We have been bombarded with reports of gross violence for many weeks. It seems that depraved people are finding more extreme ways nearly every day to destroy others’ lives. These disturbed people have little respect for human life and have given no thought to the consequences they and their families will suffer. Some people are saying they are experiencing emotional pain from the horrendous reports of violence.

After the shooting and fire at the church in Michigan, a friend texted me saying she is devastated with all the violence. (Her daughter had lived in the area and had known some of the people.) Another friend said, “Any of us could face death with all the violence going on.” I am baffled and wonder how and why people fall to such levels and resort to violence. I feel like Habakkuk of the Old Testament, “Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight” (Habakkuk 1:3b, NLT).

While I’m not a psychologist, a statistician, or an authority on human behavior, it seems that violence is only increasing. Possibly we are only more aware of it. I cannot fathom how authorities on crime are saying that violent crime is decreasing. In a July 2025 study of crime in 30 cities, the Council on Criminal Justice reported a 17% decreased in homicides in the first six months of 2025. They also report that violent crime is lower than in 2019.  Also, the FBI reported a 4.5% decrease in national violent crime in 2024 as compared to 2023. These statistics just don’t seem possible to me.

I was very aware of crime as a child, but not violent crime. My parents had a business, and we suffered the consequences of gross thievery more than once. Twice my dad came close to bankruptcy because people who worked in the business stole from him.  The entire family suffered in various ways.

Dad had difficulty uncovering who was stealing from him, and firing the men brought other challenges. Of course, replacing the stolen inventory cost money. In one of the thievery instances, my mother, who had been a stay-at-home mom, had to begin working for Dad since he could not afford to hire a new office worker. To care for my 3-year-old sister, my grandmother moved in with our family. My sister and I who had shared a bedroom were moved to the basement. All of my siblings were affected by these changes and all agree that this was a difficult time for our family—a time that drastically changed our family dynamics.

Violence is as old as the human race. The first recorded sin after Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden was a murder (Genesis 4). Cain thought that silencing his brother, Abel, would solve his problems. Instead, God held him accountable, saying he would be a “fugitive and a wanderer on earth” (Genesis 4:12). Cain would be alone and away from God’s presence for the rest of his life. He cried out, “My punishment is greater than I can bear” (Genesis 4:13). 

It was violence that caused God to destroy the earth with a flood (Genesis 6:11). In fact, we are told that the earth was filled with violence at that time. Many years later, the prophet Joel said the Egyptians would be judged because they committed violence against the people of Judah (Joel 3:19). About 100 years after Joel, Ezekiel told the people of Judah to “give up their violence and corruption” (Ezekiel 45:9). The Psalmist David says, “The Lord examines (tests) both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence” (Psalm 11:5). Those are very strong words that indicate that God will bring judgment on those who practice violence.

There is a way to avoid resorting to violence when we are wronged. Through accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior we can be free from the anger that leads to violence. Through Christ, we can be free of the desire to take revenge. Through Christ, we can have peace of mind and spirit, and we can even love and pray for our enemies as Christ taught us (Matthew 5:44).

May God give us the grace to humble ourselves and seek Him for answers in these troubled times. May we pray for an end to the violence that is seemingly all around us.

Differences

Spring has come to the Ozarks – at least in some ways. Today was moderately cold–31 degrees–and it only warmed to near 50. That’s quite a bit different from last week’s summer-like afternoon temperatures of 80 degrees. I love the spring and the new life it brings.

Just this week I saw a beautiful photo (not the one I’ve included) of Icelandic horses. Not one of the entire herd was exactly the same. The variety made me think of how God has made all of us different.

As I think about the difference in God’s creation, I know He enjoys color and variety. Right now, my feeders are hosting eight cardinals. These beautiful red birds bring me joy. One lonely robin adds a splash of orange.

God is a God of variety in every way. Each of us has individual traits that no one else has. As human beings, we sometimes make the mistake of wanting people and situations to be similar. Do you remember your teenage years when conformity was expected? I’m glad those years are over. 

As widows, all our life stories are different, and each of us has processed through grief differently. I recently met a new widow who said she’s a private person and would not appreciate sharing about her life in a group setting. Other widows find great comfort in sharing with others. Crying for some brings relief from life’s stresses; others choose running, taking a walk, reading, or watching TV.

In Samuel 1, Hannah, who was not a widow but was extremely sad and depressed, wept intensely as she prayed. Her lips moved but no sound came from her mouth (I Samuel 1:13). It was so different from how most people prayed that Eli, the High Priest, thought she was drunk. I believe Eli knew very little about praying and even less about women. =) =)

It’s near the anniversary of my husband’s homegoing 28 years ago. Several weeks after his death when things settled down, I felt as if a big burden had lifted because he had been ill for many years and his care was becoming increasingly difficult. But after all these years, I still miss our conversations and the feeling of knowing that someone appreciated my coming home.

Your reaction to grief does not have to mirror that of your friend’s or anyone in your grief group. How you prioritize your time and energy into the healing process is of your choosing. Our most important pathway to healing comes through a vibrant relationship with a caring God and a friend or two who will put up with our idiosyncrasies.

Today is not just Halloween. October 31^st is a significant day on the church calendar since it’s considered the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther, a German Augustinian monk, posted his Ninety-five Theses on the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany. At the time, he was a young professor of moral theology at the university in Wittenberg and had been teaching New Testament doctrine. He discovered that the apostle Paul taught that salvation does not come through good works but only through faith in Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9). This revolutionized his thinking.

Luther had no intentions of leaving the Roman Catholic Church or starting a new religious order. He simply wanted to academically discuss the 95 statements and questions that arose as he studied Scripture and compared the teachings of the Catholic Church with the Bible. He especially emphasized the Bible as the sole authority for doctrine and conduct and taught against the Church’s practice of papal indulgences. Within four years he was labeled a heretic.

The Protestant Reformation, which emphasized the five solas, is an outgrowth of his studies. The Ninety-five Theses were written in Latin, but his teachings were translated into German and spread because of the development of the printing press. Luther had also been instrumental in translating the Bible into German which was also printed, so people were reading the Scriptures for themselves. 

          The five solas are five Latin statements that developed from this conflict and which became the core beliefs of the Protestant Reformation.

• Sola gratia: Salvation is a gift from God, not human merit 
• Sola fide: Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone 
• Sola Christus: Salvation is in Christ alone 
• Sola Scriptura: The Bible is the only authority for Christians in faith, doctrine, and practice 
• Sola Deo gloria: Salvation is a work of God for His glory 

In 1521, Luther refused to recant his teachings at the Diet of Worms, an imperial council of the Church and was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. Since the Church required celibacy for their priests, Luther was not married when he was a professor in Wittenberg. Four years later after his excommunication, he helped Katharina von Bora escape from her nunnery. They married and had six children. Luther said, “There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.”

As Luther’s teachings spread, other reformers joined the movement. John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli taught in Switzerland and John Knox ministered in Scotland. They taught the importance of individual salvation, which was through God’s grace and accomplished at the death and resurrection of Christ. They emphasized that papal declarations were not as significant as Scripture and that a person could not buy eternal life through giving money to the Church. Through Luther and those who followed his teachings, Europe was changed, the authority of the Church declined, the Bible was translated into various languages, literacy flourished, and the ideas of individual freedoms rose to prominence.

In writing about Luther, Aaron Armstrong, who also produced a film on Luther, reported that despite the man’s great influence and esteem, he was far from perfect. He noted that Luther was belligerent, divisive, had a temper, and became angry quickly. Others report that he was harsh with his wife and children.

In his later years, Luther, much to peoples’ shock, turned against the Jews and advocated the burning of their homes, schools, and synagogues. His writings on marriage also did not reflect his earlier sentiments. He seemed to indicate that marriage was only to escape the sin of adultery. Armstrong sums up his article on Luther by saying, [Luther was] “a normal, frail, fallen, sinful human being who was used extraordinarily by a gracious God.

As Armstrong notes, Luther was “a giant” in world history and was greatly used by God to change the trajectory of a major portion of the Christian Church. But, as all of us, he was flawed. Everyone on earth is a frail and sinful human being, but through faith in Christ (sola fide), we can have God’s gift of eternal life and be used by Him to help others find the saving faith in Christ alone.

Possibly you remember where you were 23 years ago and what you were doing when someone told you that the Towers were hit. I was at work, and we were attending our weekly chapel service when a man interrupted to tell us the tragic news. We returned to our offices, but none of us worked on our “to do” lists for the next few hours before we were sent home. We intently watched the TV and radio coverage wondering if more destruction would follow. As I drove home that day, I vividly remember how blue and clear the sky was. It seemed very unlike how I felt.

The skyline of New York was forever changed, and I, like many others, realized for the first time that others wanted to destroy our beloved nation. As a Christian with a missionary heart, this was difficult for me to believe. We had helped so many others to relieve their suffering and assisted in peoples’ struggle for freedom. How could this happen? I had always believed that we were honorable in most of our international relationships. Why were we so hated?

Although we were far from perfect, we didn’t take one inch of land after World Wars I and II. In fact, we helped to rebuild Japan and Europe. Through the Marshall Plan we provided substantial economic aid to Europe. And we did not punish Japan for their attacks on us; we rebuilt their infrastructure and economy. Today, Germany and Japan are our allies.

Amid all the carnage of September 11, we began to hear testimonies of escape: people whose cars failed that morning so they couldn’t go to work at the Towers, and others who woke up sick and couldn’t go to work. We rejoiced in these accounts of God’s protection, but wondered why were some spared and others died?

I had no answers. Some people said September 11 happened to bring us to our knees in repentance and worship. We were certainly a sinful nation in many ways and changes needed to be made. While we will never know the exact reason, we know that God allows suffering, and we have a choice when faced with such a dilemma. For several weeks after the tragedy, people flocked to churches, and there seemed to be a genuine spirit of repentance. But it didn’t last.

As widows, we suffer. We go through the same stages of grief that the 9/11 families experienced. In difficult times, we have two choices: suffering either takes us closer to God or further away from Him. I know people who become very angry with God during illness. They view their pain and loss as anger from a vengeful God. They are convinced that God has forsaken them, that their life is no longer valuable, and that the God of this universe cares nothing about those who are hurting. I believe that God is especially close during times of deep suffering.

Nearly 70 percent of the Psalms addresses suffering (laments), written when David was in the depths of despair. For instance, Psalm 3 was written when David was fleeing from his son who was trying to seize the government. David pleaded for God to deliver him in Psalms 4 and 5. In Psalm 7, David says, “[S]ave and deliver me from all who pursue me, or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.” In each of the lament Psalms, David acknowledged his pain and suffering, but he also confirms God’s faithfulness and praises Him. After pleading for relief in Psalm 4, David ends with, “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (v. 8).

The pain that we as widows experience can be almost impossible to bear. How are we going to financially survive? When will we ever be able to sleep normally again? What is this emptiness I feel? Will it ever go away? Will our friends still include me? How can I finish the projects we started? Do I move? Do I look for a different, better-paying job? The questions are endless.

In every problem, we can look to Scripture. Psalm 46:1-2 says, “God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear.” Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Trusting the Lord when the walls are caving in is not an easy process. As you wait for God to solve those big problems, praise Him for those daily, even small, answers to prayer.

The last several weeks have been a roller coaster of events that have shaken our nation. Recent fires at large churches in Dallas and Houston seem to be a bit suspicious. Saturday, July 13, was the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. President Biden is no longer running for a second term as president and Democrats have chosen the vice president as their new candidate. Christianity was mocked during the opening ceremony of the Olympics. A Hezbollah/Iranian rocket killed 12 children and injured many others in a Druze village in northern Israel. Now that Israel has responded by killing two Hezbollah’s leaders, Iran has vowed to respond with swift and devastating punishment. Our nation also is experiencing tornados, flooding, and wide-spread, devastating wildfires.

The uncertainty of our world and impending darkness in every realm of our society have caused some people to say they sense heaviness, stress, anxiety and even depression. In a recent video interview, a licensed counselor quoted from a survey conducted by the American Psychiatric Association. She said, “73% of people visiting a counselor are reporting anxiety and stress from the current election cycle.” I must admit that I’ve been troubled by all the news and have experienced anxious thoughts. This has been compounded by serious family illnesses.

Annie Johnson Flint (1866 – 1932) spent most of her adult life in a wheelchair and in great pain from crippling arthritis. Annie was greatly loved by her parents, but because of the death of her mother (when Annie was just three years old) and her father’s illness, she and her sister were adopted by the Flints. Despite all the hardships, she was a happy child and eventually became a schoolteacher.

At the beginning of her second year of teaching the arthritis limited her ability to walk, so she resigned. This brought financial hardships (These were eased somewhat after her poems were published.) Her sister’s health also deteriorated. Despite her increasing struggles, her faith remained strong. Her wirings, however, admitted to a quick temper, impatience, and strong sensitivities when wronged by others, so she acknowledged her human shortcomings. Her life verse became 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Possibly Annie’s life and poems speak so powerfully to me because 2 Corinthians 12:9 was the Scripture the Lord gave me when my husband was so very ill. Just as the Lord has encouraged me in the past and during these difficult days, He can do the same for you. Maybe He will uplift you through a Scripture, a song, or an encouraging word from a friend. May Annie’s poem put to music by Nick Aufankamp speak words of comfort to you today.

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that your need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father, both you and your load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

The Book of Exodus gives the entire story, beginning with the oppression of the Israelites, the birth of Moses, and his exile to the wilderness of Midian. After serving his father-in-law as a shepherd for 40 years, God called Moses at the age of 80 to lead the people out of slavery. Moses reluctantly accepted the responsibility. Moses and his brother, Aaron, met with Pharaoh to request their exodus. When Pharaoh refused to let the children of Israel go,10 plagues followed.

God prepared the Israelites for the last plague (the plague on the firstborn). They were to kill a lamb and put the blood of a lamb on the doorposts of their houses. When the death angel would “pass over” the home and see the blood, the firstborn in that house would not be killed. Exodus 12:30 says, “There was not a house in Egypt without someone dead.” No one, however, in the houses of the Israelites died. That night, more than 600,000 people walked out of Egypt to freedom.

God then commanded the people to celebrate this deliverance every year.

From that day (sometime in the early 1400s B.C.) until now, Jews have celebrated Passover every spring to commemorate their great deliverance. Regardless of where the Jews have lived or how they have been oppressed, they celebrated Passover.

Since I love to cook and experiment with recipes from other cultures, I thought you’d enjoy a recipe for matzah ball soup, which is generally one of the meals served during the last two days of Passover (Yom Tov). https://toriavey.com/perfect-chicken-soup/

Before Solomon built the temple, the people gathered as families to kill a lamb and eat unleavened bread and bitter herbs. After the temple was built the lamb was killed and the celebration was held in Jerusalem. This is why the Jews say “next year in Jerusalem” at the end of each Seder meal.

We may not be Jews, but we have a direct connection to Passover because Jesus died during Passover and became our Passover Lamb. Through the shedding of His blood, we have salvation and freedom from the slavery of sin.

Two years ago, I started planning to refurbish my 20-year-old kitchen and two bathrooms. I visited websites and stores, talked to numerous people, including contractors and others who had attempted such projects, and compared prices, colors, and hardware. It took months of investigation to decide what would look best and what was within my budget. I knew I could do some of the work myself but would need to hire a contractor for the more complicated parts of the project.

In choosing a countertop for my cabinets, I soon learned that the granite I wanted was more expensive than I anticipated. So, I started looking in a different direction. I priced other stone and non-stone products, but I kept returning to the granite. I wanted the light-colored granite, but the dark cost less per foot, so I chose a beautiful black with specks. My counters are lovely, but they are darker than what I wanted. In retrospect, I wish I had not settled for second best. It took four very strong men to install the countertop, so replacing it would be expensive and complicated, not at all like repainting a wall. If a friend were coming to me for advice on kitchen renewal, I would tell my friend to wait a year, save more money, and then purchase your first choice. 

We have many choices that we will make in 2024. Some of them will be more significant than choosing wall or cabinet colors. (I have two friends who have decided to get married, and another has decided to move. These are life-changing choices.) Other choices will have little significance. Some choices will require a daily commitment of time and energy. Possibly you, like me, would like to read God’s Word through again this year. This means a daily practice of setting aside time to read the Bible. I would like to be better committed to my health. To do this, I must set aside time each day to walk or exercise.

The apostle Paul gives us insightful instructions about making choices for the future: “But one thing I do Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). Some of last year’s choices may have caused problems for you and others, but God asks us to repent and look forward, not dwell in the past. Last year could have been the best year of your life, but still our instructions are to forget what happened in the past and look forward to the future.

God has a new plan for each of us in 2024, and He has also promised to help us with each choice. He does not leave us floundering in indecision. Nearly 3,000 years ago, Solomon wrote these words of wisdom: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). May our choices in this new year be in line with His will and His ways.

Many of our beloved Christmas carols have interesting back stories, but “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”, written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, is especially significant to us as widows.

Wadsworth was born 1807 in Portland, Maine, and graduated from Bowdoin College in 1825. His language skills in English, French, Spanish, and Italian led to overseas travels in Europe and professorships in the United States. He was only married to his first wife, Mary, for four years when she suddenly died in 1835 from a miscarriage. Saddened by her death, he left for Europe and established a home in Germany.

When he returned to the United States a year later, he accepted a professorship at Harvard. He was a prolific writer and gifted translator of European literature. During this time, some of his published poems, like “The Wreck of the Hesperus” and “The Village Blacksmith”, attained great popularity; others, like his poems reflecting his travels in Europe, lacked admiration. In 1843, he married Fannie Elizabeth Appleton. Together they had six children, one of whom died as an infant.

During their 18 years of marriage, Longfellow wrote some of his most well-loved works: “The Song of Hiawatha” and “Evangeline.” In 1861, Fannie’s dress accidentally caught on fire while she sealed envelopes with hot wax. Longfellow tried to put out the flames, at first with a rug and then with his own body. She died a day later from her injuries, and Longfellow’s burns on his face and hands prevented him from attending her funeral. It was said that he grew his beard to cover the scars. Longfellow was so overcome with grief and depression at her death that he feared losing his mind. A year later he would write, “I can make no record of these days. Better leave them wrapped in silence. Perhaps some day God will give me peace.” So, Longfellow’s writing was only to friends and his journal during those dark days. On Christmas of 1861, he wrote in his journal, “How inexpressively sad are all holidays!”

Two years later, in the middle of the American Civil War, Charles, Longfellow’s oldest son (only 18 years old), left Massachusetts, without his father’s knowledge, to join the Union Army. Longfellow was a strong abolitionist and would later give permission for his son to become a soldier. On December 1, 1863 while eating dinner, Longfellow received word that Charles had been severely wounded and doctors suspected paralysis. Longfellow, along with his second son, rushed to Virginia to retrieve Charles to return him to Massachusetts for medical care.

On Christmas Day of 1864 while the war was still raging, Longfellow wrote “Christmas Bells,” which expressed the dissonance he felt between the joys of Christmas and the violence of war. The words are below. The poem was put to music by John Baptiste Calkin in 1872, and the title was changed to “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” I hope you can take solace in these words.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day; Their old, familiar carols play,
    And wild and sweet
    The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
    Had rolled along
    The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
    A voice, a chime,
    A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
    And with the sound
    The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
    And made forlorn
    The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
    “For hate is strong,
    And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
    The Wrong shall fail,
    The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

The last two stanzas reflect my feelings during this Christmas season. In the midst of all of the turmoil in our world, I choose to remember that “God is not dead, nor does He sleep; the wrong shall fail, the right prevail.”

The above article was gleaned from information at Hymnology Archives, New England Historical Society, and articles written by various people.

Just a few days ago, our family gathered around a sumptuous Thanksgiving table for a special celebration. I doubt that any of us, me included, were as thankful as we should have been. Knowing the war situation in the Middle East, we should have been thankful that no one with an AK-47 broke down my door to take us hostage. And no one, broke into the house to steal and ravage my home. Am I truly thankful for the privilege of living in peace?

Knowing that thousands of people die each day from hunger, we should have been more thankful for all the food. A recent UN World Food Programme report noted, “In Afghanistan, 4 million women and children are severely malnourished.” People in many African nations are experiencing famine and therefore a lack of food. Am I truly thankful for the privilege of eating three meals a day?

Knowing that hundreds of people are lonely and suffering from depression, thinking no one cares, I should have been more thankful that I was surrounded by people who love and care for me. Besides my family with me for Thanksgiving, I had a couple of phone calls, numerous emails, ecards, and texts, and a visit from a friend. Was I sincerely grateful for these expressions of love and concern?

Psychologists tell us that there are benefits to living a life of thankfulness. A Presbyterian pastor recently sat next to a psychologist while traveling by air. The psychologist explained that living a thankful life even changes patterns in the brain, which can help our overall health. Other articles say that thankfulness can reduce stress, relieve anxiety, promote good sleep, ease depression, improve immunity, and assist in heart health and chronic pain. It’s no wonder that God’s Word says, “A joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22, ESV).

While in prison for preaching the gospel, the apostle Paul said, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV). Wow!  According to Paul, the benefits of prayer with thanksgiving are healthy hearts and minds.

As widows, we tend to think about and wish for the days when our husbands were alive during holiday times and when life was not so complicated. But it’s during these difficult times when thankfulness provides us with its greatest benefits. With God’s help, I’m going to make a concerted effort to be more thankful for what I have rather than concentrating on what I am lacking.

Just a few days ago, our family gathered around a sumptuous Thanksgiving table for a special celebration. I doubt that any of us, me included, were as thankful as we should have been. Knowing the war situation in the Middle East, we should have been thankful that no one with an AK-47 broke down my door to take us hostage. And no one, broke into the house to steal and ravage my home. Am I truly thankful for the privilege of living in peace?

Knowing that thousands of people die each day from hunger, I should be more thankful that I have enough to eat each day.  A recent UN World Food Programme article reported, “In Afghanistan, 4 million women and children are severely malnourished.” People in many African nations are experiencing famine and therefore a lack of food. Am I truly thankful for the privilege of eating three meals a day?

Knowing that hundreds of people are lonely and suffering from depression, thinking no one cares, I should have been more thankful that I was surrounded by people who love and care for me. Besides my family with me for Thanksgiving, I had a couple of phone calls, numerous emails, ecards, and texts, and a visit from a friend. Was I sincerely grateful for these expressions of love and concern?

Psychologists tell us that there are benefits to living a life of thankfulness. A Presbyterian pastor recently sat next to a psychologist while traveling by air. The psychologist explained that living a thankful life even changes patterns in the brain, which can help our overall health. Other articles say that thankfulness can reduce stress, relieve anxiety, promote good sleep, ease depression, improve immunity, and assist in heart health and chronic pain. It’s no wonder that God’s Word says, “A joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22, ESV).

While in prison for preaching the gospel, the apostle Paul said, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV). Wow!  According to Paul, the benefits of prayer with thanksgiving are healthy hearts and minds.

As widows, we tend to think about and wish for the days when our husbands were alive at holiday times and when life was not so complicated. It’s during those difficult times that thankfulness provides the greatest benefits. With God’s help, I’m going to make a concerted effort to be more thankful for what I have rather than concentrating on what I am lacking.

The article below by Larry Tomczak below appeared today in the Intercessors For America daily newsletter that I receive. The ending paragraph encouraged us to share the article, so I’m doing that. Also, it serves as a follow-up to my previous blog released earlier this week.

________________

As a Christian journalist for half a century, I have always tried to steer clear of sensationalism. But when Trump says: “America faces its final battle”; David Horowitz releases a book actually titled Final Battle; Franklin Graham warns: “We’re about to lose this country”; veteran analyst Cal Thomas says he sees “the contributing factors for the collapse of a nation”; and top commentators Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly both say that Biden has plunged us into what is probably the biggest presidential scandal in our nation’s history — I have to agree and present my own assessment.

My assignment is that of a “lookout” or a “watchman” akin to those in the Bible who understood the times with knowledge of what to do (1 Chronicles 12:32). I’m convinced that darkness is descending upon America.

“… Put a watchman on the city wall. Let him shout what he sees” (Isaiah 21:6 NLT). I do foresee judgment. But at the same time, God is calling us to persevere and to transform this “final battle” into something like what Churchill hoped would one day be said of the struggling British forces during World War II: “their finest hour.”

The Bible warns us about saying that “everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4 NIV). God is patient … not wanting anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9 NIV), but there comes a time when the gavel falls!

Francis of Assisi said: “All the darkness can’t extinguish the light of a single candle.” And Scripture says: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5 NIV).

What’s Happening

Survey the spectacle of Trump’s four indictments accusing him of nearly 90 felony charges that could potentially put him in prison for over 700 years! Franklin Graham shared in a nationally televised interview with Christian commentator Greta Van Susteren that radical “progressives” are aggressively working to “inflict enough political wounds on Mr. Trump to stop him from running because the left is scared to death of him and what he’s trying to do. … [I]f he’s reelected president, he’ll throw a monkey wrench into their agenda for one world government. … [I]t’s an all-out effort as sinister and dangerous to America as 9/11.”

At the same time, 40% of the nation and 90% of the corrupt media ignore the ethics violations, lying, influence-peddling, and bribery allegations of Joe Biden, and his son and family. The man in the White House has said repeatedly that he “never discussed or had any business dealings with Hunter or any family members” — who mysteriously took in between $20 million and $30 million (from foreign adversaries like China and Russia), even as Hunter confessed on “Good Morning America” that he “had no business experience.” Millions and millions of dollars for doing virtually nothing, as Joe engaged in roughly 20 speakerphone calls on dinners and meetings tied to these matters.

Bank records reveal that after one meeting, $142,300 was wired, and the next day, payment was made for Hunter’s $142,300 luxury sports car!

Devon Archer, Hunter’s business partner, admitted that these foreigners gave because of the Biden “brand,” which was Joe aligned with his son, and not because the admittedly cocaine-addicted Hunter was in anyway experienced.

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act “prohibits the payment of bribes to foreign officials to assist in obtaining business.”

What did Hunter mean when it was revealed on the laptop he carelessly left behind that he had told his daughter he gave 50% of what he earned to his dad?

Tipping Point 

America has become very corrupt! Also, the policies of an inept figurehead president are actively promoting Marxist, morally bankrupt agendas. The Democratic Party has wrought unprecedented and unbelievable damage to this great nation. If these people have their way, we will soon be unable to recognize the United States of America.

The present corruption level is staggering, and yet the corrupt media is silencing the story (hear the crickets?). We must heed the prophetic warning of President Ronald Reagan, who told us: “Freedom is never passed on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years, telling our children and our children’s children, what it was once like in the United States, when men were free.”

In 1787, Ben Franklin told the people that they now had “a republic — if we can keep it!”

The Rev. Billy Graham once warned that “19 of 21 civilizations that collapsed did so from within.” America is teetering on the edge, and the trajectory is now like that of the fall of Rome.

Lessons to Learn

Recall the 1834 classic The Last Days of Pompeii, which tells the story of the prosperous and proud people who declined into decadence and deception, to then encounter sudden and cataclysmic destruction. The Mount Vesuvius eruption buried them alive, as, almost overnight, toxic smoke and ash spewed some 20 miles into the air. This “City of Sin” was infamous for its brothels, sexually explicit artwork, and homosexual imagery.

Will we learn these lessons from history, or will we be condemned to repeat that history?

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven … (Hebrews 12:25 NKJV).

Is it ultimately going to take a nightmarish calamity to jolt multitudes out of complacency and passivity?

Remember Jonathan Edwards in America’s First Great Awakening, who said that the primary hindrance to revival is spiritual pride, and nothing enables us to escape but humility, genuine repentance and total dependence on God. Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow … (Psalm 107:39 NIV).

Seven Causes of a Country’s Collapse

In 1776, when America was being launched through our Declaration of Independence, historian Edward Gibbon published a classic book that served as a warning to those early colonists and which should be a warning also to us today. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire listed certain contributing factors to the collapse of that once great empire.

Here are seven factors I believe contribute to the collapse of nations.

1. Moral decline, depravity, and demonic activity
2. Breakdown of the family
3. Corruption in government and the press/media
4. Massive national debt
5. Skyrocketing crime and violence
6. Uncontrolled immigration and foreigners’ invasion
7. A weakened military

Here’s the deal: Alongside the Civil War, America is now at its defining moment — the most dangerous and divided time in our history. Our republic and Constitution are under unprecedented assault, and we must come to grips with widespread corruption in the White House, in our political parties, in the FBI, in the Department of Justice, and in the mass media. If this is indeed the “final battle,” America can still manage to survive, if we follow all the conditions in 2 Chronicles — before the sands in the hourglass run out:

“… if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV).

I beseech you as a “watchman on the wall” to respond with a sense of urgency. The gravity of our situation is very real. Will this be the “final battle,” or our “finest hour?”

Share this article to encourage others to pray for our nation.

Larry Tomczak is a cultural commentator for more than 50 years, an IFA board member, a bestselling author, and a public-policy adviser with Liberty Counsel. His innovative video/book, BULLSEYE, develops informed influencers in 30 days (see www.bullseyechallenge.com). Hear his weekly podcast here. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

With everything that’s going on in our nation’s capital now, I’ve been thinking much about my elementary-age years and the joys we had going to Washington, D.C. On Wednesdays during the summer, Mom would pack a picnic lunch, and we would go to D.C. as soon as Dad got off from work at noon. We’d head for the zoo, or National Airport, or to one of the historical sites. The zoo and other sites were fascinating and educational, but the airport helped to form my future. We would park the car next to the chain-link fence and watch in wonder as the planes took off or landed. I believe a seed was planted there for my love of flying and my desire to travel.

As a child, Washington was almost a sacred place. We highly respected our government officials, the flag, and our military. The Constitution was considered exceptional, the only one in the world that balanced the three branches of government, legislative, executive, and judicial. We not only read our local newspaper, but we also read The Washington Post. A sister and brother that lived a few doors from my grandparents took the train everyday into D.C. to work at the capitol. We honored them for their daily sacrifice and hard work. They were our heroes.

About 50 years ago as the Watergate scandal was being exposed little by little, my Washington bubble burst. For the first time, I realized that Washington was not as pure as I thought; everyone in the government did not have sterling motives. Those were difficult days in our nation’s history. At first, just seven people were arrested for the June 1972 burglary at the Washington offices of the Democratic Party. (The five who conducted the burglary and two who planned and paid for the it.) But by end of 1974, 69 people were indicted, including top government officials. Forty-eight government officials went to jail, and President Nixon resigned. But something good came from those chaotic days.

In August of 1973, as the investigation was closing in on him, Chuck Colson, special counsel to the President and the first to go to prison, accepted Christ as his Savior. A business friend, Tom, witnessed to him and encouraged him to read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Colson was called Watergate’s “master of dirty tricks” and “the evil genius of the Nixon administration,” but God completely revolutionized his life. About the night he heard the gospel, he said, I couldn’t drive out of Tom’s driveway. Ex-Marine captain, White House tough guy, I was crying too hard, calling out to God. I didn’t know what to say: I just knew I needed Jesus, and He came into my life.

Colson’s conversion was genuine. He pled guilty to obstruction of justice for his part in trying to cover-up Watergate and served seven months in a federal prison. There he became an evangelist and led many to Christ. Following his release, he founded Prison Fellowship Ministries and Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He traveled the world giving his testimony, wrote nearly 30 best-selling books, and received many awards for work and ministry.

God did not cause Colson’s Watergate suffering just so he could find Christ as Savior. Colson sinned and broke the law, which brought about prison. But God, in His mercy, brought something good out of the entire situation because Colson surrendered his life to Christ. The apostle Paul said, “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, ESV). If you are suffering today, know that God is not the author. He, however, is quite able to bring good out of those problems as you allow Him to work in your life.

I have hope that God is at work, despite all the lies, confusion, and dissension in our nation. Surely, He is in the process of calling others, like Colson, who will come out of a world of darkness and influence thousands of people for Christ.

These are challenging financial times for widows. The 2020 banking letter from the Federal Reserve of Chicago noted that that the average household income three years before a spouse dies is $75,000. Three years after a husband’s death, the widow’s income is reduced to $47,000. Some would say that the widow should do well because she is only responsible for one person now. However, the mortgage and car payments remain the same; utility bills usually increase every few years, and the widow now must hire a handyman to do home upkeep chores that the husband used to do. 

How was it possible that a bank with a 40-year reputation of supporting upstart businesses and the tech industry collapsed in one day? But the bank closed on March 10. Many people touted the Silicon Valley Bank as “the” bank to go to for investment, financial help, and security. Yet, when large depositors began withdrawing cash, SVB simply ran out of money. The bank took a $1.8 billion loss when, of necessity, it sold $21 billion worth of bonds. One financial expert said 190 other banks may be on the brink of failing. 

On May 1, another bank – First Republic Bank – was taken over by regulators and much of its holdings were bought by another large company. It was said that mass withdrawals led to this collapse. How is this possible? The bank officials should have taken precautions to prevent the disaster.

Jesus had much to say about money. He talked more about money and personal finances than He did about heaven and hell. He often used money in His parables to teach biblical principles. Here are a few fundamental truths Jesus taught about money.

• We should not let money rule our lives. Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

• Giving that God honors is done so that only God gets the glory. Matthew 6:2-4. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be honored by men. … But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” 

• In the parable of the Sower and the Seed, Jesus said that some seed, which is the Word of God, is sown among thorns. This is the person “who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful,” (Matthew 13:22). When Jesus had a conversation with the Rich Young Man in Matthew 19:16-26), He said, it’s difficult for a person who trust in his riches to enter the kingdom of heaven (v. 23).

• Investing in what pleases God or what God considers important brings heavenly rewards. “Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near, and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” (Luke 12:33-34). 

• Jesus also talked about good stewardship: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?” (Luke 14:28) The context of this Scripture is discipleship, but it’s an excellent business principle.

For most of us as widows, our financial resources are limited, which makes these difficult days even more challenging. How are we going to manage in 2023 with the prices of food, gas, and everyday living necessities increasing?  The following are a few tips garnered from Dave Ramsey, a financial guru:

1. Know your income and expenses.
2. Pray about your financial situation, asking the Lord to direct your planning and decisions.
3. Establish a budget and stick to it.
4. Put God first in your budgeting. 
5. Be wary of grief spending. 
6. Include savings, even if it’s small, in your budget.
7. Get out of debt and eliminate credit card spending. 
8. If needed, talk to a trusted financial advisor.

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 – 7) Jesus said: “Do not worry about what to eat, what to drink, or what to wear (Matthew 6:25-34). “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). May God help all of us as widows to trust Him to see us through these troubled times.

Tomorrow (Friday—Good Friday) we honor Christ’s death. Reading the passages in the Gospels and reflecting on His great sacrifice help us to concentrate on the price He paid for our redemption.

            Matthew 26:1 – 27:65

            Mark 14:1 – 15:47

            Luke 22:1 – 23:56

            John 18:1 – 19:42

A millennium before Christ’s death, the Psalmist David described Jesus’ suffering (Psalm 22). Jesus even quoted David from this Psalm when He was on the Cross: “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” (22:1) People living in those days memorized large portions of Scripture, so when Jesus cried this phrase from the Cross, He was expecting people to remember the entire Psalm. Jesus was in essence asking people to refer to this Psalm to understand what was happening.

About 700 years before the actual crucifixion, the prophet Isaiah predicted the Messiah’s death and gave us the how and why of His suffering: “Surely, he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that bought us peace was upon him and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53: 4, 5).

Sunday we will celebrate Christ’s resurrection with joyful songs of grace, redemption, and healing. Because of His resurrection, we can have hope for our resurrection. I’ll never forget my grandfather’s funeral more than 50 years ago and the joy I sensed as we sang the truth of John 11:25: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” But we will never be able to fully rejoice on Easter Sunday unless we have experienced the cleansing of sin that Christ bought through the shedding of His blood on that Friday more than 2000 years ago.  

The sign on a local business says: “It’s not about the bunny; it’s about the Lamb.” As we color eggs and buy chocolate for our children and grandchildren, may we concentrate on the real meaning of Easter and honor our Savior who died so that we might have life.