strength

withered leaves photo

Yet, I will rejoice in the LORD

My suffering appeared hopeless. Every circumstance pointed to endless hardship, permanent challenges, a life of tribulation. It felt Job-like, impacting health, finances, family, work and home tasks, relationships. My husband and I were now walking through years of long-suffering affliction and endless pain. And now my soul is poured out Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
gray concrete triumphal arch surrounded by flowers

Sing of God’s kingdom plan to battle today’s fears

I was afraid of what might happen. My tiny human mind couldn’t figure out how the situation could possibly resolve. Like the songwriters of the Psalms, I needed to battle today’s fears about the future. I needed to battle the enemy’s made-up lies by singing truths of God’s Word, as Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
gray concrete triumphal arch surrounded by flowers

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms in Crisis

Crisis screams. A phone call that shatters, symptoms that destroy, an emergency that swirls into chaos. If you’re like me, you grasp for control and try to hold things together as you pray, “Help me, help me” or just “God,” until you finally breathe and melt. In the siren lights Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
photography of barrel wave

You hold me up in waves of suffering

My dear husband took me to a small rocky beach on the Great Lake. We rested in God’s gifts, feeling warm breezes, watching holiday boaters, hearing gentle waves splashing stone piles. Under the canopy of blue sky and wispy clouds, we noticed seagulls soaring, carried by the wind. Carried. One Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
ocean water

Take heart, I have overcome the world

I wonder what they were singing. They’d been attacked by the crowds, stripped naked, beaten, thrown into prison, and fastened into stocks.  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them (Acts 16:25).  Which hymns? What were the lyrics? Did Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
writing morning blur business

God’s beautiful, wonderful words of life

Are you dealing with frustrations at every turn? Battling Goliath-sized giants on many fronts? Does this old hymn sing your prayer to the Lord today?  Sing them over again to me,wonderful words of life;let me more of their beauty see,wonderful words of life.Words of life and beauty,teach me faith and Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
brown rock formation

Rock of Ages, cleft for me

Majestic jagged rocks scraped the clouds. My granddaughter explained, “Nana, these rocks were here a billion million years ago!” Oh yes, they’ve endured, standing firm when heavy wind, storms, and droughts beat strong. I imagined Biblical lands where people found shelter in rocky crevices. Rocks shaded people from blazing heat Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago

Resting in Jesus when I can’t sleep

Do you battle broken sleep? It may be caused by intrusive symptoms, caregiving for another through the night, or walking in a season of too-much and too-hard with swirling thoughts. It’s been a lifelong challenge for me too. When it happens, I tend to wonder how I’ll ever handle the Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
time lapse photography of waterfalls during sunset

The Lord is the upholder of my life

I had to go to the giant whale of a large hospital campus. Cars zipping around everywhere, confusing signs, monstrous glistening white hallways, crowds of sick and scared people, paperwork galore, pokes and prods. I dreaded it, mostly because I couldn’t figure out where I was supposed to park and Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
close up photo of grape fruit

God’s promises to take care of you

My husband has become a gardening hobbyist. With the help of YouTube videos, he’s created a vegetable garden to continually nurture. Now that new plants are in the ground, they’re constantly on his mind as he’s begun a routine of watering, composting, and watching each little plant. He’s done much Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago

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