ZOOM!

This morning was a ministry highlight reel kind of moment!

At The Woodlands Methodist Church, we partner with 146 mission organizations and leaders. Yep, you read that right—146! Connecting with every single one of them (even in six months) feels like herding cats… globally. But today, we pulled off something beautiful: I sent out a Zoom link, crossed my fingers, and invited everyone to hop on a call.

What happened? We shared updates from our missions staff, heard powerful stories from a few partners, and then — here’s the best part — we prayed. We prayed for every single one of those 146 mission partners by name and ministry. And let me tell you, “the Spirit flowed” doesn’t even begin to capture it.

If God gave me one superpower, it’s the ability to connect people I love with other people I love. And today, Zoom became my sidekick, allowing us to connect across continents and time zones. Through those screens, the sap of God’s grace flowed, binding us together in prayer, purpose, and love.

What a privilege to be part of this incredible tapestry of missions. My heart is full!

Budgets & Spreadsheets

Last October, I had the privilege (and let’s be honest, the challenge) of standing before The Woodlands Methodist Church during our annual Missions Conference —our once-a-year opportunity to inspire a passion for missions and raise the funds needed to make it all happen. And with a 2024 budget of $3.1 million, let’s just say I had my work cut out for me!

In case you missed it, you can watch one of my sermons here!

This week, I’m witnessing the incredible generosity of TWMC come to life. Our pledges are in, the missions funding applications have been submitted, and it’s officially budget season. Now, let’s be real: no one’s calling me the next math prodigy (I know my strengths, and spreadsheets are not one of them). But thankfully, God gave me some number-crunching superheroes who are helping turn those generous gifts into meaningful support for missionaries and mission organizations around the world.

It’s humbling. It’s exciting. And it’s a beautiful reminder of how God uses our collective generosity to make a difference across the globe. I’m so thankful to be part of a church that loves and lives out missions in such an extraordinary way!

"NT Wright Fans"

Since 2020, I’ve been part of a brotherhood of brilliant (and sometimes delightfully nerdy) fellas who challenge my thinking and fuel my faith. 

It all started after a life-changing trip to the Holy Land. 

Our crew? One from Costa Rica, one holding it down in Omaha while serving in the South Pacific, one just outside New Orleans, and two from Shreveport. 

What brought us together? A shared love for Jesus and a massive book called The New Testament in Its World by my favorite theologian, N.T. Wright.

That book took us nearly two years to finish — because life, travel schedules, and, well, it’s N.T. Wright. But when we finally wrapped it up, we celebrated in true nerd fashion by gathering in Waco, Texas to hear Professor Wright himself teach on Romans 8. (Yes, it was as epic as it sounds!)

Since then, we’ve tackled other weighty tomes like Into the Heart of Romans, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, and Jesus and the Powers. Each conversation stretches my mind, deepens my faith, and pushes me to ask better, harder, and holier questions.

Today, our group met again, and let me tell you — my heart soars every time I connect with these brilliant brothers. They inspire me to keep growing, keep seeking, and keep marveling at the depth of Jesus.

International Ministries Team of the Trinity Annual Conference (GMC)

For months, I’ve had the privilege of working with an extraordinary team of leaders and pastors from the International Ministries Team of the Trinity Annual Conference. Our mission? To develop meaningful covenant partnerships with two incredible majority-world conferences: Panama and Tanzania.

It’s been such a joy to connect with Panamanian and Tanzanian leaders and to navigate the complex but rewarding process of partnership development. Today, all that hard work is starting to bloom — Memos of Understanding are officially written, and at the end of the month, I’ll be cheering on a contingent from the Trinity Conference as they head off to celebrate the Tanzanian Convening Conference, with Panama up next in February. 

(Side note: That pesky cryoablation tried to sideline me for a bit, but I’m slowly rebuilding my strength and getting back in the game!)

So today, I’m praising God for the beauty of teamwork between our conferences and the cherished friendships I’ve made and deepened along the way. It’s amazing to see how God weaves us together across cultures and continents for His glory!

Returning to the Office

After nearly two months of house arrest — errr, recovery — post-cryoablation (shoutout to the miracle workers at MD Anderson!) and channeling all my energy into evicting those unwelcome cancer cells, I finally made my grand return to the office: The Woodlands Methodist Church!

It felt so good to be back in the mix — meeting with my fellow pastors, catching up with my church council mentor, hugging my incredible staff, and soaking in the encouragement of this amazing community. There’s nothing quite like being part of a church that says, “Take all the time you need,” and then welcomes you back with wide-open arms and genuine joy.

And to top off an already fabulous day… UNC beat SMU this evening! (Because apparently, God really does love me.) Go Tar Heels!

Unexpected Guests & Slumber Parties

One of the "perks" of living near the George Bush Intercontinental Airport? Delayed or canceled flights! Tonight, at 8:30 PM, we got a call from a friend stranded at the airport asking, “Could I please come stay with you?” Our answer? OF COURSE!

Moving from Shreveport to The Woodlands meant leaving behind a community that shaped us for years—11 for me and an incredible 62 for my hubby. So, anytime friends who are family come through, it’s not just a visit; it’s a reminder of the connections that keep our hearts full.

Thank you, Jessica Russo, for the last-minute slumber party! You turned an ordinary evening into something extraordinary.

The Thanksgiving Project Resurrection

On December 30, 2010, I was reflecting on the best year of my life. (See my first ever blog post here.) 

On December 30, 2024, I was reflecting on what was likely one of the most difficult years I have ever lived: 

• We said "yes" to a move from a church I had loved and faithfully served for 11 years. While we fully believed we were following God's call, our hearts hurt to leave the people we loved so very much. 
• We sold my husband's family home in Shreveport. 
• The day the movers came, the buyers' loan fell through. 
• That same week, my husband went into AFIB after an eye injection gone wrong. 
• Because I didn't want to leave him, I canceled a trip to Romania & Czech Republic to spend time with people I love. 
• I did get on a plane to Thailand later that month to meet my Russian and Kiwi friends, only to break my foot in the first hour there. 
• Upon arrival back in Shreveport, I scheduled a visit to the orthopedist, only for a fella to run a red light and hit my car on the way. (And I didn't get my car back for nearly 6 months!)
• Our last night in Shreveport, before preaching my last sermon... my husband brought back a bug from South Africa, which had us spending the night in the emergency room. He ended up in the hospital for several days, which delayed our move to The Woodlands, TX. 
• My first week at The Woodlands Methodist Church... Hurricane Beryl crashed my welcome party. 
• A couple of weeks later, I was packing to go to Honduras, and received a call that my dad was in the hospital with a brain aneurysm.  
• Not three weeks later, I was going for my annual scans, to discover my cancer had returned!
• And that "bug" my husband brought back... turned out not to be a bug... He was in the hospital five times during the fall, first with AFIB, then a heart ablation, then a 911 call, and finally they figured out it was medication problems. 
• My cancer treatment was in November, and I did not bounce back well... 
• And our year ended with my dad in jail... and I still cannot process that trauma. 

Yes, 2024 will live in infamy! 

But one thing my favorite theologian, Henri Nouwen, has taught me is this: 

• Gratitude is a choice: Gratitude is a conscious choice that can be made even when emotions are hurt or resentful. 
• Gratitude begets gratitude: Being grateful makes it easier to see new things to be grateful for. 
• Gratitude transforms the past: Gratitude can erase bitterness and transform the past. 
• Gratitude requires courage: Trust and gratitude require the courage to take risks. 
• Gratitude and resentment cannot coexist: Resentment blocks the perception of gratitude. 
• Gratitude for all of life: Being grateful for all of life, including the bad and the good, requires hard spiritual work. 

And, so, it is time to resurrect the Thanksgiving Project. I cannot dwell in the turbulence of 2024, as I could be missing out on the blessings of today. Everyday is a day of Thanksgiving.

As Psalm 136 says,

Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King! His LOVE endures forever!

Everyone needs a goal, or at least I do. I will be thankful. I will be thankful for all things. I will not miss out on the blessing of today. I will turn 2025 into a year of Thanksgiving!