Hope in Suffering
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Not Death to Die
Tim Challies pointed me to a number of worthwhile links this morning. The first one is hard to watch, but so worth it—especially if you are suffering or know someone who is suffering. There are two video clips from a pastor and his wife whose fourteen year-old daughter was murdered. It is neither trite nor man-centered. It is real and raw—and it meaningfully points to Christ. The parents also share profoundly about forgiveness. I highly recommend that you take the time to watch: It is Not Death to Die The second was quite convicting re: my own spiritual disciplines. Oh! How I can picture myself spending hours and hours reading…
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Leading in the Midst of Trials
Recently, Bob Kauflin learned that his two year-old grandson had cancer—and then he had to lead worship just a few days later. He wrote an article about his experience here: Leading in the Midst of Trials This is just a tiny excerpt: “I guess I could have struggled with the apparent dichotomy between my circumstances and the songs we were singing. Or ignored what my family was going through altogether and pretended that nothing was wrong. Or complained about how hard life is sometimes. By God’s grace, I actually drew great comfort from God through the truths we sang. So after the first song, which is based on Psalm…
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Jake and Big Ten Games and Hating Cancer
I said to myself, “I won’t cry. Of course I won’t cry.” (Yeah, right.) Watch. Enjoy. What a special kid. (And see if you can get through it without asking yourself how YOU would respond if you had to prepare yourself for blindness. How would you handle waking up one day KNOWING that by the end of that day, you would never see anything again in this life?) It was definitely worth the watch. Plus, I feel even more bonded to my sports-lovin’-hubby who just yesterday discovered the Hulu Big Ten’s Greatest Basketball Games Channel. We’re really hoping to catch a shot or two of him in the BAND. BTW—once…
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Complex Pain
My life is full and rich. Every day, I have a healthy baby who wants nothing more than to be held and cuddled (and fed and changed 😉 ). And more than any other interesting adventure in her life (like making a fort in a downstairs closet and reading for hours yesterday), I have another daughter whose delight is to snuggle with me and talk, sing, read, pray … just be together. On top of all of that? I have a husband who has stuck with me for 14+ years and who is unfailingly faithful and kind and I have been saved from my sins by the very Triune God…
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Come With Me in My Death
After reading this quote in a RZIM Slice of Infinity from this week, I immediately prayed it for my friend’s mother (and their entire family) as they walk through the suffering of end stage cancer: “Lord Jesus, come yourself, and dwell with us, be human as we are, and overcome what overwhelms us. Come into the midst of my evil, come close to my unfaithfulness. Share my sin, which I hate and which I cannot leave. Be my brother, Thou Holy God. Be my brother in the kingdom of evil and suffering and death. Come with me in my death, come with me in my suffering, come with me as…
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Skepticism Cynicism Fatalism — Or Hope
The other day, I was listening to a piece of music that I truly enjoy when suddenly it hit me: “I don’t think I’ve been really happy ever since the first time I heard this music, years ago.” What a horrible thought! I have such an easy and blessed life. I was terribly ashamed to even admit such a thought to Fred when he got home that night. But of course I did. Something visceral, deep, shocking, painful, and confusing was activated in my heart and mind when I heard that music. (Smells do the same thing at times, don’t they? Bring us back to something, someone, somewhere in our…
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Counsel from the Cross (and) Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Sorrow
Every once in awhile, I am given a great gift by an author or publishing firm and asked to review either a manuscript for endorsement or a final book for promotion. As a bibliophile who is REALLY trying to stay on budget and NOT buy as many books (!!), receiving manuscripts and books in the mail is like a teeny bit of Christmas in a Media Mail envelope. I love it. I particularly love it when I can not only whole-heartedly recommend the books for others—but I, myself, am edified, encouraged, and helped along this journey of growing in grace. What gifts these brilliant, articulate, biblical, winsome authors have! I…
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Beating Cancer
Pastor Jollyblogger linked over to this photo essay and, well, through my tears I just had to post it for you too. Hope your Thursday was a good one — I enjoyed so many blessings–but I think I may be physically pushing a little too hard this week. (I write that on my way to bring the fourth load of laundry up three flights of stairs.) But I feel no complaint! I’m just trying to figure out how high I might need to just let the piles on my dining room table grow … Joy to you, Tara B. PS Please please please use CAUTION and only poke around this…
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Joy Cannot Co-Exist with Bitterness
I had a long, hard–but good–day of work yesterday preparing to teach my, “Persevering with Grace when Our Leaders Let Us Down” workshop for a conference next month. It was extremely painful to listen to and re-read examples of people being so horribly hurt within the church–but also so encouraging and edifying to be reminded of their perseverance, even in the midst of extreme suffering. I’m still working to draw my material to a coherent whole (that builds to an “X” and hopefully clearly articulates and explains some God-exalting, biblically-faithful, helpful ideas). But in the interim, I wanted to share with you a few of my random notes: – One…
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Psalm 55 Kind of Day
I don’t know how your day is going, but I’m having a Psalm 55 kind of day around here. Are you familiar with Psalm 55? Have you ever been really hurt by someone that you used to respect and trust? Someone you called a friend and opened your heart to, only to be judged, condemned, and ultimately rejected by them? (And do you ever find that for reasons beyond your control you have to KEEP being hurt by them?) Well, if so, Psalm 55 is for YOU! Please grab your Bible and jump right into it all. Here are a few excerpts to get you started: “Give ear to my…