My hands gripped the steering wheel as I passed a slower car on the freeway during rush hour traffic. The pressure between my shoulder blades increased. A vehicle cut in front of me on my left. As I braked, I swallowed down a caustic remark. I could feel a headache growing behind my eyes.

My entire body felt tense. My brain, hyper-vigilant. I would like to say I was experiencing new sensations, but I knew I had been feeling this way for a long time. Exhausted. Overwhelmed.

-Excerpt from Intentional Pauses.

Does this sound like you? Like people you know?

Through storytelling and Bible references, Lynne Hartke invites you to discover rest for your soul through intentional pauses in a world that is built for speed and distraction.

In the feeding of the 5000 in Matthew 14, why did Jesus have the disciples pick up the leftovers?

Were there anti-littering laws in place and Jesus didn’t want his disciples to get in trouble? Was it to feed the poor? Maybe they were going to drop it off at a foodbank on the way home. Or maybe Jesus was going to have Mary and Martha whip up a huge patch of stuffing or bread pudding?

Or was it a deeper reason?

Join Lynne in delving into four principles found in this story about the tenacious love of our leftover-loving God who cares for broken things.

When our oldest was four years old, we stayed at a friend’s cabin with a beautiful spiral staircase that did not have the railing installed yet. Our son had gone up that staircase all weekend without any problems, until the last morning.

“Time to go,” my husband called as he tucked the cooler into the last available space in the trunk.

Nate came running from the loft. His young boy legs and arms pumping. His feet hit the top step of the spiral staircase and although he tried to angle his body into the turn, his momentum kept him going in a straight line.

Right off the edge. I can still see it in my mind in slow motion. He went flying through the air, did a complete somersault and landed on the carpeting below.

Flat on his back. There was not A. Single. Sound. Nate’s breath had been knocked clean out of him.

-Excerpt from the talk

Life has a way of knocking the wind out of us, doesn’t it?

Through scriptures and storytelling, Lynne will share four lifelines for hard times that will give listeners back their breath as they learn to lean on God in difficult circumstances.

Can I tell you a phrase that makes me raise my eyebrows and go, “Oh-oh.” Nothing earth shattering. But it usually is schedule altering. Three little words.

By. The. Way.

“By the way, I have a meeting, I won’t be home for dinner.”

When the kids were still not grown…. “By the way, I have a band concert tonight.”

Or the dreaded…. “By the way, I have a science project and it’s due tomorrow.”

By. The. Way. Like I said, not earth shattering, but schedule altering. No matter how much I prepare and organize, those three words come slinking along, interrupting my plans. Much to my frustration, I find by the way to be in the way, when I am on the way.

-Excerpt from “What if the Interruptions Are Your Life?”

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But how about our friend, Jesus, our walking friend, Jesus, who meets a blind man, ten lepers, and others as he is on the way?

Through storytelling and personal examples, Lynne will guide you into relooking at the people and situations you view as interruptions to your life.

• A Stack of Stones: Life Lessons Learned on the Trail

• The Gift of Color: Discover Beauty Where You Live

• Eyes Wide Open: The Daily Practice of Noticing

• Natural Gifts of Christmas Wonder

Click here for specific Arizona topics that can be adapted for church events, highlighting God’s beautiful creation.

As a pastor’s wife for over 40 years, Lynne has spoken on hundreds of topics, so if you have another theme for event, reach out to her.

Being people of grace. God as our strength. Finding peace in chaos. Those are just a few other themes Lynne has covered.

A separate Christmas page is here.