praise

silhouette of a boat in the ocean during sunset

Our Prince of Peace in this time of tribulation

Lord Jesus, our Prince of Peace, When sorrows and sea billows roll… and we feel like we’re drowning, calm me, and any Christian reading these words.  Settle us.  Peace by the cross of Jesus, past tense! It’s only possible in the forever peace we have with our Father, the peace Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
green gift box with peach ribbon

Blessings all mine as I suffer, by God’s amazing grace

Abba Father, If I’m honest, I’m crying to You along with Job. This suffering feels Job-like. “I loathe my life” (Job 9:21 ESV).  And yet, as I suffer today, I remember that You gave me eternal life, life that is in Your Son, Jesus Christ. You gave me to Jesus.  Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
close up shot of two people holding hands

How to sing, “Blessings all mine and ten thousand beside,” when we’re suffering

Well-meaning and kind friends suggested they would pray for God’s “favor and blessing” so that my severe, chronic pain would disappear. So that the tribulation would end. So earthly suffering and affliction would stop. I silently cried an anguished response, “But I already HAVE His favor and blessing…because I’m in Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
close up of a blooming white lily flower

Fellowship of Christ’s suffering in the power of His resurrection

On this holiest of weeks, I’m sharing my husband’s favorite “Easter hymn.” First thing on Resurrection Sunday, he cranks up the volume and plays it!  He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose! (“Christ Arose,” Lowry, R., 1874) Somehow, the truth that our beloved Savior is resurrected, risen, and reigning brings me Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
brown wooden cross pendant on closeup photography

Songs our suffering Savior sang, His solace and strength

Our suffering Savior has been giving me solace and strength in my own suffering by studying the Psalms as He might have sung them.  Because…He did sing them in His earthly life.  I wonder if He was comforted and strengthened in knowing that He was fulfilling prophecy as He hung Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
farmer holding lambs together

Christ will hold me fast, to the very end

When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast; When the tempter would prevail, He can hold me fast! (“He Will Hold Me Fast,” Habershon, A. R., 1906) I wonder if Ada wrote these lyrics into her deep suffering, so difficult that she feared she might leave Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
a beautiful bride holding her bouquet of flowers

Hoping in God’s promised gift of my righteousness in Christ

Holy, holy, holy God,  Your Word makes it very clear that no one can possibly enter into Your presence, because since sin entered our world in Genesis 3…  no one will be justified in [Your] sight by the works of the law. But now, apart from the law, the righteousness Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
woman hospital gown lying on bed crying

How to endure tribulation and suffering, singing the gospel to Job!

I’ll never forget it. As we interviewed to join a church after moving to a new state, one of the elders asked me, “What is your favorite book of the Bible?” I immediately responded, “Job.” He was shocked! Job’s words of lament became mine through years of undiagnosed and progressively Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
text on a white paper

The most powerful song lyrics, composed in Christ

Lord Jesus Christ, Grief. Tears. Shocking sad. More new losses. Unchanging circumstances. But… Your songs, the Psalms, are the most powerful song lyrics. You composed them. You sang them in Your earthly life. They’re all…about You. You’re singing to me into this fresh grief, as You weep with me. The Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
grayscale photo of person holding feet and hands

God’s promised forever family of love

Abba Father,  You made a most beautiful promise to Your people, offering them hope…six years before Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. You knew they would need it, and You know I need to remember my hope in Christ today. Into this very judgment for their sin, You promised:  “I will Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago

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