God rest you merry, gentlemen,let nothing you dismay…Oh tidings of comfort and joy! (“God rest you merry, gentlemen,” p.d.) Yes, we’ve begun the Christmas season with all its “tidings of comfort and joy.” But are you suffering this year, as I am? Does this feel impossible to sing? Is your Read more…
Beloved in Christ, I write to you before brain surgery, as my loved ones, subscribers to my weekly emails, a family of His beloveds who are also suffering ongoing trials of this earthly life. No matter what the outcomes may be, this writing says, “See you later!” Through the wonders Read more…
Father, as I approach brain surgery this week, I thank You for Your hope and comfort. It is Your gift of hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ, offered to me and my brothers and sisters who trust in Christ as their Lord and Savior, who may be reading this Read more…
Abba Father, I’m clinging to who You are today. Thank You. For You are not only the eternal, sovereign, and holy, holy, holy God of all power and might, but You are always my perfectly loving Father. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the Read more…
My friend shared her dread of her chronic illness symptoms crashing into something she had to do the following week. I shared that I dreaded escalating symptoms at an upcoming event, knowing they likely would appear because of its inherent activity. She tried to encourage me, exclaiming, “But it could Read more…
I woke up at 3 am, writhing in severe pain with a cascade of symptoms within this past year’s ongoing medical treatment. Stumbling to the kitchen, into my agony, fears, loneliness, and darkness, the coffee cup’s Biblical promise made its way through my tears and into my heart. “The LORD Read more…
What were my priorities before God graciously gave me “rebirth” and the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5)? They all were focused on myself, my wants, me in the middle, my comfort and safety as central, all borne of the Read more…
I’ve had agonizing and tear-full times with God lately. I know not. In my limited human knowledge, I don’t understand why my first brain surgery stopped “working” and why I need to endure so much pain and challenge from another one. Or why things took a sharp turn for the Read more…
As a choral music educator, I often chose a beautiful piece for my children’s and middle school choirs to learn. Based on what is believed to be a hidden-away Jewish child’s words, written on the wall during the Holocaust, the kids’ voices continue to sing in my thoughts, when all Read more…
Are you facing a crossroads kind of decision today? Me too. Is it overwhelming? Are you also asking God for His wisdom, even as we try to make educated guesses based on our limited human understanding? One of my favorite little choruses sings, “God knows all, God knows best.” As Read more…
Protected by Security by CleanTalk