Shannon's Corner

  Life is full of in-between moments—those sacred spaces where we are no longer who we were but not yet who we are becoming. These transitions can feel uncertain, yet they are where deep transformation unfolds.   Lent mirrors this experience, inviting us into a season of reflection, surrender, and renewal as we journey toward Easter. In Luke 2:52, we glimpse Jesus’ own growth:   "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."  (Luke 2:52)   This verse holds profound wisdom for our own seasons of change. Lent calls us to grow—deepening our relationship with God, others, and even ourselves.   Lent is not just about giving something up; it is about being formed. Like a seed buried in the soil, we are invited to open space in our lives for God’s shaping work. Growing in Wisdom  – True wisdom is more than knowledge; it is the ability to discern truth and live it out. Lent invites us to seek wisdom through Scripture, prayer, and reflec...

  SHANNON’S CORNER Connect. Nurture. Grow. An unexpected and unplanned trip led me to see God’s marvelous and wonderful work at the Assist Pregnancy Center. I learned from the staff that this pregnancy center is unique and different in that the population they serve are women who come already with an 85-90% decision made of aborting their babies. The medical staff who are in the rooms with the women during their ultrasounds share Jesus with them and are compassionate witnesses to each baby as they are seen, valued, and loved. If the mother decides to have the baby the center walks alongside with the mother and family. I had the precious privilege to facilitate a training with all the staff of the pregnancy center to talk about the Wounds from the Work.  Listening to their stories of how the Lord called them to work at this pregnancy center and what the cost has been to them, and their families was sacred ground.  Creating a safe place for them to be seen and heard in thei...

These forty-days of Lent are places where identity is reformed, faith is tested, and renewal becomes possible as it mirrors the experience of being caught between death and resurrection, between loss and new life. It is a time of spiritual wilderness, much like the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. This passage offers a powerful image of how God meets us in liminal spaces—not to leave us there but to bring about restoration and new life.   Ezekiel 37:1-14 describes a vision where the prophet is taken to a valley filled with dry bones—a symbol of Israel’s despair and hopelessness in exile. The bones are lifeless, scattered, and abandoned. In this vision, God asks Ezekiel,  “Son of man, can these bones live?”  (v.3). It is a question that resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced the uncertainty of a liminal space.   We are invited to confront our own valleys of dry bones—the places in our lives that feel lifeless, uncertain, or beyond hope. Like Ezekiel, we ar...

Like a seed buried in the earth, we enter into a process of waiting, breaking, and growth, trusting that new life will come in due time. In the darkness, unseen and seemingly lifeless, the seed coat is breaking open—letting go of its old form to make way for new life. Moments of transition where we have left behind the familiar but have not yet arrived at what is to come. These liminal spaces can feel uncertain, even uncomfortable, yet they are essential for transformation. A seed, when planted, enters its own liminal space. It is buried beneath the soil, unseen and seemingly lifeless. But in that hidden place, something profound is happening: the seed coat is breaking open, its old form dissolving, making way for new life.    Lent is a time of dying to self—of surrendering our own desires so that something greater can grow within us. Making room for God to do His work in us.  Just as a seed cannot rush its development, we, too, must trust the process, knowing that even i...

  Life is full of transitions—those in-between moments when we’ve left behind what was, but we’re not yet sure what’s ahead. These  liminal spaces —places of waiting and uncertainty—can feel unsettling. Yet, they are also sacred spaces where God meets us, speaks to us, and gently leads us forward.   One of the most powerful examples of encountering God in a liminal space is the story of Hagar in Genesis 16. She is pregnant, alone, and fleeing mistreatment, unsure of what the future holds. In this vulnerable moment, she finds herself in the wilderness, and it is there—at her most desperate—that God meets her. But instead of offering immediate solutions, He asks a question:   "Where have you come from, and where are you going?"   This is not just a question of geography; it is one of identity and purpose. God doesn’t ask to condemn her, but to invite her into reflection, healing, and a renewed sense of direction. In this moment, Hagar gives God a name— El Roi...

  This week begins the season of Lent. In a world that often values certainty and definitive answers, Ash Wednesday serves as a powerful reminder of our mortality and the transitions we all face in life. It reminds us of the power of dwelling in the questions, of standing on the threshold between what was and what might be. The ashes represent both death and renewal and speak to our fundamental liminality as humans – beings who exist between dust and divinity, constantly in the process of becoming.    The 40 days ahead offer a deliberate sanctuary of reflection, spiritual discipline, and renewal. Accept the Lord’s invitation to connect with Him as He nurtures our faith and grows our relationship with Him deeper. In this threshold time, allow this to be an invitation to experience the gospel.   Every significant life change involves both an ending and a beginning. The loss of the old creates space for new growth, much as the Lenten season of sacrifice leads ...