I’d never heard the phrase before, but it was perfect — “In it to win it!” No, I wasn’t watching a movie or game show. I was studying the Bible, of all things, with some youth in my church. This is a new class for me, but I’m having fun with the two or three … More In it to win it
“Fiddler on the Roof” was our favorite movie, and Yente, the matchmaker had one of the best lines as they were all leaving their homes for a life in exile: Maybe next time, Golde, we will meet on happier occasions. Meanwhile, we suffer, we suffer, we suffer in silence! Right? Of course, right. I’ve known … More Meanwhile…We suffer
Written: October 21, 2016 Many of us know the verses about putting on the full armour of God — why? “so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against … the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of … More Impulsiveness
Written: Oct. 15, 2016 It is amazing what can be in your house that you never notice…Raouf had laminated a small piece of paper and stuck it in the frame of his seminary diploma. Trust me, I have never paid any attention to it. It is written in his “not very illegible” Arabic handwriting. This … More The Note
The turkey is in the oven, which in itself is a positive step toward the choice of living, as I think of what was happening this time last year. My husband had passed away the day before (though this year it is the day after) Thanksgiving, and I was in the midst of grief and … More Still Thankful…a Year Later
Written: Jan 21, 2016 I like this thought from Our Daily Bread today: “Our loved ones may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons – but they are helpless against our prayers.” Thank you, J. Sidlow Baxter for reminding me of the power of prayer for those we love. Grace … More Helpless against our Prayers
Written: Jan 4, 2016 I have had this verse on my mind for several days now, and when my chronological reading of the Bible led me to Job again today, I thought I would share my thoughts. After being heavily tested, Job’s wife asked him why he held so fast to his integrity and didn’t … More Accepting both Good and Bad
I wrote on Dec. 31, 2015: 1 Samuel 7:12 reads “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” I saw this picture and verse on a recent email, and I knew it was from the Lord for me. … More My Memorial Stone
Written: Dec. 25, 2015 I’ve been reading Abdu Murray’s book, Grand Central Question (which is excellent, by the way), and I was reminded of this quote by C.S. Lewis: “God whispers to us in our pleasure, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts to us in our pain; it is his megaphone to rouse a … More The Joy of Pain
“When the train goes through the tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away your ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.” A good word from Corrie ten Boom, who knew all about dark times. Don’t need to add anything else to this one!