Scattered Moments
Brief reflections on faith, adversity, and the quiet places where grace appears.
Each episode of Scattered Moments is a brief journey through the unexpected classrooms where God does His deepest work — hospital rooms and sanctuaries, seasons of grief and flashes of joy, the ordinary moments where grace shows up and changes everything.
Drawing from over forty years of writing, ministry, and life in the trenches, Matt Tullos weaves together original poetry, hymn stories, Scripture, and honest reflection to remind you that even adversity, you are not alone.
Three Types of Episodes:
Scattered Moments: Brief Reflections on Faith, Adversity and the Quiet Places
Guided Meditations: Opportunities to Encounter God through Meditation
Moments Almanac: Released Every Morning, Reflecting on the Meaning of Each Day,
Take heart, notice the scattered moments, and share the grace.
Scattered Moments
June 4, 2026 | Moments Almanac | Churchill
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
On this June 4 edition of Moments Almanac, we remember a day marked by both courage and contemplation.
We begin with Winston Churchill's stirring call to perseverance during one of the darkest days of World War II. We then journey to the village of Bethany, where Martha and Mary remind us that while service matters, there is a "better part" found in simply sitting at the feet of Jesus.
Along the way, we celebrate the birth of beloved poet Patience Strong and reflect on her beautiful words:
"At the gate that swings between this world and the world above, stands the angel of God's mercy with the lamp of love."
In a world that urges us to hurry, produce, and strive, today's episode offers a gentle invitation to pause, listen, and receive the mercy that is new every morning.
Scripture: Luke 10:38–42; Lamentations 3:22–23
Theme: Choosing the better part—presence before productivity.
Hello and welcome to Moments Almanac for June 4th, 2026. On this day in 1940, as Europe stood under the shadow of war, Winston Churchill rose before Parliament and delivered one of the most memorable speeches of the 20th century. The evacuation of Dunkirk had rescued hundreds of thousands of soldiers, but Britain still faced an uncertain future. Churchill spoke words that have echoed across generations. We shall fight on the seas and oceans. We shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets. We shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender until in God's good time. The new world, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old. It was a call to perseverance, a reminder that courage is often nothing more than taking the next faithful step when the road ahead remains unclear. Yet courage is not always found on the battlefield. Sometimes courage is found in quiet homes, like the small village called Bethany. Many parts of the Christian church remember Mary and Martha on this day. Martha of Bethany and Mary of Bethany were sisters and friends of Jesus. Their story appears in Luke chapter ten. Jesus entered their home, and Martha immediately went to work, meals to prepare, guests to care for, details to manage. Mary did something different. She sat at the feet of Jesus and listened. Before long, Mary became frustrated. Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? And Jesus gently replied, Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her. It's one of the most tender moments in the gospels. Jesus wasn't criticizing service. After all, someone had to prepare the meal. But he was reminding Martha and reminding us that our work for God should never replace our time with God. The world constantly tells us to hurry, to produce, to achieve, to answer one more email, check one more notification, to finish one more task, but Jesus invites us to sit before we stand, to listen before we speak, to receive before we accomplish. Today is the birthday of the beloved British poet Patience Strong, born on June fourth, nineteen oh seven. Her very name sounds like a lesson in discipleship. Patience Strong. In one of her poems, The Awakening, she wrote, At the gate that swings between this world and the world above, stands the angel of God's mercy with a lamp of love. What a beautiful image. Each morning is a gate, a threshold, a crossing from yesterday into today. Most of us rush through it without noticing. But perhaps the invitation of Martha and Mary is to pause there for a moment, to stand at the gate, to notice the mercy of God already waiting. To see the lamp of his love lighting the path for us. The prophet Jeremiah wrote, Because of the Lord's faithful love, we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning. Not every day brings certainty. Churchill knew that. Not every day brings calm. Martha knew that. But every day brings mercy. Patience strong knew that. And so today, whether your calendar is crowded or your heart is heavy, may you choose what Jesus called the better part. May you find a few moments to sit quietly in his presence. May you listen before you hurry. May you receive before you strive. May you walk through the gate this day, knowing that the mercy of God has already gone before you. That's today's Moments Almanac for June 4th, 2026. My name is Matt Tullis, and I hope you'll join me tomorrow. Until then, take care. Notice the scattered moments, and share the grace.
