Is there anyone who asks God for suffering? That’s a little different from seeing it coming, knowing that if you follow God you will suffer. Even then, we hope to avoid it. But through suffering, we grow in our faith and share the gospel. Through a recent illness of an infant grandson, (he suffered physically,… Read More
Colossians 1:11-12 God’s strength for the long haul
Agony. Death. Pain. Fear. Sorrow. We will experience these things and more as we go through life. Do I have to just grit my teeth and endure? In the middle of the deepest and darkest valleys, God will help me to move beyond my wailing question, “Why me?” I look to see God in the… Read More
Tears falling on the pages of our lives
I read Madeline l’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, and A Swiftly Tilting Planet. But it’s only recently that I have read any of her non-fiction works and discovered a wise, loving, open-minded, strong woman of faith. Although she died in 2007, she has recently become a mentor to me. As a child of… Read More
Philippians 4:14-16 Support
We aren’t all called to take on the challenges that Paul’s life was so full of. But we are all called on to support each other. Philippians 4:14-16 (The Message) It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles. You Philippians well know, and you can be sure I’ll never forget… Read More
Philippians 4:11-14 What does it take?
Do my circumstances determine my level of contentment? Or can I say, with Paul, that where I am, what I have, my state of health, … none of that really matters because God is with me? I can be on the mountain top or deep in the mucky shadows; I can experience feast or famine;… Read More
Music makes the story come alive
In an extended trailer anticipating the latest remake of Les Miserables (coming out in December—can’t wait!), the director and actors talked about a unique technique used in the filming of this musical. Instead of the actors meeting in a studio to record the songs before the movie is shot, and then trying to match up… Read More
Philippians 2:17-18 Joy in adversity
I was reading Psalm 11 this morning and was struck by these words: “But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven.” David says this after he explains how everyone is telling him to run away so he won’t be blindsided, injured, or even killed because the foundations of law… Read More
