Category: Habakkuk
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Embracing Joy: YOU are loved!
Each year I choose a word or maybe I should say a word chooses me. This year’s been a bit different. I guess you might say I wasn’t really feeling it. No normal excitement or brainstorming for the perfect word. For the most part I didn’t think about it at all. I entered 2024 without…
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Embracing Joy: It’s Not Fair!
This week’s study revealed the turning of a corner in Habakkuk’s life. By the third chapter of his book we see him move from questioning, doubting, wondering if God is present to acceptance of God’s plan for the Israelites. One friend at the table expressed her view of life when evil seems to have the…
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Embracing Joy: Whoa!
This week’s teaching makes me feel like I’m riding a runaway horse doing all the things to bring it to a halt. Things like pulling on the reigns as hard as I can and clinching the saddle horn with the other. All the while I’m screaming, “WHOA!” As in wait a minute. This is moving…
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Embracing Joy: Truth… or Not
I rise early this morning to pray and meditate with a friend. This is a new venture, and I didn’t consider my praying aloud might wake him. But wake him it did, and after pouring a cup of coffee, he goes into his office. He works as I prepare to head out for the day,…
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Embracing Joy: When the Truth Stings a Little
This week’s transformational truths in our study Embracing Joy by Jean Wilund caused me to squirm. There were moments I wanted to put the book down. to turn away from the truth because as they say, “the truth hurts.” The reality is the hardest person to deal with in my life is MYSELF. I share…
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Embracing Joy: Reroute the Doubt
I’ve often thought Thomas got a bad rap. He shared his honest feelings with his closest friends, and the nickname Doubting Thomas has followed him since. When you look closely at Thomas you will find not only doubt, but an ultimatum to believe. Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and…
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Embracing Joy: Seeing Rightly
Our first week in the story of Habakkuk, and the title of chapter 1, Seeing Rightly, caused me to proceed with caution. You see, I’ve been contemplating the word perspective for a few weeks now. Perspective is about our point of view and there are infinite ways to look at things. Trying to consider all…
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An Introduction to Embracing Joy
I wondered about the title of this eight-week study written by a prophet who had a conversation with God. Turns out, Habakkuk means embrace. According to Webster’s Dictionary, embrace means “hug, encircle, welcome, grip, acceptance.” Habakkuk’s book is only three chapters but they pack a powerful picture of spiritual transformation. You see Habakkuk lived in…
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Embracing Joy: Unpacking Habakkuk
Our first study of the year begins this Wednesday — January 3. Embracing Joy is an 8-Week transformational Bible study of Habakkuk, designed to help us answer the question: How do you find joy in joyless times? Jean Wilund invites us to unpack all three chapters of this Old Testament book and learn from the…
Unraveled Love 