tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post272058557350859031..comments2015-05-03T15:29:01.946-04:00Comments on Mary Schieferstein - Stories of Rain and Rivers: From Death to LifeMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982915577379777268noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-49820007715607862282012-04-25T16:38:40.619-04:002012-04-25T16:38:40.619-04:00Oh, Melody, I'm so glad that God used my imper...Oh, Melody, I'm so glad that God used my imperfect words to speak to you. I'm so glad that He let whatever I said <i>mean</i> something to you. It really is a comfort, being with His body, for He uses His people to bless each other in amazing ways. He really is so gracious to give us community, not to asks us to struggle through it all alone. Thank you for your beautiful comment. I'm so humbled and blessed that God has ministered to you through me.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12982915577379777268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-10703894647182939952012-04-23T07:39:28.175-04:002012-04-23T07:39:28.175-04:00Thank you so much for your sweet comment. You real...Thank you so much for your sweet comment. You really don't know how much it means to me. What a comfort Christ's body is! He is so gracious to not let us struggle alone, but to place us where brethren can minister to us. You have ministered to me and thank you.Melody ________________________________https://www.blogger.com/profile/08502411269858441207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-28035887504808676452012-04-23T01:40:45.100-04:002012-04-23T01:40:45.100-04:00Oh, and I need that reminder, too, Natasha. Every...Oh, and I need that reminder, too, Natasha. <i>Every single day.</i> I am <i>so good</i> at forgetting that only He can bring the dead to life. "Him and only Him." Yes! Thank you so much for visiting and commenting! It's such a blessing!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12982915577379777268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-30418238056933150852012-04-22T17:35:06.610-04:002012-04-22T17:35:06.610-04:00I can't bring myself back to life... How I nee...<i>I can't bring myself back to life...</i> How I need that reminder! It is Him and <b>only Him.</b>Natashahttp://www.nmetzler.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-48153925800753447412012-04-21T19:26:48.940-04:002012-04-21T19:26:48.940-04:00Oh, thank you, Christina! I'm just glad God u...Oh, thank you, Christina! I'm just glad God used my struggles to touch others. And, yes, John Piper is a great encouragement, and it was an amazing sermon. As much as I understand the need to discover things on my own, the practical advice that John Piper frequently gives has been incredibly helpful to me.<br />Thank <i>you</i> for visiting <i>my</i> quiet little corner of the Internet! I'm glad you enjoyed it! God is so gracious to allow the rambling thoughts I post here to bless others. I really enjoyed visiting your blog, and I truly appreciated <i>your</i> honesty in sharing about things that all of us struggle with. It was both convicting and encouraging! Thank you so much!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12982915577379777268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-84742590990905685412012-04-21T07:27:31.784-04:002012-04-21T07:27:31.784-04:00How beautiful, raw, real. I appreciate you opening...How beautiful, raw, real. I appreciate you opening your heart and sharing this. So many of us go through times like this. John Piper is always an encouragement--sounds like an amazing sermon. Thanks for visiting my little blog, I enjoyed visiting here!Christinahttp://www.toshowthemjesus.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-12831263105623089342012-04-20T22:01:11.939-04:002012-04-20T22:01:11.939-04:00God bless you all, and thank you so, so much - eac...God bless you all, and thank you so, so much - each and every one of you. I truly am so humbled, so blessed! Praise be to God! <i>Praise be to God!</i>Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12982915577379777268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-75188746737173490692012-04-20T22:00:43.237-04:002012-04-20T22:00:43.237-04:00Bernadette, I cannot thank you enough for stopping...Bernadette, I cannot thank you enough for stopping by. Because of the way comments are set up, yours was the first one I read, and I was so blessed to read it. God moved my soul with the knowledge that He can use even my imperfect words to help others. I do strive to be real, at least here, where it's easier. In real life, too, but I fail there so much more often than I succeed. Oh, and I fail here, too. Thank you, though - oh, <i>thank you</i> for telling me I've blessed - rather, that <i>He's</i> blessed through me. It means so much.<br />Speaking of blessing, Bernadette, I looked at your post "It Is Well With My Soul" (http://www.thefreedomjournal.blogspot.com/2012/02/it-is-well-with-my-soul.html) - so, so beautiful! And it seems that you may have discovered it before I did - how to preach to yourself. "[B]e <i><b>well</b></i>, my soul." Oh, yes. Be <i>well</i> my soul. Never alone. Thank you for this incredible blessing.<br />Oh, yes, Bernadette, He <i>is</i> the glory and lifter of our heads!!! So grateful. So, so grateful. Blessings for you, too. And, thank you for the compliment, but I am not wonderful. Not at all. <i>He</i> is. <i><b>Only Him</b></i>. Growth for both of us, sister.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12982915577379777268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-7045877194712829712012-04-20T21:59:28.876-04:002012-04-20T21:59:28.876-04:00Oh, Melody, prayers for you. It is so, so hard to...Oh, Melody, prayers for you. It is so, so hard to be in the middle of those dry spells. I'm so glad that God has used my experience to reach you, tell you you're not alone, because you never are. <i>Everyone</i> goes through these. <i><b>Everyone.</b></i> Take heart and know that, so long as you're clinging to Him, striving - <i>begging</i> - to want Him again, He will <i>never, <b>never</b> leave you or forsake you</i>. He is <i>Faithful</i>. He is so, <i>so Faithful</i>. <i>God bless you.</i>Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12982915577379777268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-76376896909502401582012-04-20T21:58:04.519-04:002012-04-20T21:58:04.519-04:00Court, thank you for your enthusiasm! Yes, He rea...Court, thank you for your enthusiasm! Yes, He really, really does make all things new - even a heart as messed-up as mine! And praise Him for Easter, Spring, and all things new, else I might forget that He really does bring the dead to life. Thank you so, so much for your words!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12982915577379777268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-23410365946867268242012-04-20T21:57:41.348-04:002012-04-20T21:57:41.348-04:00Sylvia, yes, I'm so glad He brought me out of ...Sylvia, yes, I'm so glad He brought me out of that tunnel again! He is so merciful and so gracious, pulling me back on that narrow way when I've wandered off for the thousandth time. And you're so right - it <i>is</i> so, so important to hold onto faith despite feelings, but the thing that gets to me in these times is that it's also important for faith to <i>involve</i> feeling. If God is not my delight, then my faith ultimately means nothing. However, John Piper said in one of his sermons, too, that God often reaches people in the most incredible ways when they're in the midst of the desert - just look at Job! So, you're absolutely right. We must hold on in the desert, while we're searching and begging and praying for a way out. Thank you so, so much for your encouragement and friendship! God bless, sister!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12982915577379777268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-48548107061335802692012-04-20T21:56:40.526-04:002012-04-20T21:56:40.526-04:00Before I say anything else to respond to these won...Before I say anything else to respond to these wonderful, beautiful comments you've all left me, I first must say WOW. I am totally shocked and humbled. I did NOT expect to get <i>four comments</i> on this post, within just a couple of days. I am absolutely amazed that God would use someone as weak, imperfect, and incapable as me to bless others. May He get all of the glory!!!!!<br />Second, I must thank all of you for helping me to realize just how important it is to share what I'm going through - however ugly it may be. I've been learning a lot lately through listening to sermons about how important it is for the people of the Body to be open and honest with each other, how the best thing we can do for each other is live openly and confessionally, not try to hide the awful, awful mess we are - <i>but I'd never seen it, never <b>really</b> known it to be true.</i> So thank you, thank you, thank you for showing me that. I'm so glad God used my trials to bring some hint of blessing into your lives - and, again, to Him be all the glory!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12982915577379777268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-37837099604282285602012-04-20T21:25:17.590-04:002012-04-20T21:25:17.590-04:00Dear Mary, (My little daughter's name too!)
I&...Dear Mary, (My little daughter's name too!)<br />I'm so glad that you stopped over at freedom journal and left me note. It gave me the opportunity to come by your place and say..."Wow...how nice that somebody is out there speaking the truth and being real." Thank you for this post...I posted a while back on "It Is Well With My Soul" because I was feeling just like this. Dry. Without joy. Hopeless. Thank God He is the glory and the lifter of our heads, yes? So grateful for His great faithfulness, and that He is a God who understands. Blessings even in the desert, Mary. I've got you on my radar, and I'll be praying for a season of growth. You are....wonderful. :)<br />Bernadette www.thefreedomjournal.blogspot.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-16542792438702506932012-04-20T17:13:54.017-04:002012-04-20T17:13:54.017-04:00Thank you so much for sharing. Reassuring words to...Thank you so much for sharing. Reassuring words to a girl going through her own dry spell. Thank you for telling me that I'm not alone.Melody ________________________________https://www.blogger.com/profile/08502411269858441207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-12843398505310932912012-04-18T22:13:10.009-04:002012-04-18T22:13:10.009-04:00He makes all things new! Spring is ushered in by E...He makes all things new! Spring is ushered in by Easter the newest and bestest of the new!Court Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08879405062559613112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-81077175992914854102012-04-18T18:04:01.331-04:002012-04-18T18:04:01.331-04:00Hallelujah! Glad He brought you our of your dusky ...Hallelujah! Glad He brought you our of your dusky tunnel. I often have to remind myself not to let my feelings bully me. Someone once gave me this saying, "Feelings aren't facts!" So many things can influence them, from fatigue to illness to life in general on this planet. Holding onto faith despite feelings, that's how the faith grows. God bless you. Prayers.Sylvia Rhttp://sylvrpen.comnoreply@blogger.com