I would also appreciate continued prayer for my health. Just got back from seeing the doctor and my situation is not good. I’ll be going back Monday morning again.

So often people comment here on how honest Tori is and how they can relate to her so easily. Tori has so many talents but I believe the reason she is so successful with this blog is best described by those comments. Too often, pastor’s wives or wives such as Tori who are married to gospel singers…areexpected….or atleast they themselves believe they are expected to have perfect lives…perfect children…perfect everything. They believe they would be considered failures if people knew they sometimes have the same problems that everyone else has. Therefore, people are reluctant to share their burdens with those with perfect lives because it is thought that they would never understand.

Then therecomes along one like Tori, who shares it all…the good and the bad,and people marvel at her honesty and her ability to minister to them just by being normal and, thus, being able to understand. And you know, folks, I know that some of this comes from Tori’s strength…because she is a strong woman….but I belive most of it comes from her belief in God’s strength….she leans on His strength.

Perhaps we are given our highs to get us through ourlows. The Dove Awards tribute to Russ was one well deserved and put the whole Taff family on a mountain top….not to mention the many many fans of that precious family.

And our wonderful God prepared them for the sad loss of Marvin. I don’t know what to say, Tori….if I were there, I would simply hold each one of you, tell you how sorry I am and that I love you.

I enjoyed all the other comments too! What a sensitive insightful bunch!

When I got married to the love of my life, something happened that I didn’t expect. When something bad happened to me, my first reaction before would be to withdraw and be alone with my thoughts. But after marriage, I wanted to run to my hubby and tell him what happened and how I felt, and somehow, whatever it was that hurt me seemed easier to bear. It was like he took on half of my pain. And when something wonderful happened,……couldn’t wait ’til he got home to tell him and that seemed to make whatever wonderful thing that happened even more wonderful! It was amazing—–when we shared our griefs, they were halved, but when we shared our joys, they were doubled. And that’s how I feel about God………about how being a Christian and dealing with disappointments and griefs when God is in your life is better than going it alone. I feel sorry for atheists. What a tough lonely road.

http://www.pastorbillwalden.com/Topics/sorrow

I was thinking about this a couple of weeks ago. So often we swing from hope to despair and back again. We see sorrow and joy as irreconcilable opposites. Here, the bible suggests that isn’t the case. Both extremes can be part of our day by day, minute by minute existence.

So often we feel like we’re supposed to wear the ‘shiny happy Christian’ mask. We’ve all met the kind of person who makes you feel unspiritual if you admit to having problems, struggling with life or just feeling sad. They’re wrong. Here, Paul says it’s OK for our hearts to ache. This sin-tinged world can be an oppressive place to live sometimes. Horrible stuff happens, hearts get broken, dreams get shattered and sometimes daily life is just plain hard work.

What makes those of us who’ve met Jesus different from everyone else? The joy and the hope (sure and certain). We live in two realities. The temporal world around us will get us down, but we have an eternal reality in us now that will reach fullness one day. This reality sometimes seems distant and can get clouded by the immediacy of what is going on around us, but whether it feels it or not, it’s more real than anything this world can throw at us. It is possible to feel crushed yet rejoice.

Sometimes this is easier said than done, and circumstances will always affect us positively or negatively, but it’s something that’s challenged me. I thank God for the hope we have, and am asking Him to give us His supernatural joy – not to take the place of our sorrow but to get right in there beside it.

No feeble attempts at humor today. Too many real words here.

I appreciate your honesty and the your writing!
Love and Prayers,
Joetta Colquette