Where Are My Sins?
Do you ever find it difficult to forgive yourself? Does the enemy of your soul ever whisper that you’re unacceptable to the Lord because you had a subpar day, spiritually speaking? Oh, you undoubtedly know Bible verses that say you’re forgiven, but do...
Will I Finish Well?
A semi-retired pastor I knew, in his late 60s, abruptly left his wife of 45 years. He drove back to another state where he had enjoyed a long pastorate. Why? To shack up with his former church secretary. Apparently, until then he had been loyal to God and to his...
When Heaven Is Silent
If you read a clear, biblically accurate book on the subject of suffering, even if the writer has not personally suffered greatly, you’d consider it a valuable contribution. But if such a book were written by a man who has suffered greatly, who shared his...
Is Self-Absorption Inevitable During Depression?
The worst physical pain I ever experienced occurred during my senior year in high school. I had neglected intermittent tooth pain for weeks. A large cavity had carved a hole into a molar. I had forgotten about the bad tooth when I bit down on a hard food item in...
2 Things about Christian Living I’ve Learned the Hard Way
What must you do before others in the body of Christ can help you bear a heavy burden? In what sense is heart-breaking conviction of sin a demonstration of God’s grace toward you? After 76 years of life as a Christ-follower and over 55 years in vocational...
How to Pray When Afflicted
You’re smack-dab in the middle of a depressive episode. The despair stifles motivation to live. Your grown daughter left the church and isn’t sure she still believes in God. Chronic pain or illness restricts you physically and begets discouragement...
Can Depression Glorify God?
Which glorifies God more: healing depression or redeeming it? God’s Word teems with examples of miraculous healing, resulting in praise. It also discloses benefits of affliction that isn’t removed, such as character cultivation (Romans 5:2-5) expansion...
Hold Fast, for Heaven’s Sake!
When the fog of depression envelops me, what spurs me to action when there’s no feeling or motivation to do anything? A means of grace I cling to for sustenance is the Word of God. One feature in the Bible that has thrown me a lifeline time and again is...
You Can’t Handle Depression Alone
Please don’t miss this strategy for handling depression. Ministry of Presence Dolly had heard me mutter that I didn’t want to live. The hopelessness of depression had been accompanied by extreme anxiety and restlessness. My two preadolescent boys...
THE POWER OF SAYING “I’M SORRY!”
As a Christ-follower, how do you feel when you raise your voice and speak harshly to your spouse or child? How do you respond when you realize you’ve jumped to conclusions and incorrectly assigned a wrong motive to someone’s questionable actions? What...
Anticipating Heaven In the Here and Now
What hard choices should be made before you become terminally ill or die unexpectedly? Why is it good stewardship and a loving thing to do to “live with the end in mind”? What are the components of an effective end-of-life plan that will ease the...
Yes–I Do Want Your Sympathy!
“I don’t want your sympathy!” That’s a common reply when a troubled or hurting person perceives that a would-be comforter exhibits a patronizing, condescending attitude. The unfortunate person believes the other person looks down on him. He...
