It has been one month, two weeks, and two days since she took her last breath. I had hoped to celebrate this birthday with her! I do not think I ever had the privilege of celebrating her March 12th birthday alongside her. Yet even more, I looked forward each year (since 2005) to her spiritual … Continue reading Sharon Kay Castillo Rion
Blooming Insights
A Life of Repeated Transitions
In the early years of marriage (I was 18 when I married) while experiencing emotional roller coasters and intense difficulties besides seasons of disconnect, my thoughts were constantly ME, ME, ME! And though I soon became a pastor’s wife, my journey to trusting God and enjoying an intimate connectedness always came up lacking. Progress still … Continue reading A Life of Repeated Transitions
Trusting God’s Sovereign Hand
Thinking back over the past four months, I see God’s sovereign hand in all that transpired. God’s sovereign hand led me to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas in Louisiana with my sister-in-law and family. Then, orchestrating my return just in time on January 24, to spend the last 3 hours of her earthly life next to … Continue reading Trusting God’s Sovereign Hand
Beggared or Refined
I begged God not to take her! But she quietly stopped breathing, her pulse growing more and more distant until it was no more. “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). We have been given a command and yet we seldom are diligently, actively, … Continue reading Beggared or Refined
A Hope of Rescue!
You can never fully express with words the pain of one’s suffering, for the one suffering as well as those watching. God’s gifts, yes, even the gift of suffering, serve a purpose in our becoming Christ-like (Romans 8:29, 1 Peter 1:6-16). Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered (Hebrews 5:8), Job learned how to … Continue reading A Hope of Rescue!
Skimming the Peaks: Creation to Christ, Part 11: Babel
God pasted a rainbow in the sky as His promise to never flood the earth again. He gave a command to Noah and his family, to populate and fill the earth just as He had with Adam and Eve (Genesis 9:1-2). But it was not long before the people began to forget the goodness of … Continue reading Skimming the Peaks: Creation to Christ, Part 11: Babel
Worms & Election 2020
“. . . BUT prayer . . . made fervently by the church of God.” Acts 12:5b, NASB Prayer made all the difference for the imprisoned Apostle. Do we understand the power of prayer? Do we realize the weaponry that is at our disposal? Our unbelief or lackadaisical approach may actually be hindering our prayers. … Continue reading Worms & Election 2020
“Cry Out” Challenge, Day 7
But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord AGAIN raised up a rescuer to save them. Judges 3:15a During the time of the Judges, God served as Israel’s king and they were to follow and obey Him. Yet, Israel rarely walked in obedience; It was more like sheep … Continue reading “Cry Out” Challenge, Day 7
No Other Option!
Can you imagine how it would feel to finally be set free after being held captive, a slave, for your entire life? Panting breathlessly, you reach a roadblock only to see your captors coming after you once again. That’s exactly what happened to God’s chosen people, the Israelites. When Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel … Continue reading No Other Option!
“Cry Out” Challenge, Day 5
A bouncing baby boy was born to a Levite family joining an older brother and sister. His parents could tell he was a special child and they hid him at risk of their own lives. When they couldn’t hide him any longer, the mother made a little basket and placed him afloat on the River … Continue reading “Cry Out” Challenge, Day 5
