Susandoodles

Susandoodles

Love God, love life, love one another.

Susan is trained in journalism, teaching and ministry;
now retired, the blog provides a means to continue sharing thoughts.

Category: Religion

  • Prepping for holiday baking

    Over the weekend I stopped at a favorite baking source.  The Dutch Bakery in Tipton, Missouri carries so much more than most stores.  When holiday baking is around the corner, I knew it was time to restock–and did I ever! Then I discovered a new spice store, Prezy’s Spices at…

  • Thinking out loud . . . Noah and the flood

      The day after the mid-term elections and my focus is a mess.  Thankfully I no longer have to listen to campaign ads, and I was excited to see the new Sonic ads, the Christmas ads, and any ad that had no mention of the election.   I realize that…

  • God’s time constantly amazes me

      Consider this:  Every night I read a devotional that is published annually.  The writings must be done at least two years prior to my reading the entry.  Such is the publishing process.   Now, consider God’s timing. Over and over I am reminded that God’s time does not match my…

  • How come we don’t get it?      Faith is simple:           Just four steps.

    Special note:  This is a brief summary of the sermon I heard on Sunday.  Just a reaction, almost, to a simple idea.  Faith can be developed, I believe, and the hymn seems to show the four levels of grace that John Wesley has identified:  prevenient (born into God’s grace), justification…

  • Activate prayer any time, any place, anyway you can

    Last week, I was fortunate enough (maybe I should say, blessed) to attend a Ruby Payne conference, attend a Passion City Church worship service, and bond with two passionate Christians seeking to learn more about how to make pathways out of poverty—more specifically how our churches can make pathways out…

  • Fresh Expressions means church anywhere, any time: Live faith out loud to make disciples of Christ anywhere, any time, any way you can.

    Yesterday I participated in a webinar that featured Rev. Luke Edwards from Kings Church in Boone County, North Carolina.  Wow!   My brain has thought of so many possible ways to have church, and I have talked about my ideas with others in the church.  But I am a cradle…

  • Hearing God speak really difficult when life interferes with listening

    Last week a sudden realization walked through my brain:  summer break was over.  Now for many that might really seem like an epiphany, but for me it answered the state of mind I found myself dwelling.   Having lived all my life on an academic calendar until I retired from…

  • Reading, learning all the time: All the time reading, learning.

     During the past week, my focus has waivered.  I started off on Sunday facing a medical emergency with my pet, Possum (really my 4-year-old Havanese).   For the first time, I had to take a pet to a vet and leave him not knowing what would happen. Luckily, 48 hours later,…

  • Reflecting on changes since 9/11

      Yesterday I tried to gather thoughts for sharing, but I just could not find a thread to bring them together. Today, this day especially, a thread begins weaving thoughts together.   As an American, one cannot escape the memories of 9/11.  But there are other days that are cemented in…

  • Labor Day & Sabbath

    As I listened to the news and considered the benefits of Labor Day in the United States, I found myself comparing it to Sabbath—a day of rest.   One of the biggest concerns I had for this holiday is that it really is not a national holiday in which the…