Listening to Him

"It is good to give thanks to the LORD And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;  To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning And Your faithfulness by night,"  Psalm 92:1-2 [NASB] The success of Walt Disney has safely proven most of us love knights in shining armor delivering damsels in distress, true love … Continue reading When Deliverance Doesn’t Come →

"In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope … Continue reading Taking Hold of Hope →

 "And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1:21 [ESV] Today is a special day.  Sixteen years ago today one of our four precious daughters was born, Sophie Anne Harmening.  They … Continue reading Sixteen Years Ago Today… →

I struggle with forcing myself to do mundane tasks that require little to no thought.  Cleaning house can very much be that for me.  In the absence of required thought or focus, my mind is painfully consumed by the void of Sarah's absence, my desperate longing for her, countless wishes and regrets, and staggering aloneness, … Continue reading Letters from Sarah →

"Then a man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel and said, 'Thus says the LORD, "Because the Arameans have said, 'The LORD is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys,' therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you … Continue reading The God of the Valleys →

"... there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me..."  2 Corinthians 12:7 As we approach the nine month mark of Sarah's home going, we seem to be hearing more people routinely mentioning our "healing" as something they believe has already taken place to one degree or another. … Continue reading This Thorn of Mine →

"Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.  These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you … Continue reading Alone, yet not alone. →

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.  These are in accordance with the … Continue reading “Faking Fine” in the Midst of Grief? →

"Look upon my affliction and rescue me, For I do not forget Your law. Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word." Psalm 119:153-154 [NASB] Since the moments immediately following Sarah's earthly death I have clung to the hope that God would use both her death and our indescribable pain to … Continue reading Redeem My Pain, O God. →

Timewise I've really only just begun this painful journey of deep grief, but I've already learned a number of significant lessons.  I'm sharing some here both for future reference for myself, and in hopes that they might be helpful to others walking alongside grieving friends. I dislike the ever popular lists of "15 things you … Continue reading Helping Your Grieving Friend →