Nicole’s e-Pistle

June 18, 2025

Greetings, Friends!

I sit here at my desk, sipping my half-sweet, half-unsweet tea from home… only it tastes more like tea-colored water. Bjorn is usually the one that makes tea at our house, and we like it strong (very strong), with just enough sugar and mint to give it that extra taste of summer. However, Bjorn and the kids are in Florida visiting Bjorn’s side of the family, so it was up to me to brew my own gallon of tea last night.

When you have a life partner that shares the daily tasks and routines with you, it is easy to forget how much they really contribute. I confess that I have been taking my endless supply of perfect tea for granted, now that I don’t know how to make it just right! I wonder how many other things have been done around the house without my having to think about it. Our dog Daisy reminded me that it is my job to feed her while Bjorn is away. I even made a deal with one of our neighbors to weed-eat our yard for me if I mow his front yard for him. (I cannot operate a weed-eater.)

We’ve been talking a lot about the Holy Spirit and the Trinity lately in worship, and I think we sometimes take the Holy Spirit for granted as well. We think and speak more often about God the Father and Jesus, but we sometimes neglect to acknowledge the immense privilege of having the Spirit of God within us. How often do we fail to notice the little nudges to keep us on track, or the sense of peace that comes over us when something feels stressful? How often do we think we’ve worked hard to come to a big decision without realizing how much we were being guided? How often do we live deep in our own thoughts without recognizing there is someone else present who hears them, too… who wants to interact with us and share in the joy and trials of our lives?

I am not the best at taking specific time to pray each day. My time is usually spent moving from one thing to another, especially when the kids are in town. Still, let us not forget to be aware that our God is with us in everything we do throughout the day – from making mediocre tea to watching TV to going to work to having lunch with friends… Sometimes all it takes is remembering you are not alone and intentionally living in gratitude for the wondrous gift we’ve been given. Our God is a God of relationship. May we take advantage of, rather than take for granted, all that God does for us.

Blessings and Peace,