Surviving Those Life Whammies (Sheesh!)

The last day of January—already. These days seem to fly by fast now. Thank the Lord, I made it through holiday and New Year’s celebrations without my 3rd eldest sister, whom we buried in early December. Her absence was noticeable. She was boisterous, funny, and active in my family members’ lives. Her death was another one of those life whammies for my family; we weren’t expecting it. So, my January days were up and down, with a barrage of emotions. We have questions, don’t we, in those unexpected life events? They abruptly change everything and leave us in a state of wonderment. What do you do in such seasons of life?

Merriam-Webster defines a whammy as “a potent force or attack; specifically, a paralyzing or lethal blow.” That’s what my sister’s death was to my family—a lethal blow.

Interestingly, I received an email from Pastor Chuck Swindoll of Insight for Living Ministries. He was beginning a study entitled, The Mystery of God’s Will. “That’s it,” I excitedly thought. “I need this study.” I immediately jumped in and listened to the first video. Boy, was it right on time! The very first session started putting things into perspective regarding my sister. No, God didn’t audibly speak to me about why she died, clarify His reasons, or answer my specific questions. You see, in the Bible, there are just simple precepts and principles by God, or stories in which you may see your situation. Characters in the scriptures have some of the same feelings as you. I was amazed! The study runs until February 18, although you can listen to the videos at your leisure. There are even notes to download where you can discover additional scripture and record your thoughts. Here’s the link, https://insight.org/broadcasts/library.

This is what I do when I’m confused by life. It’s where I run in this age of misinformation, deception, and lies. A lot is being broadcast today. This is also the purpose of my blog: to inspire people to read the Bible and find answers about God, get direction in life, find hope, successfully overcome life’s challenges, and navigate through those life whammies that fall upon all of us at some point. God’s word truly uplifts because its contents are true. Are you searching for some truth, or do you need answers to your dilemma, for your problem? Pick up the Bible and start reading—at any place in it. You’ll see! 😊

Be blessed until next time. 😊

P.S. Prayers for the whammy thrown at the families of the 67 people and military persons killed in the D.C plane crash.

The Bible Can Inspire All by Itself

I’m not in the best place right now–for several reasons. It’s okay sometimes not to know, know what to say, or to have answers. As such, I don’t have many inspirational words this month. Instead, I want to get your feedback, and discover what inspiration you gain from a particular verse of scripture; it’s one of my favorites.

Psalms 103:1-5

Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

So, let’s chat. If you’re comfortable, please share your thoughts or any inspiration you received from this verse of scripture. What does it mean to you? What has God said to you through this Bible verse? What has He revealed to us about Himself in it?

Looking forward to reading your comments. Be blessed until next time! 🙂