“The greatest freedom is having nothing to prove.” – R.T. Kendall When I look at the big comfy couch and overstuffed armchair here in my living room, I think of open-hearted conversations with friends. I think of the times people have trusted me with their stories as we sat on sofas covered in white brocade,…
Living Blessed!
I love study and have particularly found that exploring the meaning of words in the original Bible language opens my understanding and clarifies the author’s intent. It is the Bible in the original languages that is God-breathed, not the King James or New American Standard or any of the multitude of other translations. Basing comprehension…
An Audience of One
Playing an instrument is not my forte. The only thing I learned to play growing up was the radio. As a child I wanted to study piano but money for lessons was tight. Instead, I learned to type. They’re kind of the same thing – they both have a keyboard. A number of years ago…
Acknowledging the Eldership of Women
Ishshah’s Story is pleased to feature the following archived Her History post authored by Cheryl McGrath. Away for a short break, Cheryl’s voice and heart stimulates us still through her writings. Enjoy the first of two posts to be featured while she is on a brief sabbatical. When I was both a young woman and…
Carrying the Light
My friend and I drove around back roads looking for inspiration. Springtime in the Rockies, when trees blossom and snow gleams on mountain peaks above greening valleys, is a joyous time for amateur photographers. We understand that journeys can be destinations in themselves. While checking out a village by the river we passed an abandoned…
Peace in the Storm
Some people have vivid dreams on a regular basis but I’m not one of them. Even if I have a dream, I seldom can remember much about it. However, early in my walk with the Lord, I had three dreams that I have never forgotten. I believe they were meant to teach me critical lessons.…
Encouraging the Encourager
Have you ever been starved for encouragement? I think I see a global version of “the wave” passing across my computer screen. You too, huh? If anything, there is encouragement in the fact that none of us are alone in the need for encouragement. No man or woman is an island. We’ve all climbed that…
In the Middle of the Day
It is our pleasure here at Ishshah’s Story to welcome back author and blogger Linda Jo Reed of the U.S. The following guest post, her second contribution to the blog, offers an engaging retelling of the Samaritan woman – the woman at the well. Linda Jo’s first story, Upheld in Life Change, can be enjoyed…
Celebrating Jackie Hamill: Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory
The contrast between the rugged west coast of Australia’s smallest state, Tasmania, and the urban sprawl of Davao City in The Philippines could not be starker. Tasmania’s west coast is a pristine wilderness of misty mountains, winding rivers and impenetrable forest. It is here, in the isolated seaside village of Strachan, that Jacqueline Hamill was…
Behold
My dear friend suggested we spend a day together worshiping God in the beauty of the nature, outside of the buildings where we usually meet. We spent Sunday driving on the back roads in the countryside here in the valley in Southern British Columbia between the Rockies and the Purcell Mountains. We stopped to admire…
Taking the Promised Land
Back in the 70’s I attended an Aglow retreat where the speaker gave a message that has stayed with me all these years. It had to do with the tribes that inhabited the Promised Land and were to be driven out. It is one of those wonderful truths hidden in the Old Testament that might…
Hopey-Changey Thing
One morning on my way to our office I found myself stopped in traffic at a red light. Momentarily halted in my tracks, my gaze drifted to the bumper sticker on the vehicle idling in front of me. Did you know bumper stickers can tick you off, make you laugh, pump your fist, or yell…
Manoah’s Wife
Tucked away in the Old Testament book of Judges there is a woman many of us may not have heard about. As the Bible does not disclose her name, we know her only as Manoah’s wife. Her story is found in Judges 13:1-24. Manoah’s wife lived during a period of Israel’s history when the nation…
Settler or Pioneer: Finding Your Role, Playing it Well
Ishshah’s Story is pleased to feature a new guest contributor to the blog! Join us as we welcome Laurie in her own words: Laurie Klein, who resides in the U.S., authored the classic praise chorus “I Love You, Lord,” a newly released poetry collection, Where the Sky Opens (Cascade Books), and she blogs at lauriekleinscribe.com. Her work appears widely…
Saying Yes
“He leaned on the pulpit, and said in a stern fatherly voice, ‘Now ladies, there’s a case here in the news where a wife is making accusations against her husband. You need to understand this. There is no such thing as rape in marriage. There’s no such thing because the Bible says your body belongs…
The Remarkable Katharine Bushnell
I’d like for you to meet one of my favorite people, Dr. Katharine C. Bushnell. Obviously I never met her in the flesh since my friend Kate was born in 1855, a bit before my time.[1] She was a physician, missionary, crusader, reformer, author and speaker as well as a brilliant and original scholar who…
Prophetic Passports
My husband and I recently received our crisp new passports. Unfortunately, they don’t look much different from the expired ones we sent in with our paperwork. They both contain lots of blank pages. Just what you’d expect with the new ones. With the old ones? Not so much. A passport is a gateway to exotic…
Celebrating: Anne Askew, The Fair Gospeler
Anne Askew was born into a wealthy English family in Lincolnshire, England, in 1521 during a time when the Bible was becoming increasingly available to the general population. In 1517 Martin Luther had nailed his 95 Theses to a church door in Germany and in 1526 William Tyndale published his English translation of the New…
Dyin’ with an Astronaut: When There is More to the Story
The woman at the tourist bureau said the full package ticket to the Kennedy Space Center included dinner with an astronaut – a real astronaut who had been to outer space! My husband perked up. Garden walks and theme parks were his gift to me. “Dine with an Astronaut” would be my gift to him.…
Women in Leadership in the Early Church Part 3
This is the third article addressing women in ministry. The first two articles use the Bible to document their service and leadership from the time of Jesus through the first century. Part 3 looks at the factors that came together to oppose the equality found in the early church. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE FIRST CENTURY The…
Women in Leadership in the Early Church – Part 2
This is the second of three articles addressing women in ministry. The first two articles use the Bible to document their service and leadership from the time of Jesus through the first century. Part 3 looks at the factors that came together to oppose the equality found in the early church. WOMEN LEADERS IN THE EARLY CHURCH…
Women in Leadership in the Early Church – Part 1
This is the first of three articles addressing women in ministry. The first two articles use the Bible to document their service and leadership from the time of Jesus through the first century. Part 3 looks at the factors that came together to oppose the equality found in the early church. What is an Apostle? It…
Don’t Mess with My Identity
Short and stocky, he was striding through the airport looking like a thundercloud. With hands plunged deeply in the front pockets of his jeans and jaw set with a scowl, the front of his black sweatshirt broadcast the newsflash! Gender is Over Just like that, white letters on a black hoodie informed me that my being…
Welcome to Charis Psallo
We are very happy to announce that Charis of Charis:Subject to Change is joining us as a regular contributor to Ishshah’s Story. This means as well as posts from the familiar voices of Nancy, Pat and Cheryl you can now look forward to interesting articles from Charis as she shares from her grace and wisdom with our readers. …
Destiny
This song, called “Destiny”, was written by me in 2003. It describes three women found in the gospels – the woman who poured her perfume on Jesus (Luke 7:37-48), the woman with the issue of blood (Matt. 9:20-22), and the Samaritan woman He met at a well (John 4:7-29). But really this song is about every woman who…
