person s scooping water by hands

“Jesus, Lover of My Soul” in Times of Loss and Waiting

Are you walking through a time of “unanswered prayer?” Does it seem like a lifetime of waiting for something? Are you experiencing discouragement and loss? I wrote this last week, not knowing that I would be suddenly walking in “the valley of the shadow of death” a few days later. Read more

two brown trees

Jesus, You are the lover of my soul

What if this suffering means my faith isn’t strong enough? What if God doesn’t actually love me?  The enemy loves to dagger these questions into our thoughts. Just as in the Genesis 3 garden, the tempter wants us to forget the gospel, doubt God’s love for us because pain is Read more

macro shot photography of tea candles

Abiding in the Joy and Love of Jesus at Christmas

As we celebrate Jesus’ first coming this Christmas, we’re celebrating love. Love incarnated! The Lord of heaven and earth became human.  Yes, He was born to die for us. What an undeserved and gracious gift of His love for sinners like you and me. It’s astounding. Lately, I’ve also been Read more

flame in candle

Turning darkness to the light of Jesus Christ

Snow burst into the gloomy, dark, cloudy day after Thanksgiving. My husband and I agreed, “The first thing we must do today is to fill our home with Christmas lights, in a way we’ve never done before.” We gathered every dusty old light we could find, he replaced bulbs and Read more

macro shot photography of tea candles

Help and hope of Jesus at Christmas

What does the tender image of a baby born in Bethlehem have to do with my suffering? How does the gospel relate to my suffering? I’ve spent years seeking God with these thoughts, especially when suffering continues through Christmas Day. So often I’ve cried, “O come, Lord Jesus” as I Read more

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

big wooden cross on green grass field under the white clouds

Weary soul? Come to Jesus for satisfaction

Are you weary today? Maybe you’re like me and chronic illness has brought fatigue and pain. Or are you weary of caring for your family in this ever-changing and despairing world? Weary of the fallen world? Tired of it all? Maybe you’re suffering with a sin-sick soul, weary of your Read more

green mountain

A Song of Joy When I’m Broken

Do you feel broken today? Wounded? How could my broken body, broken emotions, broken life be one that sings with joy right now? In this ultra-broken world? As we walk wounded, perhaps the song is a quiet one that someone else needs to lead for us, like the flutist. And Read more

selective focus photo of bottle with cork lid

Loving Jesus In Our Suffering

Mary was about to lose our beloved Jesus to the cross. What did she do in the midst of this sad and stressful time? She broke her precious possession, an alabaster flask of expensive perfumed ointment, pouring it over Jesus’s feet (Jn. 12:3).  She has done what she could; she Read more

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