Category: faith

A Gentle Hand

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When troubles threaten me, where do I run? Who is my comfort? What is my security? What calms me? Where do I go to seek answers?

In most situations, I run to everyone and everything else. I told my son recently: “If you have a problem you come and tell me. Don’t take it into your own hands.” How very true for us as God’s children.  How often do we tell someone else first – and especially take it into our own hands – rather than laying it down at Jesus’ feet and trusting Him?

More times than not, I search and search for answers to my questions.  I flood everyone with my inquiries and Google’s search field begins to buckle under too much pressure. Finally – after exhausting every other resource – I reluctantly present it to the Lord; not in dependency as it should be, but out of desperation. To my surprise what I get isn’t necessarily the answers I seek, but something else. Continue reading “A Gentle Hand” →

I Surrender All

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Can you imagine the last hymn you sing in church is I Surrender All?

All to Jesus I surrender; Humbly at His feet I bow.
Worldly pleasures all forsaken; Take me, Jesus, take me now.
All to Jesus I surrender; Lord, I give myself to Thee.
Fill me with Thy love and power; Let Thy blessing fall on me.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior – I surrender all.

Can you imagine this being put to the test in the next – and last – thirty days of your life? Continue reading “I Surrender All” →

The Waiting Period

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Waiting is a huge part of our lives. We spend days, weeks, and sometimes years waiting. Whether the wait is for a marriage partner, healing, a job, a house, a baby, a test result or an answer, waiting is tough. Waiting itself can be a struggle.

Lamentations 3:25-26
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Have you ever noticed it seems to take forever when you stand by the stove to wait for a pot to boil?  All your time and focus is put into watching for the slightest hint of a bubble. Time seems to slip into slow motion. But if you walk away, all the sudden you hear the water roaring and whirling. What happened?  Your focus shifted.  No longer were the seconds sluggishly ticking. You focused on something else and when you looked back you realized how quickly and easily it seemed to boil. Continue reading “The Waiting Period” →

Birthday Letter

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Today would have been my dad’s 66th birthday. Instead, it’s his first birthday in heaven, even though we are the only ones who see it that way as birthdays are earthly celebrations.

Last year I didn’t talk to my dad. First ever. Not because I didn’t think of him – I did throughout the whole day – and not because I didn’t want to call him. He worked all day and I had a rather eventful day.  Before I knew it, the day was over. (I did call him the next morning at least.)  But his last birthday I didn’t even wish him a happy day, or tell him how much I loved and appreciated him. It does bother me.

Standing on this side of the fence, let me encourage you: Don’t choose not to call someone. Don’t put off the phone call or the time spent with your loved one. You never know when it’s your last phone call, their last birthday, last holiday or simply your last day with them.

If I could talk to my dad today, what would I say? The first things that come to mind seem so generic and almost redundant. “Dad, I love you more than you’ll ever know. I miss you so much.” And I quickly add in a whisper, “Please come back!”

But what I’d like to ask is: Continue reading “Birthday Letter” →

It’s All In What You See

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In the early morning hours of Sunday, January 8, 2017, a church in Juniata County, Pennsylvania (the area where I grew up) caught fire.  When I scrolled through the pictures I choked up. The enormity of the situation is shocking, as the damage is horrendous. Though it was not the church I attended regularly, I knew many who did.  It was also the church that held my dad’s funeral services. This is especially sad for me as it threatens to shake loose the memories of seeing my dad for the last time and saying goodbye as we closed his casket.

But, for those who attended this church, it is far more tragic. Continue reading “It’s All In What You See” →

Good grief!

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I promised myself I would not write another blog about grief without first writing about something else, because I don’t want to tire my readers with my sorrow.  But here I am.  Grief is a continual struggle.  It is what occupies even the deepest corner of my heart.  And so, I write some more.

I write for me. I write for those who cannot write.  I write for those who are so burdened and swallowed by their grief as they struggle to sort their emotions. And I write because I feel God leading me to.

No matter if you know me or not, I pray my blogs may be uplifting and encouraging.

Grief is a lonely road. Not everyone has lost someone dear to them, but of the ones who have, few offer much support.  Friends are to stand by you, through your darkest hours, through the most sorrowful and grief-stricken moments of your life.  Yet few do. They tend to run like the wind when they realize their friend’s cry is turning monotonous. And oh no, the tears! Nothing like tears to send people into a tizzy; people squirm in their seats, excuse themselves or evade you by frantically searching for a box of tissues.  But a friend, or simply someone who cares, should offer their time: willingly offer their shoulder for tears, their ears for listening and their mouth for encouragement.  Because soon enough, the tables will turn and they will be forced to walk the same lonely road as you. Continue reading “Good grief!” →

The Last Day of the Year

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On the last day of the year, most people reflect on the past twelve months.  We sift through things that went wrong and vow to change them.  We recollect events we’d rather have never experienced.  Or perhaps the memories are ones to cherish.

This past year was a rough year, a sad year.

On January 2, 2016, (I don’t remember exactly the context or reason, besides God had ordained it) I decided to spend the weekend at my parents’ house.  My dad really wanted to show my mom and me this area on Jack’s Mountain that was full of rhododendrons; so much so that it looked as if a jungle had been picked up and placed on a Pennsylvania mountainside.  Here on this hiking trail, marked some of the last and most cherished memories I have of my dad.  He made sure mom reminded me to bring my camera along so I could take pictures.  Little did I know they would be the last good pictures of him. (One of which we used on his obituary two-and-a-half months later.) Continue reading “The Last Day of the Year” →

First Christmas

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I survived my first Christmas.

My family is always up early so Christmas was no different.  Growing up, my dad always read the Christmas story from Luke before opening gifts and I always wanted to carry on that tradition with my family.

This Christmas my eyes swelled with tears as I read about Jesus’ birth.  It had much more meaning this year.  Not only was it something my dad always felt was most important, but this Christmas – his first ever – he didn’t read about it.  He was there.  His eyes could behold the glory of the Lord.  He was in the very presence of the Savior of the world.  Worshiping at His very feet.  Rejoicing in songs of adoration and praise.  Oh, what a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see.  When I look upon His face – the One who saved me by His grace!

We attended our church’s morning service. What a blessing – to be in God’s house, praising Him with other believers on Christmas Day!

The day had moments of joy and laughter. And surprisingly there was a bit of sameness. But it was not without tears and sadness.  The day before, the day of, the day after.

A few of us were standing at my dad’s gravesite on Christmas Day.  My mom was earnestly sharing her heart when all the sudden she groaned in pain as a charlie horse threatened her leg.  My brother never missed a beat and immediately cracked a joke.  We burst out laughing of course.

To some this may seem odd or even inappropriate, but for our family this was perfect.  This was us. And this characterized my dad honestly. He had a dry sense of humor.  He loved to laugh and he loved to make others laugh as well.  He would want us to laugh, even at his gravesite.

The day was hard, but it was good, filled with caring people and amazing love.  There was joy and peace felt amidst the sorrow; it could only be by the grace of God.  Thank you to all who were praying (and have been praying) for our family!

Grief has a way of making you hold onto and appreciate your dear ones a bit more. It makes us realize that our futures aren’t as sure as we once thought.  God holds the future and only He knows who just had their last Christmas.  (Sobering reminder!) Continue reading “First Christmas” →

Taking The Fun Out Of Christmas

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Christmastime for most of us brings lots of excitement and anticipation of some very traditional and specific festivities. Christmas parties, Christmas songs, cookies and candies, buying and receiving gifts, ugly sweaters, Christmas lights, chopping down a Christmas tree, spending time with family and friends, watching your favorite Christmas movies.  Most of us can add plenty to this list.

But imagine all of it is stripped away.  If you take all the Christmas festivities away, what is left?  For most, there is nothing. No gifts?  No Christmas tree? What is the point of the holiday? Continue reading “Taking The Fun Out Of Christmas” →