Fern – Writing at the Intersection of Life & Grace

God’s Home: In Us

On September 6, 2020

One of my most favorite passages of Scripture is John 14 because it is where Jesus reveals what His relationship will be (and now is!) with His followers after His death, resurrection, and ascension.

He said He would come and make His home with each of us who love Him and follow Him, and not just Him, but the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit, too.

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
John 14:23 NIV

Because the Trinity is always with us, we are never alone. We are never without love and sweet fellowship. We are never without wisdom and guidance. We are never without a Helper, a Comforter, and Counselor.

We have all that we need, and He will never, ever leave us!

Freedom to Choose

By Fern Horst

On August 5, 2020

In Musings

One of the best gifts we can give each other is the acknowledgment that each of us is answerable to God first and foremost. Imposing our opinion shuts down a relationship. Listening with an open heart keeps it open.

We may disagree with someone’s perspective, opinion, decisions, or beliefs, but when we realize that God is the One responsible for them, not us, we free that person to explore all God has for them without fear of our reaction.

We must be careful to not assume we know God’s plan for another’s life. And we must be careful to respect and honor their God-given right to make their own choices.

If we are concerned about someone’s choices, the best thing we can do is to pray for them that God’s purpose in their life prevails. We can trust God to accomplish His purposes for them, just as we can trust Him to do the same for us!

A Mother to the Motherless

By Fern Horst

On May 10, 2020

In Musings

When my mother was on her death bed, I sang to her one day when she was restless. I was comforted to see that it calmed her as she laid with her eyes closed. When I started singing the lullaby she had made up and sang to us when we were little, her eyes suddenly opened and she smiled lovingly at me. I treasure that memory!

A Place to Call Home

By Fern Horst

On March 28, 2020

In Faith

I am a homeless person, of sorts. Not in the sense that I don’t have a roof over my head or people who love me. I’m homeless in the sense that while I’ve called numerous places on this planet “home,” none are places I go back to as one would go “back home.” By the time I was forty, I had called five very different geographic locations “home,” and the place I live now has never truly felt like home.

Miserable Comforters

By Fern Horst

On February 7, 2020

In Relationships

I just finished listening to the book of Job in the New Living Translation. Every few years, I like to read through the Bible in chronological order to retain the big picture view of its storyline and overall message, which is our redemption through Jesus. This year, I’m listening to it instead of reading it, using The One Year Chronological Bible NLT Audible Audiobook. I’ve also gotten the Kindle version for days when reading is more convenient.

Now, back to Job.

The incredible gift of a constant companion

God With Us: The Gift that Keeps Giving

By Fern Horst

On January 26, 2020

In Faith

Christmas has come and gone. Gifts were given and received. Some of those gifts are still being enjoyed while others have been shoved in a corner and forgotten. Eventually, all earthly gifts lose their value in one way or another.

But there’s one Christmas gift that will never lose its value and will become more precious to us day after day and year after year.