Category: Faith in the Struggle

What is Recovery?

The LORD said to Moses, “Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.” Exodus 34:1 In my drug addiction, I made myself and those closest to me terribly sick. As I surrendered more of myself…
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Quantum Mechanics and a Giant Headache

You cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live. Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed…
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Waiting for God

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’” Exodus 33:18 In jail recently, one of the guys explained how he’d been struggling in his faith. He believed in God, yet God felt distant, as if…
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When We Don’t Understand Why

I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. Exodus 33:19 Last year, we moved less than a mile down the road, so we still live in the same neighborhood and we still walk our dog up and down the same sidewalk. When we…
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Everyone Has Their Favorites

And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:17 Like all of you, I simply like some people more than others. We all have our favorites. In my work life for instance,…
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A Man Who Knows God

Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Exodus 33:11 He walks with me, and he talks with me, and he tells me I am his own. The joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.  – In the Garden In…
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Eating the Bundt Cake

“So now take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do with you.” Therefore the people of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward. Exodus 33:5-6 Our dog, like any dog, prefers human food to his brown kibble. He begs, but he’s generally not aggressive in stealing food. Once though,…
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Know When to Walk Away

Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people. Exodus 33:3 When I was in medical school, one of the pediatricians I worked with would give this advice to new parents – If…
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25 Years

But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Exodus 32:34 I’ve had occasions in my life when I’ve spent a significant amount of energy worrying about God’s will for my life. What college should I attend? Where should I live?…
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Getting Away with It

“Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.” Then the LORD sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made. Exodus 32:34-35 When I first diverted opioids for my own use, I was terrified someone would find out. I laid awake at…
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