While attending a wedding recently, a friend commented that she and her husband had gotten married in a little church that once stood where Times Square is now located. Without thinking—and, I might add, under the influence of allergy meds—I replied, “So you got married in New York City?” Uh, no. Not unless they got … [Read more…]
Recently I found myself working with a group of volunteers to build a playhouse for our local crisis center. My job was to paint the exterior. Considering the size of the playhouse, especially the front porch, I found myself on my knees. A lot. By the time I got to the final touch-up painting, my … [Read more…]
Responding to someone’s grief when there has been a death makes many people uncomfortable. Not knowing what to say, and the fear of saying something wrong, keeps many people from responding at all. The same is true when a minister is unjustly forced to resign, whether suddenly or at the end of a long public … [Read more…]
In January 2016, Moving On: Surviving the Grief of Forced Termination was published. One month later I began blogging. As a result, in these past two years, I have met the most incredible people. Ministers and ministers’ wives scattered across the United States have reached out via emails and phone calls to share their stories, … [Read more…]
“Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving … [Read more…]
One of the most intense emotions of grief is loneliness. When we experience deep, gut wrenching hurt, it feels as though no one sees us, knows us, or cares that we are suffering. These are the times when God’s Word provides assurance that we are not alone. And we will never be alone. What we … [Read more…]
This is just a sampling of the verses found in God’s Word regarding our words. Surely, if God puts such a great emphasis on our words, we should pay attention to what He says. Proverbs 4:24 – Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you. Proverbs 12:18 – There … [Read more…]
One of my favorite devotional books is Streams in the Desert. Originally copyrighted in 1925, it is more powerful today than ever before. The January 10th devotion is especially meaningful as we embark on a new year. Focusing on the multiple times the apostle Paul was divinely prohibited from taking one course or another in … [Read more…]
One of the greatest lessons I learned after my husband and I experienced great loss, right at the beginning of the 2008 holiday season, is that grief and joy can coexist. I don’t understand it. I certainly can’t explain it. I only know it’s true. Perhaps one of the most important things we can do … [Read more…]
“We are TRYING all the time; we are worrying our way through; we are panicky. What shall we do next? What is the next step in life? We are concerned about our mind. God is concerned about our spirit – the humble, the Contrite, and the brokenhearted – that man God will always guide.” – … [Read more…]