Mandy, thank you for sharing something so personal with us. My heart aches for your loss. I can't begin to fully understand what you're going through.
Losing your husband is such a profound change. I'm humbled that this devotional spoke to you in some way during this difficult time. There's something powerful about your willingness to even consider how God might be working in your life right now.
I don't know exactly where you are in your journey, but I do know that God meets us right where we are in our grief, our questions, and even in those moments when we're just trying to figure out what comes next.
Your insight about stepping into this new chapter of life shows such spiritual sensitivity. Whatever serving God looks like for you going forward, whether that's something completely new or simply getting through each day with faith, He's with you in it.
I'm praying for you today, that you'll feel God's presence in tangible ways as you navigate this path.
Thanks. I appreciate your encouragement and you're prayers. It is not a journey for the faint of heart. One must keep their eyes on Jesus and not on what has been lost, which is much.
Today's offering makes me want to remove my skull so that I can scratch my brain more effectively.
I have fallen among quantum physicists who have convinced me that we all live in separate universes that occasionally communicate with one another.
I would much rather have served under the over-cautious McClellen (who was beloved by the troops) than the bloodthirsty bandits Sherman and Grant. Grant was able to survive and win against the Rebels in "the wilderness" because he had no interest in whether his troops lived or died.
Had Pickett's Charge never occurred in Gettysburg, McClellen would have won the next election and history would be changed. It would be like LBJ being replaced by Ron Paul.
Lincoln’s decision to remove McClellan could be considered reckless in hindsight. He replaced a careful, deliberate commander with leaders who were willing to spend lives at an alarming rate. Lincoln wasn’t simply seeking victory. He wanted a general who would press forward no matter the cost, even if it meant staggering losses.
Given how the rest of the war unfolded, McClellan’s caution appears more justified, not less. We can’t say exactly how events would have changed if he had stayed in command, but it’s clear the war could have taken a very different and perhaps less devastating path.
War could have been completely avoided if the politicians in Washington, DC had simply allowed the South to secede. Eventually, slavery, as an institution, would have died out and we wouldn't have seen carpetbaggers stealing everything south of Missouri.
Last year at age 68, I was challenged to do something that truly called me to walk by faith. I had been an adult ministry pastor, a high school teacher and coach, a college adjunct professor, and just generally worked with those older than 12 years. The associate pastor of my church, knowing my training as a drama actor, asked me to head up the drama portion of our very first VBS.
This was challenging not only because I would be working with children younger than those I was typically comfortable with, I also had no formal training in running a drama program and all that goes with that. But I quickly sensed the Lord telling me He wanted me to do this for the sake of our ministry and for my own growth. So, I dove in and, of course, I had a wonderful experience and things went very well, though it was quite challenging. I'm glad I did it, and I don't know that I'll do it again, honestly, but I wouldn't have missed the new experience I now know for anything.
This really encourages me to step into my new life as a widow and continue serving God even without my pastor-husband.
Mandy, thank you for sharing something so personal with us. My heart aches for your loss. I can't begin to fully understand what you're going through.
Losing your husband is such a profound change. I'm humbled that this devotional spoke to you in some way during this difficult time. There's something powerful about your willingness to even consider how God might be working in your life right now.
I don't know exactly where you are in your journey, but I do know that God meets us right where we are in our grief, our questions, and even in those moments when we're just trying to figure out what comes next.
Your insight about stepping into this new chapter of life shows such spiritual sensitivity. Whatever serving God looks like for you going forward, whether that's something completely new or simply getting through each day with faith, He's with you in it.
I'm praying for you today, that you'll feel God's presence in tangible ways as you navigate this path.
Thanks. I appreciate your encouragement and you're prayers. It is not a journey for the faint of heart. One must keep their eyes on Jesus and not on what has been lost, which is much.
Onwards and upwards.
Today's offering makes me want to remove my skull so that I can scratch my brain more effectively.
I have fallen among quantum physicists who have convinced me that we all live in separate universes that occasionally communicate with one another.
I would much rather have served under the over-cautious McClellen (who was beloved by the troops) than the bloodthirsty bandits Sherman and Grant. Grant was able to survive and win against the Rebels in "the wilderness" because he had no interest in whether his troops lived or died.
Had Pickett's Charge never occurred in Gettysburg, McClellen would have won the next election and history would be changed. It would be like LBJ being replaced by Ron Paul.
Lincoln’s decision to remove McClellan could be considered reckless in hindsight. He replaced a careful, deliberate commander with leaders who were willing to spend lives at an alarming rate. Lincoln wasn’t simply seeking victory. He wanted a general who would press forward no matter the cost, even if it meant staggering losses.
Given how the rest of the war unfolded, McClellan’s caution appears more justified, not less. We can’t say exactly how events would have changed if he had stayed in command, but it’s clear the war could have taken a very different and perhaps less devastating path.
War could have been completely avoided if the politicians in Washington, DC had simply allowed the South to secede. Eventually, slavery, as an institution, would have died out and we wouldn't have seen carpetbaggers stealing everything south of Missouri.
Last year at age 68, I was challenged to do something that truly called me to walk by faith. I had been an adult ministry pastor, a high school teacher and coach, a college adjunct professor, and just generally worked with those older than 12 years. The associate pastor of my church, knowing my training as a drama actor, asked me to head up the drama portion of our very first VBS.
This was challenging not only because I would be working with children younger than those I was typically comfortable with, I also had no formal training in running a drama program and all that goes with that. But I quickly sensed the Lord telling me He wanted me to do this for the sake of our ministry and for my own growth. So, I dove in and, of course, I had a wonderful experience and things went very well, though it was quite challenging. I'm glad I did it, and I don't know that I'll do it again, honestly, but I wouldn't have missed the new experience I now know for anything.
You might be surprised. God has a way of calling on our learned skills when we least expect it!
I absolutely love the blending of history and devotional! This is my jam! I found every part of this uplifting and interesting.
Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.
Just as an aside, I have chronic migraines that I've been battling for most of my life.
I write about Migraine and Chronic Illness. I hope you have found some treatments that work for you.