Winds howled, waves buffeted, and the ship rolled at sea. The Apostle Paul, on his way to Rome to witness to Christ and be martyred, was in true danger of dying at sea instead. Acts chapter 27 recounts his harrowing journey, and tucked in those verses are lessons for us as we navigate our own stormy seas. If life is a sailing voyage, it’s wonderful when the seas are calm. We have our health, things are going well…
“It hurts so good!” This common expression highlights the contrast between pain and pleasure. Most people are hard-wired to avoid pain at any cost. But sometimes that which causes pain is also productive. A pastor I know left behind a little black binder with notes he made during more than 50 years of ministry. At a denominational conference in 1959 (the Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends, a.k.a. Quakers) he wrote this quote from Paul Rees, the speaker: “There…
“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms…” Deut. 33:27a I collapsed on the floor of the hotel room, prostrate and weeping before God in prayer. Dale and I were just about to receive an answer to twelve years of petitions before God. Wouldn’t one think that would be easy? It wasn’t. The quest to become a mother had been difficult. For twelve years I had sought the help of doctors, undergone tests and…