Onward, Upward, and Further In

Four years ago I wrote the first part of this blog series.  My hope was to complete Part 2 within the week!  But here we are, several years later! Better late than never, I guess?  My health is quite bad, and it became increasingly hard to concentrate.  Migraines had crowded into the mess of other health issues, and that's why I struggled to continue writing.  If anything, my health is worse now, but I would like to try and overcome the obstacles of pain, headaches and poor concentration to write here occasionally.  My desire is to record some of my thoughts for my daughter to be able to look back at when she is grown.   In part one, I shared that we can hurt our friendships when we fail to enter into their sorrows and pain and walk prayerfully with them.  When we choose our own comfort and happiness over bearing painful burdens, we become fair-weather friends.  We fail to emulate Christ as He lays down His life for His friends.  "Greate...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Another year has come, and with it new resolutions.  And it's often a time that many of us realise we have fallen short in our spiritual lives and in our devotion to God.  There's devotionals and bible reading plans being promoted all over the place.  But right now, many of us may be downcast and we might wonder if these tools could really revive our hearts.  Affliction has been near to me for many years now, and I have often felt hopeless in trying to adopt better spiritual habits.  Affliction may be near to you as well.  If, for one reason or another, you are struggling in your spiritual life and in your faithfulness to dwell in God's Word, I wanted to encourage you tha...