My husband and I sat across the table at a steakhouse from one of my best friends and her husband. She was barely able to make it through the meal due to morning sickness. I was barely able to make it through the meal due to despair. My heart ached for what she had growing inside of her. Although my husband and I hadn’t been trying for a baby for all that long, it seemed like forever. My greatest fear was that my mom’s seven-year struggle to conceive would be my heartache as well. I tried …
Surely Not Holy Ground
Nancy Bjorklund
The Story of Jonah
“The Lord threw a great wind onto the sea, and such a great storm arose on the sea that the ship threatened to break apart. The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his god.” (Jonah 1:4-5) Talk about being at the wrong place at the wrong time! These poor, innocent sailors on the ship with the runaway prophet Jonah were definitely afraid. Fear is defined by the dictionary as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.” The sailors confronted Jonah as he was singled out …
It’s Cancer
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. “ Philippians 4:6 (NLT) I heard the words, “Yes, it is cancer.” The floor fell out under my feet. I was absolutely shocked. I’m only 39. The first few days of a cancer diagnosis can be described as emotional chaos and confusion. My mind was flooded with so many questions about cancer and all it will entail. But one thing was for sure. I knew I needed God because only God is bigger than cancer. Philippians 4:6 seemed to …
Cancer Stole My Peace
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.” Philipians 4:6-7 (NLT)Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Cancer stole my peace and I didn’t realize how peaceful life was until I was diagnosed with cancer. All my problems that were so big suddenly became so small and I wished for those days to be back. I wondered if I ever will have days of big problems that really …
After Diagnosis
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.” Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:6-8 After my diagnosis, I prayed constantly. I filled my life with prayer, devotionals, …
Thoughts of Cancer
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” Psalm 91: 14 Cancer taught me just how small I really am very quickly. I had no control, I had no power, and I cannot heal myself. However God can. But the first question that follows is, but will he? It is in my human nature to judge myself to see if I was worthy. I am divorced. I don’t tithe enough.Sometimes I miss church. I watch things that would be offensive to God. I might be judgmental on …
Facing Cancer
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” Psalm 91: 14-15 This is an unbreakable promise from God. This promise may have been written hundreds of years ago for everyone. But right now, this promise could’ve been written today and just for me or for you. When facing cancer, I ran to God and sobbed on his shoulders. I didn’t know what all I …
Rain in its Season
“They do not say in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, Who gives rain in its season, Both the autumn rain and the spring rain, who keeps for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.” Jeremiah 5:24 I know that God is good, but are we fearing the Lord our God? He gives to us, but will He continue to give us blessings if we are not worshiping Him, and Him alone? Choose God. Tanya Jackson
What Love Does
Several years ago we had a nasty snow and ice storm to move in. Having livestock we still have to feed, water and check on them daily, no matter what the weather conditions are like. They simply depend on us for their survival. We had just moved a group of cattle to a pasture that had a bridge over a very steep creek bed that separated one pasture from another. My husband Wayne, was worried the cattle was stuck on the other side of the creek bed away from the feed lot, so we loaded up in …
Live in Awareness, Not Fear
Which came first, depression or anxiety? I’ve lived with both and can tell you that neither is fun. Both are self-serving and hard to treat. Both conditions are very real and can destroy lives if not diagnosed and controlled, often with medicine. Instead of living in fear, get the facts from the Specialists; ask God for wisdom and give your fears to Him. Worrying and complaining solve nothing. Replace those bad thoughts with what is real and true. Don’t fret. God’s got this. 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for …
Conquering Fear
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Mark 5:36 “Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Fear is one of the most disabling forces against man. Fear can emotionally and spiritually weaken a person. Fear steals one’s joy. It can prevent a person from doing the good that God planned for you …