Brother and sisters in Christ, this is the best day of our lives! The tomb is bereft, the Son of God raised, the darkness is silenced, the Lord of life praised!

Those in the throes of parenting rarely have this kind of margin but for the rest of us in Christ, Holy Saturday is a day of unwelcome rest when we want to work so we don’t have to think. Don’t have to face our lack of control. It’s a slowing down not just of the body but of the thoughts.

11 days into a mammoth recovery of another surgery I knew was coming when I had my spine operation in August. These are painful things but very good things. Neck deep in PT but much agility will be restored to these bones. Deeply grateful! So I’ve been away for a while but can’t stay silent today.

The one and only worthy Doc Holliday of the silver screen, Val Kilmer, has set down his cards. Man, what fun that actor gave us in his many movies and epic performances. He was our huckleberry. May his soul find rest in God.

I’ll tell y’all something this morning. I still believe the Lord is good. I still believe in the grace that is chocolate. That as long as there are tomatoes, there is salsa. That birds sing because they know something we don’t. I believe laughter is audible hope. And love is spite to the darkness.

On my walk this morning. There is still sweetness in this world, you darlings. No one told these wildflowers this world is way too dark a place these fretful days to bloom.

I’ve been thinking how people who made their way into our hearts—people we’ve truly loved—can’t simply be replaced by someone else. New relationships are splendid gifts but don’t you think it’s rather remarkable that God made us so distinctively, no one person can fill the space left by another?

I have found that grandparenting a teen girl requires a deep appreciation for what her Stanley means to her.

When I pulled up in the drive-through at Starbucks today, a young woman’s voice rang through the speaker: “Happy national manatee day!” Who knew?? Having been raised to mind my manners, I responded, “well, and also to you!” And I loved her immediately. I could not think of one thing not to love.

We have two darling little newborns in our church services with their mommies and I almost can’t concentrate on the liturgy for watching them. I love how they can’t keep their socks on. I just love newborns. I’m all like, now, listen, if you need me to hold the baby, I guess I could force myself.

Flew back home yesterday from serving in Honolulu. Had the best time, met the most wonderful people & saw the most gorgeous mountains & trees. But I couldn’t wait to get back and check on the deer, see my critters, feed the fish, run my bird dog and, in less than 2 minutes, hear all these beauties.

You animal lovers, I hate to be so shameless — well, I don’t hate it all that much — but have you ever seen a more beautiful dog? Now if pretty is as pretty does, Pecos needs to go back to pretty school. But if we’re just into looks, is what I’m saying.

This is not Ash-Wednesdayish but I love my daughters so much. I just wanted to tell somebody. I’m the luckiest mom.

In all our winning, we have lost Jesus. In all our self-congratulations, we have lost our souls.

The way of the cross. The way of Jesus. The way of humility, service and preference of others. The way of dying to self & rising with Christ. There’s no other following. This has been the stunning forfeiture in this generation’s discipleship & we have borne its fruit. In repentance we regather joy.

Tomorrow’s Ash Wednesday. So today? Well, today’s pancakes. And I make a vicious pancake.

Just boarded my flight to Houston after serving at an event I’ll treasure as long as I live. It was a women’s event at St Andrew’s Anglican in Charleston & we had —y’all— 700 women. 700 marvelous hilarious worshipful women so attentive to the Scriptures. I don’t even know what to do with this grace.

Thing is, sometimes I want to sulk about something then God’ll do stuff like he did this morning: show me a goldfinch on my walk THEN — this one isn’t even fair — a newborn pony with its momma in a pasture by my home. So here I am feeling all full of joy when I wanted just a pair of minutes to sulk.

When I walked into work today, I was met by 2 staff members who told me one had just gotten off the phone with a woman who called to apologize for being unkind to me online. I’m so moved by it & in large part because she hasn’t come to agree with me. She just conveyed that the unkindness was wrong.

DO NOT forget what prayer can do. Amid all else God’s calling you to do or speak, never for a moment forget that nothing’s more powerful than earnest audacious persistent prayer. The devil—yes, boomer here said the devil, the ever-real prince of vilest darkness—hopes we’ll lose confidence in prayer.

Walking Pecos as fast as I can because I need to be at work early this morning and she’s been barking for 10 solid minutes at a white trash bag that blew out of the dumpster into a tree. My mother-in-law gave me a vase once and my border collie Queen Esther barked for hours till I had to put it up.

I just love my church so much. I’ve loved them all.

Last week in our Thursday night Bible study here in Houston we talked about how, in God‘s economy, the confident are the reliant. A stark contrast to the world around us where confidence is conflated with independence, boastfulness and the accumulation of power. We don’t reason as the world reasons.

I wanted Pecos and I to be close but I didn’t picture having to wear her like a hat.

I repent for feeling sorry for the Mavs all week.

Well, God help any team that doesn’t have Anthony Davis on it right now.

I’m glued to the screen for Rockets-Mavs game! I love both these TX teams so much but I’m a Houston girl. Rockets 1st! So mad over the Luka trade that, if I ever see that GM in Starbucks, I’m gonna trip him & spill his latte. I bet anything he drinks decaf. BUT I love AD & hope Dallas welcomes him!

I think love is the truest miracle. Love in a climate of hate. The one clear thing in chaos. The clarity of knowing in all the not knowing that this is obedience. The highest and hardest calling. It’s not sappy, lazy or ill-informed. Love is fearsome. The single most threatening defense that exists.

40 years I’ve put into ministry in the evangelical world. 40 years. They obviously mean nothing. That I was not chosen for this is a wound that may never heal. And just look. They could’ve pictured me not only with my hair but with my Head. PS. That darling Keith Moore. I married him for his looks.

Oh Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, have mercy. I cannot fathom the shock, grief and horror the loved ones of those involved in the DC crash are enduring. My heart is broken for them. Lord, there are so many suffering. Please, God of all comfort, hold them in your everlasting arms.