chiari malformation

close up of ripe purple grapes in vineyard

How firm a foundation, producing abundant fruit of suffering

We’re moving to a smaller and more manageable one-story home this week. Our Lord made it clear to my husband and me that it’s time for this change. God has helped me quickly downsize and prune possessions from 39 years of marriage, raising children, and a multifaceted music career. The house 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
woman unwrapping a christmas present

He Giveth More Grace as Our Burdens Grow Greater

I’ve been sharing some of my testimony on YouTube recently. Like a cancer survivor, I’ve been in a season of reflection in the last year, now that our Lord has spared my earthly life once again. Being a musician, I look back and liken it more to a sonata than Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
photograph of variety of fruits on a table

All good gifts around us

This week’s hymnwriter, a pastor’s kid, wrote this in serious illness, re-turning to the Lord after falling away for over twenty years:  We plow the fields and scatterthe good seed on the land,but it is fed and wateredby God’s almighty hand. (“We Plow the Fields and Scatter,” Claudius, M., 1782) Serious Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
person soaking on body of water

Jehovah Râphâh, our Great Physician, our Healing

Bedridden and flat. The only way to reduce severe pain and eye-popping pressure, as my brain continues to heal. Tears of grief, feeling like I’d been given the game of Life’s “Move back 20 spaces,” missing many special times with people I love. Wondering how I could start over with Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
lake water

In Christ Himself lies my peace as I suffer

As I shared last week, I recently underwent a week of lying flat in bed, staring at the ceiling, asking God to heal the pain-full problem with my brain’s cerebrospinal fluid. I couldn’t comfortably read or listen to anything. All I had was Jesus and talking to Him, hearing His Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
silhouette of mountains during dawn

Near to the heart of God as we suffer

Suddenly bedridden at the end of April. Brain surgery complications. Flat. Staring at the ceiling. Light and sound excruciatingly painful. Could be days, weeks, chronic. Causing the brain to slump.  Had cerebrospinal fluid leaking been the root of my underlying chronic illnesses over the last 36 years? Only God could Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
people playing the piano

Jesus, teach me, guide me in this suffering’s learning

I sat with God’s Word and my prayer journal, exhausted, in pain, not sure what I should even attempt to do after an unexpectedly short and challenging night of “sleep.” Like Job, my prayers floated between “help” and “how?” I had a list of things I’d planned to do, but Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
a person holding a bible

Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face

Faithful Father, Because You are faithful, I can walk through this trial, even if You choose not to remove it on earth. Your promises hold me when my emotions and thoughts spiral. Suffering can bring such temptation to doubt Your love or to fall into sinful self-pity and bitterness toward Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago

Moving onward in the scary through our Helper

An engulfing cavern loomed below. A fall? Perhaps fatal. My family and I had no idea I’d need to climb steep stairs without handrails to see God’s spectacular creation on this birthday gift’s organized tour. Not yet physically able to hold myself up on stairs, only a few months into Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago

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