Spirituality
Like water in the desert, God promises the unimaginable
Guest ColumnistMichelle Francl-Donnay O God, You are my God, for You I long;For You my soul is thirsting.My body pines for You Like a dry, weary land without water. Ps. 63:1 Just how far I was from home last week became evident when the road signs warned of camels crossing – not deer. Red-gold sand […]
Surrender control to fully experience God’s grace
Guest ColumnistMichelle Francl-Donnay The crowds were almost stifling Jesus as he went. There was a woman suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, whom no one had been able to cure. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak; and the hemorrhage stopped at that instant. Jesus said, “Who touched me?” […]
Tear the fancy words from your tongue and pray
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for; the proof of things not seen. Heb. 11:1 I have a problem teen on my hands. She stays out late at night without asking, she brings home entirely unsuitable friends, she is fighting with her peers in the neighborhood and she hosts the occasional noisy late night […]
Fear of suffering can be put to rest with God’s help
Guest ColumnistJoan Forde I tell you solemnly: as a young man you fastened your belt and went about as you pleased; but when you are older you will stretch out your hands, and another will tie you fast and carry you off against your will.” John 21:18 As fall creeps over us once more, I […]
God pays our daily wage in His infinite love
Guest ColumnistMichelle Francl-Donnay “These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give […]
When struck with grief, turn to the psalms
Guest ColumnistMichelle Francl-Donnay At the sight of her tears, and those of the Jews who followed her, Jesus said in great distress, with a sigh that came straight from the heart, “Where have you put him?” They said, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. – Jn. 11:33-35 A friend lost her son last week, dragged […]
Grace discovered in hunger and in plenty
Guest ColumnistMichelle Francl-Donnay “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread always.” Jesus answered:“I am the bread of life.He who comes to me shall not be hungry;He who believes in me shall never thirst.” Jn. 6:34-35 Thinking back, I imagine my mother just wanted to reduce the odds for my father. She was teaching the CCD […]
Scheming for the best way to get a buddy in front of Jesus
Guest ColumnistMichelle Francl-Donnay Then some men appeared, carrying on a bed a paralyzed man whom they were trying to bring in and lay down in front of him. But as the crowd made it impossible to find a way of getting him in, they went up on to the flat roof and lowered him and […]
It’s time to recycle and ‘offer up’ the pain
Guest ColumnistMichelle Francl-Donnay Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church. Col. 1:24 “One thousand and ninety five,” sighed my friend as he pushed his chair back from the dinner table. He […]
God’s abundant grace made visible, if unexpected
Guest ColumnistMichelle Francl-Donnay Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, when a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of the most expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he was at table. When they saw this, the disciples were indignant. “Why this waste?” they said. Mt. […]