What God says He will do is more than just words. by Karen Foster I sit among strangers in a sterile hospital room, waiting. We each wait for our loved one to come out of surgery. We wait in our own little worlds. Read a magazine. Check a smart phone. Stare straight ahead as…
Read moreYear: 2015
Reaching Out
How can we reach out to those who are grieving? In my grief journey as a widow, I gained valuable insights about a support system. Accept my feelings. Don’t make me feel as if I have to apologize or be ashamed of my grief. Give me time to mourn. Listen to me. Let me tell…
Read moreRedefining Myself
Coping with loss often means discovering a “new you.” by Becky LeRud The paperwork looked routine until the words marital status leaped off the page. I paused, tears streaming down my cheeks. This was the first time I had to mark that dreaded word: widow. I was facing an identity crisis: no longer a…
Read moreUnemployment: A Gift in Disguise
How God can work a negative into a positive. by Candace Simar You never thought unemployment could happen to you, but here you are jobless. Rather than feel sorry for yourself, take a deep breath and a second look. You may have been given the greatest gift of your life. Think about it. How…
Read moreLiving Water
Discovering the true Fountain at the end of self-effort. by La Shawn M. Barber Five beers in under an hour — a new record. I’d lost count of the number of beer cans hidden under my bed. When I reached down for one that was full and still cold, all the cans fell over….
Read moreLearning From Scars
His blood — not ours — bringsfreedom from harmful habits. by Shelbie Mae For weeks I had tried to ignore the scars and open cuts on my sister’s arms and legs, but they stuck out like molehills burrowed into smooth grass. When a knock sounded on my bedroom door, I knew it was she….
Read moreI Just Couldn’t Say No
What would one drag on a joint hurt? by Jason Gomez as told to Christy Heitger-Casbon I glanced at my watch: 6:55 p.m. I couldn’t believe there were only five minutes left in youth group. For as far back as I could remember, I’d been connected to these people. Flashbacks of retreats, church lock-ins,…
Read moreHidden Shame: The Growing Problem of Sexual Addiction
Understanding the past and patterns of a secret sin. by Carol McGalliard The final strains of the wedding processional ring through the sanctuary. A radiant bride gazes into the eyes of the beaming groom and vows that she will “love, honor, and cherish this man . . . in sickness and health, for better,…
Read moreFreed From Bulimia
Seeking help from the perfect God for our imperfections. by Kaylie Biggs as told to Karen Whiting One of my mother’s friends prayed over me while I grew inside the womb. Her prayers worked: I arrived a healthy baby girl after a C-section. Unfortunately, due to poor choices later in life, I didn’t stay…
Read moreFinding Father
Reconnecting with vital relationships. by Alicea Jones Tall, thin, and decided, he anchored our home and gave us a sense of completion. We held Daddy in awe; he taught us the Twenty-third Psalm, about God being our shepherd and walking with us even through death. He was a dreamer, and we dreamed right along…
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