Tag Archives: Faith

Christian Life, Faith, Grief, Motherhood, Single Parenting

The Exquisite Ache of Mothering

May 11, 2013 Diane Rivers 4 Comments

Welcome to the world!

These are things I ask myself: Why does a woman long for motherhood? Just what is the irresistible draw? Is it the desire to bring a child into the security of a warm circle of love? The particular mix of hormones brought on by the passage of a certain number of birthdays? Acquiescence to relentless pressure from family and friends? An unquenchable desire to love and be loved in a wholly unique way?

Perhaps it’s a combination of all these. Whatever the answer, if God should allow her that privilege, there are a few things she should know: Continue reading The Exquisite Ache of Mothering →

Christian Life, Faith, Prayer, Uncategorized

This package is not for you

May 6, 2013 Diane Rivers 10 Comments

In the last two weeks, two of my closest family members have faced health crises that have sent me into an emotional tailspin. I’ve defaulted to my specialty – worry – and it has not served me well. Can you relate?

I wake up again and again in the night, my mind a dark labyrinth of thoughts spinning and clashing out of control. Fear lurks like a thick fog over my bed. Each time, I pray: for a positive outcome to whatever medical procedure looms next, for complete healing of mind and body, for confidence and courage. Then I find soft comfort as I drift back to sleep, only to wake again a short time later, my mind in overdrive once more. Continue reading This package is not for you →

Christian Life, Faith, Uncategorized

If God said this to you, would it be enough?

March 19, 2013 Diane Rivers 5 Comments

“You’ll lead a pretty great life and live to be old. Now go do the best you can.”

I know people who would be happy with that pronouncement. People who really don’t want too much interference from an all-knowing, all-powerful Deity who might have some different ideas about what constitutes a meaningful life.

With those marching orders, they could define “pretty great” for themselves, and the ambiguity of “old” would suit them just fine. Doing their best could mean pursuing happiness on their own terms, finding their own pleasure. That could work out really well.

Until it doesn’t. Continue reading If God said this to you, would it be enough? →

Christian Life, Prayer, Uncategorized

I Heard God’s Singing Voice

February 22, 2013 Diane Rivers 15 Comments

I woke up with a headache this morning that caffeine wouldn’t touch (I’m blaming it on the red tide at the beach yesterday) and it started going downhill from there.

I was trying to complete an important project for my employer and I kept slamming up against computer problems that would have made a preacher cuss. Continue reading I Heard God’s Singing Voice →

Christian Life, One Word 365, Uncategorized

Finding Beauty in Tension

February 13, 2013 Diane Rivers 4 Comments

I chose to be part of the OneWord365 movement this year – the idea being that instead of making New Year’s resolutions, you prayerfully select a single word and focus on it for a full year, noting how it influences your life each day. I chose “harmony” as my word for 2013. This is my update on how it’s going.

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Did you ever buy a new car and suddenly it seems every third car you see on the road is the same make and model as the one you just bought? (Excuse me, when did the whole world decide to buy a Toyota Prius??)

That’s how it is for me with HARMONY.

Everywhere I turn, I’m noticing this word. I see it referenced in the Bible, I come across articles that address it. Even in conversation, harmony comes up regularly.

That tells me this is definitely a concept I need to focus on.

One of the best discussions out there about harmony is Continue reading Finding Beauty in Tension →

Christian Life, Faith, Uncategorized

I Saw God When I Opened My Laptop Today

February 6, 2013 Diane Rivers 4 Comments

No, not like one of those apparitions where Jesus’ face appears on a grilled cheese sandwich or a weeping Virgin Mary is seen on a dirt-streaked wall.

The smudged screen didn’t hint at a bearded, long-haired man if I squinted just so. Nope, not like that at all.

It was more of a simple reminder. A message that a vast, all-powerful God could peek into my seemingly insignificant life to say a quick, “Hey, love you!”

Here’s what happened: Continue reading I Saw God When I Opened My Laptop Today →

Christian Life, Singleness, Uncategorized

Is Singleness A Workaround?

February 2, 2013 Diane Rivers 5 Comments

It’s Saturday, so I’d like to share this post for singles. A version of it appeared here in April 2011.

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This surprised me: More than fifty per cent of U.S. residents are now single, nearly a third of all households are comprised of just one resident, and five million adults younger than thirty-five live alone*.

Singleness is hardly rare and single adults of all ages have a considerable amount of influence on American culture, from their purchasing habits to their entertainment choices.

But would singleness be considered a “workaround”? Continue reading Is Singleness A Workaround? →

Christian Life, Community, Faith, Prayer, Uncategorized

A Quote That Stopped Me in My Tracks

January 24, 2013 Diane Rivers 12 Comments

Yesterday on Twitter someone quoted David Augsburger and it was so arresting I had to read it twice. It was only 17 words but I went to sleep last night thinking about what a profound truth it revealed.

Here’s the quote: Continue reading A Quote That Stopped Me in My Tracks →

Singleness, Uncategorized

Passed By A Pregnant Chick

January 19, 2013 Diane Rivers 14 Comments

On Saturdays, I’d like to focus on singles in this blog, since many who are single feel they are leading “workaround” lives. (I was a single parent for 18 years; I get that.) I’ll be sharing content here from SingleMatters, a blog I write with Marie Shepherd, and also sharing insights from other relevant sources and writers. A variation of the post that follows originally appeared on SingleMatters last April.

Have you ever participated in a “Fun Run”? Maybe it was only a few miles, to raise money for a worthy cause. There was no real pressure and you really didn’t give a moment’s thought to actually winning your age bracket.

But there you were, jostling with the other runners at the start, feeling all healthy and honorable, and you found yourself sizing up the people around you. Continue reading Passed By A Pregnant Chick →

Christian Life, One Word 365, Uncategorized

The Question I’m Asking Myself

January 15, 2013 Diane Rivers 10 Comments

Last week I revealed that I was joining the OneWord365 “resolution revolution”. Instead of making New Year’s resolutions (something I don’t do anyway), I said I was going to choose one word that represents a trait I’d like to nurture in my life in 2013.

The word I chose is HARMONY.

The idea is to focus on the idea of harmony every day throughout the year and in the process, possibly change the sound track of my life. For me, relational chaos is exhausting and unhealthy; I recognize this. (It probably is for you too.) But encouraging harmony just might add years to my life (or, as it’s been said, life to my years).

And since I committed to updating my progress on the 15^th of each month, here’s the first status report.

Continue reading The Question I’m Asking Myself →

Diane Rivers

Tag Archives: Faith

The Exquisite Ache of Mothering

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This package is not for you

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If God said this to you, would it be enough?

“You’ll lead a pretty great life and live to be old. Now go do the best you can.”

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I Heard God’s Singing Voice

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Finding Beauty in Tension

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I Saw God When I Opened My Laptop Today

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Is Singleness A Workaround?

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A Quote That Stopped Me in My Tracks

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Passed By A Pregnant Chick

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The Question I’m Asking Myself

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Finding Joy in a Workaround Life

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“You’ll lead a pretty great life and live to be old. Now go do the best you can.”

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Finding Joy in a Workaround Life