Real Life by Peggi Tustan

Welcome to Real Life . Who are we trying to please? “ Not everyone has to like me... I can't force people to have good taste. ”   Anonymous No matter how hard we try to do everything right, some people will not like us. Daniel was an all-around great guy—loyal, wise, and full of integrity! King Darius recognized his exceptional qualities and planned to set him over the entire kingdom. The other administrators, however, grew jealous. They spied on Daniel trying to detect some fault, some corruption, some negligence in him. But they found nothing. Finally, they realized the only way to take Daniel down was to find something to do with the law of his God. Daniel’s enemies noticed that he prayed three times a day with his window open towards Jerusalem. They devised a plan, and approached King Darius, saying, “May the king live forever! We all agree the king should issue a decree that anyone who prays to any god or human for the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be th...

Welcome to Real Life . It (real life) is not always easy! It is a poverty of imagination that bankrupts hope. –Ann Voskamp, Waymaker I was a young wife, not yet twenty, when my husband abandoned me. I was devastated. All my hopes and dreams for the future had walked out the door. Then one day in church, I heard this promise and clung to it. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 The Lord made this promise to his people at a time when they were devastated. All their hopes and dreams—their homes, nation, house of worship—everything was gone. Israel had turned away from God and committed idolatry, even sacrificing their children to foreign Gods. [1] And so, God removed his protection and brought judgment. He allowed Babylon to destroy Jerusalem and lead his people away as captives. The Flight of the Prisoners  (1896) by James Tissot Though they cried out to God in the...

Welcome to Real Life . I’m amazed by those who ask boldly. “Buď tak dobre . . .” my mother would begin in Slovak and then pause with a mischievous grin. We knew what was coming. Translation: Be so good as to . . . Mom was about to beg a favor. She wasn’t shy about asking. Anita told me this anecdote at her funeral. “Once I called for your sister. Your mom told me she wasn’t home. But then she asked me to come over and drive her to Bingo. Of course, I couldn’t refuse your mom.” I thought of Mom as I read Nehemiah. He, too, made bold requests, though a bit more serious than a ride to Bingo. His story begins with sad news. A group just returned from Jerusalem. Nehemiah asks for an update. They give this report. “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” [1] Stunned, Nehemiah sits and weeps. For days, he mourns, fasts, and prays. Nehemiah is cupbear...