“To be loved you have to be known; to be known, you have to be vulnerable.”
Shelly Miller

Being known … might that be one of the desires of your heart too?

I hadn’t thought of it in those terms until last summer. We were out to coffee with new friends (note the gal, second from right, standing in bottom row) and when the wife spoke those words, it clicked. That’s me. I too want to be known.

Acknowledging my desire to be known brought understanding to me and took me another step deeper into combating the lie that I knew often controlled me.

It reminded me of two meetings I attended about five years apart, two different but similar meetings. For both, I was traveling with Bill, he was training, I had no assigned role.

The first in Maine ~ about 5 years ago.
The second in Singapore ~ just last month.

My experience at the two meetings was vastly different.

In Maine I was chomping at the bit. I wanted to add my two cents.
I wanted the group to know I had something to offer.
I was feeling unknown and insignificant.
Just being there and supporting Bill wasn’t enough for me.
I was frustrated.

In Singapore. I was relaxed.
Being there and supporting Bill was enough.
I was at peace. (Funny story, Asian lady in tears thanked me for bringing Bill. I hugged her back. Really Bill brought me!)

What was going on in me? What was the difference?

It all had to do with being known.

In Maine, I believed my “known-ness” came through my words. I’m an extrovert, words are important.
And I was believing my significance came from my “known-ness”. So with no words, I was insignificant.

Significance is a legitimate need. A need that God desires to meet in me. But I was not looking to God. I thought I was responsible for creating my own significance, my own known-ness. For the others at the meeting to think well of me, I needed to add my words.

Now (5 years later) I understand that my “known-ness” rests with God.

God has graciously pointed me to Psalm 138:8, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for you …”

God is far more concerned about my living out His purposes for me, the desires He placed in my heart, living in the significance He offers, believing my known-ness rests in my identity as His beloved child, than in my speaking words.

“When God calls you to offer the treasures of your inheritance,
you are on holy ground.”
Sharon Betters

In Maine God had not called me to offer the treasures of my inheritance through words, yet that was what I wanted, felt I needed.

So in Maine, I was feeling in-significant and unknown.

Satan was having a hay day with me, re-enforcing a lie I knew I struggled with, I am not good enough. More specifically, I am not spiritually mature enough to be more than the sitting, smiling wife.

I am not good enough. I know that is Satan’s biggest card he plays with me. I also know when I’m most vulnerable.

I am not good enough is a lie of the devil.
but
I want to be known is a God-given desire. And it is truth.

 “The better we know ourselves, the better we know God.
The better we know God, the better we know ourselves.”
John Calvin

I’m beginning to notice that many of my lies are related to my desires. And doesn’t that make sense? Satan knows our places of vulnerability.

Desires are good things. God planted them in my DNA when he created me. They are part of my identity as a child of God.

“What the wicked dreads will come upon him,
but the desire of the righteous will be granted.”
Proverbs 10:24

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire
and
the power to do what pleases him.”
Philippians 2:13, NLT

Back to Singapore. What was the difference?

After meditating on the truth in the scriptures for many years, I’m learning to trust that truth. God continues to reveal his desires for me. And I often pray, God, what would it look like to trust you with this truth today?

I’m learning my significance rests with God.
I’m learning that my known-ness is God’s responsibility.
I’m learning to trust God with those truths.
And, it is good.

When my motivations are defined by trust,
my desires are refined by God.
a thought from my journal, 2015

“Before I formed you in the womb,
I knew you.
And before you were born,
I consecrated you;”
Jeremiah 1:5

 

 

 

Three Ministries:

Three Seasons:

Two Weeks: 

October 15 -18, Colorado, winter

October 18 – 22, Arizona, summer

October 22 – 27, North Carolina, fall

 

 

One Carry-on.

It all started a week ago last Monday (October 15). The first leg of our trip was a retreat for a small group of Navigator staff wives, women I’ve come to know and appreciate. We called it a Gathering as there was no official speaker. Jean Fleming was our guest of honor and for two days she led us in a discussion of important stuff. What a phenomenal privilege. All 18 of us plus two babies lived in one of the lovely reunion cabins at the YMCA of the Rockies.

Jean fed us a banquet of wisdom gained from her years of walking with Jesus, her knowledge of the Bible, and her experience as a wife, a mother of three children, and a missionary.  We all left with  much to think about.

Jean’s Gems

Let me highlight just three that I’ve been pondering this past week.

Jean’s husband Roger died November 30, 2017, just under a year ago. Jean, however, did not want the word widow to define her in this season. Widow speaks to what is lost, what is missing. So she asked God for a new name, one that would speak truth to this chapter of her journey. Jean’s desire is that these years will be the most fruitful years of her life. Her new name speaks of anticipation and expectation. She says, this name I call myself is shaping me. It is her ‘inside name’, the name God has given her.

I’ve been asking God what his inside name is for me. I’m not sure yet. But I’m going to keep asking. I want God’s name for me to shape me too.

Another thought Jean shared is, Life cannot always be simple, organized, or balanced. But it can be focused. She said that if we’re living on a starvation diet spiritually at this stage of our lives, we’ll live on a starvation diet in our next stage. Changing circumstances don’t automatically create a healthy spiritual diet. In this stage … where I am right now … where is my focus? And how can I live that focus in the midst of my current circumstances?

Jean also challenged us to think deeply about truth. To process, to ponder, to ask questions, to do away with pat answers. She shared this illustration. A pastor called all the children in church one Sunday up to the front of the sanctuary for the children’s sermon. He asked, “What is small and gray, eats nuts, has a big bushy tail, and climbs trees?” Little Johnny excitedly raises his hand. The pastor calls on him and Johnny says loudly and clearly, “Jesus”. The pastor says, “Now listen well. What is small and gray, eats nuts, has a big bushy tail, and climbs trees?” A bit more tentatively Johnny raises his hand. The pastor calls on him and Johnny replies, “Well it sounds like a squirrel. But ‘Jesus’ is always the right answer.”

Is Jesus always our right answer? Or are we pondering deeply about what the scriptures are saying, are we asking questions? Or are we defaulting to what we think the scriptures are saying without taking the time to study, to meditate, and to ask God how a specific passage speaks to this situation. We grow more from asking questions than having the answer. A good challenge.

“This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth,
but you shall meditate on it day and night,
so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.
For then you will make your way prosperous,
and then you will have good success.”
Joshua 1:8

 

 

 

 

 

I sometimes enjoy doing a jig saw puzzle. The one above is one Bill and I are working on together when we’re at our Sanctuary (cabin in the mountains). It actually has been more of a challenge than we were anticipating.

I’ve heard my friend Paula say that sometimes spiritual growth feels like a jig saw puzzle you are trying to do without the picture on the box top. I get that. The pieces are all there, but how do they fit together?

Recently I’ve begun realizing that my life is kind of like a jig saw puzzle. I have the DNA of godliness, but often I don’t see the picture that God sees. The pieces are there, but how do they fit together?

It was the winter of 2013. I didn’t want the status quo to describe me spiritually; I wanted to keep growing. But what was the next puzzle piece? Seminary? Spiritual Director Certificate? Classes on spiritual formation? Other?

It wasn’t that I didn’t have good input in my life. I’ve been blessed with great teaching in the churches we’ve been members of. Most of my career has been Navigator staff which has opened many doors to be exposed to excellent Bible teachers. But that niggling desire, how do I keep spiritual growth alive wouldn’t leave. What was the next piece of that jig saw puzzle that needed to fit to keep revealing the beautiful picture that was so obvious to God?

Psalm 92:14 “They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,” spoke (and continues to speak) to a parallel desire, another piece of the puzzle I wanted to fit in. But how?

One by one the pieces I thought might be the answer fell to the floor until I was left with the “other” piece. It’s shape was unfamiliar to me. And even now, almost six years later, I’m recognizing the importance of that piece.

The ‘righteousness’ piece. You might think that someone who has walked with God for over 40 years, would have realized that righteousness described her. But truly I’d never considered it. And that piece was key to begin allowing my desires to come to fruition, making way for other pieces to fit in place.

I began meditating on scriptures like Romans 4:22, 23 & 24, “That is why his (Abraham’s) faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also…” (parentheses and italics mine)

Romans 5:21, “… grace also might reign through righteousness …”

Proverbs 12:12, “… but the root of the righteous bears fruit.” Ah-ha!

And others.

The root (the source of growth) of righteousness piece had to be in place for the other pieces to fit.

And grace that was reigning in me through righteousness allowed me to love well. Love, a fruit of the spirit in my life, was showing itself through me.

I’m learning that affirmation is one of the best ways I can love others. I’m wondering if affirming others even trumps our giftings. Our gifts are not mentioned in the list of the Galatians 5:22 & 23, the list of the fruit of the Spirit. Our gifts work themselves out in our doings; the fruit of the Spirit is God’s doings through us (grace).

Another puzzle piece, and an important key ranking right up there with righteousness, was named trust. Recognizing the pieces was not enough. I needed to trust them. I needed to trust what God was saying, not just know what he was saying.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose trust is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17: 7 & 8 (bolding mine)

I must trust the righteousness God has worked in me; then His love can flow through me and godly fruit will come from me.

My jig saw puzzle is a work in progress. There are still pieces that I’m not seeing where they fit. But my trust is in God who sees the picture on the top of the box.

I wonder what you’re learning about your godliness DNA. Let’s encourage each other.

 

 

 

 

The title summarizes my job description for next week.
And I’m wondering, will you join me?

I’m excited about a “Gathering” that I’m facilitating with Jean Fleming. I’ve invited 16 of our Navigator staff wives from across the United States to join me and Jean at Rocky Mountain National Park from Monday to Thursday to think together about important stuff!

Are you familiar with Jean Fleming? This dear friend has authored five books, all still available from Tyndale House and Navpress. Currently my favorite is, Pursue The Intentional Life. I love this prayer she prays for herself and records for me to borrow and pray for myself:

“Oh, Lord, is there sufficient evidence in my life of Your activity? Will others at least be tempted to speculate whether God ever inhabits humans? I long for the bursting forth of Your life in me that spills over to touch others in blessing, to Your glory. Bear Your fruit in me.” (p. 117)

And, do feel free to pray it for yourself as well.

Jean was widowed last November. She shared with me last month that her desire is that the remaining years God gives her on this earth will be the most fruitful of her journey.

Jean is not speaking at our Gathering, rather she is leading the discussion. Although ideas are floating in our minds, we are trusting the leading of the Holy Spirit as He best knows the needs of the women, all young wives, many leaving their husbands with the kids to be with us.

Would you join us in praying that this time would bear fruit for God’s glory? Would you pray that we both will be sensitive to the leading of your Spirit and love these friends well? Would you pray for me as I lead in a group devotional time on Tuesday morning? And mostly, would you join us in praying that each women would have a personal and transformational time with God. And of course the details; they are still being worked out. Thank you.

I can’t wait to share more with you about this time!

But next week on Echoes of Grace I’m sharing about how often spiritual growth looks like a jig saw puzzle. Be sure and come back.

“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

 

September left me with lots to ponder.

My thoughts are being stirred as I remember the words of the speakers I was privileged to be exposed to and the authors who seemed to know just what I needed to hear.

For me, the recordings in my journal, my Bible, and a cup of coffee are just the ingredients I need to let these thoughts percolate and sink into the fabric of my being.

I’ve penned over 25 one-liners from September in my journal that I want to remember; 25+ one-liners that relate to my now and are helping me untangle current realities.  I wonder if some of these will stir your thoughts and speak to your reality.

The top seven, in no specific order:

1. When we allow people to help us, they become more emotionally involved than when we try to help them. I’m thinking about our neighbors and wanting to reach out to them. When was the last time I allowed my needs to be known?
2. God doesn’t do old; God is a God of the new. Why do I sometimes want to hang on to the old, the familiar and are so fearful of trusting God with something new? How often have I quoted Lamentations 3:22 and 23, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (bolding mine) If God mercies are continually new, why do I want to find comfort in the old?
3. There is a difference between mimicking and knowing. And I’m thinking there is a difference between knowing truth and trusting truth. How do I move from knowledge to trust?
4. If you lose your story, you lose your identity. How many times have I wanted to forget part of my story? Stories keep truth alive. When I forget my story, I am taking away part of the miraculous God has worked in my life; the miraculous that others just might need to hear.
5. Older woman still need older woman. Who are the older woman who I need to be listening to at this point? How can I make that happen?
6. When I think of time, I naturally am also thinking of limits. When I think of eternity, I think of freedom, of space. When Jesus teaches me to pray, he says, “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. Matthew 6:10. There is enough time for God’s will. “… and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus …” Hebrews 12:1 and 2. Hmmm, not looking to my calendar or my watch, but looking to Jesus! What might his wisdom be?
7. As much as I love the ministry God has opened for us (for me) through travel, I also desire to minister in a local context. I’ve asked others what that might look like. But have I asked God, what would it look like to be involved locally at this stage of my life?

Thank you to Darrell Sanders, Randy Raysbrook, Jean Fleming, and the Holy Spirit for stimulating my thinking.

Do you identify with any of the above thoughts? What is stimulating your thinking these days?

“Brothers, do not be children in your thinking.
Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.”
I Corinthians 14:20

 

 

 

 

God whispered the words in the title above for the first time on a camping trip when our boys were young. I was sitting on the shore of a small protected lake in Wisconsin keeping my eyes on our son. My husband and I had let Jeff, maybe 8 years old at the time, take our canoe out by himself.

He was perhaps 50 yards from shore, sitting, smiling, enjoying, probably listening to the birds, and feeling the slight rock of the canoe in the warm summer breezes. It was the perfect picture of peacefulness, for Jeff and for me.

Enjoying, peacefulness, awareness, listening ~ all words I would use to describe sabbath-living. I imagine for Jeff that was a time of sabbath, even though in his short 8 years he had probably never heard the word. There was nothing else he was supposed to be doing. There was nothing else I was supposed to be doing.

Now that same phrase, there is nothing else you’re supposed to be doing, often surfaces when we’re on vacation.

Just last month I sat on the wide front porch of our VRBO, cuddled in a soft blanket, and my vacation phrase came back. The creek was running loud because of the thunder storms the night before. The deep green of the Cottonwoods and the lighter green of the Aspen were quiet that morning, the breezes non-existent. The sky was slowly morphing from overcast to patches of blue. I sipped my coffee and breathed deeply of God’s gift of sabbath. There was nothing else I was supposed to be doing.

A simple sentence ushers in contentment, peace, and profound truth.

Another sentence I haven’t forgotten brings a smile and ministry. Together these two sentences have brought definition to what I have come to call sabbath-living.

You don’t look Jewish. It was spoken to me a few years back and in remembering, now like then, it makes me smile. I was in the Dallas-Fort Worth airport and had struck up a conversation with a fellow traveler. I learned that she was a Bible study leader in a well-known Bible study ministry. I told her I was on my way to facilitate a Sabbath-Living retreat. Her surprised response, you don’t look Jewish, tumbled out of her mouth. For her the word sabbath was a cultural word connected with the Jewish faith.

I laughed and responded, I wasn’t Jewish, I was Christian.

For me, the phrase Sabbath-Living is a way to describe a life-style of connecting with God, and enjoying His presence. It defines my (almost) daily times with God, my quiet time and what I hear referred to as extended time with God.

And I’ve come to call the retreats I lead Sabbath-Living. They are a time of developing and deepening your friendship with God, of listening for his love, resting in his presence, and of experiencing sabbath-living.

In enjoying these times of sabbath, I also know, there is nothing else I’m supposed to be doing!

“Be still and know that I am God,
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10

The phone call came, a year ago, as Bill and I were driving west for a week of vacation in Utah. It was Sunday. My sister had taken Mom to the ER, her third trip to the hospital in four months.

It never occurred to me that they would install a pacemaker.
It never occurred to me that Mom would not recover.
It never occurred to me that we would bring Mom home to Hospice.
It never occurred to me that Mom would experience heaven in less than two weeks.

We continued on.

Los Vados, our vacation destination, is tucked in a beautiful canyon near Moab. This lovely home has beckoned us back many years to enjoy the desert quiet, the solitude, the remote location, and the swimming pool. Up the hill from the deck is the one place we are able to get a cell connection. I walked up that hill many times Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday as my sisters kept me up to date with Mom in New Jersey. Late Tuesday afternoon, we decided to abort vacation and I headed east.

These last few weeks I’ve been remembering, re-living, grieving, and going through not a few tissues. One year ago today _____, one year ago today _____.

And in the midst, I’m thankful.

Mom is in heaven free of those earth-bound realities that so frustrated her 97 year old body.

I’m thankful for the heritage of values that Mom left for me. The values of presence, of family, of hospitality, of faith, of honoring, of creativity, of hard work, and more were all woven into the fabric of her being.

“She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;”
Proverbs 31:27, 28a

Although I live those values differently, Mom planted the seeds and faithfully watered those values. They took root in my life.

Perhaps the value seed I’m most thankful for is the unique seed of release and support. Mom, and Dad too, knew how to release their daughters, to give us wings, to allow us to become.

But as they released, they continued to support. Mom was always interested in my family. What were the boys doing; how were the boys doing? And as our boys grew and married and had families of their own, I could always count on Mom to listen to all my gramma stories. Even into her 90’s she welcomed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren into her home.

As I remember back one year, I’m also more deeply thankful for my three sisters.

 

Our relationship changed this past year. We’ve walked through the valley of the reality of death together. At times it’s been hard. But it has also opened new doors among us. I’m appreciating each of them in new ways. I’ve experienced strengths that covered for my weaknesses. I see those value seeds that Mom planted alive in them as well, blooming differently than mine, but blooming complimenting their own unique designs.

Mom ended her life well. I think Mom would say, mission accomplished. She left each of us a giant gift, a picture of her love. Thank you Mom! I love you.

 

“Tell your children of it,
and let your children tell their children,
and their children to another generation.”
Joel 1:3

 

 

 

 

Ann Voskamp’s words in the introduction to her book, The Way of Abundance, caused me to stop reading, grab my highlighter, re-read, and think, and think, and think.

“Isn’t all fear … just a belief that God’s love ends?”
(page 13)

 

Do I believe God’s love ends? No, but do I live like that is my belief?

Last March my husband Bill woke up on a Tuesday morning and most of the vision in his left eye was gone. His vision was normal when he put his head on the pillow just eight hours before. After several tests, two doctors, and a month’s time, he was diagnosed with Naion. Thankfully the vision in his right eye was normal  … until May. Now Naion is in both eyes! Bill is living with only peripheral vision.

“When Jesus saw her weeping … he was deeply moved … and greatly troubled.”
John 11:33, italics mine.

Jesus loved Mary a lot; he was deeply moved and greatly troubled! He loved her and hurt with her over her loss, the death of her brother Lazarus.

Jesus loves my husband too, and hurts with him. In Mary’s case, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. We are praying that Bill’s vision will be restored, but so far God is manifesting his love in other ways.

In describing God’s love, Ephesians 3:17-19 is a bit of an enigma. “… that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend … what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge …” How can we know something that surpasses knowledge?* (Italics mine)

Psalm 139:6 (The Passion Translation), “This is just too wonderful, Deep and incomprehensible!”

This truth may be beyond our understanding, but not beyond our trust.
This truth is dependent on God’s character, not my fathoming it.

God’s love has no limit!

God’s peace is incomprehensible! It has no limit. Philippians 4:7.

God’s mercies never end! They are new every morning. There is no limit. Lamentations 3:22.

God’s greatness is unsearchable! It has no limit. Psalm 145:3.

*According to my study Bible, the notes of Ephesians 3:19 tell me, “To know what surpasses knowledge is the sublime privilege of the Christian.”

“Can you find out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?”
Job 11:7

“Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”
Romans 11:33

I wonder, what are you living with that challenges you with the truth that God’s love, his peace, his mercies, his greatness, and so much more know no limits?

 

 

Hello Echoes of Grace Friends,

Welcome back! I’m glad you returned.

After an extra long summer break, the technical glitches have been solved, Echoes has a new look, and I’ve been collecting thoughts to share with you.

The new picture above is compliments of my good friend, Kathy Lorimor. Motivated by Psalm 16:11, I collect pictures of paths. I especially love this one because this curvy path leads through the woods. I love walking in the woods. And because of the twists and turns on this path, it reminds me of our lives ~ full of twists and turns.

My prayer for you is that the words of Echoes each week will offer encouragement to you as you traverse the twists and turns of your paths.

With September usually come many opportunities to join, to grow, to serve. My email box has been bulging the past few weeks. I bet yours has too. But we all have limits!

 

So the question … when to say yes, when to say no, and when to say maybe? One opportunity that landed in my maybe pile is GriefShare. Mom died last September. I wonder if God will meet me through this ministry. Maybe.

Keep reading and I’ll share with you one principle that helps me land on the yes, the no, or the maybe.

 

Knowing My Limits

“You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore”
Psalm 16:11

Ahhhh, September, the gateway to a new year. (I’m a teacher by training. For teachers often September is the start of the year.) Enticing opportunities, good opportunities abound. The I shoulds, I coulds, and the I’d really like to rumble through my mind. And you know, my fall calendar has some white space.

DECISIONS …

My mind wandered to John the Baptist. Much of his narrative is recorded in John 1 and John 3. As I re-read those familiar words, something new caught my attention.

John 1:19 – “… Who are you?”       John 1:23 – “… I am the voice …”
John 1:30 – ” … After me comes a man who ranks before me …”
John 3:28 – ” … I am not the Christ …”
John 3:29 – in an allegory he identifies himself as the friend of the bridegroom.
John 3:30 – “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John’s words are all responses to the religious leaders in chapter 1 who were challenging his identity; and in chapter 3 to some of his followers who were trying to understand his limits.

Both times John responds with identity statements.

And his identity determined his participation.
John the Baptist knew his limits.

Could that same principle help me know my limits? YES!

My … Our … most important identity is our child of God Identity. One of my favorite scriptures that speak of this identity is I John 3:1.

“How great is the love that the Father has lavished on us …
that we should be called children of God …
and that is exactly who we are.”
I John 3:1

With that identity comes desires and responsibilities.
With that identity comes opportunities I need to be faithful to.
With that identity comes opportunities I need to pass on and grieve.

Wrapped in my identity are God imposed limits.
Wrapped in my identity is God’s protection.
Wrapped in my identity is God’s design for me.
Wrapped in my identity is another opportunity to trust his love.

I (like you) have other identities that factor into my limits.
I’m a wife, a gramma (and a mother), a friend, a sister, and a missionary to name a few.

Remembering my primary identity, often brings clarity to the opportunities that come my way and define my limits for me.

John called himself the friend of the bridegroom who is Jesus. We too are called friends of Jesus (John 15:15).

As Jesus’ friend, John hears Jesus’ voice, he rejoices, and his joy is complete (John 3:29)!

Living in his limits, knowing his identity ushered in complete joy.

Please come back next week for some thoughts on No Limits.

BTW, when you sign up to follow Echoes of Grace, I also send a short personal note your way almost every week including a devotional thought. In next week’s note I’m going to share some other principles that help me define my limits. Or just email me sue@suetell.com, and I’ll be glad to sign you up.

 

 

 

 

 

Hello,

Echoes of Grace had an extra long break this summer. Not planned, but a good thing. During July (and into August) I needed to work on some technical updates. And for those of you who follow Echoes of Grace, you know that it always takes a break during August. So do mark your calendars for Thursday, September 6 and I’ll enjoy re-connecting with you then.

I’m thankful for the ministries of Markinc and The Navigators this summer. Both have kept the heart of Echoes alive posting my words on their sites. You can see some of the most popular Echoes of Grace posts at www.Markinc.org/dailytreasures/ . Scroll back to the weeks of July 16 and 23 and you’ll find 12 posts there. The Navigator posts are in-house for our staff. But I’ll share with you. Let me know if you’re interested and I’ll forward them to you.

But the technical issues did not stop the notes I write to those who have signed up to follow Echoes of Grace. (A few friends told me they appreciate these notes even more than the blog! Hmmm, I’m thinking about that.) So, sign up to follow Echoes and you’re in.

Hope you’re having a restful summer,
Love,
Sue