Reason for the Hope

I asked her why it seems to come so easy for some, while others fight tooth-and-nail, but to no avail. She told me all was not as it seems. Often, unbeknownst to us, behind those smiles have been many tears. And behind the day of celebration have been days (and months… and years) of sorrow.With age, I find more truth to her words: Of Loss. Of flickering lives… (one more today…)Do I gravitate…

What would I ask, if we had an afternoon…And you promised to answer everything honestly. I’d ask about periods of time and the though process.The pre- and post- decisions… (Was it in-the-moment, or with deliberation?)I would ask about summer. I would ask your interpretation of words and letter. I would ask about secrets.Of what seemed like passion and coldness, and the ebb and flow… And when it…

We’ve been planning and backup planning.The who’s and how’s and clothing, decoration and food occupy my mind.Tonight, I realized many of plans (and troubles) were only possible because we have the funds to do so… And so we had turned our blessings into woes with our desires and plans.And our Heavenly Father knew.For tonight, He said this:“… Don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we…

The best is yet to be…

The snow had covered the paths — we made our own path. We came along a snow-covered garden. A neat wooden trellis fenced by a hedge. In it, there was a sundial with the inscription below. I learned about this poem afterwards: Grow old along with me!The best is yet to be,The last of life, for which the first was made:Our times are in His handWho saith “A whole I planned,Youth shows but half;…

Whether I Succeed or Fail.

Blessed Spirit of God, Four evils attend my ministry —      The devil treads me down by discouragement and shame    arising from coldness in private meditation.Carelessness possesses me  from natural dullness and dimness of spirit;    because in the past I have met with success      and been highly regarded,    so that it does not matter if I have now failed.Infirmities and weakness are…

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live — Deuteronomy 30:19 The conversation was about food. But it turned into the matter of the heart and the head (I believed change happened in the heart; she said it was the head – guide by logic, not…

“… Let us not live uncertain of what we are,  of where we are going. Bear witness with our spirit that we are thy children;And enable each one to say, ‘I know my Redeemer.’Bless us with a growing sense of this salvation.If already enlightened in Christ, may we see    greater things; If quickened, may we have more abundant life;If renewed, let us go on from strength to strength.Give us closer…

When the time arrives, and He lifts His hand from discipline. When His hand holds out that long-desired gift – now for you to take. And you take it. What happens next? When novelty becomes routine, and you look back, starting to miss the days before this, not sure how ‘ever after’ goes. What happens then? How I’m prone to take His gifts for granted! “…When thy blessings come I begin to…

When all the questions are asked and answered. The words which hurt and those which heal, all in one. And we go our ways and wait for news.

Waters and Time.

He was left in that place for two years, that he would know it was not his skill that lifted him, but the One who was with him.

And if You choose for me to learn the same, would I let the years lead to bitterness of things…

In You I Trust.

“To You, Lord, I lift up my soul. My God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies rejoice over me. Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.” — Psalm 25:1-3

It’s hard to know what will shake us, until we find ourselves on the floor. What looked like stable ground has hidden cracks. What looked…

By a way I did not expect.

“My heart is drawn out to thee for thy amazing grace and condescension. Thou hast kept my conversion fresh before me, that season of my first spiritual comfort when I passed through the Red Sea by a way I did not expect…”

— Retrospect and Prospect, Valley of Vision

We wanted to know what it meant to be ‘filled with the Holy Spirit.’

Ephesians 5:18-21:

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is…

O my God, in You I trust

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust;     let me not be put to shame;     let not my enemies exult over me. 3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;     they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;     teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,     for you are the God of my salvation;     for you I…

The trial exposed their true colors.

Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit.The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for…

They’re going home.

The conversations have been had. The options examined and exhausted. The end of a battle. The start of a journey back home. Home… This wasn’t their first good bye. (They’ve stood where we stood now, saying farewell to others.)

We know by Your Word, this could all go away. And yet.  And yet it has not. And what then? Are You not good when life does not go as planned? Are You not…