Treasures in the Hard

Category

June 13, 2019

3 Steps to Handle the Sin Drip

Sin. A dripping faucet. Unrelenting. Disturbing. Incessant. We no sooner start our day than it’s dripping. An angry word. A terse answer. Gossip. Hateful thoughts. Distrust. Judgements tossed at others. We repent from one as another takes birth in our thoughts. We say we’re sorry, yet an hour later repeat the same offense. Drip. Drip. Drip. Sin. Endless. Constant. I lamented to my God, agonizing that “I can’t shut it off. Sin just keeps dripping, Lord. No matter how hard...

June 6, 2019

Survival Tips for Your Hard

The past couple weeks found our family in the middle of a hard. A loved one experiencing a health crisis put us all on high alert as we moved through the maze of urgent care, ER, hospital and round-the-clock care at home. As I was lamenting not having inspiration nor energy to write for a second week, the practical husband said, “Well, you’re in the middle of a hard. Isn’t that what you write about?” I gave him the requisite...

May 23, 2019

4 Reality Checks for the Hard of Marriage

This writing comes on the heels of celebrating 40 years of marriage, and seems a good time to talk about one of the somewhat surprising, yet very real, hards of life. Marriage. Volumes have been written about this God-ordained institution, but maybe in the simplest terms, we can agree: Marriage is hard. We are not far along in the journey of wedded bliss before the easy-as-pie, happy-ever-after notions slip to the ground and become trodden under the reality that this...

May 16, 2019

Why Does God Let Hards Linger?

Hards we face in life come in varying degrees: the searing storms that threaten to consume us, and “lesser hards” that, tho they are not as serious and intense, can be difficult to handle. Especially when they hang around for a prolonged period of time:      A clashing relationship with no resolution in sight.      No relief from chronic pain.      Praying for direction, but the heavens stand silent.      Working an underpaid, under-appreciated job.  ...

May 9, 2019

Firm Truths When a Fire Rages

In life, a hard may sweep in like a raging fire. In horror we tremble after a fireball smashes into our world, spreading voracious, hot flames. Their appetites attempt to consume everything around us. Our dreams and hopes. Our security and stability.  Everything we’ve built. First our heart races, then teeters on the brink of stopping. Shock sets in. The pain in the soul sears like the licks of white-flames that race up beams, destroying the framework of our life....

April 25, 2019

Why We Choose a Rocky Path

Hard things sneak up behind us. Or hit us full in the face. But sometimes God asks us to alter our course and step onto a path headed straight into a hard. Straight toward a difficulty we would choose to bypass; intentionally being part of circumstances that we could list a baker’s dozen reasons why we should execute a big detour to avoid the mess. We hesitate on the precipice of a hard where God is directing us. Afraid. Troubled...

April 18, 2019

Sunday’s A-Comin’

Holidays during a period of hard can be overwhelming. Detailed preparation for gatherings, with special services and events filling the calendar, and your heart struggles to care.  If you are facing this Easter week feeling worn out and grasping for hope, lay expectations down, whether from yourself or others. Take time to peel away the layers of unnecessary, and focus on the core remembrances of this season.  Walking through periods of difficulty presents the perfect time to get concerns off...

April 11, 2019

Facing Hard Changes? Take His Hand

Difficult transitions into new seasons can spark a hard. Taking a giant step from the comfortable, security of the known into the discomfort and shaky unknown pours fear, sorrow, and insecurity into our soul. Waiting in the family van to retrieve a son from a late-running ball practice, the reality of an upcoming change sunk in deep. Thankful for the darkness and storm smearing the windshield, obscuring the sorrow that rained down my face, a deep lamenting began. “Lord, this...

April 4, 2019

What’s So Important about the Here and Now?

Many are familiar with the app “Google Maps”.  The program will route a trip from your location to a specific destination by entering the address and touching the “directions” button. Like magic, a map appears showing the quickest route. Just tap “start” and off you go. What you can see at this point is where you are and just a fraction of the next few miles. However, you can look ahead at your journey by manipulating the screen. Maybe you...

March 28, 2019

Hello? Is Anybody Listening?

Unanswered prayer. Whether for self or standing in the gap for others, we pray for healing. Reconciliation. Direction. Salvation. And nothing. Is. Happening. Or perhaps worse, the opposite of our request comes to pass. Is God listening? Have I missed something? Am I praying “wrong”? Is there any point? We lost two very close friends to cancer. We have a photo, now precious to us, of them sitting with us and their spouses on our couch celebrating a new year;...