Joyful Refuge

  • God Uses Yes

    God wants us to say yes to Him. To fully submit to Him. Think of Mary saying yes to the strange message of the angel. she said yes even knowing others would not understand and there would be shame and gossip before she would see the fruit of her yes. Luke 1:38 [38] And Mary…

  • Changing Question Marks Into Exclamation Marks

    “I can now look back and see so many of the question marks yanked into exclamation points in my life. I am so thankful that He said “no” to so many of the prayers I desperately wanted Him to answer with “yes.” – Mary Southerland This quote really spoke to me today. As I pondered…

  • Too Wonderful

    Too Wonderful(Based on Psalm 139:5-6) Wonderful thoughts so much higher than mine;Incomprehensible, awesome and divine.Omniscient, all knowing, I cannot hide.Surrounding, He hems me in on all sides. Protecting, providing and guiding me;There’s no place or action He can’t see.Faithful, sovereign for me He has a planFulfilled by His providential hand. Deborah G. Peabody May 21,…

  • Where the Red Sea Parts

    I met a new friend, who Gail, in recent months who relocated from several states away. She and her husband attend my church and have joined our small group. Gail has multiple health issues going on yet exudes such joy and as faith and obviously lives in such a way that you know she finds…

  • Three Ways I Live with Chronic Illness

    I was wondering how faith helps others to deal with chronic disease. My counselor recently shared a letter with me from an older woman who has dealt with health issues all her life. While very encouraging, I realized many of my things that helped me are different than hers. My top three are: 1. Practicing…

  • Embracing My Consistently Inconsistent Life

    Embracing My Consistently Inconsistent Life

    Chronic illness visited me and stayed after a fall in November 2009 that required ten stitches on my knee. When I went to my doctor two days later to have it checked, she started me on a different and stronger antibiotic due to inflammation and concern of a bone infection. After a single dose I…