woman with umbrella on beach

Who is our hope as we suffer?

Lord Jesus Christ, You are my only hope as I suffer. Exalted Jesus, help me to daily celebrate Your resurrection! For You are risen and reigning now! Christ exalted is our song, Hymned by all the blood-bought throng; To his throne our shouts shall rise; God with us by sacred Read more

distressed middle aged woman in black blazer holding a woman beside her

A glorious love story’s chapter

A sweet medical helper tried to encourage me, “Your story isn’t over yet. This is just a chapter.” Amazingly, this world has invented positive thinking “mantras,” faintly shadowing Biblical truth. With each chapter of ongoing suffering’s ebb and flow of hardships, a Christian’s story isn’t over yet! Why? Because our Read more

assorted sliced fruits in white ceramic bowl

The Lord has promised good to me

Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lordas long as I live (Ps. 23:6 CSB). All the days. This includes today, one of earthly suffering. The Lord has promised good to me. His Word, my hope secures. Read more

woman wearing white top

Joy in the truth of the gospel!

What a mess. My heart breaks by what I see on social media these days…people judge others’ heart motives and force their personal “if-then” ideas. They echo themes of the book of Job, such painful destruction on top of his grief, financial loss, and chronic illness. Job’s “friends” accuse him Read more

three red heart decors

A crisis of faith, a bursting of love

God has woven some underlying themes into my 35 years of suffering from chronic illness and pain, much like themes in a sonata. As I read my prayer journals, one theme has been the ongoing need to believe the gospel…daily.  I see the subtle spiritual warfare and temptation of the Read more

photo of person holding flower eating white animal

Jesus, kind and strong, in my suffering

Lord, the fruit of Your Holy Spirit includes kindness. This is also a facet of Your unchanging character that we easily forget when suffering.  Temptations everywhere annoy, And sins and snares oft make me sigh; My earthly joys are from me torn, And oft an absent God I mourn. (“Remembering Read more

hands raised in forest

Chronic pain and stress? Singing praise to God helps!

I’ve learned so much about chronic pain and stress and why singing to God helps! No wonder He compassionately tells us, over and over…. That’s merely one of many Scriptures. He also tells us: So, how is singing praise to God when we suffer His healing BENEFIT to us? Learning about how Read more

close up photo of a woman listening to music

Singing Christ’s hope when chronic pain and illnesses abound

Lists of uncontrollable symptoms. Adding-up ailments. Incurable. Chronic. Pain. Whack-a-mole managing. You too? I’m so thankful my husband drives us to church to worship and praise our Lord with our church family. Sometimes, I’m sitting in agony, but God always fills me with His strengthening love among His people.  As Read more

round silver colored chronograph watch

How can we face a New Year? One hour at a time

I recently came to our Father with the pain of my suffering sisters in Christ as we live in this fallen world…cancer and chronic illness, depression and anxiety, financial and job pressures, loneliness and losses, death and grief, persecution, pains in motherhood and marriage, constant woundings of others… ”Oh Father, Read more

yellow bokeh lights

The angels’ Christmas song points us to our Good Shepherd

Of course it was frightening, for it seemed like just another normal evening to those shepherds. Taking turns on the night shift, watching for threatening attacks, guarding each individual sheep’s needs, and constantly wrestling with the natural elements. Exhausting, longing, waiting on God, loss, fear.  Was life in this fallen Read more

Protected by Security by CleanTalk