repentance

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…

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
crop harvester with fresh eggplants in box

Spirit of God, teach me the patience of unanswered prayer

Friends are lovingly encouraging me to “be patient” when I get my hopes up and then end up feeling discouraged and disappointed in this rehab and recovery time. It’s a waiting time, one step forward, two steps back. It’s one of “longsuffering,” God’s word for “patience.” Are you waiting for Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
christian cross surrounded by daffodils

Amazing love! How can it be? 

Amazing love! How can it be  that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? (“And Can It Be,” Wesley, C., 1738) Lord Jesus, we come to You in this holiest of weeks, with its emotional downs and ups. As we hear each story, help us to remember that things were Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
aerial view of a city

Singing the gospel when I’m afraid 

Father, The deceiver tempts us to fear that You’re punishing us when we suffer. When the hits keep coming, and we read the words of the Old Covenant, we’re easily afraid it’s our fault. We must not be doing enough to “earn” Your favor. Our accuser tempts us to think Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
woman hand holding heart

Clinging to God’s promises, safe in the arms of Jesus

Father, within Your glorious love story to Your people, Your eternal covenant promises are now fulfilled in Jesus Christ, through the “new covenant” in His blood. You gave these promises throughout the Old Testament, and You’ve fulfilled so many of them already. By Your Spirit’s work,3 I treasure Your promise Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
seashore under white clouds

I am not skilled to understand

I’m writing this week’s “praise interruption” on a day when suffering’s earthly storms are howling on multiple fronts. Screaming at me, to the point of overwhelm. Are you having “one of those days” too? Perhaps, like me, we could recount many days, weeks, and years of storms. But sometimes, when Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
selective focus photography of hand

God’s Kindness to Us When We Suffer

Do you ever feel like your suffering negates God’s kindness? Just as in the garden of Eden, is our lying enemy making you think our powerful and glorious King is more of a punishing tyrant with His children, rather than our kind Father? Are you struggling to reconcile your suffering Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
photo of person holding cherry tomato

Give thanks to God when I don’t feel like it

We sing this hymn at Thanksgiving, but what if the words feel inauthentic to you this Thanksgiving? Do you ever have running thoughts like these when you sing? Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home; Lord, I’m not feeling thankful today, at least not thankful enough to Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
prayer hands

A Healing Peace in Problems

I felt anything but a healing peace in my problems. I was “wearied by the length of [my] way” (Is. 57:10 ESV) and I felt down, low, and weak. My frustration and anxiety over unwanted problems produced exhaustion. No wonder I felt no peace. I needed to look away from my desperate Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago

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