Scattered Moments

The Run-On Sentence of Grace This may be the longest sentence we’ve ever attempted on Scattered Moments . A breathless list of all the things we use to measure ourselves—and each other: weight, IQ, credit score, parenting success, athletic ability, Facebook friends, square footage, the size of your boat, the shine on your floor, and about a hundred other things that seem important until they aren’...

On June 22, 1714, Matthew Henry died on the road at fifty-one — thrown from his horse, laid down in a stranger's house, his great commentary on Scripture unfinished. His last words: "A life spent in the service of God and communion with him is the most comfortable and pleasant life anyone can live." Thirteen men finished the work after he was gone. On June 22, 1750, Jonathan Edwards...

On June 21, 1892, Reinhold Niebuhr was born. Though some of his theology remains a matter of debate among evangelical Christians, his influence on American religious thought is impossible to ignore. More than anything else, he is remembered for a simple prayer written during the turmoil of the twentieth century—words that would find their way into church bulletins, hospital rooms, recovery groups,...

On June 20, Moments Almanac remembers two missionary milestones separated by five years and thousands of miles. In 1880, Samuel Robbins Brown, one of the first American missionaries to Japan, died after a lifetime of faithful service. His work in education and discipleship helped shape a generation during a pivotal season in Japan's history. Then, in 1885, Moravian missionaries arrived in Ala...

A Guided Meditation on Isaiah 40:31 Life has a way of draining us. Responsibilities pile up. Worries linger. Even faithful hearts can grow weary. In this guided meditation, we slow down and rest in one of Scripture's most beloved promises: "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength..." — Isaiah 40:31 Through gentle reflection, prayerful pauses, and the calming trut...

On June 19, 1865, freedom arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the reading of General Order No. 3, announcing that enslaved people were free. More than two centuries earlier, on June 19, 1623, Blaise Pascal was born—a brilliant scientist, mathematician, and Christian thinker who spent his life exploring the mysteries of the human heart. In this episode of Moments Almanac, we reflect on two kinds of f...

Scattered Moments — Moments Almanac | June 18 Held Up June 18 carries two stories four centuries apart — and they say the same thing. In 1546, a twenty-five-year-old woman named Anne Askew was convicted of heresy in London for believing what most Baptists believe about communion. She was racked in the Tower of London, carried to the stake on a chair because she could no longer walk, and burned. Sh...

Wrecks Welcome There was a man in our accountability group years ago who made the rest of us look pretty good—or so I thought. For about three seconds. In this episode of Scattered Moments , Matt reflects on the difference between the wreckage everyone can see and the hidden struggles we work so hard to conceal. From public failures to private battles with pride, resentment, greed, and ambition, w...

What do a fiery preacher and a towering statue have in common? On this episode of Moments Almanac , we explore the birth of John Wesley on June 17, 1703, and the arrival of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor on June 17, 1885. One carried a spiritual flame that helped spark a worldwide revival. The other lifted a torch that welcomed generations seeking hope and a new beginning. Along the way,...

🦋 🌊 June 16 – The Storm and the Butterfly What does a butterfly have to do with the resurrection? And what can a storm-tossed ocean teach us about compassion? In this episode of Moments Almanac, we remember two remarkable stories connected to June 16. First, we meet Joseph Butler, the eighteenth-century bishop and apologist who challenged skeptics by pointing to the natural world itself. Looking...

A Scattered Moments Sleep Story Travel beneath a canopy of stars and across quiet ocean waters as you journey through the life of Lottie Moon. This gentle sleep story follows the beloved missionary from the familiar shores of Virginia to the distant villages of China, where faith, courage, and simple obedience shaped a remarkable life. Along the way, you'll encounter lantern-lit evenings, pea...

On this episode of Moments Almanac , we remember Josiah Henson, born June 15, 1789.  Born into slavery, he became a preacher, abolitionist, community builder, and advocate for freedom. His story reminds us that while we cannot always choose our circumstances, we can choose our character. Through faith, integrity, and perseverance, Josiah Henson overcame evil with good and left a legacy that still...

On this episode of Moments Almanac , we reflect on two stories connected by a common thread of compassion. Born on June 14, 1811, Harriet Beecher Stowe used her pen to awaken a nation's conscience, reminding readers of the humanity of those trapped in slavery. More than a century later, during the Titanic hearings of 1912, Second Officer Charles Lightoller spoke of "the law of human natu...

What if growing older isn't supposed to make us cynical? On this episode of Moments Almanac , we remember two remarkable figures connected to June 13: Saint Anthony of Padua, remembered as the patron saint of lost things, and Christian writer Dorothy L. Sayers, whose faith-filled imagination continues to inspire readers around the world. Along the way, we explore what it means to recover the...

On June 12, 1929, Anne Frank was born. On June 12, 1963, Medgar Evers was murdered. One entered the world on this day. One left it. Yet both continue to speak. In this episode of Moments Almanac , we remember two lives shaped by courage in the face of hatred and injustice. From a hidden attic in Nazi-occupied Europe to a driveway in Jackson, Mississippi, Anne Frank and Medgar Evers remind us that...

What do an ancient encourager, a modern ocean explorer, and a timeless proverb have in common? On this June 11 edition of Moments Almanac , we remember Barnabas—the Son of Encouragement—and celebrate the birthday of Jacques Cousteau, whose journeys revealed the wonders hidden beneath the sea. Together, their stories remind us that the deepest journeys of life and faith are rarely made alone. Drawi...

What can two very different dogs teach us about the Christian life? In this episode of Scattered Moments, Matt Tullos shares the humorous story of Frank, a dachshund whose life mission was escaping every fence ever built, and Arthur, a faithful companion who had the freedom to go anywhere but simply wanted to stay close to the people he loved. Along the way, you'll discover a gentle truth abo...

The world celebrates noise, urgency, and constant activity. Scripture offers a different path. In this episode of Moments Almanac, we reflect on June 10 through the lens of a quiet and faithful life: Thomas à Kempis and reflect on Paul's gentle encouragement in 1 Thessalonians 4:11: "Seek to lead a quiet life." We'll reflect on the simple wisdom of Rich Mullins, and consider ho...

Tonight, we climb a quiet mountain with Jesus. In this gentle Christian sleep story, you'll journey alongside Christ and His disciples as they ascend the mountain where the veil between heaven and earth seems to grow thin. Inspired by the biblical account of the Transfiguration, this story invites you to imagine the peace of resting in the presence of Jesus—the place where God's Kingdom...

June 9 — Columba of Iona & William Carey: The Gospel Goes Further On June 9, we remember two missionaries separated by more than a thousand years but united by the same calling. Columba of Iona left the shores of Ireland in the sixth century and carried the light of Christ to the rugged lands of Scotland. From a small monastery on the island of Iona, the gospel spread across a nation and beyon...

The world tells us to become more—to gather more influence, more recognition, more success, and more control. But Jesus points us in a different direction. In this episode of Scattered Moments , we reflect on the surprising beauty of humility, the freedom of becoming smaller, and the grace that fills hearts that make room for God. Through Scripture, quiet reflection, and the wisdom of the saints,...

On June 8, we remember William Wilberforce—a man whose faith led him into one of history's longest and most important struggles for justice. For more than twenty years, Wilberforce fought to end the British slave trade. He faced defeat, opposition, and discouragement, yet refused to abandon the work God had placed before him. His story reminds us that some victories come quickly, but others r...

Deeper Moments | Danny Sinquefield and the Prayer Pattern Called BREATHE What if prayer was less about checking a box and more about breathing? In this Deeper Moments conversation, Matthew Tullos sits down with pastor, author, and encourager Danny Sinquefield to talk about a lifetime of walking with Christ. Danny shares the remarkable story of growing up in a turbulent home, coming to faith as a t...

On June 7, 1665, a small group of Baptists in colonial Boston gathered to worship according to their convictions. Their simple desire to follow Christ would cost them dearly. They were fined, harassed, imprisoned, and forced to meet in secret. At one point, colonial authorities even nailed shut the doors of their meetinghouse. Yet the congregation that became First Baptist Church of Boston endured...

In this first Scattered Moments After Dark sleep story, we walk beside two weary disciples making their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Their hopes have been shaken. Their questions remain unanswered. Yet they are not as alone as they imagine. Through peaceful storytelling, reflective Scripture, and a calming soundscape, you'll be invited to slow your breathing, quiet your thoughts, and rest in...