Have you ever doubted God is real? And if He’s real, is He near? And if He’s near, is He good? Have you felt like a broken Christian as you questioned? I struggled about writing those sentences. I don’t want to cause anyone, who hasn’t questioned, to question. But, I know, for most Christians, thereContinue reading “Have you felt like a broken Christian? Have you questioned God’s goodness?”
Tag Archives: hold on
Moment by moment, through the pain…
I sit thinking of friend after friend.Story after story.Every one of them.Not one of them came another way. Those I know well, who love God so deeply, whose trust is rock-solid, who possess the sweetest peace and unshakable hope…they each have this in common—they came the way of suffering. I bet you know them too.Continue reading “Moment by moment, through the pain…”
Don’t understand? Do you realize Christmas is a time to celebrate just such a thing?
So many, who so powerfully and effectively preach and teach the Word, actually have to live it while walking really hard roads. This seems inherently unfair. Couldn’t they be immune from problems and pain? Why do they get cancer, and rebellious kids, and unfaithful spouses? Why wouldn’t a Mighty God protect those who seek Him,Continue reading “Don’t understand? Do you realize Christmas is a time to celebrate just such a thing?”
Christmas is so hard when you are grieving.
So many friends.So many women I’ve met when speaking. So many I’ve been connected to by mutual friends. So many are hurting. I know so many widows. I know others who have lost a parent, or a child, or a marriage. It’s heartbreaking. I’m watching some lose loved ones slowly who have dementia. Will youContinue reading “Christmas is so hard when you are grieving.”
Simple way to PEACE
You know, when I think about it, a lot of my walk with Jesus, and learning to trust Him, has been pretty simple. I’d read a verse, then apply it. As I noticed things actually went well as I followed Christ, I’d keep doing this. And, I found myself trusting God more and more asContinue reading “Simple way to PEACE”
But what about when God does things I don’t like or understand?
It’s Christmas-time! We all love reading of the miraculous virgin birth. We like the miracles and power of the Savior. We think it’s so cool that the King of Kings hung out with sinners and find it heart-warming that the He wept with Mary and Martha when Lazarus died. We love that the little childrenContinue reading “But what about when God does things I don’t like or understand?”
Better than a Hallmark Movie
I’d love to go to Biltmore to see the Christmas decorations next weekend, but my husband is planning on duck hunting. I’m kind of upset about that. He’s downstairs watching a football game in the room full of deer heads that don’t go with the rest of the house decor, at all. I’m upstairs lookingContinue reading “Better than a Hallmark Movie”
When your life DISAPPOINTS you
I had been walking with Jesus in real relationship just a few short years when my husband, whom I loved so very much, committed suicide and left me caring for our chronically ill one-year-old and three-year-old sons. My life had turned out far from what I had planned or expected. As much as I hadContinue reading “When your life DISAPPOINTS you”
Do you love someone walking a hard road?
Are you watching someone you love walk a hard road? Last night, my husband and I joined many other volunteers to collect 1153 Tiny Trees to be disbursed to kids staying at our local Children’s Hospital. Our community dropped off so many trees that our local Meals on Wheels and nursing homes will receive someContinue reading “Do you love someone walking a hard road?”
As he raised his hands, I cried.
The service had already started when two men helped him through the side door. The old man’s legs did not seem to want work on that cold Sunday morning as they half-carried him toward the front. We all kept singing, but tears filled my eyes as I watched him stumble as he tried to willContinue reading “As he raised his hands, I cried.”
Church Basements. Holy Places.
They are holy places.Church basements. As I walked down the stairs, my shoes clicked on the cold concrete floors, and I ran my fingers on the painted concrete block walls. This wasn’t the church I had grown up in, but it sure reminded me of, when as a child, I had clicked my patent leatherContinue reading “Church Basements. Holy Places.”
Pain Places
I originally shared this several years ago, but felt led to share it again for myself, and maybe for someone else who stumbles across it today. I still live in the same town where my first husband took his life. My life still takes me to the place where the detectives told me they hadContinue reading “Pain Places”
Yesterday was a hard day, but THIS happened…
Yesterday, I had to fight to remember truth. Did you? But you know, it’s not a battle we fight on our own. Yesterday, I got up and read my Bible like I normally do. But after turning on the election news, turning it off again, looking at Twitter, and talking to family members, the sadContinue reading “Yesterday was a hard day, but THIS happened…”
I need God, right now.
I don’t know how to say this except to say it—there are plenty of days my strength seems small. Just yesterday, I shared some deep truths about God on this page from the book of Job. But, I’ve been feeling a little down over the state of our country and decided to go ahead andContinue reading “I need God, right now.”
When the Hard Things Pile Up
Sometimes, the hard things pile up, and we can feel like Job. Even those who don’t read the Bible know about the tragedies of Job. In the midst of it all, the Bible tells us, Job walked forward, but could not see God. He looked backward, but could not perceive Him. (Job 23:8) Where wasContinue reading “When the Hard Things Pile Up”
Feeling down? Have you tried this?
It’s hard to look at our world right now and not feel discouraged. Friend, after friend, have told me they have turned off the news. I think many of us, who believe the Bible, and seek to live by Biblical principles, are increasingly feeling like aliens and strangers here as right is called “wrong” andContinue reading “Feeling down? Have you tried this?”
Questions and Verses for when TROUBLE comes your way—
Unless the very REAL, faithful Father had been my help and hope in my times of trouble, I would have given up. No matter what you are facing, The Most High is with you. Run to Him. Psalm 94 :17-19 God laid these questions and verses (below) on my heart a while back. I thoughtContinue reading “Questions and Verses for when TROUBLE comes your way—”
Things to remember as you long for victory…
What’s your “this”? As Paul famously sat imprisoned for the faith, he knew “this” would turn out for his deliverance through prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:19). He needed prayer and he needed the Holy Spirit to earnestly hope he wouldn’t be ashamed, but that Christ would be magnifiedContinue reading “Things to remember as you long for victory…”
Deconstruction,Progressivism, Worldview Matters!
Worldview MattersGuest Post by Holly RoePart 3 of a 3 Part Series In some cases, Christians are being led to rethink all of their previously held beliefs, dismantle them, and sometimes they do this to the point of no longer identifying as a Christian. This is called #deconstruction. Unfortunately, I’ve recently spoken with many parentsContinue reading “Deconstruction,Progressivism, Worldview Matters!”
I sat glued watching the Hurricane, and this struck me—
I sat glued to the coverage of the hurricane coming onshore in Florida. Wind whipped. Trees snapped. Rain pummeled. Transformers exploded. The storms pulled back the ocean like a curtain eerily revealing the coast normally covered by water. Newscasters warned walls of waters would soon be pushed back, bringing historic flooding. So many will sufferContinue reading “I sat glued watching the Hurricane, and this struck me—”
