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Baby Girl: A Hopeful Dirge for the Parents of a Stillborn Child
I wrote this poem for the parents of a stillborn child some time ago. They more recently gave me permission to share it publicly in the hopes it might be a comfort to others who have lost little ones. Baby Girl by Josh Mudge Baby girl who died far too young Unborn daughter who never…
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Expectations, People, and God
I was recently reminded of something a mentor of mine, Russ, said years ago. “If we set our expectation on persons, places, or things; they will disappear and disappoint. If we set our expectation on God, He will never disappear or disappoint.” The older I get, the more truth I find in that statement. Josh
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God Does Not Merely Tolerate You
God is not merely tolerant of believers because of Christ’s sacrifice, He delights in us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Jesus went to the cross with a beautiful mix of joy and sorrow.…
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My Feelings are Not God
“My feelings are not God. God is God. My feelings do not define truth. God’s word defines truth. My feelings are echoes and responses to what my mind perceives. And sometimes – many times – my feelings are out of sync with the truth. When that happens – and it happens every day in some…
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On Suffering, Pain, Joy, and Glory
I Would Not Know I would not know the pleasure of relief if I did not know pain. It is through the death of those we love that we grow to appreciate life. I would not have tasted the heights of Joy if I had not known at least some of the depths of depression.…
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Suffering: A Different Take on Thanksgiving (Updated)
The First Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a special time of year for giving thanks as we reflect on all God has given us. The cliche is that everything is great, therefore I praise God. When the harvest is in, the table is full, and we have no apparent lack of anything. What about when the harvest…
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A Beautiful Place
A Beautiful Place I look to my left and I see the sun shining on green grass carpeted with orange leaves that mark the end of summer. I look to my right and I see some sun there as well. I want to go to the left, but I told myself I’d go the right.…
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One Verse A Day
One Verse About a week ago, I chose a Tiny Habit. I chose to read one verse from the Bible every day after I do my health routine when I wake up. I usually read more than one verse, but any more than that is extra credit. No matter how crazy my day is, I…
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“Daddy Is Wrong”
Daddy Is Wrong All sin is a lack of trust in God. It’s saying “I trust what I think is best is better than what you think is best.” This idea came from a sermon clip where John Piper gave this illustration: “The only reason my sons disobey me is because, on the spur of…
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If You Could Go Back in Time, What Would You Tell Your 18 Year Old Self?
“If you could go back in time and talk to your 18 year old self, what would you say?” That’s the question I asked a few people back in 2019 when I was 18. I don’t remember most of the responses, but one of them stuck with me. “Don’t be so selfish.” That answer came…