suffering Archives - Page 10 of 12 - Alive and Active Life

The Truth About Loneliness

Posted onSeptember 25, 2023May 2, 2024

Alive and Active Life

The Truth About Loneliness

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Do you remember the film, “Cast Away?” Tom Hanks plays a systems analysist named Chuck who is marooned on an island quite unexpectedly when his flight goes down over the Pacific Ocean. In this movie, you get a front-row seat on how a person might deal with loneliness. From hopelessness, to anger, to desperation, to finding a way. He’s alone on this island for four years! Meanwhile, he’s declared dead by family and friends back home. Chuck’s only friend is a volleyball that washed ashore from the plane wreckage. This ball becomes Chuck’s only friend: “Wilson.” Chuck becomes very familiar with the truth about loneliness.
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Famine – Scripture Dissection

Posted onSeptember 18, 2023September 17, 2023

Alive and Active Life

Famine - Scripture Dissection

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Well, it’s time! The last two Scripture dissections, God’s Timing and God’s Humor, we left something completely unresolved. The famine! And really – that’s an important development. We built up to it, showing how people suffered intolerably for three years. Now, Elijah introduces he’s back! And then introduces it’s God’s timing to end the famine. So, here is the amazing story – with a couple of twists and some teaching points.

Feeling Down: 6 Helpful Tips

Posted onSeptember 5, 2023

Alive and Active Life

Feeling Down: 6 Helpful Tips

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Feeling down is a common, yet challenging condition to manage. Whether over-tired, mistreated, discouraged, or even struggling with depression – being on the “down side” is real.

You Need A Sponge

Posted onAugust 21, 2023August 21, 2023

Alive and Active Life

You Need A Sponge

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Do you remember when you first learned how to clean up a mess? Whether it was your own mess or someone else’s, it stared you in the face, and you had to clean it up. So, what tools did you use to clean up the mess? From spills in the kitchen to oil overflows in the garage. Perhaps a pet issue or simply spilled milk. Whatever the mess to clean up – you need a sponge.

I Am “They”

Posted onAugust 14, 2023August 14, 2023

Alive and Active Life

I Am "They"

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Many people feel invisible today. Some work hard and long to do the right thing – often behind-the-scenes – not for recognition or glory, but because it must be done. As a result, many folks with noble commitment go unnoticed. You’ve likely felt invisible in your hard work, faithfully doing what God asks each day. And “they” don’t seem to notice. But God notices. In fact, He says – “I Am They.”

God’s Timing – Scripture Dissection

Posted onAugust 7, 2023August 11, 2023

Alive and Active Life

God's Timing - Scripture Dissection

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Surely you’ve wondered at least once – “what’s the deal with God’s timing?!” He seems to be on a completely different time schedule. Admit it with me: there are times you’ve wondered when God is going to answer your prayers. Whether it’s personal or global tragedies that happen without warning, waiting years for God’s intervention in a difficulty, healing a relationship, providing for a need, or personal matters of the heart – all certainly involve God’s timing.

Learn Well – Live Well – Love Well

Posted onJuly 31, 2023July 31, 2023

Alive and Active Life

Learn Well - Live Well - Love Well

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As we go into today’s content . . . Learn Well – Live Well – Love Well . . . I first want to read off a list of one-liners we’ve heard over the years. They deal with the hum-drum of life:

Same old – same old
Been there – done that (bought the T-shirt)
Nothing new under the sun
Do it again – and again
Hummin’ right along
Another day – another dollar
Tomorrow never comes
Don’t hold your breath
Can’t trust anyone
Pie-crust promises
Where’s the beef? (that was a commercial)
Never thought I’d see the day
It ain’t gonna happen
In your wildest dreams

And on go the one-liners we’ve heard in a variety of ways. All seem to speak to an emptiness, dullness, boring repetition, and rather skeptical view of life.

But life is NOT hum-drum! Therefore, let’s explore a full, exciting, fresh-every-day, and rather hopeful view of life. Will you join me?

This Is It!!

Posted onJuly 24, 2023July 24, 2023

Alive and Active Life

This Is It!!

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If you were to say – “this is it!!” – when would you say it?

After looking for years, you meet the person you want to marry.
You just found the house of your dreams.
Your friend serves the most mouth-watering dessert.
Political parties finally decide to work together for the good of a nation.
A tool you only dreamed about – but needed on occasion – is on the store shelf in front of you.
You made it to your 65th birthday and can retire.
The job of your highest hopes becomes yours.
The weather cooperates enough to “get out there and pull your crops in.”
After years of caring for patients, science finds a cure your patients need.
You find the perfect puppy for your kids.
After shopping for weeks – you find the exact outfit for a special occasion.
Plus – so many other times in life!

That’s right! This is it!!

Live For More

Posted onJuly 10, 2023July 11, 2023

Alive and Active Life

Live For More

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It was the final episode of a TV series, and I’d been waiting for weeks for find out what would happen. So, with a cuppa and my TV glasses, I sat in my favorite chair with eager expectation. About half-way through, I thought – “What?! Surely not! I know it’s going to end better than this!” Incidentally – it didn’t. And I was so disappointed. Over weeks of anticipation, I really did hope for more than that! In a similar way of hope, we can live for more – and have more – each day.

At Your Edge

Posted onJune 26, 2023June 26, 2023

Alive and Active Life

At Your Edge

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Short Stories – At Your Edge

I have a few short stories referencing “at your edge.”

When I was a child in gym class, we practiced walking on a balance beam. It was a bit nerve-racking! Apparently, if you walk a beam only two or three inches off the ground, it’s easier. But walking a beam four feet off the ground takes a bite out of your confidence. I tried to be confident four feet off the ground. But it was still tricky.

When I was a young mom with little ones, we visited a state park. We climbed a high cliff and came to an edge with a very long drop. It was roped off – but ropes don’t stop little kids. They started right for the edge! As my stomach turned somersaults, I quickly intervened and pulled them back from the edge.

During another season of life, I experienced being at my edge when difficulties and losses piled high. I was at the edge of my endurance. Incidentally, it was terribly uncomfortable. And it was at this edge I learned some critical skills and maneuvers. I grew into a “new maturity” as I realized from God’s point of view – life’s beam is only a few inches off the ground. He stabilizes my balance, closely spots my walk, and keeps me safe. This gave me hope.