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Telling the Story: He’s been faithful
There’s a picture hanging in the parsonage that wouldn’t mean anything to you. It’s not fancy, not a Monet, a Picasso, or even a Russell May. In it, a woman stands at a flower cart. A horse-drawn carriage travels a dirt path in the background behind her. The peach colors and muted hues hint that…
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Telling the Story: Use all of your resources
Sarah York’s voice runs through my head several times a day, not in a creepy way, but in an inspirational, motivational way. “Use all of your resources,” she keeps telling me. Sarah, also a pastor’s wife, is a treasured friend and was knitted to my heart when we met. Though we’ve only known each other…
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Telling the Story: On the back burner
I’m a tea lover. Every morning I brew a delicious concoction of green and black tea to drink throughout the day. I bring water to a boil and steep tea bags for several minutes for optimum flavor. Usually, the sound lets me know it’s getting ready. I can hear the water molecules bouncing off each…
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Telling the Story: Noah’s journey
Noah’s journey did not begin when he stepped onto the ark. It began hundreds of years before. He had walked with God for centuries before the ark. In the book of Genesis, the Bible does not say Noah’s father, Lamech, walked with God. Or his grandfather, Methuselah, who lived to the ripe old age of…
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Telling the Story: Helping those in need
BY DAWN REED A thrill seeker I am not. There are two super scary things I’ve done: white water rafting at the Breaks (I nearly drowned) and riding the skylift at Natural Bridge State Park, where I made a vow to the LORD that still stands to this day. My idea of adventure is to…
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Telling the next generation
BY DAWN REED “Are you serious?” I nearly shrieked. “Surely there is someone else, someone better.” My mind was blown. An assistant position had come open in the youth Sunday School class, and my beloved thought I would be a good fit. That was me a long time ago; I hadn’t taught youth in 20…
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Telling the Story: My cooler runneth over
BY DAWN REED “Set the small cooler out on the front porch,” my beloved called to say on his way out of the hollow. “And put the ice packs from the freezer in it, too.” I had no clue what was going on, but I did as instructed. With my own errands to run, I…
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Telling the Story: When God is cooking something up
BY DAWN REED My beloved is a great cook. He stirs up delicious meals on a regular basis. In the kitchen, he is a free spirit, adding a dash of this and a pinch of that without measuring a thing. With his Bluetooth speaker connected to his iPhone, he chops, slices, and dices to the…
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Telling the Story: The search for a vessel
BY DAWN REED I was searching for a container, a vessel. A tiny fern needed a place to grow. Every spring, my beloved showers me with flowers and plants to be potted on the front and back porches of the parsonage. They are a friendly welcome to family and friends. Some of my favorites are…
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Telling the Story: Growing in a hard spot
BY DAWN REED It caught my eye as I drove out of the church parking lot. I slammed on the brakes and then inched backward to take a look. There, in the middle of the blacktop, was a tiny sprout of green. Getting out of the car, I couldn’t help smiling. In a large field…
