A Shaft of Light from Heaven

by Kristy McElhinny

My boyfriend and I had broken up. My landlord had sold my house. I was house-sitting for a work-friend. It was summer and I’m a teacher so there was no work to occupy my mind. At that time, I didn’t have a faith community to lift me up. I was alone, in an unfamiliar place, with no one to talk to and nothing to do; torture for a person with an anxiety disorder. My panic got out of control for another one of those week-long stints.

I called out to God and heard no answer back.

One Sunday, I decided to go to the tiny church that was within walking distance on the backcountry road I called home for that month. I describe myself as a carcass that day. I felt utterly lonely, exhausted, empty and pathetic. I knew I was at my lowest point. How could I feel like this when I am a child of God. I’m a failure. Maybe I’ve done something wrong to deserve it. Where am I going to live? Will I be alone for the rest of my life?

Rebuilding Broken Walls and Broken Lives

Written by Linda McCutcheon

“But you also said that no matter how far away we were, we could turn to you and start obeying your laws. Then you would bring us back to the place where you have chosen to be worshiped.” (Nehemiah 1:9, CEV)

It’s time to re-build! It is always a positive step, whatever month of the year, to sit quietly and determine healthy changes in our personal lives. It is like a rebuild of character, acknowledging that we are ‘People of Worth’ in God’s eyes. Perspective may have been washed away by tragedy, heartache, selfishness, or a sense of hopelessness.

The Jews were in the same predicament. They had been attacked, taken captive, lost their homes and were discouraged. Some had escaped but even their freedom created troubles. They came back to a ruined city. They were disgraced and there was no plan in place to repair their city for safety or for dignity.

Experiencing the Cross: A Glimpse of Hell

Julie Barrier

I had the most remarkable encounter with God today. I was meditating upon Jesus on the cross, and, after decades of being a Christian, God revealed to me an aspect of Jesus’ suffering that I never understood or even considered. What was it truly like for Jesus to experience “hell” on the cross?