Hope On The Road Less Traveled
Peace and joy begin with acceptance. It’s a phrase that God has often brought to mind during the past decade of near constant trials in our family. Between a daily battle with chronic illness, a debilitating injury, suffering children, financial woes, and the strain of caring for a loved one with mental illness, God’s provided… Continue reading Peace Begins With Acceptance
Do you ever feel like you just aren’t enough? Do you feel like there isn’t enough of you to go around and, no matter how much effort you pour out, there's always something lacking, somewhere you've fallen short, or something that hasn't panned out as you expected? I sure do. Some days, I wonder why… Continue reading Five Reminders for the Weary and Burdened Soul
I slowly worked my way to the window and opened the blinds for the first time in over a week. My world had shrunk down to the next time I could take more pain meds, the next time I had to force down a little food and fluids to keep the ER at bay, and… Continue reading What’s the Point if the Pain Has no End
New Year's resolutions. To some, that concept invigorates. To others, it's crippling, overwhelming, and a setup for discouragement. For many years, I’ve pondered what positive changes I’d like to pursue as a new year approaches. The nature of January first brings with it a sense of freshness and renewed hope. And with that, it inspires… Continue reading Faithfulness: A New Year’s Resolution Rooted in Grace
The past several years, God has been stripping away the frills of earthly success, independence, and self-confidence in me. Like Elijah, I have felt hidden by the Lord, severely tested by difficult and painful circumstances, and a battle of faith in response to God’s silence and the relentless furnace of affliction. My natural assumption of… Continue reading Don’t Lose Hope – God’s Writing a Story of Redemption In Your Life
Sometimes I sit down to write and find myself staring at a blank screen, my head swirling with thoughts of what I know is true, yet struggling to connect those truths with the overwhelming emotions and circumstances that seem to say otherwise. This has been one of those weeks. One where I know that God is sovereign,… Continue reading In Faithfulness The Lord Has Afflicted Me
As I’ve watched the last several weeks of political debates, caucuses, and interviews, I’ve been struck by the number of presidential candidates who claim some form of faith in God, while talking and living in a way that seems far more about pursuing their own agenda than living under the authority of God and his Word.… Continue reading Are You Seeking the Glory of God or the Glory of Man?
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. (Nahum 1:7) Last spring, we were anxiously awaiting our upcoming vacation to Florida. Even more than in years past, I was desperate to get away and catch my breath from all the hardships and stresses that were pounding… Continue reading When God Doesn’t Seem Good
Set Apart 