INTRODUCTION TO SERIES: Since the passing of my son last May, Jordan, no biblical passage has comforted my mind & soul more than the 23rd Psalm. Quoting it has saved me, more than once, from losing my mind. The power of God's Word - in particular, this passage - in setting me free from a … Continue reading “The Lord Is My Shepherd” – How This Phrase Has Kept Me From Losing My Mind
The Bible
You’ll Never See It Coming
“Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, Amplified) It was a gorgeous day at Busch Gardens on May 12, 2002. The Tampa, … Continue reading You’ll Never See It Coming
The Distance Between Peace & Crazy
I love the Bible. It's unedited. Unsanitized. Emotional. Real. As I read it, I read about God. And myself. All 66 books comprise God's "love letter" to mankind. And, within His "letter" we're reminded that God used real-life, ordinary people to pen the words God wanted written down. (2 Peter 1:21) Jeremiah (the Old Testament … Continue reading The Distance Between Peace & Crazy
The Pain of Christmas
"But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) For years (way before my son passed away), I’ve tried to remind people that special times of the year, like Christmas, are not only … Continue reading The Pain of Christmas
The Battle is the Lord’s
"Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me." (Psalm 35:1 NIV) Just a reminder that, the very second we cry out to God about a conflict, the battle becomes HIS. Oh- and He WILL "open up a can." The enemy is hoping we'll keep trying to fight him … Continue reading The Battle is the Lord’s
Satan Has a Plan for Your Life
A recent guest speaker in our church approached me between worship services. He told me he'd heard about my son taking his life, and conveyed love and encouragement to me. Then he reminded me of this axiom of spiritual warfare: "We're familiar with the statement, 'God has a plan for your life.' But what we … Continue reading Satan Has a Plan for Your Life
“True North”
"The grief following suicide is so raw and real, primal and human, even people of faith must often battle just to ride it out, to render it livable....How one grieves depends on what one believes....The counsel of Scripture secures us with a stabilizing beam of truth - beginning with a single word: hope....Your pain cannot … Continue reading “True North”
What’s in a Name? (Job)
"What's in a name?" - Biblically, a lot. The covenant name God used for Himself in the Old Testament is actually four letters, "YHWH." (Scholars refer to it as a "tetragrammaton," which, in Greek, means "four letters.") Vowels were later added to give us the name "Yahweh" which, when pronounced correctly, sounds like a breath. … Continue reading What’s in a Name? (Job)
Wanting My Day in Court
I read the book of Job (the "o" in Job is "long") differently since May 13th. Job lost ten children - i lost only one. But, I think the death of merely one child can send a parent over the edge. I love the man, Job, because he gives me biblical permission to accuse God … Continue reading Wanting My Day in Court
Losing My Way. And Finding It Again.
I want to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers/notes/love for me last night. In hindsight, I can think of a number of things that triggered it, but not since the early days following Jordan's death have I been filled with as much rage and pain as yesterday. It … Continue reading Losing My Way. And Finding It Again.