Happy New Year? “I look at 2022 and I see a black hole.” “There’s not much else that I want right now, and I hesitate to make plans or even to have big desires because 1) it takes energy to have and maintain big desires and 2) it’s really hard when they aren’t met, and […]
Thank you, Jasmine, for sharing your story with us! Tell us about yourself! Iβm an Aussie, and I live around 1.5 hoursβ north of Sydney, New South Wales, with my husband of nearly eight years, Dave (heβs a champion!). Iβm originally a clinically-trained psychologist, but right now Iβm working as an author of Christian fantasy […]
By Emily’s encouragement, here is a post and poem, inspired by Lamentations 3, that I originally published on my personal blog. As I studied the book of Lamentations–chapter 3 in particular–Charles R. Swindoll’s little book The Lamentations of Jeremiah (Swindoll, 1977) opened my eyes to the depth, beauty, and poetry of this section of Scripture. […]
After looking at Jeremiah’s personal lament and his journey from hopeless to hopeful, both of which provide great encouragement for those of us in chronic illness, we come to a part of the chapter that continues the God-focused, hope-giving theme while introducing a more somber note of introspection. Part 3: Verses 31-42 KAPH 31 For […]
Last week we introduced Lamentations 3 and read Jeremiah’s personal lament in verses 1-18. Today we’ll see a significant shift in tone as we look at the next section of the chapter. Part 2: Verses 19-30 From 1:1 to 3:18, Jeremiah has described “hopelessness,” but verses 19-39 focus on the hope that we have in […]
Scripture tells us that, under the control of the Holy Spirit, we should be “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). May you be encouraged by the spiritual truth in this song! Don’t You Fear words by Ben Everson You can […]
Nothing better illustrates the nature of life than the seasons of nature: seasons for growth, seasons for harvest, seasons for work, and seasons for rest. To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 In May we announced a season of rest (at least from The Valley) for us as Emily got […]
A couple of months ago, the pastor of my church preached a sermon from II Corinthians 4:7-18 that really encouraged me in my chronic illness struggles. With his permission, Iβm sharing his outline and both our notes in hopes the message will encourage you too. The message was titled “Humbly Ministering for His Glory.” I. […]
Here’s a testimony from two years ago that I wrote and shared with a few others at the time. I pray God can encourage you with the same truths He used to encourage me in my time of need. βπ π«πΆπ΄π΅ π₯π°π―βπ΅ πΆπ―π₯π¦π³π΄π΅π’π―π₯ πΈπ©πΊ!β Sunday night after church. I sat on the kitchen floor, my […]
Thank you, Bethany, for sharing your story with us! Tell us about yourself! Hello! My name is Bethany Lacock. Iβve been married about 10 months and my husband, TJ, and I live in Watertown, WI. TJ is a dorm supervisor at Maranatha Baptist University. I am currently a nanny in a little town about 10 […]
The Valley