Jesus is Lord

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
lit candle on the paper with notation

“Joy to the world,” in our painful Christmas

To Him “who loves us and has freed us from our sins” (Rev. 1:5 ESV), You’ve come, Lord and King Jesus! Joy to the world! The Lord is come: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Lk. 2:11 ESV). For the Son of Man Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
ethnic sister and brother in angel costumes touching decorative clouds

Can we hear the angels sing into our suffering Christmas?

This week’s Christmas carol resonates. It sings of tragedy, tribulation, suffering upon suffering. It sings of the evil wreckage that we all experience in this fallen and broken world that’s groaning under the weight of sin and its effects on everyone. Including believers in Christ. But it also sings of Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
a bible on a wooden surface with pine leaves and christmas lights

An “ongoing suffering” Christmas of silent, humbled, reverent awe

I will never forget it. Exactly one month after my second lifesaving brain surgery, I was able to sit at the piano and quietly play this Advent hymn. Pumped up with heavy medication, muscles and nerves shrieking in pain, our Lord gently tweaked the very direction of my earthly life 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
a woman sits on a rock beside the lake

What do I need to think about as I suffer? Jesus. 

Jesus, turn my eyes to You. My suffering overwhelms, loss and grief profound. My thoughts are only of my needs. They engulf me. You promise to “supply every need” I have, according to our Father’s “riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19 ESV). Today, I need to think of Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
a woman in brown turtleneck sweater praying

Thoughts of Jesus, comfort from Jesus, as we suffer

Precious Lord Jesus, I’ve read that You are “gentle and lowly in heart” (Mt. 11:29 ESV). Help me remember the gentle way You treat Your repentant, lowly, suffering ones (Is. 57:15). You came into Your created world in a lowly, humbled, and gently meek way. While still fully God, You emptied Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
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

By Lauri Hogle, ago
close up photo of lion

Reigning King Jesus, give us a peaceful and quiet life, as You put new leaders in place

I’m writing this three weeks before America’s election of new government leaders, another historical transition. No matter who wins, some people will be disappointed and frightened of what is to come. Many of my subscribing sisters in Christ live in nations with deeply corrupt governments. They’ve already learned the practical Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
cross during sunset

As I suffer, am I trying to “be God?”

My heart is in agony, and I have to share. Thousands have written me, having been taught that if we “do” things a certain way, God “has to” remove suffering and give us “favor,” as a reward for our works. Beloved, do you see the pride and pain this brings? It’s making ourselves into gods above Him. Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago

Protected by Security by CleanTalk