Personal Writings

Category

When God Sees Us (When We See Him Not)

Today I was listening to the Psalms and a verse got my attention. And tonight, I had an object lesson that will better enable my expression here. The verse was Psalm 32:8, and I have selected three different translations below, with the first being what I was listening to in my Old Testament audiobook. “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (NRSV) “I will instruct you...

The Literal Meaning of the Word “Hopeless”

Shortly after my first divorce was final I recall a friend visiting me and I felt so depressed I literally decided, during the conversation, to lay face down on the floor. I just felt I couldn’t take any more, and I stated that I felt “hopeless.” The friend then argued with me along the lines that because I was still trying and still attempting to figure things out, I couldn’t possibly be “hopeless.” Because, the word “hope” and “less” when...

To What Purpose Am I Being So Crushed?

I was in bed unusually early (for me) around 10 pm, because I came home from my day’s activities feeling absolutely crushed. After some sleep, I’ve been laying awake for about an hour and it is around 4:10 am. My rooster has begun to crow. I look around my room at various things on my walls, and I feel so many, many weights of so many sorts I cannot even articulate. I think about God, and I wonder where He...

Naked Suffering

This morning, from under a cloud of the heavy weight of suffering, I think of God. I can’t say I particular feel God right now, but I do think of Him. Some soul sufferings and wounds are such that they can only be seen when we are undressed; battle wounds not visible through whatever type of “uniform” we wear to cover up. I think of the verse that says we aren’t given more than we can bear:“No temptation has overtaken...

“Have You Ever Put a Worm on a Hook?”

Tonight, in my almost nightly conversation with my former Alabama neighbor “Dear Hellen” (aka Miss Hellen!), we went from topic to topic as we often do. She tells me about her day and I decide what to tell her about mine…tonight…she mentioned the new neighbors now have ten chickens that free range and go in and out of the coop I built. That makes me do a happy dance! For many reasons. I wish I could write funny stories about...