So many things can cause me to worry—illness, divisive politics, concerns about friends and family, goals not met. Do I live in fear or do I hold fast to God with faith? The book of Joshua in the Old Testament lays out great examples of active faith. Today I was reading about Caleb. Caleb was… Continue reading Active & Steadfast Faith
Tag: Prayer
An Honest Prayer
They arrive in the middle of the summer . . . For the past several years the leaves on my cherry tree and raspberry bushes have been devoured by beetles. Only the veins of the leaf remain after Japanese beetles have had their feast. So I have been devising strategies to rid my yard of… Continue reading An Honest Prayer
Around the World with Prayer
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Acts 12:5 Do you know the rest of the story? An angel led Peter out of prison and he went to the house where people were praying. When he knocked on the door Rhoda came to the… Continue reading Around the World with Prayer
March Madness, Texas Tech and Prayer
My daughter is amused that I have become a college basketball fan. “Mom, you never watched basketball!” I responded, “Michigan has a good team this year.” I followed the Wolverines in March Madness and was disappointed when Texas Tech beat them. Then I had to find out how one of our arch rivals, Michigan State,… Continue reading March Madness, Texas Tech and Prayer
Seeking Guidance for Parental Rights
Parents today have difficult issues to confront. As I was driving home from Michigan today I was listening to Janet Parshall on the radio.She was discussing a case that was decided by the Supreme Court of British Columbia. It hit me hard because a friend of our family recently disclosed that he/she is transgender. In… Continue reading Seeking Guidance for Parental Rights
A Joyful Answer to Prayer
When I assisted at home births I became more aware of the spiritual nature of childbirth. When labor reached a peak intensity, when the woman felt she couldn’t get through one more contraction, she asked for prayer. Sometimes the husband prayed or one of the attendants. I was asked to pray. Prayer gave the woman… Continue reading A Joyful Answer to Prayer
Wanting to Control: Learning to Release
It feels good when we think we are in control. As a mother I pursued the health of my children vigorously. I had been trained as a nurse at the University of Michigan. I believed in the medical profession and my ability to protect the health of my children. The mental illness of my brother… Continue reading Wanting to Control: Learning to Release
Illness, Resilience and Spirituality
Two years ago I began corresponding with Marguerite Bouvard. She was looking for contributors for an anthology on illness and faith. I offered to write a chapter about my family’s experience caring for our son during his treatment for leukemia. We continued to e-mail back and forth. I wrote my chapter, and Marguerite edited the… Continue reading Illness, Resilience and Spirituality
When Pain Leads to Prayer
After Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden God said, I will greatly increase your pain in childbearing; withpain you will give birth to children. Genesis 3:16 Was this a punishment or a way of reminding Eve to seek God’s help? In my own life, periods of suffering have motivated me to communicate with God. When… Continue reading When Pain Leads to Prayer
Pray for Our Elected Officials
Whew, the election is over. The mood in our country has been intense. For the first time I went door to door, passing out flyers, in support of my state representative. Now there is time to pause and reflect. People have many different burdens and concerns. Many are hurting. We are all sinners in need… Continue reading Pray for Our Elected Officials