Returned to Sender

By Cheri Cowell –

Have you ever been hurt so badly you thought your heart was ripping from your chest? I have. As I began to heal, I thought I was doing the right thing by praying for those who hurt me. After all, isn’t that the best form of loving your enemy? Read more

Heart Growns

By Cheri Cowell –

Sometimes there are no words. Words are inadequate to express our deepest thoughts and feelings. The news of terrible tragedies combined with several heavy burdens that some of my friends are bearing has caused me to come before God with a heavy heart—and no words. Read more

Cause and Effect

By Cheri Cowell –

Cause and effect is a principle we learn early in school. We quickly learned, for instance, if we do not put in the study time, we will not affect a good grade. In science classes, we learn that when cumulonimbus clouds form, the effect is showers and thunderstorms. Read more

God’s Recliner

By Cheri Cowell –

This morning as I watched the news, I found myself turning the volume up louder and louder. Finally, I realized I was battling a baby bird whose cries were so loud they drowned out the television. Read more

Face-lifts and Heart-lifts

There are some days when there doesn’t seem to be an end to the bad news. A friend tells you of their child’s struggle with drugs, a co-worker discovers her husband has been cheating on her, a neighbor gets his pink slip at work, and your Mom calls to say your Dad’s doctor is sending him for more tests because he’s worried about something they saw on his x-ray today. Some days it seems like the world is coming apart. Overwhelmed, exhausted, and weary we come home to find there is no solace there, and so in our quiet we cry out to God. We cry out expecting an answer, but often there is only silence. We then begin to wallow in our despair. There is, however, a way out of this deep distress. What is it?

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