Rethinking Christian Life, Rethinking God in Our Lives, Rethinking Hard Times
When God Doesn’t Make Sense
Today I have a guest post at Keeping It Personal titled March Madness. You can check it out here. Welcome to all of you… I like it when things make sense. I want to think deeply about how to handle a situation or what path to take and I want all my paths and directions…
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Frustration…
There are some days I just want to gnash my teeth. My shoulders tense, my heart clenches, and every thing I see seems to scream out, “You are a failure Angela.” I guess I am not the only one. If I am the only one you can skip this post. It won’t do you a…
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I’m Baaaccckkk
It has been quite a while, but God needed to slow me down and shake me up a bit. The flu, an ear infection, and a sinus infection were His tools to force me to rest. Rest is exactly what I needed, but in the rest I also discovered some things I needed His light…
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Staking My Life On Joy
Happy Birthday to me and my twin sister! Last year I posted some pictures of us when we were cute…You can see them here. Anyway, last night I spoke to the fifth and sixth graders at my church about joy. Sometimes God just takes hold of me as I speak and shakes me hard.…
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Easy Isn’t Necessarily Better
School came easy to me. Things that were difficult I avoided. Basketball required too much practice so I quit. The flute meant I had to try hard to be first chair…I stopped. I avoided classes in college that were difficult and opted to do what came easily. For most of my life I assumed if…
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God Comforts and God Chisels
Somehow words don’t seem enough to convey what is going on in my heart and soul. God using His eternal chisel, breaking bits of the ugly, sinful parts of me away. God using His hammer with truth that hits its mark swift and hard and parts of me that I held close crumbles. My frustrations…
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Stories
Stories. Our lives are full of them. Interwoven stories that bind us to others, divide us from some, and leave impressions on our hearts. Stories that are not mine to tell, but that I live out. I live my part of supportive wife, encouraging friend, loving daughter-in-law, praying sister, admiring daughter, and the list goes…
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Attitude
I have an attitude problem. I am cranky, easily irritated, and downright frustrated. UGH! I think if only my kids would behave, if my husband would meet my every need (even when I don’t know what it is I need), if health wellness and prosperity marked my whole extended family, if my dreams and longings…
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The Fog of Discontent
Discontent. It hangs like a fog around my heart and soul. My gaze turns to myself–what I have, what I don’t, dreams unmet, longings unfulfilled. My dreams of more give direction, but if I am not careful they feed discontent. Why don’t I have it? I want it for His glory. The discontent changes the…
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It Still Hurts – Be Real – Just Smile
I stumbled upon Lesli’s website as I was researching for the book I am writing and attempting to get published. She has a firm faith and great message that applies to more than just my infertile friends. I pray her words encourage and bless you. Here is Lesli: As you can tell by the…
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Sovereignty: Three Ways to Trust God When Failure Looms
Last week I watched Clemson trounce Alabama in the NCAA’s Football National Championship game. Clemson was up 31-16 at halftime and never looked back. After a botched fake field goal at the beginning of the third quarter Alabama’s loss seemed imminent. Failure, at least in that game, was coming. Still Alabama did not walk off…
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When Words Are Not Enough: How to Support Those Walking Dark Roads
It doesn’t make sense. At least not this side of heaven. Cancer stealing years from folks who live and love well while rapists continue their lust for power and flesh. Infertility leaving wombs and arms empty while others abandon and abuse their children. Addiction powerfully pulling its prey away from work, family, friends. A momentary…
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How Do You Love a God Who is Able, But May Not?
It is a wonderful thing to know that God is omnipotent. It means that every seemingly impossible circumstance is not hopeless. Miracles can happen. Things can change. But God’s ways are mysterious. He isn’t simply a divine vending machine. “I go to church every Sunday, I tithe, and I even went on that mission trip…
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When Big Questions Loom: An Honest Response
Some questions linger unanswered – questions that weigh heavy on your heart, mind, soul, and strength. They threaten to suffocate the joy out of life and life can feel barren, hopeless, endless. Everyone else seems to have all the answers or they never had any questions. Their lives seem purposeful, full of meaning, with no…
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Courage…The Biblical Kind
For my current seminary course I had to write a short-ish post about courage and how it relates to the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love…I thought you all might find it interesting… According to Merriam-Webster.com courage is the “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.” And courage…
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How to Love God who is Able, But Does Not. . .
They said it as they stood near a furnace hot enough to kill men who came near. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego told king Nebuchadnezzar, “. . .our God, whom we serve, is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire. And from your hand, O king, let him rescue us. And if not,…
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When the Pain Binds You Together
My scars and old wounds, I revealed them this weekend. Tore the bandage off the hidden ugliness behind the pain and wounds. In front of women I never met, but I knew a part of their struggle. I stood in a room full of women dealing with infertility or pregnancy loss and I spoke…
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Praying in the Wait
Hi friends. Today I have a post featured on The M.O.M. Initiative titled Let Dad be Dad. If you are a mom, check it out. Today I want to pray for you all as you wait. God often brings us into waiting times. Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like…
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How to Be Happy for Your Friend
Hello blog friends. Today I have the privilege of being featured at Encouragement Cafe. Check out my post The Word, Actions, and Words. Also check out The M.O.M. Initiative today to see about entering their big giveaway! Some days I wonder when my sinful self will get out of my way. I hear wonderful news…
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Return to Me
As I read through Amos 4 this week a phrase struck me. It was repeated five times in the short chapter. God said, “. . .yet you have not returned to me.” God mentions hunger, drought, thirst, famine, plagues, and war. He takes credit for all the terrible things and then He simply says, “.…
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