Tragic events happen. Yesterday I went to the funeral for a young man, just 31 years old. There were unanswered questions about his death, but the service provided a message of hope. Thirty-four years ago, my son passed away after a two year battle with leukemia. The pain of his death was searing. He had… Continue reading Eternal Perspective
Tag: Hope
Realizing Truth: Mary Magdalene
During the past couple weeks I was going through my book shelves and found a book that I had picked up at a resale shop. The Galileans: A Novel of Mary Magdalene was written by Dr. Frank Slaughter and published in 1953. But I never read it. It was time to read this book. Dr.… Continue reading Realizing Truth: Mary Magdalene
Joy Beyond Grief
Many years ago, I received a small blue book in the mail. On the cover page is a little note. In memory of Steven. A Lamaze instructor, a colleague of mine, sent the book after my son passed away. The title of the book is Heaven, and it was written by Joseph Bayly. Bayly also suffered the… Continue reading Joy Beyond Grief
Finding Joy in Daily Life
The snow outside is bright white and glistening. The thermometer reads 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and yet I am able to take a hot shower in a warm house. It is a blessing! Everyday there are little and significant blessings in our lives when we pause to take notice. I am thankful that I have a… Continue reading Finding Joy in Daily Life
Who Is Listening for the Promise?
One of the Christmas cards I received had a drawing of Mary and Elizabeth. According to the book of Luke, Elizabeth was the first to learn of Mary’s pregnancy after the angel had appeared to Mary. She believed God’s plan. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And… Continue reading Who Is Listening for the Promise?
Still Believing in Difficult Times
During a difficult season of life our faith in God can be shaken. What has helped people in the past? We have examples in the Bible that point to communication/relationship with God and the experience of love and acceptance. We are blessed to have God’s word—the Bible. Moses and Elijah led the people of Israel… Continue reading Still Believing in Difficult Times
An Old Irish Hymn
The garden is a place where my mind is at rest. Sometimes when I am troubled the words of a hymn come to mind. A hymn that I sang as a child–the words imprinted in my memory. It is good for the church to sing hymns. It is good for individuals and families. Children are… Continue reading An Old Irish Hymn
How to Have Hope
The Bible does not shrink from telling us the ugly side of human history. God’s word tells us the truth, and clearly states that God’s desire for us is good. We need to seek God and His ways in every aspect of our lives. “How you have helped him who has no power!How you have saved the arm… Continue reading How to Have Hope
Remembering with Hope
Today we went to the cemetery and tended the family graves. We planted flowers and walked among the stones marking family members. As I read the names I was recalling family history. My husband’s grandparents immigrated from Holland in 1911. In 1918 they lost three of their children when scarlet fever and the Spanish flu… Continue reading Remembering with Hope
Sunrise of Hope
Many years ago I worked the night shift in the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of Michigan. We had 12 hour shifts, and I worked from 7 pm to 7 am. Around 5:00 am as daylight crept across the sky, we were weary and needed to get our second wind. We would take… Continue reading Sunrise of Hope