The Sister
The Unlikely Messenger: A Slice of Life with Debra Brown “It’ll be fun,” my daughter Meredith said. “We can discover our family origins.” So, we ordered Ancestry DNA kits as Christmas gifts. The results were fun until I received a private Facebook message a year later. I’d felt emotional on the dreary November day, the day after Dad’s birthday, 7 years after his death, and the day before Mom and Dad’s anniversary. It was 2018, the year Mom died, so…
Living Our Vision: Glorifying God Through Love and Faithful Service
A few years ago, I gathered our church leadership to walk through the development of a vision statement. This statement would become the focus for every future ministry decision made. We even had a sign company come in and place our vision in vinyl letters on a prominent wall. We said, “Whatever was on the wall, must be happening down the hall!” Armed with a large dry-erase board, we got started. The process centered on several questions. I would ask…
Fear Is Not My Future
Thoughts from a Worship Leader with Karlee Oliver “Fear is Not My Future” by Maverick City It’s taken me months to write this because of fear—isn’t that ironic? Fear convinces us that the worst is yet to come and clouds our ability to see the promise that lies ahead. What if we could shift our perspective? What if we embraced the truth that fear is not our future? Let Him turn it in your favor / Watch Him work it…
Why ‘Showing Up’ Matters in Living Out Your Faith
As a long-time United Methodist pastor, whenever someone desires to unite with our church membership, I ask the historical questions that make up our membership vows. By doing so, we call Christian believers to an active faith rather than a passive one. When we vow to uphold the church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and testimony/witness, we commit to “show up” in tangible ways for God and His people. This act of showing up demonstrates our dedication to building…
The Christmas China
The Unlikely Messenger: A Slice of Life with Debra Brown The moody January sky cast shadows through the window on the glass of the china cabinet where my friend Joyce and I stood, staring at the contents inside. “Meredith’s generation is less attached to things,” Joyce said. “It’s not a reflection on her childhood. It’s not a reflection on how she feels about you or Allen.” I nodded. “But she doesn’t even want the Christmas china she’s used since birth,”…
Embracing God’s Promise in the New Year
As we begin a fresh new year, I’m reminded of Paul’s beautiful words to the church in Corinth. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17. What a perfect reminder that each new beginning is an opportunity to experience God’s transformative grace in our lives. The past year brought challenges for many people in our communities and worldwide. Yet through it all, we’ve witnessed countless…
Finding Hope in the Names of Christ: Reflections on Isaiah 9:6
When life seeks to challenge us, the words of the prophet Isaiah offer heartfelt comfort and reassurance, especially when we reflect upon the names of Christ. For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” – Isaiah 9:6. These four magnificent names of Christ speak directly to our deepest needs and longings. They remind…
The Promise Fulfilled: Tracing God’s Plan Through Scripture
In this season of Advent, I’m struck by the awe-inspiring way God intricately weaves the story of Jesus throughout the entire Old Testament. For 400 years after the last prophet spoke, God remained silent. But this wasn’t divine absence—it was divine anticipation building toward the most pivotal moment in human history. Consider this: over 300 Messianic prophecies, written centuries before Jesus’ birth, meticulously painted an impossibly specific portrait of the coming Savior. He would be born in tiny Bethlehem (Micah…
So, Who Is God?
Father, Master, Comforter, Provider, Almighty, Healer, Great Physician, Shepard, and the list goes on. All these names refer to God in the many capacities He interacts with us in our lives. The question so often is, how can God be all things? There are three things we must understand that help explain this. You see, God is Omniscience, Omnipresent and Omnipotent. But what does this mean? Omniscience means God is all-knowing. Omnipresence means God is all-present. Omnipotence means God is…
The Christmas Lesson
The Unlikely Messenger: A Slice of Life with Debra Brown Christmas usually meant a time of light and joy for our family. But one year, it seemed to be Dad’s winter of discontent. Christmas officially started the day after Thanksgiving at our house. The wreath went up, Christmas cards were mailed, and we decorated every room with holiday cheer. Mom baked goodies for us to put in gift tins for presents. We enjoyed the spirit of giving. Like every year…
The Power of Togetherness: Harmony in the Body of Christ
In our culture today, where individuality often takes precedence, harmony within the Body of Christ can lead to transcendent accomplishments far beyond what we can achieve alone. Harmony, in the Christian context, doesn’t necessitate uniformity of thought or action; rather, it embodies the idea of merging diverse strengths, perspectives, and gifts to fulfill a higher purpose. As represented in the Bible, this unity emphasizes the power of togetherness, teaching us invaluable lessons about collaboration, selflessness, and mutual respect. The Early…
Feast Mode
The Unlikely Messenger: A Slice of Life with Debra Brown When I married Allen, I had few cooking skills. My culinary repertoire leaned toward sides: salads and steamed or roasted veggies. I had recipes for no-bake desserts and simple casseroles for family gatherings. Allen grilled, and I made a side. Done. Our routine contrasted with how my mom and mother-in-law Willa thought we should do things. Willa often chided me about my lack of interest in the kitchen. She wasn’t…