I closed my Bible and pushed aside cold coffee to retrieve the iPhone that had been out of my hand for over an hour. This thing. A blessing and a curse. You will not rule over me. I clicked on the hearts of every Instagram I saw, then popped up Twitter. That overly popular app […]
Author: Shannon Gallatin
Though merely a trophy of God's infinite grace, I am blessed to be the wife of my favorite pastor. I'm also the mother of a miracle with at least 6 treasures in heaven being raised by my heavenly Father. The Lord has used my past jobs of working with families affected by addictions, abuse, and other life tragedies, to help oversee the women's ministry at Calvary Chapel of the Finger Lakes. I couldn't be more thankful for His entrustment to wear multiple hats of various sizes, though they might fit a bit awkward on my noggin'. Praying that each of these things are being used to make me more like my Jesus and bring Him great glory.
Though I love all of the Word of God, Philippians 3:10 has become my life verse and Acts 20:24 my ministry pursuit.
One Way To Hear God’s Heart Beat
Words I never dreamed I’d hear in all my twenties or thirties, I now enjoy from time to time in my late forties. But they often have come at a painful cost. “Mommy, just snuggle me.” Blink, blink. My shoulders dropped while a smile rose across my face. The request came with laundry in my […]
A Lesson From Fashion Failure
“Mommy? What is going on with her eyes? That’s creepy!” I paused the video we were watching from Mayo Clinic and answered my daughter’s inquisitive aversion. “When you have vertigo and feel like you are spinning, your eyes jump like that because they are trying to find a focal point to help you get your […]
Where Are You Going?
I clip-clopped through the airport like a clumsy race horse shod with wooden shoes. People silently parted my way without any shouted apologies, horns or red carpet rollouts. My boots were warm but loud enough to reverberate their wooden soles as I sprinted through the concourse to reach my soon-departing flight. My gallop quickly slowed […]
His Wounds Do Heal Ours
My waking up is never a sudden event, but more like a thick, sludgy processional to the coffee pot. Despite the density of this particular morning, before my eyelids cooperated with the dawn, a line from Third Day’s rendition of Isaiah 53:5 began to loop through my thoughts. And by His wounds, by His wounds […]
Hope’s Demise: A Parable
There was a day when Hope no longer answered the door when Pain came knocking. Pain was a persistent visitor who’d come calling every morning once Consciousness arose, opened the eyelids and filled the world with light. Often times, Pain brought his closest companions: Self Pity, Depression, Fear, Anger or Discouragement. On days when his […]
The Best Way to Stretch Out
Coffee has been rendered inoperative this morning. Even at higher doses, there is only so much a person can imbibe without crossing the line and fulfilling the definition of an “addict.” Nevertheless, after a few quick “dozes” through prayer, I opened the Word and found the Lord waiting. He didn’t mind the fog that permeated […]
Disney’s Revelations Three Feet High
You know how little kids are. They can crack through any curmudgeon’s scowl when they use over-sized words or misapply vocabulary. Then, if it’s a pastor’s kid, Bible stories, interpretations of God and explanations of the world should be recorded for future laughs or blackmail when they get older. One morning, a conversation with my […]
When Mother’s Day Hurts
I stared over my mother’s shoulder as our newly bundled gift of grace lay silent and secure in his fleece green swaddle. Head covered in thick, black, baby-soft hair with cheeks pink and vibrant. Unintentional hues of spring greens filled the room seemingly applauding this life that was added surprisingly to us in our ending […]
When the Father Raises Our Kids
As my arthritic thumb flicked through Instagram, I stopped and stared at a small collage of photos a friend posted of her children playing with neighbors. Little snapshots of giant grins and belly laughter I could hear through my screen. Tears welled up in my eyes. “Lord, I know I’ve complained in the past, but […]