You know how sometimes you hear a song and it sticks in your heard in seemingly endless audio loop? The haunting anthem,” I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” by Horatius Bonar has been playing in my head for several months now. It plays regularly on my Pandora playlist—and I always stop what I’m doing and prayerfully listen. What’s more, I find myself thinking about the … [Read more...] about I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
My Story—Which I Never Told
Several weeks ago, Pastor McFarlane preached a powerful sermon entitled, “A Good Wait.” He encouraged us to tell our stories to help one another as we grow in faith. As I listened to him speak, I knew I had to write the story I don’t like to talk about very much: my struggle with depression. In Deuteronomy Chapter 6, after the familiar “Hear O Israel” portion, it … [Read more...] about My Story—Which I Never Told
Jesus Calling
Earlier this year, a friend of mine sent me a box of books she no longer used. The box contained a small devotional book titled Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young. This little book has had a real impact on my life. Let me explain. For starters, Ms. Young has chosen to write the book in the first person, as if Jesus is speaking … [Read more...] about Jesus Calling
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
It is difficult to pick out one particular Christmas carol or hymn which encapsulates the meaning of the Christmas season. Indeed, we all have favorites—many of them go back to our family traditions. For Ed and me, the Christmas hymn, O Come O Come Emmanuel holds a special meaning. Not only does it signify the beginning of the Advent season, but its haunting … [Read more...] about O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Standing in the Gap
Many years ago, our former Senior Pastor, Peter Bath, preached a sermon entitled, ”Standing in the Gap”. I cannot remember all the details of his sermon, but the gist of his presentation was that when Church members are going through tough times, we are all called to lift one another up in a myriad of ways. As I considered this article, that sermon sprang to mind. The … [Read more...] about Standing in the Gap