A Life Weighed Against Euthanasia

Courtney’s blog on Euthanasia stirred this blog. I’ve had situations where I’ve had to have dogs put down because they were in so much pain and know the feelings it aroused in me. It’s a terrible feeling. I can’t imagine what it would feel like with a person. I was upset enough when our pup got hurt last week. Years ago when my Mom was suffering with cancer I remember something on TV at the time about how a person took the situation into their own hands and helped their loved one die. Even though I don’t agree with euthanasia, … Continue reading

When Prayers Aren’t Answered

The bible tells us ‘you do not have because you do not ask,’ James 4:2. But what about hen we have asked and still don’t see an answer? That has been my experience recently as I have battled with excruciating back pain over a number of weeks and it is still here. I’ve asked, and plenty of others have also asked on my behalf, so why isn’t God answering? I’m sure Paul must’ve asked the same question when he asked the Lord repeatedly for healing of whatever problem he had, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. God chose not to answer by healing … Continue reading

Miscarriage

Miscarriage or a baby still born is one of those things many of us have experienced. It’s also something people are often reluctant to talk about. Sometimes that attitude can be a defense mechanism. I know when I was a young married and miscarried the last thing I wanted to do was talk about it. I couldn’t handle people’s sympathy. It was easier not to think about it and to try and pretend it had never happened. Easier at the time perhaps but looking back I realize it was far from helpful. When there is a miscarriage or a child … Continue reading

Allow for Differences

Just recently I’ve been struck again by how often Christians compare themselves with other Christians. Sometimes it is to our detriment. We feel we are not as gifted, as spiritual, as friendly, as prayerful or serving as much as they are. We might feel their prayers are being answered, while ours are not. But perhaps the problem could be more than we are not listening to or liking the answer we’re getting. Just because God answered someone else a certain way in a certain situation does not necessarily mean He is obliged to answer us the same way. What is … Continue reading

When Obstacles Come

Obstacles can have one of two effects on a person. They can cause you to decide it’s all too hard and give up, or that can make you all the more determined to persevere. The reality is we are all going to experience obstacles in our Christian life. It might be people at church who are not welcoming and don’t seem to appreciate or even recognize your gifts. It might be a spouse who doesn’t want you to go to church. You have been praying for them for years but nothing seems to change. I know the experience of praying … Continue reading

Why Do We Experience Hardship and Suffering?

There’s no doubt some Christians seem to sail through life while others have a hard time. They go from one crisis to another. To our human mind it may seem unfair. We wonder what God is doing. How can He allow some people to suffer so? Have you ever felt like this? I know I have. Paul gives some clues to this question in 2 Corinthians 1:1-11. We can take note of what Paul says because Paul is appointed to his task through Jesus Christ, verse 1. Paul explains in this passage to the Corinthians and and also to us … Continue reading

Three Keys to Peace

Have you ever thought how nice it would be if you could have peace regardless of what was happening in your life? I know it’s something I struggle with at times. But Philippians gives us some helpful tips about how to have that peace. One of the keys to achieving and maintaining peace is to ‘stand firm in the Lord,’ Philippians 4:1. It’s easy to become unsettled when we are flitting from one new thing to another. We need to come back to what we know to be true and stand firm in our Christian faith. The next key comes … Continue reading

Dealing With Death

The way death affects marriage partners varies. The death of a child can have serious consequences on a marriage. This could be because men and women tend to try to handle such a situation in various ways, and sometimes they don’t know enough about how the other is feeling and why they react as they do. The death of a parent can also affect a men and woman in different ways and is something most of us will experience at some point. Mick and I have gone through this twice since we have been married, first with the death of … Continue reading

A Day All to Yourself?

Have you ever said, ‘I just want one day to myself?’ I thought that’s what I was going to have on Friday. Then Thursday night I found out our choir had a concert on Friday at one of the local nursing homes. ‘Oh no, I thought.’ After a crazy week including along with the usual housework and writing project, two other concerts, shopping, and a book launch I was organizing for GROW- UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS – an anthology edited by Anne Hamilton and Lyn Hurry and containing a number of Christian writers that included me, the last thing I … Continue reading

Fear of Death

In the forums we have been discussing fears. Beth recently wrote a blog about people’s fear of death. At the time I suggested ‘To have assurance of a life beyond death makes all the difference in the way it is approached.’ Beth wasn’t convinced ‘Possibly so, but I know many people who would consider themselves to be religious and yet cannot face talking about their own mortality. I guess it is often a case of “everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die!” Yet I know some people who have their funeral all planned, right down to … Continue reading