Suffering- Powerful or Pointless?

Is there any sense to suffering?

Many of us ask that question and few are satisfied with the answers given.

In My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes,"The agony in Gethsemane was the agony of the Son of God in fulfilling His destiny as the Saviour of the World. Because of what the Son of Man went through, every human being has been provided with a way of access into the very presence of God.


The cross was not something that happened to Jesus-He came to die-the lamb slain...
The cross is not the cross of a man but the cross of God, and it can never be fully comprehended through human experience."


As we look at Christ's suffering and dying for each of us, does it make us more aware of His incredible love for us? 




On this blog, I'm featuring Juno award winning Deborah Klassen. 

Out of deep personal pain, she has been able to reflect on Christ's suffering in a new way, her own life  experiencing different layers of suffering. She says,

"One particular journey has been travelled with our only son, Ryan, who survived Spinal Meningitis as a small child and then two years later suffered from a rare cancer. Part of the aftermath of that disease was reconstructive facial surgery during his teen years. His suffering continued. As a young man he experienced a life- threatening, life-altering accident." 




Before we leave this season of celebrating the Risen Saviour, why not take a few minutes to hear thoughts and songs of the cross with Deborah Klassen, recorded April 2011 on Words To Inspire Radio show and my full interview with her.
Her powerful rendition of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross might just soften some of life's tough moments.

Click on address below- then a link will appear. Click again on the highlighted link:

http://www.seasonedwithsalt.net/WTI04212011.mp3


Enjoy her beautiful voice, ('she sings with a passion like no other'), as you reflect on your own dark places and remember the ultimate sacrifice, a choice to bring us to Him forever. Hallelujah! He reigns!
Come back again soon for more engaging stories that will encourage and inspire.

Enjoying the Son today!


Ruth

Born in My Heart

Her empty womb left a deep desire for both Barb and her husband, a longing for their own child.
After a few more years of waiting, the process of adoption began and then a trip to China.
The first time she held her precious bundle, born on the other side of the world, her new baby cried for two and a half hours. Barbara describes that time for her as 'birth pains', truly a bonding time for mom and baby.

When I interviewed Barbara on FaithFM radio, she told how she explained adoption to her little girl. "You have a tummy mommy, but you were born in my heart."
What a beautiful description of adoption.

You can listen right now to this wonderful story of Barbara and her husband's journey to create their own family.
Also hear Steven Curtis Chapman sing "When Love Takes You In", a song he wrote for his adopted children. You'll be moved by God's     divine plan for these children.



Click on the link below to go directly to the radio show.

http://www.seasonedwithsalt.net/WTI05192011.mp3


Thank you, Barbara, for sharing your heart-warming story. I celebrate your special family!

More great stories coming!

Fiction Tells the Truth

My life is richly blessed with author friends who are using their writing ability to bring hope to their reader. A few years ago, at Women Alive event in Waterloo, Ontario, I met such an author-Sara Davison. Her commitment to her group of writing buddies as well as a personal invite, inspired me to attend my first-ever 'Word Writers' meeting at Donna  Mann's farm, north of Mount Forest.  It didn't take long for me to realize that God had orchestrated this

divine encounter. What a wonderful friendship has developed as we share this adventure of putting on paper what is in our hearts.

In her first published novel, The Watcher, Sara weaves romance, suspense and mystery to portray truths in a fresh, creative way.  

I interviewed Sara on radio show, Words To Inspire, a few months ago. Why not listen to her story as she tells of her early longing as a young girl to write a book? The link below will take you right to our show.

http://www.seasonedwithsalt.net/WTI04072011.mp3

As Kathryn Ellison struggles to let go of the past, the man who almost destroyed her life is tracking her down so he can finish the job. Kathryn’s faith, and the strength of the watcher, one of many unseen beings sent to help her through this time, will both be pushed to the breaking point as she fights to survive and to finally be with the man she has loved for twenty years.  

  

Bravo, Sara! You are a dynamic Canadian Christian author! I commend you on this International Women's Day!

Plastic Bag Treasures

John walks towards me and offers me a plastic bag."Here are your books," he said, as he stopped beside me at the back of the church. "Oh, thank you, John. This is wonderful!"

Although I know he is bringing me my first copies of Woman of Worth, translated into Chinese, I am not prepared for the sense of God's power engulfing me as I reach in the grocery sack. I pull out a single, small, pink book. My heart rate soars as I turn each page. I envision women half a world away gripping the freshly printed words, reading life-giving truths that affirm them, that speak of purpose and the presence of God- for   them. The tears fall. 

 My mind fills with memories of God's love as He directed my steps, while writing of ways He participates in my life according to Psalm 139. My life is changed, transformed by the power of His word. 

And now, this copy that I hold in my trembling hand represents over thirty-thousand more that are printed and distributed to Chinese women. They need to know how much God loves them. According to  the  practice used there, at least five women will read each copy; that's one hundred fifty-thousand women who will read the words God compelled me to put down on paper.

I just want to impact women with the truth of their value according to God's view of them. 

God's plan far exceeds mine.

John and Chris are a vital part of the growth of my ministry. God brought them into my life for such a time as this.

To hear my Words To Inspire interview with John and his work in China,  click on the address below and the link will appear. Takes you right to the audio feed.

http://www.seasonedwithsalt.net/WTI06232011.mp3

There is no one like our GOD!

Keep watching. There is so much more to come. I'd love to hear from you. 

Greater things are yet to come,

Greater things are yet to be done in this city