Wouldn’t it be nice to think that if we love Jesus, we would be exempt from difficulties? Scripture actually tells us we’ll go through hard times. Read more about why bad things happen to Christians and how we can maintain our hope during difficulties.
What if it’s all a matter of perspective? His that is. His perfect, all-knowing perspective. What if, and this is a hypothetical, the length of our trial was determined by our response to it? [more]
This morning as I donned my t-shirt, leggings, and walking shoes, I walked out the door to find it chilly enough to return inside for a sweatshirt to complete my walking wardrobe. The sun shone brightly, but heat had not yet descended upon the day. The breeze was chilly, and the air still crisp as leaves and dropped acorns crunched under the weight of my feet. [more]
“My heart is breaking for you,” came the compassionate words of a friend as she held my hand while my shoulders heaved and sobs caught in my throat.
I found myself in circumstances that I could never have predicted nor imagined. In fact, I had tried to obey all the rules, do everything right, and tell the truth, yet it didn’t serve to make me immune from trial or heartache. Quite the contrary, I came to realize that many don’t value the truth. [more]
“How are you feeling, Mom?” was the simple, genuine question asked by my youngest. It would normally be followed up with, “Can I get you anything?” because that’s just the generous and caring heart he is. But we didn’t get that far in the conversation this time because his first question just opened the valve to the Niagra Falls of tears I’d been successfully holding back all weekend in my attempts to remain strong and courageous.
That wasn’t the display I wanted him to see. It wasn’t the answer I wanted to give. Not because I think it’s wrong for our kids to see our true emotions, but because if I was being honest, I didn’t want to be in that situation. We had prayed—oh how we had prayed, and had many praying as well, but for whatever reason, God did not answer our prayers the way we had hoped, and my circumstances remained grim and daunting. I was on the side of truth when clearly truth was neither valued nor appreciated, but in fact, punished. [more]
