When you are grieving the inevitable loss of someone you care about, it is sometimes hard to see anything other than the pain of grief. Nonetheless, God is there, and no matter how much it hurts, He sends little "gifts" along the way to help ease that pain. This was...
Last Saturday, in the introduction to this series, we saw that we are called to be supportive of one another. This is easier to preach about then to practice, however, for many of us don't fully understand what it means to be supportive or how to separate it from its...
As I glanced out the kitchen window this snowy Saturday morning, I was astonished to see my neighbor, all bundled up in coat, boots and toque, walking across the yard behind my house. Why? I could think of no other reason than he was coming to knock on my back door,...
Some time ago a friend and I traveled together. The airport where we landed was small. Actually, everything in it was small. With her caring nature, my friend made sure she guided me through all doorways, hallways, and elevators -- being careful to avoid obstacles in...
My jaw was still numb as I approached the receptionist desk at the dentist. She handed me the card. “Here’s your next appointment date.” “Thank you,” I said. Then I leaned toward her and whispered, “And stay as sweet as you are.” She didn’t answer. But after a few...
It is a typical, late-fall day. It's what Winnie the Pooh would call a "Blustery Day", and as I opened the door for the dog to "blow" in from outside, I got to thinking about the seasons. Now I must admit, winter isn't my favorite season. In fact, it is pretty much at...
This past summer, we had the privilege of visiting Berlin. We walked along the path of the Berlin wall, we visited several memorials to the Berlin wall, and we even stayed in the part of Berlin that was once considered "East Berlin". It was an amazing eye-opener to...
Last time, in The Benefits of Encouragement, Part 1, we saw the power of giving encouragement, even when the givers were suffering as well. But is there any payback for the givers of encouragement? The Bible tells the story of a Moabite woman, one who married an...
A patient of mine was discouraged yesterday, and as I tried to pour out comforting words, I couldn't help thinking, "poor guy!" You see, I knew his medical history. I knew there weren't many silver linings to his clouds, many bright spots to focus on. Later that...
"From there they went to Beer, which is the well where the LORD said to Moses, 'Gather the people together, and I will give them water.'" (Num 21:16) As a result of their disobedience, the Children of Israel spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness. We don't have...