But once you accept the invitation and show up for dinner, you don’t need to continually flash your invitation; you’ve gained access, and your place is secure.” Ruth Chou Simons, When Strivings Cease, page 134.

 

“But to all who did receive him,
who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God,”
John 1:12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FMA,
Sue

 

 

 

A small group of friends were together one evening enjoying friendship and conversation. We know each other fairly well and so decided to share an affirmation exercise. We drew one name out of a hat and she was chosen. Then each of us in turn made eye contact with her and shared what we observed and appreciated about how God created her. We all had stories to back up what we shared. Once in a while she broke eye contact.

Affirmation is sometimes hard to receive.

Another friend spent an evening at an art gallery with her friends creating this lovely welcome sign for their new home. She posted this picture on Facebook. Didn’t she do a great job?! I could respond and say, Janet, this is beautiful. I love how you integrated the dragonflies with the foliage. Or I could say, Janet, I love how God created you with the eye of an artist, an eye for beauty, an eye for color. And I love your heart for sharing it with others. It shows not only in your painting, I also see it in your writing.

My first response was a compliment. The second an affirmation.

A compliment is a polite expression noticing what someone has done. It highlights their work.
An affirmation acknowledges the source of their doings. It calls out God’s work in their lives.

Compliments seem to be more common in our culture than affirmations. I want my compliments to be ensconced in affirmations. Do you remember my word for 2024? Click here.

In life, we almost naturally live out who God created us to be. Others notice the applications of our identity and often compliment it. I’m challenged to consider where those applications originated and acknowledge it.

Affirmations are often harder to accept than compliments. We don’t know what to do with them. Or we down-play their significance. In the past, several times I’ve been affirmed on my gift of hospitality. For many years, my response was, Oh that’s easy. I like hospitality. To me, other things were important, hospitality was not. I didn’t accept that hospitality was one of the ways God created me.

A few friends have noted that I am wise. Really??? Wisdom does have a higher ranking in my human mind than hospitality. But I still had a hard time believing it.

So how do I respond?

It leads me to dependence, to prayer.
God, how can I continue to mature into who you created me to be. Amen.
Affirmations never lead to pride; they lead to humility, recognizing God’s work.

Could it be that the affirmations of another are God’s messages to me?
Could it be that their words are something I need to trust, to develop, to grow into?

If another doesn’t know how to respond to affirmations, does that mean that I stop giving them?
BY NO MEANS, to quote Paul in his letter to the Romans. I do need to back up my affirmations with stories. Affirmations are not empty words. Affirmations are transformational. Affirmations invite me to join God in noticing his creation of my friends.

My responsibility is not their response.
My responsibility is to continue to develop as an affirming person.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, February 2024

 

 

 

I was one of the 11 million who watched Superbowl LVIII. And, yes, I was glad for the outcome. I was rooting for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

But the story that captured my attention circled around Brock Purdy, the 22 year old San Francisco 49-er quarterback.

In the 2022 NFL draft, Brock Purdy was the last pick and earned the moniker, Mr. Irrelevant, the nickname referring to his place in the draft.

It had nothing to do with him as a person, it had everything to do with the place the NFL decided he fit.

Ouch! But I wondered, do I often let the decisions of others affect how I see myself? Do I sometimes think of myself as a Mrs. Irrevelant?

“When you believe and act with courage, you can achieve things others find unattainable. You are only limited by what you believe to be possible.” Brock Purdy.

I think he is right. I am limited by what I believe.

I can allow myself to believe truth or to believe what I think the circumstances are telling me.

Theologian, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, has said, “Most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself.”

Or, my unhappiness is under-girded by what I believe, what the circumstances are communicating, and by failing to speak truth to myself!

Lies are self-limiting beliefs
reinforced by the filters through which I see life.
They tend to control and manipulate.

“No-one is more influential in your life than you are, because no-one talks to you more than you do.” Paul David Tripp

“Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not … go astray after a lie!”
Psalm 40:4

Brock’s story served as a reminder. I am not, Brock is not, you are not irrelevant. As believers, God formed us, knew us, and consecrated us with purpose before we were even born. Jeremiah 1:5. Ephesians 1:5. As believers we have the DNA of godliness.

I love ministry. But ministry is not what I do, it is who I am. My life echoes the master’s words. I Thessalonians 1:9-12 in The Message rendition communicates this truth so well.

I am, Brock is, you are, the work of His hands …
not so that we have a platform,
but so that He might be glorified.
from Isaiah 60:21

Thank you Brock Purdy for your story and the reminder.

“The seventy-two returned with joy …
Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this …
rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Jesus, Luke 10:17 & 20

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, February 2024

 

 

I re-joined our church’s lady’s Bible study this semester. It has been so good to be back with old and new friends on Thursday mornings. We recently finished going through Titus and talking about what are bridges and what are barriers to living missionally, to living out the gospel of grace in our context … like Paul commissioned Titus to do by sending him to Crete.

Bridges don’t always look like I expect. Sometimes challenging situations are the bridges God intends. This was true for me last weekend.

Saturday morning brought a major snow storm to our neighborhood. By the end of the day there was 14″ of heavy white snow blanketing our yard, our driveway, the trees, and everything else outside. It was beautiful … but …

My husband started having symptoms that said, go to the ER, check this out! Drive through the snow. NOT my favorite activity!

I slipped our 4WD vehicle into 4-LO to get out of the driveway and off we went … slowly!

We got there. There were lots of tests, one overnight for observation, and he was discharged. The symptoms probably a result of his December bout with Covid. We exhaled.

But in those 30 hours, Bill and I experienced bridges of the gospel lived out on our behalf.

*** The ladies in my Bible study (I’m still putting names with faces) and several others faithfully prayed.
*** Our Splendid Friends (couple’s group) made sure I got back to the hospital Sunday morning. Our car was imprisoned in the snow.
*** Neighbors and some of the men in S.F. plowed out our drive.
*** There are some difficult situations in our extended family. They all evaporated in their concern for Bill.

 

“Bear one another’s burdens,
and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2

What wonderful gifts we received last weekend, a picture of gospel bridges.

Some of those gifts came because I initiated. I asked for help. I texted a neighbor to see if he could plow our driveway. I texted a few to ask that they pray. I needed to let our need be known and be a receiver. The word spread. More and more people came to our aid.

I needed to let my friends cross the bridge on their terms. I needed to accept according to their lead, their abilities to help. I was thankful for the understanding of my sister-in-law who had walked a similar path. I needed her story. Some of the gospel bridges surprised.

Last week, in an unrelated situation, I also experienced gospel barriers. I was sure that sharing that story (different from what I just shared) would be a bridge. It wasn’t, it was a barrier. I’m thankful she was honest and let me know she didn’t want to hear those stories.

Sometimes life is like walking a gospel tight-rope.
What will be a bridge; what will be a barrier?

So I’m learning.
1.  Let them lead.
2.  Accept on their terms.
3.  Keep asking. Be a receiver.
4.  Barriers are like yellow flashing lights, not stop signs. Look for another way.
5.  Keep praying. God, what does the bridge look like in this situation?

“… so that in everything they may adorn the gospel…
For the grace of God has appeared,
bringing salvation for all people,”
Titus 2:10,11

 

Copyright, Sue Tell, February 2024

 

 

 

These are Ros’s words, not mine. I know you have come to appreciate her wisdom so much, I want to bless you with it again. Capacity, I’ve been thinking about that reality a lot these past several months. So although our circumstances are very different, I get Ros’s reality. I bet you will too.

Bill and I are on the beach!! A perfect time to let my friend share her heart with you.

“You haven’t heard from me in a while, perhaps you’ve noticed. There seems to be a gaping hole between my desire to connect with you, and my capacity to.

I see you, though, and know enough about who you are to be curious about what’s going on. Where are you finding your heart tilting towards the sun? What happened in that situation you told me about? I want to know. I want to love you with my ears, my questions, my interest. I want to tell you how brave you are for going through all you’ve been going through. I want you to know how much I respect you.

And yet –

I have done none of these things.

The days have turned into weeks, into months. And now here we are, well established in this dark valley and I find myself estranged. Not just from normal patterns and routine but, most frustratingly, capacity. Estranged from the ability to engage with very much other than what is hitting me in the face..

It was Mary Oliver who wrote

Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness.
It took me years to understand that this, too, was gift..

These past months I have let people down, disappointed others. I have not followed through on my words. I’ve been on edge with those I love most, and unable to summon energy or creativity to brighten anyone’s day. (Or pray.)

But into that miserable melee comes awareness of a gift. A gift no-one looks for, but everyone has, if only they are able to view it that way.

The gift?

The gift is the liberty of insufficiency..

In this moment of stumbling feet, of wounds that smart, thoughts that dart, rawness of heart: I am free.

I am released from the burden of being everything to everyone, of being all things to all people. It was never my burden to carry anyway, but oh how often I’m tempted to imagine I can.

There’s no denying it: being confronted with your own insufficiency over and over again is uncomfortable. It seems messy, undignified. We imagine it would be more glorifying to God for us to be the all-singing, all-dancing of ourselves.

But, as I have discovered- and here is the gift- when we come face-to-face with the discomfort of our own insufficiency, we find ourselves face-to-face with he who can only be described as the Supreme Sufficiency.

The One who is Unchangeable, Wise, Good. The One who is Peace, as in shalom, the divine Restorer of all that is fractured.

He who is Supreme dignifies us with the liberty of insufficiency. Dignifies what seems to us so undignified. Whispers Grace.

Grace.

Grace.

Grace.

My grace is sufficient, and my power made perfect in weakness..

The pressure is off.

So forgive me dear friends, for viewing this – concern-filled, stress-addled- version of myself with some welcome. And when my capacities return, which they will, I hope they’ll bring with them a fresh imprint. The imprint of the One who is indeed everything any of us have ever needed, and always has been, even though many days we grapple around in the gravel, rather than receive the jewel so freely proffered.

And when I do finally call – which I look forward to – perhaps we can raise a toast to insufficiency embraced? We are free, dear friend. We have been liberated from the bondage of self-sufficiency, and are free.”

The alarm clock rudely barges into my sleep. The five beeps of the coffeemaker are a mixed blessing. The garbage man seals the deal — I’m awake. My day, with all its noise, begins.

“So faith comes from hearing,”
Romans 10:17

How quiet do I need to be to hear? I want my faith to grow.

“Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
… Incline your ear, and come to me:
hear, that your soul may live;”
Isaiah 55:2, 3

What does listening diligently look like? How do I incline my ear?

Even in my questions, I hear the voice of God.

On the warm days, the tall Ponderosas surrounding our deck beckon. I gather my Bible, my journal, my coffee and head for my quiet haven. In the winter, our deck is replaced by the chair in my writing room facing the windows. The view of God’s creation a gift, my wintertime quiet haven.

God speaks with a quiet whisper. Am I hearing His voice? Or do the noises of life rob my attention? I want to hear.

I’m learning:

Quietness is a need; God hardwired me for quiet.

Quietness is an art; it blossoms with practice.

Quietness is a skill; it is a habit to be developed.

Quietness is a gift; I must unwrap it to enjoy.

Quietness is healing; my soul responds.

 

 

 

Zephaniah 3:17 tells me that the Lord quiets me with His love. Oh, how I desire God to showcase His love to me. Quietness enables His love to be manifest.

So I sit, I ponder His words, I pray. Sometimes I read a favorite author, all the while listening for God. Restlessness transforms into rest — a rest so energizing I want to shout it from the rooftop — but then I would interrupt the quiet of my neighbors.

“The effect of righteousness will be peace,
and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.”
Isaiah 32:17

Peace, trust — two other qualities I long for.

“In turn, quietness brings what really matters into focus
and propel you toward rest and activity that is meaningful,
authentic to your true self, and energizing to your soul.”
Bonnie Gray from Whispers of Rest

Bill and I are enjoying our escape winter vacation. “Echoes of Grace” is coming to you from a quiet beach.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, January 2024

 

 

When a scripture … one I’ve not noticed before pops up in your reading twice in one week, you (I) pay attention!

“You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.”
Psalm 65:11

How many times have I read through the Psalms? LOTS! And never noticed those two words, wagon tracks. My bad.

God’s wagon tracks overflow with abundance! All of David’s words in this Psalm exalt God and remind.

Verse 1 — God is due my praise.
Verse 2 — God listens to my prayers.
Verse 3 — God forgives.
Verse 4 — God chooses and brings us near.
Verse 5 — God responds.
Verse 6 — God creates.
Verse 7 — God quiets.
Verse 8 — God controls time.
Verse 9 — God cares for and provides.
Verse 10 — God waits; God prepares; God blesses

Verse 11 — God’s wagon tracks are overflowing with abundance!

Verse 12 — Even in times of wilderness, there is joy.
Verse 13 — Joy!

As I once again read and re-read these words, I plugged in my reality. My right-now circumstances. I pondered them in light of God’s truth. With His waters, He is settling me, softening me, and readying me for the blessing of growth. (verse 10). I see the faithful wagon tracks of God.

In her book, The Spacious Life, Ashley Hales also references God’s wagon tracks and then points us to our wagon tracks.

“Spiritual disciplines are like well-worn wagon tracks, the ancient paths that we follow because they’ve been cut out by a competent guide and found to be good and effective ways of traveling through terrain. Wagon tracks aren’t sexy, but they do mark out the faithful way.” (page 54).

The ancient paths, the spiritual disciplines, wagon tracks, the good way. Rest for your souls. Ahhhhh!

An interesting thought is the muddier the terrain, the deeper the wagon tracks.

We’ve experienced muddy terrain in our family the last several weeks. Both our sons had one of their vehicles rear-ended. Are my wagon tracks helping me to see those hards in light of God’s wagon tracks?

What are your wagon tracks that allow you to see God’s wagon tracks in your life?

I’ll share mine in my letter to the followers of Echoes of Grace.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, January 2024

 

 

 

 

 

It was New Year’s Eve. Holding hands and their heads down, the newly weds exited the church to the waiting limousine. They won the Rose Bowl. CELEBRATIONS!! The confetti flew! You can imagine it.

I wasn’t in a confetti mood last week. I was feeling quite the opposite.

For several years my friend and I had a word we used when connecting with each other, deep. We wouldn’t allow our relationship to be superficial. It fit our desires — but now? I wanted it to but in my mind, I was coming up short. I texted her my feelings.

“We don’t always have to be deep but I consider you one of my deepest, most honest friends.”  She texted back.

Her word confetti was a balm to my soul. That’s who I want to be. I want to be an honest friend, a real friend, a vulnerable friend. That equates to deep. She called out who God created me to be.

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Proverbs 16:24

Confetti, Words, Affirmations — How do they relate?

Words are important; affirming words are like confetti celebrating who God created the listener to be.

Words of affirmation are not the same as compliments. Compliments point out something temporary, possibly an accomplishment, possibly a new hair style. Although compliments are encouraging, they are not transformational.

Words of affirmation are transformational. They remind the receiver of God’s good creation in them. Affirmation transcends temporary. We need affirming words!

Paul affirms Timothy. “But as for you, O man of God,” — I Timothy 6:11.
God affirms Jesus. “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” — Matthew 3:17.
Jesus affirms Peter. “You are Peter, a rock.” — Matthew 16:18, The Message.
Jesus affirms Bartimaeus. “… your faith has made you well. — Mark 10:52.
Boaz affirms Ruth calling her kind and worthy. — Ruth 3:10, 11.
The LORD affirms Noah. “… you are righteous …” — Genesis 7:1.

“Let love be genuine …
Outdo one another in showing honor.”
Romans 12:9, 10.

Affirming another is noticing and honoring who God created them to be. It is calling out the good in others. It’s like tossing confetti.

For the receiver, it is humbling.
It is also a reminder inspiring the receiver to keep living out their God-ordained creation.

Pastor Dane Ortlund reminds that if CS Lewis had not encouraged (affirmed) JRR Tolkien, the the Lord of the Rings books would not have existed! He goes on to say, that affirmation has an disproportional power to the receiver. Like putting $1000 in their bank account and it costs the giver nothing. Well, nothing but noticing.

My word for 2024 is affirmation.
My heart is to grow in being an affirming person.
I desire to notice and honor my friends by seeing who they are,
and calling out who God created them to be.
I want my words to be like confetti.

But you know, sometimes you know people who seem hard to affirm. I get that.

I was taught an affirmation exercise that has greatly helped me. It includes a list of 160 affirming words. I would like to share it with you. If you are signed up to follow Echoes of Grace, I’ll send you the details. If you have not signed up, please do so, and you too will get the details.

 

What are your desires for the new year?

Whatever they might be, BIG blessings to you in 2024!

 

 

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, January 2024