18 Comments
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Renée Bauer's avatar

Wow. Thank You.

Jen Pollock Michel's avatar

Thanks for reading, Renée!

Suzanne M Burden's avatar

Beautiful reminder and reorientation. Fleming Rutledge was quoted yesterday in our first Advent sermon, and I love how your story illustrates the truth of God’s rescue operation. Grace indeed. So humbling, overwhelming, and needed. If Advent has done anything for me already, it’s been taking me back to my overwhelming need and God’s abundant, miraculous, and loving provision. I love what you’ve shared here. It has genuinely encouraged me today. Thank you.

Jen Pollock Michel's avatar

What a blessing to know these words encouraged you, Suzanne! Thanks for sharing that!

Cindy Pendergast's avatar

Just what I needed today! I loved the way you tied in your own “rescue” story. Reminded me of my own as a 17 year old. Thank you for sharing your heart with us so beautifully. “—and God comes anyway.” YES and AMEN!

Jen Pollock Michel's avatar

It's good to rehearse our stories and recall God's grace to us!

Dawn Duryea's avatar

So beautiful...so true! Thanks!

Jen Pollock Michel's avatar

Thanks for reading!

Joy's avatar

This is SO GOOD. Thank you for beautifully reminding me of the sweet faithfulness and love of our God. I am going to be reading this over and over. Also adding Fleming’s book to my must read list!

Jen Pollock Michel's avatar

The book is a good one! I'm happy to be rereading it this year - and the choice to reread is always reliable proof of a good book, for me at least!

Phil Reinders's avatar

Ah, so very good, thank you Jen. I'm such a closet Pelagian. Advent music has been helpful for me to find this Advent groove (if you're interested, I offered up a list of good Advent tunes over at my Substack). Fleming's work is so bracing. She follows in the line of John the Baptist, preparing us now for Christ's second coming. I can imagine Fleming in camel's hair and leather belt, but with her lilting Southern drawl.

Jen Pollock Michel's avatar

Closet Pelagian! Oh, that's a good way of putting it, Phil. Me, too! Heading over to your Substack now to see your Advent playlist!

Annmarie Hamling's avatar

This was much-needed nourishment for my soul this morning. Thank you!!

Jen Pollock Michel's avatar

Praise God! I'm so glad!

Annette Kristynik's avatar

Beautiful.

Thank you.

Jen Pollock Michel's avatar

You are very welcome!

Jen Lenz's avatar

This was a word of grace and assurance of God’s goodness that I so needed to hear today as I find myself trying to do ALL the things this season. Thank you.

Faith Newton's avatar

"It means that I can still hope for God to come and to act when I am not praying as I should, not hoping as I must, not rehearsing the truth I know but cannot now recall". So encouraging thank you!