What it really means to be a Christian. by Shirley Pope Waite I come to the garden alone While the dew is still on the roses . . . I thrust my trembling fingers hard against my ears. As the strains of “In the Garden” waft from the choir loft, I squeeze tighter and…
Author: nowwhat
Untying the Knot
Preferring God’s will to a doomed future. by Mary Leslie Tipps It was done. The preparations were finished. The responses were in, the wedding dress had been tailored for the last time, the flowers had been designed and ordered, the bridal showers had been hosted. The guests who needed to purchase airline tickets had…
Finding ‘Till Death Do We Part’
Wise words on how to find God’s best for a mate. by Jennifer Slattery Choosing a future spouse is one of the most important decisions we will face. Consider the well-known phrase included in most marriage vows: “Till death do we part.” Marriage is supposed to be a life-long commitment to love, cherish, and…
The Other Woman
An unexpected lesson in forgiveness. by Marcie Nootenboom “I can’t forgive them!” I cried out to God. “They ruined my life!” I was really saying, “I refuse to forgive them” — my ex-husband and his second wife. Birthday surprise It began when I was twenty and our son was about to turn a year…
When God Says No
Finding a way through the darkness of doubt. by Pastor Bob Leitton as told to Penny Smith Shoving my sermon notes aside, I reached for the phone with a sigh. Seems like its cue to ring is linked to my quiet time. “Bob, come — pray for me.” Ruth’s voice trembled with the words…
Parenting a Child with a Disability: Resources
kidstogether.org: inclusion of persons with disabilities wrightslaw.com: special education law ds-health.com: Down syndrome and related health issues woodbinehouse.com: Special Needs Collection of books about various disabilities blog.friendshipcircle.org: Special Needs Blog on supporting children with disabilities
Parenting a Child with a Disability
How to trust God in the rough places. by Geralyn Anderson Arango, Ed.D. The essay “Welcome to Holland,” by Emily Perl Kingsley, is familiar to many parents of children with disabilities, especially children with Down syndrome. The piece relates the experience of raising a child with a disability to planning a dream-come-true trip to…
Wake-Up Call
Sometimes God goes to great lengths to get our attention. by Cindy Adams “First stop, Mississippi!” I adjusted my rear-view mirror and backed out of my driveway. “Let’s listen to Harps and Halos first.” I handed Jessica the CD pack and then opened the map between us. Jessica’s seniority of being seven years old…
The Long Path-Resources
Silent No More (silentnomoreawareness.org) is an international organization that holds events, provides local support groups, and offers articles and testimonies for encouragement and education. Any search engine brings up multitudes of websites sharing information for the person struggling with post-abortion issues. Many communities have pregnancy counseling centers that offer classes for abortion recovery. The…
The Long Path to Forgiveness
If God can forgive us, why can’t we forgive ourselves? by Lin Russell* The summer after I’d graduated from high school, I realized I was pregnant by my on-and-off-again boyfriend of the previous three years. The doctor advised me to quickly schedule an abortion because I’d already missed two periods. I chose to believe…