When my parents decided to end their 35-year marriage in 2020, my life was shattered in an instant. I couldn’t understand how a God that loved me so much could allow my family to be ripped apart, never to be put back together again.
All in Prayer
Learning to Lament Part 5: Help Others
Pain and loss have deep purpose in Kingdom work. We don’t simply move through lament, find healing, and consider it the end. We should ask the Lord, “What have I learned? What do I do now with this experience?”
Learning to Lament Part 4: Experience Peace
When we faithfully practice lament, diligently search the Scriptures, and incorporate Scripture into our prayers, we unlock the experience of profound peace. This is an experienced peace—not the resolution of every “why,” nor the sudden release of burdens that may have weighed on our hearts for years.
It is About Time!
When the wonderful aroma of cookies in the air fills the house, you know it is about time! They are almost ready! That good smell is your clue that you are about to enjoy that treat!
Throughout All Generations
In just a few weeks I anticipate the blessing of welcoming another generation of girls as I become a great grandmother. I pray that this little girl will also come to know Jesus Christ as her Savior, making six generations of Christian women I have known.
Helplessness in Prayer
My ancestors braved the Atlantic Ocean as some of the earliest settlers of what later developed into the United States of America. Their children navigated rivers, mountains, and extreme weather in their covered wagons before eventually settling in the southern states. Once there, they cleared the trees and tilled the ground. They planted, harvested, and hauled the produce to market by mule-drawn wagons. In short, I come from hearty stock!
A Picture of Prayer
A visit from my brother and sister-in-law provided multiple opportunities to visit during meals. Some conversations focused on health needs. Another time we discussed the content of our best-loved books. My favorite meal, though, included hilarious stories of my brother’s adolescent escapades!
Reflections from a Well-Worn Classic
I treasure my collection of vintage books. One of these tattered treasures holds an honored spot on my bookshelf—the thirtieth edition of Prayer by Ole Hallesby, a Norwegian theologian.
A Living Sacrifice
During the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, Solomon prayed with his arms stretched toward heaven. He pleaded with God to hear, to listen, to respond, and to forgive the sins of the Israelites. He followed his prayer of dedication with sacrificial offerings.
Strengthening Exercise: Knee Bends
Life can be hard. Some of you right now are experiencing pain or heartache. Perhaps you have a lingering physical illness. Some of you may have experienced the end of a marriage or the death of a loved one. Ongoing personal problems can make a person physically, mentally, or spiritually weak.
Lost Cell Phone Cry
My husband absentmindedly set his cell phone on the hood of my car. I did not notice it and took off for the store.
Along the way, I thought I saw something fly off my hood. I did not have a clue what until my husband called me from his business phone, it was his cell phone.
God is Able
Bits of my tattered prayer journal’s cover stick to my hands after holding it. The yellowed pages identify needs of those dearest to me. It also contains various prayers I turn to when my own words fail to express my heart.
In Christ?
I occasionally wear my father’s WWII ID bracelet. He wore it as a pilot and, tragically, as a prisoner of war. When reading Paul’s words of Christians being “in” Christ, I glanced at the I.D. bracelet and reflected on Dad’s time “in” a guarded compound—a very different experience from being “in Christ.”
Come and Listen
I admit, when I was young, I had a rebellious side within me, and I knew it.
There were two sides within me that fought each other.
The good side knew the right things God wanted me to do, and the rebellious side knew too, but ignored God.
I’ll be Praying!
I realized that a different three-word phrase has begun to dominate my own speech, “I’ll be praying!” As a result, I’ve begun to consider options for thoughtfully and authentically responding to prayer requests that arrive through technology.
Prayers that Move Heaven
I also have a great desire for understanding God’s revelation to me and you—the Bible. I pray daily for wisdom and understanding. Yet, Daniel’s example has caused me to reflect, “Am I praying for understanding with consistent fervency?”
God's Graciousness
God instructed Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to bless the Israelites through one of the most beautiful benedictions in Scripture. The phrase invoking Yahweh to be gracious to them captures my heart. I’ve asked for help, protection, encouragement, mercy, wisdom, and strength, but I don’t think I’ve ever asked God for His graciousness in my life.
What's in a Name?
I wonder in amazement at all that’s covered within the few words found in the benediction in Numbers 6:22-27. Thirty-one words cover the totality of all Christians desire in life: May Yahweh bless you and protect you; may Yahweh make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; may Yahweh look with favor on you and give you peace.