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the sanctified muse
Tag Archives: suffering
Friendship with God
From God to Us Some would argue that not everyone seeks friendship from God. What about atheists? What about people who just want God to leave them alone to live their lives the way they see fit? First, I don’t … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged belief, calling, crucifixion, faith, friend, friendship, gift, giving, God, grace, heaven, identification, Jesus, love, lovesick, partner, relationship, sacrifice, sharing, suffering, trust, truth
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Refiner’s Fire
I’ve had a piece of metal in my hand for 10 years. I don’t remember how it happened, but I was working with something made of sheet metal and cut my hand open. At the time, I didn’t know I’d … Continue reading
Posted in Acceptance, Trust
Tagged believe, change, Christ, discipleship, faith, follow, God, Jesus, pain, refinement, refiner's fire, sanctification, submission, suffering, surrender, trust
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Trial By Fire: Dancing With Nephilim
“Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you.” –Jesus of Nazareth A friend and mentor blew my mind recently when he pointed out a subtlety in Scripture I had never noticed before ― a detail most people overlook, … Continue reading
Posted in Trials
Tagged abandon, Anakites, apprehension, deliver, deliverance, faith, fear, forsake, gauntlet, glory, God, Jesus, Nephilim, obstacles, suffering, terror, the Good Shepherd, trial by fire, trials, trust
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Postcards From the Mohave
“My heart is stirred by a noble theme. My tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.” –Psalms 45:1 The first time I read this verse, my jaw dropped. I had just finished going through an entire week without speaking
Pain
Is it possible to get used to suffering? What happens when I meditate on truths like Romans 8:28: “For we know that in all things God works to the good of those who love him, who have been called according … Continue reading
Absentee Landlord?
“God [set the earth’s inhabitants in place] so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” –Acts 17:27 One of the most formidable obstacles to robust … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Uncategorized
Tagged absentee landlord, believe, disaster, faith, God's promises, loss, pain, suffering, trouble, trust, turmoil
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Alms
“Who gives himself with his alms feeds three—himself, his hungering neighbor, and me.” –James Russell Lowell (1819-1891). I was walking … Continue reading
Posted in Giving
Tagged alms, charity, compassion, giving, hungry, impoverished, love, mercy, needy, poor, suffering
3 Comments
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
I saw a unique documentary a few years ago that came back to me vividly last night. It was the story of how four well-known traditional hymns came to be written. It was no light, casual exploration of the creative … Continue reading
Posted in Tragedy
Tagged classic hymns, grace, inspiration, suffering, test of faith, traditional hymns, tragedy
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