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Songs on Saturday

Songs on Saturday: In Your Silence

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! In Your Silence Words by Eileen Berry In Your […]

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Wednesday Writings

You Can Have It, Lord: A Poem of Relinquishment in Chronic Illness

Last week we looked at how to find grace, joy, and peace in chronic illness based on Elisabeth Elliot’s short devotional about the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul” by Horatio G. Spafford: by receiving what God has given us and by relinquishing what He takes from us. As I meditated on Elisabeth Elliot’s […]

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Wednesday Writings

To Receive and To Relinquish: Finding Grace, Joy, and Peace in Chronic Illness

I recently started reading Elisabeth Elliot’s book Secure in the Everlasting Arms, a collection of short devotional thoughts from the newsletter she wrote for almost twenty years. The very first entry hit me square between the eyes.  The Lot We’re Dealt The entry is titled “Whatever My Lot” and, after giving a brief, personal backstory […]

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Embrace Wednesday Writings

Making Yourself at Home in Chronic Illness, Part 3

Two weeks ago we looked at the context for Jeremiah’s letter to the Jewish captives and God’s message to them (and us): stop panicking, pick up your hammer, and make yourself at home. In other words, don’t fight what is part of God’s plan for good. We also saw how part of making ourselves at […]

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Embrace Wednesday Writings

Making Yourself at Home in Chronic Illness, Part 1

I recently read through the book of Jeremiah in my morning devotions, and God gave me a load of encouragement from Jeremiah 29. I took tons of notes and am excited to share those notes with you in the hopes they can encourage you too.  A Message for the Needy First of all, let’s set […]

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Women in the Valley

Women in the Valley: Erica’s Story

Thank you, Erica, for sharing your story with us! Tell us about yourself! Thank you for the opportunity to encourage others through my story. I’m Erica Baldwin – a wife, mom of one active 10-year-old, and freelance writer/blogger who lives in North Carolina. We also have an international high school student living with us, which […]

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Women in the Valley

Women in the Valley: Leah’s Story

Thank you, Leah, for sharing your story with us! Tell us about yourself! My name is Leah Kaiser and I am a 42-year-old wife and mother to 3 teenagers. We currently reside in Tucson, AZ, but have lived in various places all over the country. I am a former Navy Nurse and currently homeschool all […]

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A Study in Lamentations 3 Wednesday Writings

Broken, Grieving, Hopeful, Praying: Lamentations 3 for the Chronically Ill, Part 5

Last week we looked at the last third of Lamentations 3 and some general takeaways for those of us in chronic illness: staying faithful to God and trusting in Him during a trial. This last week of our study I want to park on the big theme of the whole chapter and the book: waiting […]

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A Study in Lamentations 3 Wednesday Writings

Broken, Grieving, Hopeful, Praying: Lamentations 3 for the Chronically Ill, Part 4

Over the past three weeks, we’ve studied Jeremiah’s personal lament over Jerusalem’s destruction and Israel’s captivity, his intentional journey from hopeless to hopeful, and his humble introspection and call to repentance. This week we look at the rest of Jeremiah’s lament and some general considerations for us in chronic illness. Note: I studied this section […]

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Songs on Saturday

Songs on Saturday: Day by Day

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). So once a month we’ll share a hymn or spiritual song whose words offer special encouragement for those of us […]