It’s my great privilege to feature a few bloggers from the High Calling network of nearly 1,800 members.. You’re going to enjoy these great voices from all around the world.
Christine Sine at GodSpace always writes about provocative subjects that make me think And her post, I Believe in Jesus … Or Do I?, doesn’t disappoint. She’s writing about the Advent season and how we should prepare.
“At no other time of the year are the forces of the secular culture more at odds with what the spirit of God is inviting us to participate in. The spirit calls us to quiet reflection, the world calls us to loud partying. The spirit calls us prepare our lives, the world calls us to indulge in every extravagance.”
Marni Arnold starts with this provocative line. “It is a burden to carry a story.” And it’s true, given the two usual solutions. “One way has been to be so completely honest, that it absolutely obliterates people emotionally,” she observes. The other way, is to completely avert “even the slightest aroma of a dark part of one’s life.” But there might just be a third way. Read the Weight of Testimonies.
The book of Job is not a depressing book about a broken man, according to Sandra Turton. Instead, “it’s a story of amazing empowerment.” Reading her post, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, I found a great summary of applicable lessons. “When the fog is thick and the pain runs deep, hold on and turn only to God.”
Nancy Franson at Out of my Alleged Mind wrote a powerful post about when she slipped and dropped her little
girl. Although the child wasn’t seriously harmed, Nancy had the realization that she had violated the trust of her daughter, and she reflects in When We Disappoint. “I’ve wept in the knowledge that my actions have caused harm to those I love,” she writes. “I’ve made careless decisions, some of which were outright self-centered and sinful.” Read the entire post here.
Jenn Ferguson at Finding Heaven found a little eternity when she let the soil from her back yard run through her hands. “I found God in the garden. Somehow, He always seems to make Himself known there.” Her end-of-year preparations in the garden provide some interesting reflection on eternity, fellowship, and temptation. Read the Smell of Dirt and you’ll never weed your garden again without some of her thoughtful observations coming to mind.
Matthew Kreider’s Thanksgiving was especially pensive. Nearly two decades ago, he survived a car accident and coma. And this year he was able to minister to a friend who is struggling. He writes to her – and all of us. “Good and bad will converge. And we can rarely hold them together on our own. Yes, it is confusing,” he writes. “But thanksgiving is simple. Thanksgiving is uncomplicated. And it keeps us from babbling. Thanksgiving is a posture which keeps us pointing. Because — no matter what — God is faithful”. Read Say Anything on Thanksgiving.
Finnish blogger Mari-Anna Stålnacke writes at Flowing Faith. Her writings are fresh, interesting and insightful. The post, How Much Should We Pray? asks a good, honest question. After all, she observes, we are told to “pray without ceasing.” She rightly surmises that “we can’t manipulate God with our prayers.” But, prayer reminds us that “God is not distant, that we are in partnership and relationship with God Almighty.” So. How much should we pray? Read her full post here for the answer.
I appreciate the tone and encouragement brought by Jana Driggers, who’s Twitter account bio claims that “clutter is her kryptonite.” Read, the Whole Earth Is Filled With His Glory at Grace for My Mess and you’ll see what I see.
Simone Graham is impressed by Pyramids, the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China. But what really moves her world is a list of the Seven Wonders of her world. Her first book, her first flight, her husband and kids. A thoroughly enjoyable post at Great Fun 4 Kids.
zDid you like any of these? Any other posts you would like to share?
Please, share with a friend if you feel moved.
Read all past issues at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davidrupert
Read all past issues at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davidrupert
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