Stitches Thru Time: suffering

Showing posts with label suffering. Show all posts

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Rainbows of Hope

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:17

The magnificent rainbow, arching over the nearby mountains drew me outside to immerse myself in its glory. Rainbows remind me of the God’s goodness and faithfulness.

My husband and I once stood on top of the castle tower at Loch Ness, overwhelmed at the splendor of a rainbow ending in the water at the base of the tower. It lacked about 50 feet from forming a complete circle. Another time, I captured a photo of a rainbow arching gracefully over our mountain home.

If we are in tune with God’s Spirit, alert to His presence in every aspect of our lives, He reveals Himself in both the most glorious and darkest of times. I have struggled with chronic pain for all of my adult life. However, it was only a few years ago that I realized the revelation of Himself that God offered in the midst of my worst suffering.

Philippians 3:10 in the Amplified Version, says: “And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did]”.

It is easy to see God in those rainbow and sunset moments of His glory. It is far more difficult when pain infuses my world with hopelessness. The message of Philippians 2:10 is that Jesus Christ wants me to know Him “experientially”. If I am to comprehend “the remarkable wonders of His Person”, I must understand the suffering He experienced for me.

God gave rainbows as a promise that He would never again destroy the world by flood. However, they also remind me that I won’t be destroyed by circumstances God allows into my life. In the struggles of cancer, illness, pain, and heartbreak, I experience what Christ suffered on the cross, the depth of love of a God who would die for me.

In times of darkness and despair, I look to Jesus, and know I am not alone. He understands.

Rainbows, dark clouds, suffering, and joy reveal the amazing love of Christ, my Savior, who invites me to fellowship with Him, to understand His promises, and to live in hope of glory.

About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normagailwrites/

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Monday, February 13, 2017

A Song in the Night

I remembered my songs in the night. Psalm 77:6

I could not remember the last day without pain. A week of small trials, following a prolonged period of physical pain and sleeplessness made me feel trapped, as if the sun would never shine again.

When a painful condition is unseen, others doubt and are quick to accuse. It is all too frequent for people to condemn the sufferer rather than console. The widow receives comfort for a while, and then life is expected to move on. Too often, the innocent spouse receives as much judgment as the guilty. The surgical patient receives more sympathy than the sufferer of an invisible disability.

A bird perched upon a dead tree outside my window, singing as a blanket of fog wrapped me in the silence of unrelenting hurt created a powerful picture. God is as close in the throes of misery and sorrow, as in the sunshine, but it is more difficult to run to Him when surrounded by blackness and thorns.

God spoke to Job in the midst of the storm and to Elijah in a still small voice after the tumult had passed. God answers when I call to Him. He does not leave me alone in the dark, hopeless, and afraid. When it appears He has abandoned, God whispers the comfort of His presence. I only have to sit still to hear. God rarely shouts His answers. He prefers the quiet solitude of our hearts to speak His most gracious words of comfort and peace. He desires me to lean my head on His chest, leaving my burdens at His feet.

It is not chance that Jesus was called the “Man of Sorrows.” He knows my own unique pain. He will not leave me desolate. He will bring balm for my aching soul as He sent the ravens to feed Elijah at Cherith, and angels to Jesus in the wilderness. When the times of pain and darkness come, I must remember the times God has given me songs in the night, adopted children in the midst of infertility, certainty of heaven in the midst of crushing grief.

Look for Him in the darkness. Call to God from the fog of pain. He may not take away the circumstances, but He is faithful to provide healing balm and restore singing to an aching heart.

After A Long Night

What will it be like

When in Your presence I stand,

When I reach out for You

And touch Your hand?

What will it be like

When Your face I see,

When I feel Your presence

Surrounding me?

I long for the day

When all pain is gone,

When my joy and my task

Is to sing Your song.

How will I feel

When I’ve been set free—

From the pain and struggle

That now enslave me?

I long for the day

When I see Your face,

When all of my sickness

Is healed by Your grace.

You are my strength

While I walk this sod,

But, Oh, what peace

To behold my God!

There will come a day

When I understand,

And behold my scars

Upon Your hands.

When I get lost

In the fog of pain,

I cry out for Your presence,

I plead in Your Name.

You are always there,

You never delay.

But still, in my heart,

I will long for that day

When all earthly pain

And sorrow are gone,

At last and forever,

I will be at home.

About the author:

Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, set in Scotland and New Mexico is the winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. She led weekly women’s Bible studies for 21 years. Her devotionals, poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, FaithWriters, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. She is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

www.normagail.org

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

https://plus.google.com/b/102717101441594679714/+Normagail/about/p/pub

http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459.Norma_Gail

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

Book links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170/ or

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas: http://store.lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Silence!

I’m reviewing a very different sort of book this week. Silence by Shusaku Endo. I read this novel because it happens to be required reading for my daughter’s freshman class at Wheaton College, and Martin Scorsese has made it into a movie, releasing sometime in the next several months.

The story takes place in Japan in the 1600s. WAIT! Stay with me here. I know that sounds like something you would usually skip over. But hear me out. The novel is based on the life (and letters) of a Jesuit priest from Portugal who travels to Japan to find his mentor when he hears the man denied his faith.

The time period was one of tremendous persecution for Christians in Japan. The Shoganate Government made it illegal to believe in Christianity, which resulted in hidden Christian communities. The government officials raided homes looking for Christian items, rooting out people of faith. The bodies of martyrs multiplied, so they instead began to torture the Christians until they “apostatized.” This involved stepping on an image of Christ.

If a tortured Christian agreed to trample his Savior, they would immediately stop the torture and let him go. Priests who they captured, were never let go. They were tortured until they apostatized, and then never allowed to leave the country, or interact with its people.

Silence plumbs the depths of pride, persecution, betrayal, the suffering Savior, and apostasy – something most Christians are guilty of in one way or another. And then there is grace. The priest arrogantly contemplates himself as a Christ-type through much of the book, but in the end, he finds another comparison.

The story brings up a universal question: When things go wrong, when evil seems to prevail, when God’s loved ones are harmed, tortured and killed, why does God not act? Why is He silent? Endo explained how his book addresses the question. “I did not write a book about the Silence of God; I wrote a book about the Voice of God speaking through suffering and silence.”

The book starts a bit slow, to catch the reader up on the historical context. But soon, it picks up and depicts very flawed people locked in a struggle with belief, God, self, and service. The imagery and detail-especially references to light and dark, sound and silence-is breathtaking. A worthy read – especially if you plan to see the movie!

Silence is not an easy book, but I'd venture to say it's one of those "good for you books." What’s the most difficult book you’ve read that you look back on and say, “I’m SO glad I read that!”?? Leave us a comment to be entered to win this week’s prize!

Monday, August 10, 2015

A Song in the Night

I could not remember the last day without pain. A week of small trials, following a prolonged period of physical pain and sleeplessness made me feel trapped, as if the sun would never shine again.

Look for Him in the darkness. Call to Him from the fog of pain. He may not take away the circumstances, but He is faithful to provide healing balm and restore singing to an aching heart.

May 21, 2015

About the author:

Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, set in Scotland and New Mexico released in April 2014. She has led weekly women’s Bible studies for 19 years. Her devotionals, poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, FaithWriters, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. She is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 39 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma: