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Becoming Slow to Anger
I stood in front of my closet with fists closed and jaws clenched. “OOOOH! GRRRR!” I said. In a moment my husband appeared. Looking puzzled. “What’s the matter?” he asked in a soft voice. “Nothing! I’m just angry.”“Can I help? Do you want to talk?” “No. I’m learning to become slow to anger.” I knew […]
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“Grief is not neat and orderly”
“Let me show you something,” my husband said, pointing to a message on his cell phone. What I read went something like this– “I don’t know if you’ve heard, pastor, that my wife_______is close to death.” I put down the phone. Tears formed in my eyes. I sighed and started walking, wiping away the tears. […]
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A Morning Prayer
It’s been five months since I’ve posted anything on this site. I am returning today with this short poem of encouragement. A Morning Prayer Thank you, Father, for your goodness. Thank you, Jesus, for your grace. Thank you, Spirit, for your presence. You are here in this place. I wake with this knowledge. It brings […]
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Praise Breaks the Power of the Curse
Earlier this week, I woke up remembering the words of Psalm 50, verse 23. I received them as God’s instruction for the day. Clear and simple. Give thanks and sing songs of praise. Later in the day when feeling discouraged and tired, I remembered this instruction. I began singing. I began walking. The Spirit gave […]
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How Gratitude Reduces Depression
In last week’s post, I shared something about my struggles with depression. I wish I could say that every time I became depressed, I recovered totally and instantly. With no effort on my part. It’s simply untrue. Sometimes, I hang out with ‘Friend’ depression for quite a while before I can shake her off. Expressing […]
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Depression: A Diagnosis, Not An Indictment
“I think you are depressed,” my doctor said. “You need to see a counselor.” “NO!” I wanted to scream. My body stiffened. I felt indignant but managed to keep my cool. A month later, when I saw her about another problem, she again asked me to consider seeing a counselor. I agreed to let her […]
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Who and Who Not to Fear
Oh, how easy it is for me to become overconcerned about the opinion of others. To fear human power rather than trust in the security of God’s love for me. Especially if I sense shame or physical danger. As I watch the war in Ukraine progress and see the courage of people there, particularly President […]
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Everything Here is Passing Away
A few years ago, I went back to the farm where I lived as a teenager. The house was gone. The only thing that remained was this dilapidated barn. I cried. Recently, I located on a Google map the house where two of my grandparents lived. My grandmothers’ well-kept lawn was nothing but mud. Broken […]
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It Won’t Happen Here
“Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil,” was a common expression I heard while growing up. It referred to hearing, seeing, and speaking of the best in people. This is certainly commendable, but this phrase can also be used to avoid seeing, hearing, and speaking about that which is dangerous and destructive. In […]
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Does God Love Me When I Doubt?
Coming to believe in the depth of our hearts that God loves us is easier for some people than for others. For many, it’s a life-long struggle. I’m one of those people. That’s because of lies I believed. Lies about God. Lies about myself. Lies about what faith is. Gradually, God has been showing me […]
Writings
By
Jane Ault