My friend and I talked quietly as we walked toward her bedroom. I knew I was on holy ground because supernatural grace flowed from her as she lived out the sovereignty of God in this very difficult pathway of life. Her young husband would soon be gone, his body taken by cancer; his soul carried by Christ's sacrifice into the presence of his savior….
Read MoreDuring a podcast at enCourage on Life-Giving Leadership, by Susan Hunt and Karen Hodge, I heard this powerful message: https://encourage.pcacdm.org/?s=susan+hunt+and+karen+hodge…
Read MoreThe first devotional in this series, A Steadfast Woman in a Shifting World, was introduced with the following words…
Read MoreI recently summarized on social media some of the choices I had to make to move forward in the aftermath of the earth shifting beneath my feet. As we end our time together in this Daily Treasure devotional, I’d like to share that post with you now as a means of grace…
Read MoreThe grace of God’s restoration and the wonder of God’s precise timing still boggles my mind. I hope it boggles your mind too. I hope it gives you hope and courage to hold on through your trauma and its aftermath…
Read MoreIn the midst of all these changes with men in my life, these gentle shifts that were gradually moving me away from my bitter response to trauma in my life, I came to know Jerry. He was a man I had met years before, a widower who had experienced his share of trauma in his own lif
Read MoreThat experience with my ex-fiancé started unraveling my complicated issues with men. Not long after my divorce, the second experience came as a result of a letter from my big brother—my only brother, with whom I had not shared a true relationship…
Read MoreOver the past few weeks we have unpacked “The Only Psalm”, (Psalm 62) and listened as David declares God as his Rock, Rest, Rescue and Refuge. He quickly dismantles any dependence on any other “rock” for safety and then exhorts listeners to “pour out your hearts to God” who alone is our Rock, Rest, Rescue and Refuge..
Read MoreThe truth is, there are times when I’d rather do almost anything than discipline myself to do the work of recovery from a hard time in my life. But the nature of the work required for recovery can be surprising…
Read MoreLetting go essentially means giving up on getting your own way in life—loosening your grip on the way you thought it was supposed to be. If you insist on dictating the terms of your comfort and your restoration, you may be missing the God Who sees you and comes to you in unexpected forms.
Read MoreYesterday I closed the devotional with these words: No one person can give another a foolproof guide for surviving painful times in our lives. People are just too different—and the God who sees each of us individually deals with us in different ways.
Read MoreI believe with my whole heart that God always sees us, always loves us, and is actively, redemptively involved in our lives at any given point, even when terrible, awful things have turned our lives upside down….
Read MoreYesterday, I closed the devotional with these questions: And in the midst of it all is that cry of Who: “Who is this God Who has asked me to trust Him, Who promises to be with me and care for me and redeem and restore me?
Read MoreThe phone call came while I was just about to embark on writing this chapter. It concerned my friend Mona—my beautiful colleague and helper who has traveled with me and had my back for endless gatherings—and her youngest son, Mitchell.
Read MoreDavid calls back to us, from a life of conflict, war, sin, forgiveness and redemption that he will trust in God alone. As I wrapped up last week’s devotionals I knew we needed to see a practical application of what it means to trust in God alone.
Read MoreI love watching God transform David from misery to mercy to ministry. The earth shifted beneath David’s feet in the worst possible way. His beloved son, Absalom, intentionally betrays him, gathering around him a growing army willing to take down God’s anointed King…
Read MoreWhen the world shifts beneath your feet, on what or whom do you turn for help? What about in the mundane moments of life? On what do you set your hopes?…
Read MoreMany years ago, before cell phones, I couldn’t find my keys so I was stuck home by myself instead of attending Bible study. From my perspective, this was bad news because I was an emotional wreck and needed the encouragement I get from being with my friends.
Read MoreDo you remember learning the times tables? How many hours did you spend with your mother holding up three by five cards with equations like these…
Read MoreIn the years after the deaths of our son Mark and his friend Kelly, I was ever on alert for messages, i.e. treasures, sent by God to remind me that He is the Lord my God and He calls me by name (Isaiah 45:2, 3). Often, those treasures came through the Scriptures.
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