Lament or Complaint
By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion (Ps. 137:1, ESV). How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (Psalm 13:1, ESV) Last Sunday Mike Erre, our pastor, preached on the Worship of lament or lament as worship.…
Harvesting Hope!
I was thinking of the expression, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” and while I understand the point of this proverb, I must say I rather like lemons. Perhaps the saying really should read (for me anyway) – When life gives you manure, grow a garden. I say this because what we have been…
Another Year to Live Fully Surrendered
It is my birthday, which is like a new year. I don’t really dream or plan or set goals anymore – at least I haven’t the past few years. But as always I want this day, this year and this one life to count. There is a line in some movie that says, “Ooohhh, that…
“Once Upon a Time – 32 years ago…”
So I am not sure about how to word this: “It is my 32nd Anniversary” or “It would have been my 32nd anniversary”. My “Once Upon a Time” began more than 32 years ago at Biola, in the Symphonic Winds to be precise, and I know that love stories don’t have happy endings because love…
A New Chapter!
When Jim got sick, I really wanted to be with him every minute of the journey to recovery, but God knew others needed to spend time with him too (and that he would not recover!). I knew I would need to get a job with benefits and God provided for our needs by getting me…
5 Day Challenge – a retrospective
This past week I participated in the “Poverty Fast” with my church family in Illinois. While I could not commit to the “no caffeine” rule without getting a headache at work, I pretty much followed the rest of the guidelines. Everyday food intake was restricted to one cup oatmeal for breakfast and a one cup…
Happy 100th Anniversary FBCS!
I was not sure I would go. I didn’t want to remember because sometimes the memories are hard and overwhelming. But when I was invited and I thought about it, I could almost hear Jim’s voice encouraging me and telling me to go for both of us. I did go and I did remember. It…
Glaciers and Earthquakes
I was listening to an uploaded sermon from our church in IL Â last week and Mike was looking back at the events of 9/11. The comparison of the events, based on an analogy from Dr. Martin Marty, was to an earthquake. For most people, the event was an earthquake. When there is an earthquake,…
Letters from heaven!
I am still processing what I think about what I am about to share, but I know God orchestrates things for us beyond what we can imagine. This week I was especially sad. And that is okay…even expected. But here is what happened. Other people let me know of their own sadness, of “Jim-sightings” ,…
A Graduation Blessing
Emily’s Senior class at church had a banquet to honor the graduates tonight. The parents were asked to write a blessing to share with their student. Here is the one I read to Emily. Dear Emily, I am so grateful to be your mom. I used to say it was the hardest thing I have…