Truth For The Heart
Read the Bible in 2011 ◊ Week 2: Wednesday Mid-week on Wednesday, I turned back to the Psalms. Today’s reading is Psalm 3–5: David asks for deliverance from foes, relief from distress, and he cries for help because of his foes. Within these Psalms he affirms who God is: Psalm 3: “a shield around me, […]
Read MoreRead the Bible in 2011 ◊ Week 1: Thursday Today’s reading is in the book of Job, chapters 1 and 2. When you read Job without having experienced lengthy suffering, you may read as if you’re looking through a window into someone else’s world. But when you read it in the midst of extensive and […]
Read MoreAs I was reading in the book of Joshua today, I thought of my children, and that led to thinking of how grateful I am to God for all the prayers He has answered regarding them. There were so many times I scrambled to understand how to be a mother, and I felt my failures […]
Read MoreGiving thanks frequently receives short shrift when we talk about it, because we tend to discuss it either superficially when we are at ease in our circumstances, or else in denial of the pain of difficulties. We give moralizing lectures about it or sometimes present the idea of giving thanks to God as a sort […]
Read MoreI’m thankful for many things—my husband, my children and for various family and friends who are part of my life. I am grateful for strangers I have met who have encouraged me. Over the past three years my family has been through difficult times, as you may have guessed from some of my writings. We’ve […]
Read MoreWhether you’re helping someone who is suffering or mentoring someone who is a new Christian, you must realize you meet on level ground. Even as you help, you can be helped; if not now, then sometime in the future. There are always things to learn from others, including those who have only been Christians for […]
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The heart that hears and understands With tenderness the pain, In caring, shares revealing scars To help me bear the strain. Compassion’s mark is found on those Who suffering have met; I trace their kindness in their words, As well as courage set. Those who have been through fire’s blaze Shine bright to those who […]
Read MoreI want to tell you a story about a friend of mine named Lisa. Over ten years ago I was quite ill to the point of being almost bedridden. My husband, who at the time had a very understanding boss, would help get the day started with our children and then go to work about […]
Read MoreJohn Owen was an English pastor and brilliant Puritan theologian who lived during the 1600s. He was a contemporary of John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim’s Progress, and labored to have Bunyan released from his imprisonment for preaching without a license. I’ve quoted Owen in Steerage, Perspicuity and in Songs, because I find his words […]
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Kindling for Candles 