“The circumstances and events that we see as setbacks are oftentimes the very things that launch us into periods of intense spiritual growth. Once we begin to understand this, and accept it as a spiritual fact of life, adversity becomes easier to bear.” – Charles Stanley
Psalm 56:1-8 NLT O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me. My foes attack me all day long. I am constantly hounded by those who slander me, and many are boldly attacking me. But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has … [Read more…]
“There is nothing, no circumstance, no trouble, no testing that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has come past God and past Christ, right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose.” –Alan Redpath
Six months after 9/11, I found myself volunteering at Ground Zero. I’d gone with a group from church and, for reasons that escape me, I signed up to work the 11 pm to 7 am shift in the enormous “tent” where the recovery workers came to eat and nap. There were five of us doing … [Read more…]
“God is going to test me with delays; and with the delays will come suffering, but through it all stands God’s pledge: His new covenant with me in Christ, and His inviolable promise of every lesser blessing that I need. The delay and the suffering are part of the promised blessing; let me praise Him … [Read more…]
One of my favorite Bible verses is Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. You’d think that since this is one of my favorites, I wouldn’t spend a whole lot of time … [Read more…]
Sometimes, words just won’t come. The grief is too great. The loss too devastating. Exhaustion consumes you but overwhelming need compels you forward. People demand your attention. Friends, family, doctors, strangers, insurance agents—they all want a piece of you. Situations appear hopeless. There are no words to describe the devastation that has become your life. … [Read more…]
174 words made my day. Dan contacted me via my website last week. His 174-word email can be dissected into 2 sections: 77 words told me his story and 97 words were kind comments about Moving On and my efforts to help those who are hurting in ministry. I’ve never met Dan, and odds are … [Read more…]
Eight years ago, our lives changed dramatically. Hurt more deeply by a church than we ever imagined possible, my husband and I eventually packed our belongings and moved close to family. We had no home, no jobs and nothing on the horizon. It was going to be a long, long time before life resembled normal. … [Read more…]
Recently I walked into a car dealership and told the young salesman what I was looking for. Unbeknownst to him, I’d already spent months researching vehicles, going so far as to create a spreadsheet with the names of various vehicles and all pertinent information. Make, model, year, price, interior/exterior color, available safety features and dimensions … [Read more…]