Wildly Grateful
A friend let me borrow, Bold Love. As I slowly walk through this book, nuggets jump out, and Jesus is using it in my life. This week, this one took hold. We anticipate fury, yet what we find is fondness; we expect, at least, cool indifference in light of our disregard and anger, yet what we discover…
Chosen by my King
This week I taught on the first half of the book of Esther. So rich and full of amazing pictures of God’s husband-love to me. Do you remember the story? The great emperor King Ahasaurus sends out an edict to have beautiful young virgins come to him, so he can choose a new bride. They come…
The Hope in the Last Clause
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence. (Ps. 140:12-13 ESV) So many are afflicted. Untold multitudes are hurting and persecuted and losing their lives and treated like nothing. Whichever…
My Son’s Question about His Tomorrows
”Mom, will they ever find a cure for diabetes?” My ten-year-old boy’s voice trembles like he’s never asked a more important question. “And if they do, will it happen before I grow up?” This disease has “ruined his life,” he tells me. And he wants to know–needs to know–if it will really last all his tomorrows. I…
Is It Wrong to Question God?
Tears wet my ten-year-old’s face as he climbed on my bed. “What’s up, sweetie?” He squirmed a bit and his breaths became short, nervous. “I think I believe in Jesus, but sometimes I wonder, what if Jesus didn’t die on the cross for me? What if our religion is false just like all the other…
Longing Love
Friday was my oldest son’s birthday (fifteen!). Working on my memoir about my cardiac arrest reminded me of how before he was born I ached to hold him. We had struggled with infertility and miscarriage and when I finally carried this baby to term, an incredulous gratitude emerged. Here’s an excerpt from the memoir about that time. How I…
TV Commercial!
Hey friends! I have something exciting to share with you! I really LOVE MediShare. (It’s a healthcare sharing ministry). They have been a huge blessing to my family with our various medical issues–broken ankle, cardiac arrest, diabetes. Well, these wonderful people are doing a TV commercial about my SCA story. Yep! About me. Isn’t that cool. But…
Are You Thirsty?
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. (Jn 7:37) If That if is almost a rhetorical question. “If” we thirst. Of course we thirst, but do we know we thirst? Do we realize how parched our…
Many Afflictions Good Deliverer
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:19 ESV) I’m feeling that urge to hope. That fresh-year sense that things might get better. But then I read this verse. And I remember that my Father doesn’t promise a prosperous new year. He promises the opposite….
Emmanuel’s Story: Simeon’s Light
It’s been so long, Lord. You made a promise from before the beginning of time, and your people have waited. We need Messiah. We were cast out of the garden. Our fathers failed to obey. We continue to turn away from you. Your law only proved how wicked our hearts truly were. We can’t save…
Books by Ocieanna
