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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our son made the journey from my womb to my arms. His loud cries quieted as the nurse placed his tiny body on my chest. Once again he heard the beating of my familiar heart. Love swelled.

God entrusted me with this special boy, this one He knit together in my womb. Psalm 139:13.
… God knew this boy before He formed him in my womb. Jeremiah 1:5.
… God predestined this tiny boy with purpose. Ephesians 1:5.
… God created this boy to bring glory to Himself. Isaiah 60:21.

It was a holy moment.
It was worship. Trust exhaled.

Since that day 46 years ago, I’ve been praying Isaiah 54:13 for this boy.

“All your children shall be taught by the LORD,
and great shall be the peace of your children.”

Two thousand years ago, Mary also gave birth to a tiny boy, her human experience significantly different from mine.  Luke 1:31-33.
… Mary was engaged, single, and a virgin.
… She learned of her upcoming pregnancy from an angel sent to her by God.
… She learned that her yet-to-be conceived baby would be a boy.
… She learned his name.
… She learned his purpose.

It was a holy moment.
It was worship. Trust exhaled.

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,”
Luke 1:46-47

Mary’s worship was her heart exhaling in trust to God.

“and blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment
of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Luke 1:45

Mary’s worship was not based on understanding. It was based on trust.
Mary’s worship was seen in her response to the shepherds … she treasured their words.
Mary’s worship was seen as she listened to Simeon … she marveled at his words.
Mary’s worship was never based on understanding, always on trust.
Luke 2:19, 2:33, 2:51.

Worship – Trust that Exhales

I continue to trust the message God gave me when our son was born through Isaiah 54:13. I don’t understand the ways of God, I’m trusting in the words of God. I’m learning worship.

Elizabeth’s words to Mary ring true.

“Blessed woman, who believed what God said,
believed every word would come true!”
Luke 1:45, The Message

My gift this Christmas celebrating Jesus’s birthday is my desire to treasure God’s promises to me, to marvel at his love and to grow in worship – trust that exhales.

Merry, Merry Christmas to you all!

Copyright: Sue Tell, December 2023

Echoes of Grace is on Christmas break next week. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with you in the New Year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luke 1 records the narrative of the angel Gabriel visiting Mary affirming her identity, “Greetings, O favored one” (verse 28). Favored one — greatly loved one.

Gabriel uses the same word, favor, to communicate her standing with God as he introduced her to God’s plan. (verse 30).

God’s words to Mary through Gabriel offered her an opportunity to trust.
God offered Mary an opportunity to know Him better.
God trusted her to live with expectancy.
It might be called an Advent-sized opportunity.

Mary responded in trust first affirming her identity in her words, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord;” (verse 38)
Then she responded with expectancy — not knowing what this meant for her, for us. “Let it be to me according to your word.” (verse 38)

Because Mary knew her identity, she had courage to trust what seemed impossible.

I’ve been there. I bet you have too.

Twice this month, two friends told me of their breast cancer. Lisa is about my age. I’m so sorry this is part of her story. I’m praying for her as she faces surgery right before Christmas.

Carrie could be my daughter age-wise. I’m so sorry this is part of her story. I’m praying for her as well as she starts chemo soon after Christmas.

Lisa and Carrie are both greatly loved by God. Both know their identities. Both are walking forward trusting God who entrusted them with this big hard.

“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

There is so much comfort in this familiar truth. Notice:

1. “And we know …” Between Romans 8:18-28, the word know surfaces three times. We know — not we think — we know. Our trust rests in the trustworthiness of God.
2. God is at work. He is not sitting passively by wondering how we respond to life.
3. God is at work in all things. It doesn’t communicate all things are good.
4. God is at work for good. He is accomplishing his purposes even in our hards.

Like Mary, Lisa and Carrie have found favor with God. They know their identity; they know whose they are. This gives them courage to trust God with their realities.

Like Mary, Lisa and Carrie are living with the expectancy of experiencing the truth of Romans 8:28. As their friend, I can do no less.

Cancer is their Advent-sized opportunity.

“Rather than expectations, I’ve learned to maintain expectancy,
which is a sense of awe at the divine-human encounter.”
Craig Barnes, Diary of a Pastor’s Soul

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, December 2023

God’s provisions, His gifts to us illuminate His character, His wisdom, His goodness, His faithfulness, His unchanging-ness are the same for us as they were recorded in the narratives of the Bible. We especially need God’s provisions when He breaks in. (If you missed last week’s Echoes of Grace, I encourage you to scroll down and read it.)

God’s provisions, gifts from Him to encourage us
so we can encourage others.

The provision of His promises.

God makes promises based on His character and provides them for us. “For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,” Hebrews 6:13 (italics mine). Ann Voskamp says, “God who is never limited by lack or restricted to the expected;” ***

Through Gabriel, God made a promise to Mary. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” Luke 1:31

The provision of people.

God’s people in the person of Naomi charted a new path for Ruth who is enshrined in the genealogy of Jesus. Matthew 1:5.

God provided Elizabeth, a close relative of Mary, to affirm the message of Gabriel. “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Luke 1:42.

The provision of presence.

Hannah knew the presence of God in her deep desire for a child. Her response confirms her knowing. “And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked for him from the LORD. ‘” I Samuel 1:20.

The prophetess Anna knew God’s presence. “She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.” Luke 2:37.

Jesus promises His presence to us too. “I am with you always,” Matthew 28:20. Am I aware?

The provision of prayer.

God invites us to pray. “Call to me and I will answer you, and tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:3. Although you is in the singular, we too can enjoy God’s invitation to call to Him.

“And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered …” Matthew 1:19, 20. Considered, thought about, resolved … all terms that tell me that Joseph prayed about his decision to divorce Mary until Gabriel provided wisdom from God in response to Joseph’s thoughts (prayers).

I pray because I can’t help myself.
I pray because I’m helpless.
I pray because the need flows out of me all the time —
waking and sleeping.
It does not change God — it changes me.
C.S. Lewis

The provision of purpose.

The narrative of Abraham journeying to Mount Moriah to offer his son as a burnt offering, and God’s subsequent provision of the ram that rescued Isaac from that fate showcases God’s purpose. “”By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this … I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring …” Genesis 22:16, 17.

God chose shepherds to affirm His purpose (providing a savior). “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day … a Savior …” Luke 2:10.

The provision of peace.

In the midst of the threat of being thrown into a fiery furnace, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew the peace of God. “If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us … But if not … we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image …” Daniel 3:17, 18.

Simeon’s words testify that he too knew the peace that only God offers. It had been revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he saw Jesus. That was fulfilled for Simeon when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. “(Simeon) he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, ‘Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;” Luke 2:28, 29.

The provision of power.

The narrative in Genesis 45 shares the story of Joseph and his brothers meeting again when the brothers came to buy food. They thought Joseph was dead; but the reality was he was alive and God had given him great power in Pharaoh’s household. Joseph acknowledged several times that his power came from God. “God sent me before you” verses 5, 7, and 8; “God made me lord” verse 9.

About 1500 years later, Gabriel acknowledges God’s power. Speaking to Mary he says, “and the power of the Most High with overshadow you;” Luke 1:35

Paul’s words in Philippians 3:10, acknowledge his desire to know God’s power. “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection,”

I too find myself praying to experience resurrection power.

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

It has been good to ponder God’s promises to me; the people who have influenced me; God’s presence with me; the gift of prayer, God’s purposes for me; God’s power; and the peace I can experience in the midst of the seeming impossible.

And it’s not about me! “the church of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, …” Colossians 1:25. This scripture pulls together of me all these provisions. This is the scripture I pray for Echoes of Grace.

“Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8

Copyright: Sue Tell, November 2023

*** The Greatest Gift, Ann Voskamp

So much was familiar for Mary, a young teen. The place she lived; her normal routines; the age old customs; her friends, her fiancee; her family; her future seemed predictable.

“O, Joseph, Joseph! She
had known there would be prayers. And when the time
Of waiting ended, and procession formed
To lead her to his house, she’d have no fears.” ***
(italics mine)

Then God broke in.

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph,
of the house of David.
And the virgin’s name was Mary.”
Luke 1:26, 27

And everything changed.

Life changed for Mary. Life had changed for her cousin Elizabeth. Life changed for Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband. (Luke 1:5-25). Life changed for Joseph. (Matthew 1:18-25).

Life changed for Ruth as well over 1000 years earlier. Ruth, from Moab, became the daughter-in-law of Naomi when she married Mahlon. When Naomi, now a widow, decides to return to her home country of Bethlehem, she encourages Ruth and her other daughter-in-law to stay in Moab, their home country.

But God broke in.

Ruth stays committed to her widowed mother-in-law.
“… where you go I will go …”
Ruth 1:16

The narrative of Ruth and the narrative of Mary both exemplify hesed, God’s steadfast love.
The narrative of Ruth and the narrative of Mary both exemplify God’s sovereignty.
The narrative of Ruth and the narrative of Mary both exemplify God’s unchanging character.

I think on my story. Many times God has broken in. My familiar was challenged. I was forced to consider, will I trust God with the unexpected? Will I trust His steadfast love?
Will I trust His sovereignty? Will I trust His unchanging character? And what does trust look like for me this Advent season?

What about you. What does trust look like for you this Advent?

“Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8

Copyright: Sue Tell, November 2023

*** A Woman Wrapped in Silence, John W. Lynch, 1941.

 

The Autumn, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, stanza 1

Go, sit upon the lofty hill,
And turn your eyes around,
Where waving woods and waters wild
Do hymn an autumn sound.
The summer sun is faint on them —
The summer flowers depart —
Sit still — as all transform’d to stone,
Except your musing heart.

May your heart muse on all the gifts God has bestowed on us … and experience thanksgiving. Check out Psalm 107.

Starting next Thursday, new thoughts, familiar scriptures, Advent.

Blessings, sue

It was early morning. My friend and I were sitting in the lounge of the very small airport in Florida waiting for my flight to be announced to wing me over to our staff conference.

It seemed we had been waiting for a long time! I started watching the large round clock on the wall. It was getting closer and closer to the time for the flight. No announcements! We waited. We watched. I was getting nervous.

There was a small plane on the tarmac. Then the small plane started its journey down the run-way.

It was time to ask about my flight.
“Oh, did we forget to tell you that our loud speaker system is not working?”
“WHAT??? Did you even give a voice announcement for the flight?”
(The lounge was small, a microphone not even necessary.)
“No, I’m sorry.”

That small plane on the tarmac was the small plane I should have been on. I missed my flight! I WAS MAD!

I had responsibilities at the conference starting with being one of the greeters welcoming all the attendees. Being a greeter my first identity of the conference.

Being a greeter is NOT who I am; NOT my identity.

But because I was thinking of it as my (at least temporary) identity, missing that plane threatened and the madness I was feeling was out of proportion.

Albeit late, I did get to the conference. My greeter identity was history, but I was susceptible to other false identities. I was susceptible to sin.

“… just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
we too might walk in newness of life.”
Romans 6:4
“So you also must consider yourselves
dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 6:11

My anger announced I was not walking in the newness of life given to me by Jesus. I was believing that my works (being a greeter) was showing myself and others an important identity. It was sin.

It’s NOT who I am!

Paul reminds me, Sue, consider yourself alive to God! Alive to the identity that does announce who I am.

I am the beloved child of God!
This is my identity.

Trusting this identity offers perspective on the frustrations of life … like missed planes. Missing the plane and arriving late did not alter who God says I am. I can relax in His control of me, of situations.

“See what kind of love the Father has given us,
that we should be called children of God;
and so we are.”
I John 3:1, ESV

That is who I am!

That minor crisis and angry response was a yellow flag.

“What God says about me must always
overrule my opinion of myself.”
Bill Tell, my wise husband

Copyright: Sue Tell, Nov 2023