Struggling Well With Life

by Mark Hoffman

May 2010

awake all night

Posted on May 24, 2010 at 1:31pm.

It’s mid-afternoon, and I am hitting a wall.  I need to get a coffee fix.  Stayed up and watched “Lost” for 5 straight hours last night.  I snuck into the bedroom after midnight, and thought for sure I would be out before my head hit the pillow.  Not so!  I was awake all night.  Really - all night. Prayed for every one the Lord brought to mind, and then still had hours to just think.  What is a night like that all about?  Is God trying to get my attention, speak to me?  Or is it just an odd rhythm now for an old man.  Not really sure.  There are more and more things and events that just leave me puzzled. 

wired for waywardness

Posted on May 20, 2010 at 11:06am.

Every day this week has been an intense battle. Odd, because this week was no harder or easier circumstantially than any other, but it has felt like I have been trudging through mud. I have been reading through the Bible, and finished with Hosea this week - and a verse toward the end has stayed with me on into Joel and Amos. Hosea 14:4 “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely . . .” I think that part of my battle this week is continuing to navigate this waywardness that been redeemed, but is still at the core of who I am, and who I am longing not to be. He has healed and is healing my waywardness. This healing is grueling, especially this week. Though a bit worn down by it all, I find both peace and comfort in the reality that God heals our waywardness, and love us freely.

supernatural

Posted on May 12, 2010 at 9:18am.

Something supernatural happened to me this morning. I had a long rough day yesterday, and went to bed last night with the weight of the world, and a bunch of my own as well. Yesterday was hard, disappointing, frustrating, and even heartbreaking. I woke up still feeling all of that - and reached out from under the covers for the light and my Bible. I read for a while. And though nothing stood out from anything I specifically read, after a while I felt the weight lifting. Nothing has changed dramatically in any of the situations of yesterday, but something has changed in me. Grateful today for the refreshment the Spirit brings through the Word, and for His presence in my life!

truth

Posted on May 5, 2010 at 8:43am.

I am so thankful for truth.  I was a born liar.  I lied about everything as a child.  Not sure if I was just bored or it was woven into my DNA.  Since Jesus got a hold of my heart, truth has become a pretty big deal to me.  And this week I have had truth spoken to me, over and over again.  Some truth is encouraging, and some downright convicting.  It’s only Wednesday and God the Holy Spirit has spoken through the Word, through our pastor, through my wife, through my daughters, through my friends, and in and through the circumstances and realities of life.  I am praying that God would find me at day’s end having lived in response to His truth - so help me God!

truth

Posted on May 5, 2010 at 8:43am.

I am so thankful for truth.  I was a born liar.  I lied about everything as a child.  Not sure if I was just bored or it was woven into my DNA.  Since Jesus got a hold of my heart, truth has become a pretty big deal to me.  And this week I have had truth spoken to me, over and over again.  Some truth is encouraging, and some downright convicting.  It’s only Wednesday and God the Holy Spirit has spoken through the Word, through our pastor, through my wife, through my daughters, through my friends, and in and through the circumstances and realities of life.  I am praying that God would find me at day’s end having lived in response to His truth - so help me God!

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