Showing posts with label overcoming your struggles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label overcoming your struggles. Show all posts

Monday, February 24, 2025

The Ephesus Pages Devotional: Dawn of Daybreak

 “Paul teaches us not to give in to fear and doubt, but to speak into those things with the word of the Lord. I find this difficult because of everything going on with Titus and John Mark. How can we continue to speak life into the Ephesian people when we are still searching for them? As a doctor, I must seek life. I am not seeking to save their lives by staying here.”

~Aristarchus ~


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There are moments, like the way Aristarchus feels, in life that we are going to struggle to understand. We are also going to struggle with the weight of the choices we have made and often wonder, “Was this the right choice?” As someone who endures a lot of anxiety at times, I can attest to how true feelings like these cloud our minds. They are intrusive thoughts that tend to keep us from seeing the path laid out for us through the chaos we face. 

Sunday, February 16, 2025

The Ephesus Pages Devotional: Ties That Bind Us

 “I point to the weak moments in my life not to offer evidence of who I am, but to illustrate where my path has taken me.  Finding your way amid the chaos of what lies within is never easy, dear one, but facing that chaos will show you the way of glory. In finding my way, I found confidence in who I was created to be...”

~ John Mark ~


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At this point in John Mark’s story, he is beginning to see that there are things in his life that are worth reflecting upon. One aspect of life he is beginning to understand is that it is often the weakest moments that reveal the most to us. We should not see our weaknesses as stains upon who we are but as opportunities for growth and transformation. There is beauty found in our struggles, and they are the very foundation of what our strengths become. 

Sunday, February 9, 2025

The Ephesus Pages Devotional: The Pathfinder's Way

 "In the past, there had always been someone for me to lean on and at this point in my life, there was no one to keep me focused. The pain that began throbbing upon my forehead left me motionless at times. Pride had no place in this battle and my spirit grew heavier with every chaotic thought that found its way to the forefront of my mind." ~ John Mark ~


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We often find ourselves in moments that leave us feeling utterly alone. In the first episode of The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins, John Mark finds himself in a similar situation. He is burdened by the weight of his thoughts and by the absence of support. These words can resonate with anyone who feels they are facing a season of solitude and struggle. However, it is in these moments that we can find significant growth and build a more purposeful connection with God.

Friday, April 5, 2024

Kedoshim: A Journey Remembered (Prologue)

Greetings, 

This is the first scene I wrote for the Kedoshim Story World. There are likely a good amount of things that can and should be reviewed, but it was the very beginning of this dream...

Monday, July 27, 2020

Book Review: Work and Rest God's Way by Scott LaPierre

Greetings, 

Rating: ★★★★★

Description:

Do you want to find joy and purpose in all you do?

“Work and Rest God’s Way is a welcome contribution as Christians rediscover the doctrine of vocation in all of its practicality and spiritual richness.”
Dr. Gene Edward Veith—Provost at Patrick Henry College, director of the Cranach Institute, and author of God at Work

We spend an average of 90,000 hours, or about ten years, working. Hopefully, we find such a large investment of time and energy enjoyable and fulfilling, but for many people, work is the worst part of their day and of their life. In Work and Rest God’s Way, you will:

  • Find the blessings God has for you in your labor
  • Learn how to put off laziness and put on diligence (both physically and spiritually)
  • Discover the quiet, restful life that’s pleasing in God’s sight
  • Determine the balance between work and rest for your busy life
  • Read together as a family to help your children value work and responsibility

Whether you’re a man or woman, young or old, this book will help you enjoy both work and rest as God intended. Families will also benefit from reading together. As a father of eight, Pastor Scott knows how hard it is to motivate children to work. He shares what has been successful for him and his wife, Katie

My Review:

Scott has always been a fantastic writer. I am always intrigued by the biblical connections he weaves throughout the pages of his books.

The lessons I am reminded of are always good ones that I need to be reminded of. This book continues that tradition and I am proud to say I learned a few good lessons from reading the pages of this book.

Sometimes we forget the importance of balance in our lives. Scott's newest book helped me remember that. I plan to add more details to this later but, I was certainly impressed yet again.

Thanks, Scott for always following God's direction in what you bring to us, as your readers.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.



Sunday, November 19, 2017

Book Reviews: Enduring Trials God's Way by Scott LaPierre

Greetings, 

Rating:★★★★★

Description:

Trials are part of life on this side of heaven, and God wants to use them for your good!

"One of the best biblical treatments of suffering I have seen. You want this book in your library!"—Dr. Carlton McLeod: Speaker, author, and senior pastor

The principles in this book will encourage you during tribulations and give you the Christian grief counseling you need. There are many books on suffering, but not many are grounded in the Bible. Pastor Scott LaPierre discusses Christian suffering so believers receive the biblical inspiration they need.

This book is perfect for Christian grief counseling, and each chapter concludes with questions that help you apply what you are reading. You will learn how to:

  • Develop the spiritual perspective needed to embrace trials
  • Appreciate the maturity trials produce
  • Understand the rewards—in this life and the next—for enduring trials
  • Recognize God is still compassionate and gracious even during trials
  • Persevere through trials that threaten your faith

Your suffering is not meaningless or accidental. God loves you, and He always works in your best interests.

My Review:

Enduring Trials God's Way is a very educational book, but it includes so much more than educational content. This book is an excellent resource for anyone who is looking to understand both the biblical aspect of what it means to endure trials and experience some exceptional personal testimonies from the author and others.

I love the fact that Scott takes the reader from the biblical perspective to a more intimate application of the concept of enduring trials. I love the fact that at the end of each chapter, there are discussion questions that are meant to help the reader apply the message of Scott's book more directly to their personal lives.

This book will prove to be a magnificent resource for a small group Bible study, a college textbook, and even a personal devotional. That is one of the things that I really like about Scott as an author; he has a great sense of wisdom and a desire to actually teach his readers something they can relate to.



Monday, March 14, 2016

Be the example...

A  Manifesto...

A friend sent me this link to a 7 day challenge offered for bloggers looking to expand their reader base and while I’ve never really heard of the guy who is putting the challenge on, Jeff Goins, it seems like something worth putting some time into. I’m not sure I’ll be able to meet all of them but I’m sure going to put the effort into it. So, if you’re willing to join me on this small journey, I’m willing to take the next step. Here is the first Challenge….

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Why, I write…

 As young boy, it was always difficult for me to read and write.  I struggled, and still do occasionally, with seeing words correctly and putting them on paper because of Dyslexia, ADHD and really bad eye sight.  That all began to change when I received my first pair of glasses and with the blessing of my mother’s support. She struggled with some of the same things but always found a way to communicate what had been placed upon her heart regardless of what people thought. Her struggle was an inspiration to me and ultimately what gave me the passion I have for writing today.

 The question you may be asking at this point is “how does this tie in to why I write?” The truth is, I really never thought about this until I began writing for this first challenge. After some time in prayer and reflection, I realized this is where my passions began. You see, my mother inspired me so much with how she overcame her struggles that it instilled that same passion in my heart.  All she ever wanted to do with her life was to encourage others and inspire their faith, and in the end she truly did.  This was her legacy and it has now become my desire to have a similar legacy. A legacy that encourages others and inspires their faith in the darkness this world has been influenced by.


The Problem we face… and the solution we need to embrace…

 The world we live in today is full of darkness and many of us have been through experiences that should never have taken place but, at least for me, God has always found a way to bring good out of them. My desire is to use my experiences to encourage those that are facing their own darkness head on and to be used by Him in a way that only He could imagine. I desire to be a light in that darkness. God’s promises are always anew and He has promised to be faithful to us. We don’t have to face the darkness of this world on our own. My mother sought to show this to others though everything she did and to everyone she came in contact with. She desired to show them that they were not alone in their struggle, and I can only dream of doing the same with the Legacy I pray God will build through me.

Where do we do from here…

 I don’t want to say that I have all the answers by any means but I truly believe that God can use my passions to bring others into His shining light. This is why I write. It is what drives my inner heart and what I believe to be the calling that God has given many of us. The question that remains is, how do we embrace this calling? Honestly, the answer may not be as complicated as you may think. The answer this question comes by sharing our experiences with others as a way to remind them: You are not alone. We have all faced circumstances that can inspire and encourage others, all we have to do is share them, and I share mine through what I write.



 Don’t let the world keep you from being an inspiration to those around you. Instead, seek out ways you can be a great encourager and more importantly, a great example of what God can do in all our lives. If you believe, you can be the example you were called to be.

Blessings in Christ and thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"

Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to you... (2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),


M.E.