When Bad Things Happen
The 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…
The God Who Sees
David 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…
Pour Out Your Heart
David does not know who he can trust, except for one. David trusts God. We watch as David’s repeated declaration that God is His Rock, Rest, Rescue, and Refuge steadies him from being “greatly shaken” to….
Who Can You Trust?
When 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…
When Friends Betray
Many 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…
The Eyes of a Maidservant
In 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…
Wait in Silence
Growing up is hard, especially when you tend toward emotions that quickly spiral out of control. Wise parents recognize that the babies in their home are just…
Seeking, Surrendering and Rest
While we are sheltering in a beautiful and quiet location, life with all of its challenges goes on, not just for us, but for those we love. Fear over…
Talk to Yourself
“Grammy, who are you talking to?” Our little grandson, sitting in the back seat of the car while I drove to the store caught me. I talk to myself…
Leaning on the Rock
The word “steadfast”, interpreted “stayed” in the ESV version of Isaiah 26:3, is from a term that means “to lean, to rest, to support.” Someone who is steadfast is steady because she is leaning on something that is…
Perfect Peace
Our world longs for peace, yet it alludes nations. Our hearts are restless and many people reveal how “peace-less” they are by their critical and…
My Son, My Son – David’s Grief
Allow the grief of David the father to capture your heart. This is the man who wrote Psalm 62, the Only Psalm, in response to this great betrayal and heartbreak…
Weeping as He Went
Tradition tells us that David wrote Psalm 62 in the middle of devastating heartbreak. His son, Absalom, rebelled against his father, plotting to take his throne. When David turned to trusted friends for help, he learned…
The Only Psalm
David understood the way the earth can shift unexpectedly, in ways he never imagined possible. David’s story helps encourage and enable us to walk a steady path in our own shifting worlds…
A Private Life?
Some people who love me questioned why I put myself through such an emotional ringer in order to write Treasures in Darkness. My theology compels me to lean into the pain in order to offer help and…
The Wonders He Has Done
Many times I had to force myself to stop crying so that I could keep writing, not just because of the memory of God’s sweet love but also as I stepped back into those early years of grief. I sometimes cried…
My Hope is From Him
Sometimes all we can see is the crisis at hand. We pray for relief and often miss the treasures in the darkness God sends to help turn our hearts toward Him…
Talk to Yourself
Just when we thought it was safe to relax and revel in the birth of our little grandbabies, death knocked on our door. Late at night, Heidi called for us to come stay with their children while Greg and she rushed to the hospital…