Simply 'a woman who fears the Lord'

 Mayo Clinic tells us there is a physical ailment called Broken Heart Syndrome : Broken heart syndrome is a heart condition that's often brought on by stressful situations and extreme emotions. The condition also can be triggered by a serious physical illness or surgery. Broken heart syndrome is often a temporary condition. But some people may continue to feel unwell after the heart is healed. What causes Broken Heart Syndrome? Extreme reaction to a physical or emotional event: An intense physical or emotional event often comes before broken heart syndrome. Anything that causes a strong emotional response may trigger the condition. Examples include: Sudden illness such as an asthma attack or COVID-19 infection. Major surgery. Sudden broken bone. Death of a loved one or other loss. Strong argument. (Source:  Broken heart syndrome - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic )  ...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Roman 5:8 ESV)...

Is Satan real? I think so and here's my story of a frightening experience that drove me straight toward  Christ. My story begins in the early 1970's while visiting the Wisconsin Dells area with my parents, I had brought a friend on vacation with us and she and I decided to walk around the local town square while my parents shopped for food and other items for our two week camping trip at Castle Rock Lake .  Historic Juneau County Courthouse on the town square in Mauston, WI Image Source:  Juneau County Courthouse - Juneau County Courthouse - Wikipedia My friend and I were both in our early teens; but we looked older. So, we were quite flattered when some local teenaged boys sitting on the lawn of the Courthouse noticed us, and we stopped to talk to them. We told them we were from Missouri and would be camping at Castle Rock Lake for the next couple of weeks.  Source:  Castle Rock - Juneau County Government (wi.gov) I explained that my dad was in the Missouri Ai...

  Me in 1975 - Seeking God. Al Baker recently wrote an article on the tragedy of the Kent State demonstrations and the killing of four students in May of 1970:  Four Dead in Ohio ( FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS )  . I remember being 12 years-old at the time this happened and the disagreement between my father (a full-time Air National Guardsman) and myself. I could see that he was pained over the event, but he defended the soldiers who fired on the students and I was shocked at his defense of their actions. I also remember that my friends and I embraced the rebellious culture of the time and soon found ourselves acting like our "heroes;" while we were only in our early teens we became somewhat jaded and mistrusted those in authority. By the time I turned 17 years-old, I began to have a yearning in my heart to become a Christian - I wanted to become a new creation, but I didn't know how. (As a child I remember watching televangelists and reciting the "sinner's praye...

By Angela Wittman Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.  ~Psalm 30, Verse 5 (NKJV) Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ~Romans 12, Verse 15 (NKJV) As Christians, we are called to offer hope to a dying world and that hope is Jesus Christ. We are to pray, show compassion and to weep with the brokenhearted. But as followers of Christ, we also know with certainty that we have a Christian hope to be reunited with our loved ones who have died in the Lord, and that hope is to be shared with those grieving.  I sincerely pray that we will be lights shining in this dark world and that we will rise to the occasion by offering comfort and the blessed hope only found in Christ Jesus. News Links:  Outrage at Shooting Uvalde, Texas  (Veritas Domain - The Domain for Truth) SBTC dispatches ministers in wake of Uvalde elementary school shooting  (Baptist Press) Gunman Kills 19 Children in Texas School Rampage  (AP - CBN)...

 Today's post is from CH Spurgeon's Daily Checkbook which is Featured at Sermon Audio . It's quite appropriate for me this morning as I grieve and hate my sinfulness... But, I belong to a risen Savior who has born my sin and made me clean. I will join Mr. Spurgeon and look to Christ this morning. - Angela Wittman ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shalt come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live" — Numbers 21:8 This is a glorious gospel type. Jesus, numbered with the transgressors, hangs before us on the cross. A look to Him will heal us of the serpent-bite of sin; will heal us at once -- "When he looketh upon it, he shall live." Let the reader who is mourning his sinfulness note the words -- "Everyone that looketh upon it shall live." Every looker will find this true. I have found it so. I looked to Jesus and lived at once,...

By Bill Hornbeck - Posted at Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions: God “raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” – “Set your mind on the things above” Today’s devotion comes from John 20:11-18. “But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she *saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She *said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and *saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she *said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus *said to her, “Mary!” She turn...

By Angela Wittman And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils...Luke 8:2 KJV Yesterday I had a brief discussion on Facebook regarding sin and redemption found in Christ. The conversation got me to thinking about my past and what a wretch I was (and still am) without Christ. Who on earth (or in Heaven) do we, the Lord's redeemed, have except our blessed Savior? Before Christ we were miserable in our sins and too ignorant to know it. We looked for meaning in shallow activities and for love in temporary relationships. Perhaps you were more moral than me, but I was quite the wretch who lived for the things of this world and placed my trust in people, which only broke my heart; and yet, I praise God for every heartbreak because in the end they brought me to my knees with acknowledgement that life wasn't worth living without Him. I really can't express my love for Christ - it runs t...

By Angela Wittman Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  - 2 Corinthians 5:17 AKJV The photo above was taken shortly after my conversion to Christianity approximately 20 years ago.  It's probably one of my favorite photos because it shows the joy I felt in my heart when realizing I didn't need to carry the weight of sin upon my shoulders any longer - I had a Redeemer to lift that wretched weight off of me and He was willing to claim me as His own. Of course, as a newborn babe in Christ I fell into error and had several heartbreaks over misplaced trust in others, but I always knew the good Lord had my back. So, when others would hurt my feelings or write anonymous letters to my broker (I worked as a Real Estate agent for several years) warning her I was "crazy," I could rejoice because I knew my true Protector would vindicate me. So, when my sister-in-law called yesterday for permission t...

By Angela Wittman For my dear friend Dee Galyon who recently reminded me the importance of keeping our loved ones memories alive and my dad who patiently cultivated a love of family history in me. My soon to be 80 year-old father called me yesterday and while his reason was to relay some family news, he soon began reminiscing about his years in the Air Force and travels to England and Scotland while in the service. And even though I was right in the middle of preparing dinner, I didn't mind the call or the stories. You see, I love my dad and my earliest memories are of him telling me family stories. I cannot help but think that the stories of my grandfather and his family helped shape my character. My grandfather was the "black sheep" of his family due to a tragic divorce between his parents and the circumstances of his father's accidental death. My grandfather blamed his mother, (a strong, independent woman), for both the divorce and death of his dad. So, while Gran...

By Angela Wittman   If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2  fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3  Let  nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Philippians 2: 1-3 AKJV Dear Friends, This morning I am reminded of the humility and meekness of our Lord who became man, was born in a manger, had no place to lay his head and who washed the disciples feet before facing the ultimate humility of dying on the cross to save His people from their sins. And yet, I fear the virtues of meekness and humility are becoming lost in American Christianity. In just the last few years we've seen Christian celebrities go down in blazes due to scandals; some of the names that come to my mind are Mark Driscoll, Doug Phillips, Bill Gothard and most recently the ...

By Angela Wittman As a follow-up to yesterday's post:  Thoughts on the Duggars, the Ninth Commandment, Reporting Child Sex Abuse and Repentance , I'd like to encourage those who are grappling with sins that others have committed against them. One of the hardest things for me to do is to confront others who have sinned against me.  I would rather walk away from any type of confrontation, but this isn't always possible, nor is it always the best course of action. I try to discern whether the offense is strictly personal or if it will impact others. If it hurts only me, I tend to lay it at the cross and place it in Christ's safe keeping, knowing He will do what is right and just. But if the offense is of a nature that it affects others or may lead to additional abuse, either physical, spiritual, or mental, then I feel it is my duty to speak out or confront the abuser to see if I can help remedy the situation. So, please take some advice from a seasoned sister and ...

By Angela Wittman In Honor of my Lord and Savior who chose to save my mother and me from a wretched life of sin and misery. Mom and me. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. - 2 Cor. 5:17 After much prayer and reflection, if there is any message or legacy mom would want to leave her loved ones, it is that she became a sold-out believer of Jesus Christ before her death. I watched her make a complete transformation and while mom wasn’t perfect, she truly became a new creation in Christ. Her message for her family and loved ones would be for you to repent of your sins and follow Christ. ... Mom’s in Heaven and while I still miss her, I look forward to serving our King together for all eternity. Do you have this blessed assurance? -  Angela Wittman Revelation 22 King James Version (KJV)   And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the ...

By Angela Wittman While much of what Doug Phillips teaches regarding Patriarchy sounds biblical, because of the lack of practical application, his teachings are often taken to extremes. Sometimes, men just hear his vision of men always “leading,” and they become domineering and demanding, causing undue stress on the wife. I know of one family that divorced precisely because of hearing this teaching and not understanding what it really should be. Sometimes, men will try to emulate what they see in Doug Phillips, and start requiring their families to have all the same rules as the Phillips. Unfortunately, if there are no personal convictions behind the rules, they soon become extremely oppressive and smother the family. Some men just have no clue about how to “lead” their families; they just know that it’s being constantly preached at them from the pulpit. Having come from a home without a godly leader, these men need lots of practical examples. (Taken from: Doug Phillips’ Kangaroo Court...

By Angela Wittman My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. - Hosea 4:6 While reviewing and updating some previous posts, I came across a teaching on Christian citizenship that I believe is an essential lesson many Christians might not have access to. Let me begin by sharing the setting I was in when receiving this lesson: I was part of a Bible study that had begun as a possible OPC church plant in my local community. When we found there was not enough local interest in the OPC, we continued the study under the leadership of Pastor Ray Morton of the Sparta (Illinois) Reformed Presbyterian Church (RPCNA). At the time I was also very politically active and serving as an officer in the Constitution Party of Illinois.  I had always believed Christians should be "salt and light" in the community, including civil matte...