eyeglasses and cross on an open book

Praying God’s great and precious promises into suffering

I woke up at 3 am, writhing in severe pain with a cascade of symptoms within this past year’s ongoing medical treatment. Stumbling to the kitchen, into my agony, fears, loneliness, and darkness, the coffee cup’s Biblical promise made its way through my tears and into my heart.  “The LORD Read more…

sad multiracial women hugging at home

“How long, O Lord?” A prayer of hope

Father, We cry along with the rest of Your believing children,  Across all of time and place, as we earth-dwellers perceive it, we cry along with Your invisible church, Your believing family of Christ-followers from every tribe, tongue, and nation. We cry as we see bickering, false teaching, persecution, wounding, Read more…

Christian cross with blue background

Jesus, You were made perfect by Your suffering…for me

Made perfect. Jesus, You were “made perfect through suffering” (Heb. 2:10) even though You were already perfect! You were and are God, the One “for whom and by whom all things exist” (Heb. 2:10). Are You perfecting me through my suffering right now? Maybe thinking about Your suffering for me…will Read more…

red lighted candle

Emmanuel in my “Already and Not Yet” this Christmas

As God’s people waited for Messiah after Malachi’s prophecies, they heard no new words from God…for about 400 years. They thought God’s blessing would come after they’d restored the temple, but it didn’t come for many generations.  Had He abandoned them into darkness? Were their prayers falling on deaf ears?  Read more…

woman and child walking on beach

Lord, I Praise You Like a Child

Every time I visit with our little grandchildren, I consider the “childlike faith” that Jesus describes. It’s a dependence for our very lives, fully trusting in someone else. Little ones don’t consider what’s coming. They simply play, learn, and grow…in the moment. They offer much wonder, curiosity, and love as 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…

pathway between green grass field

God’s song in the night, a song of joy

Joy? How can we possibly find any joy right now? How can we find joy when anger, pain, fear, and personal troubles seem to escalate weekly?  My heart has wearied this week, yet He beckons me through this Scripture. God’s song in the night You shall have a song as Read more…

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…

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…

art autumn autumn leaves beautiful

Lord, we thank You in our trials

As Thanksgiving approaches, we may not be gathering in typical ways. Our tables may not include those normally invited, we may be grieving as we miss those who used to fill the seats, we may not have enough money to feast. Our hearts may be too overwhelmed to feel like Read more…