. . . So, we are experiencing some changes right now. Some big, some smaller, all under the complete control of our loving Lord. I sense that one season of life is ending, and another is beginning. I have never liked change, especially major ones. Change can be unsettling and is often inconvenient. But after…… Continue reading I Trust the Captain
Category: Excerpts from my book
Walking Away from Anger. Walking Toward Peace
“Anger is destructive. It is a nasty weapon in the Destroyer’s arsenal. How is it working for you? Does it not make you unbelievably tired? Wouldn’t you like to lay it down and walk away? Wouldn’t you like to replace it with something more productive? Wouldn’t you like to rest?” -From Chapter 40, Angry at…… Continue reading Walking Away from Anger. Walking Toward Peace
A Sure Hope
For those who trust Jesus as their Savior, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. The moment life went out of Hans’s body, he was taken immediately into the presence of God—no waiting, no further payment or cleansing required. That is because Jesus paid it all and it is…… Continue reading A Sure Hope
Book Excerpt: Things Are Not What They Seem
One of the things bereaved parents would like you to know is this: Even though they may seem pretty together and functional; even though they smile, though perhaps not very brightly and not for very long; and even though it seems like they are moving on with life, there are many, many things going on…… Continue reading Book Excerpt: Things Are Not What They Seem
Up From the Ashes
It would easy to spend all my time preoccupied with the past. The way it was. Looking at – no examining – old photographs. Studying, not just the image of our son, but the background, too. Everyday scenery that has not changed but is so totally different now. Trying to find the what-ifs casually arranged…… Continue reading Up From the Ashes
Reasons Not See a Psychic Medium
The following chapter was taken from the second-most viewed post on this site. The most often entered search term here, by far, has been some variation of “Should I consult a medium?” We can conclude that many are tempted. Here’s what God has to say about it… Chapter 35, Detestable to the Lord – Never…… Continue reading Reasons Not See a Psychic Medium
In the Arms of My Father: Thoughts on Psalm Fifty-Five
From my book, Never Ceasing: God’s Faithfulness in Grief My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. Psalm 55:4,5 This is not happening… The men from our church placed two stout spruce poles across the…… Continue reading In the Arms of My Father: Thoughts on Psalm Fifty-Five
What is the ‘Resurrection of the Dead’?
Resurrection: (Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1913) 1. (n.) A rising again; a return from death to life; as the resurrection of Christ. 2. (n.) Especially, the rising again from the dead; the resumption of life by the dead; as, the resurrection of Jesus Christ; the general resurrection of all the dead at the Day of…… Continue reading What is the ‘Resurrection of the Dead’?
Suffering and the Sovereignty of God
Did God take our son, or was it an accident? It depends on what you mean by “accident.” Was the crash unexpected, unintentional, unplanned? Yes, from our earthbound perspective, but not to God. The Lord was not caught off guard or taken by surprise on the night of the crash. Was the crash without divine…… Continue reading Suffering and the Sovereignty of God
Another Year Closer
-Excerpt from my book Never Ceasing: God’s Faithfulness in Grief In cutting his earthly life short, God has withheld no good thing from our Hans. For the Christian, to die is gain, and Hans has surely gotten the better end of the deal. He is basking in the light of God’s presence, utterly shielded from…… Continue reading Another Year Closer
Mission Accomplished
I do not believe that Hans will suffer a loss of reward simply because his earthly life was short. His time here was relatively brief, but it was complete; therefore, there was no longer any reason for him to stay among us. Instead, it was ordained of God that Hans should continue his life in…… Continue reading Mission Accomplished
No surrender
An excerpt from Never Ceasing: God’s Faithfulness in Grief … So, I must wait, but waiting does not have to mean stagnating. The Lord still has business to conduct in His universe. There are people yet to be born and souls yet to be saved. The time I have left is shorter than it feels;…… Continue reading No surrender
In My Father’s House
Hans spent most of his life right here at home in the house he grew up in. Of course, he went places and did things; he spent his first birthday in California while we were there visiting family. But, other than that, he never left Alaska. He never “got his own place”; never had to…… Continue reading In My Father’s House
Streams of Mercy, Never Ceasing
We sang ‘Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing’ at Hans’s memorial service. Surprisingly, I was able to sing, too, though my heart was splintering into little pieces. It was important to me that I sing that day. I wanted to do it for the Lord. I wanted to do it for Hans. The title of…… Continue reading Streams of Mercy, Never Ceasing
According to His Will
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1 John 5:14-15 Every prayer I have ever uttered…… Continue reading According to His Will
You Can Trust Him. 