Perhaps your family situation calls for the caring of an elderly parent or relative. Be not discouraged as you will discover from Mrs. Talberts experience of caring for a loved one with Alzheimers - "If we are not too busy and self-absorbed, we may learn the qualities of Christ that we lack and that He desires to mold in us, the transformation of character He intends to accomplish in us, by confronting us with their presence and needs.  Read more...

Disappointments and difficulties come into our lives, tossing us to and fro just as winds and waves beat a vessel in turbulent waters. Peter tells us to "think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you." (1 Peter 4:12) Don't be surprised when the wind whips up! Storms will come into our lives even when we are walking in obedience to God. Being in God's will is no guarantee that life will be an easy road to travel with only sunshine in our skies.  Read more...

God can use us "ordinary people." As I write this, I am recovering from gall bladder surgery. I have been completely humbled by the way that others have responded to my needs. I have been reminded that someone simply saying, "I am praying for you" is a tremendous blessing. Some have made meals. Some have offered help with the kids, the laundry, the house. Others just called to make sure I was OK.  Read more...

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March of 2004. I had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction, and chemotherapy. I will be taking Tamoxifen for the next five years.

This journey has not been easy, but what I have learned about my God, my family, and my friends has made it worth it. The cancer has become a priceless gift for which I am very thankful.  Read more...

One might say that peace is the absence of conflict. Yet, the absence of conflict doesn't necessarily indicate the presence of peace. It is more than that. True peace is complete freedom from inner turmoil. When a sudden, unexpected trial or difficulty comes into our lives how can we respond, both initially and continually, with freedom from turmoil?  Read more...

I shook my fist at God, and told Him I would not allow this to happen to me. As I think back on it now, it is clear that I was in absolute violation of His Word, as found in Romans 9:20, when Paul said, "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why has thou made me thus?" It is no wonder that in the midst of my hostility and rebellion, there was misery and frustration, anxiety and fear.  Read more...

Healing after the loss of a loved one is a slow process. Along our journey I often read aloud God's promises as I spoke to Him. Psalm 77 was my cry during the most difficult days of Stephen's illness and in the days since. Nights can be long and holidays can still be tough. The children and I talk freely about their Dad. We did so from the beginning, recalling wonderful memories.  Read more...

In the years that we have been married, we have been tested many times. In 1986 Walt was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and given two to five years to live. We drove home from the doctor's office that day after learning that what had been going on in Walt's body was the very condition we had suspected.  Read more...

Since 9/11/01 we have thought a lot differently about our country and worldwide matters. However, in reality, we know that as Christians we battle one main terrorist. He walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Everyone faces various trials with which Satan delights to see us struggle. Our main concern in these attacks is to rely upon God's sufficiency to carry us through them. Romans 8:37 states, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."  Read more...

Take heart, my friend. In Christ, you can find grace and peace. Is your heart at peace with God? Have you, by grace, through faith, accepted His free gift of salvation? (Ephesians 2:8-9) You will find that grace and peace go hand in hand. One cannot have peace in his heart unless he is experiencing the grace of God. If you know Him as your Savior, you have access to all the grace you will need to face the most fearful circumstances.  Read more...

The hours and days that immediately followed were filled alternately with sweeps of searing pain and numbing disbelief.  The plunge from joyful heights to sorrow's depths made decisions difficult.  One choice, in particular, I've deeply regretted: I opted not to see our dead child.  Had I instead held him in my arms, there could have been a greater degree of physical and emotional closure.  Other decisions proved wiser.   Read more...

It was a great storm in my life several years ago when our twenty-four year old daughter was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS). Chris, the second of our five children, was a vibrant, joyful Christian. She had graduated from Bob Jones University and was teaching in Omaha, Nebraska. She was also working on her master's degree in education. She came home to Greenville, SC where she received her diagnosis of Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS).  Read more...

Because of Gods work of grace in my life-saving me and keeping me-I had no excuse to doubt His plans for my life. Still, my faith was shamefully small. As I began to ponder the story of Jesus calming the storm, I began to wonder what it was that Jesus disciples might have learned from Him in that storm. Was there something bigger and better He was about to teach them about Himself?  Read more...

Perhaps your family situation calls for the caring of an elderly parent or relative. Be not discouraged as you will discover from Mrs. Talberts experience of caring for a loved one with Alzheimers - "If we are not too busy and self-absorbed, we may learn the qualities of Christ that we lack and that He desires to mold in us, the transformation of character He intends to accomplish in us, by confronting us with their presence and needs.  Read more...

On the evening of May 20^th , 1978 my mother and I were severely burned in a house fire. My dad was a young pastor of a small church. He was out visiting church members on that Saturday evening. My older brother and sister were playing in the opposite end of the house. My mom was baking a cake in the kitchen and I was sitting on the floor playing and watching her.  Read more...

One Saturday night I was baking a cake for Sunday dinner, my husband was making a hospital visit, and the children were bathed and ready for bed.  Two year old Becky was playing in the kitchen, occasionally disappearing to bring in a new toy.  When she didn't immediately reappear, I found her in the utility room just off the kitchen.  Somehow she had managed to remove the lid to the new, red gasoline can my husband had just bought that afternoon.  Read more...