The opening story of the evening news was about a parent who forgot her child in the car. The day’s temperature was 107 degrees, outside of the car. The next story was about several people gunned down, and the next one detailed a car accident that resulted in severe injuries to all parties. By then, […]
Category: Grief/Encouragement
Timeless “Time-Outs”
Silence Quietness Reflection Sounds like a dream vacation or simply wishful thinking in our busy lives, lives taken up with tediously attending to tasks and to-do lists that take hold of our time. It’s difficult to remember that we choose how to use our time. And many of our lives have the added stress and […]
Handling Adversity
Step into the time tunnel with me and let’s travel together back to Uz (not like the wizard of, but like the land of). Wherever it was, Uz had a citizen who had the respect of everyone, because he was blameless, upright, God-fearing, and clean living. He had 10 children, lots of livestock, plenty of […]
Ocean Transformation
I ran across a story my dad, Chuck Swindoll, shared years ago. The message is timeless because we all encounter trials and tests; they interrupt our day and often initiate changes we don’t want to make. Perhaps you will want to place this in your home or office as I have done; the perspective it […]
And Justice for All
The brutal, unbearable details ignited the ruthless investigation. The young victim had made an outcry (the victim’s voice telling what has happened which must be reported by one who hears); his story was dreadfully horrifying. The family acted immediately, believing the justice system would be exceptionally cautious, especially because the victim was a disabled, […]
Deep Courage: Walking with Adversity
Some of life’s situations are dreadfully problematic. Just when we believe in the illusion that we have our arms around today and tomorrow, reality shows up. Isn’t that a bummer? Life should follow our plans. Right? We’d like to think so, but it rarely does. In truth, life rarely “fits.” Sometimes it’s too big, and […]
The Riches of Remembrance
Not long ago, I found an old journal of mine. Tucked inside was an unfinished poem I had started several years earlier. I decided to complete it, and in the process, I reflected on all the ways God had transformed my life during those three years—how much He had blessed me with growth in wisdom, […]
The Simple Truth
Believe it or not, you have a decision to make. Regardless of today’s issues or the circumstances that leave you feeling trapped or without hope, you are still free. What is that freedom? It’s the freedom to choose your attitude and actions in the midst of your struggles. Several years ago, I had to come […]
When Hope Returns
Only a week into January . . . and it’s almost certain some families have already encountered a difficult season. Pain enters in and hope begins to wither. I wrote this piece when a light softly appeared at the end of a tunnel. My hope is that this will be an encouraging light for you […]
It’s Free!
It is the need of every human heart; a driving force compelling us to action, influencing our decisions, and intensifying our emotions. It is the universal longing for encouragement. We often think of encouragement as an act of kindness, which is part of inspiring others; but I see encouragement as a gift to be given. Our need […]
Good News and Bad News
“I have some good news and some bad news.” Ever heard that before? We often choose to hear the bad news first, hoping the good news will provide a joyous overshadowing of the other. And sometimes we have to come up with the good news ourselves. I’ll share some of my own good news and […]
In Abundance
We use the word grace to describe many things in life: dancers are graceful; we say grace before a meal; financial institutions grant grace periods; and people of dignity and respect have the character trait of grace. I find these descriptions useful, but there is another, more significant definition of grace: a gift freely given […]