How timely was this drop if your Sunday article? Well-very, to say the very least. I’m struggling mightily with my relationship with my son, who is angry and sorely disappointed that he is being held back from his dream of going to his chosen college because it’s out of his parents financial reach. “I’m an A+ student, all my friend’s parents are paying for their tuition, what’s wrong with you?” “why are you crushing my dreams ?” My heart is broken, I feel like a failed parent, I’ve done what I can but it’s never enough. Then you point out that I must put Jesus first, above my son, above my pain of not being enough in his 18 year old eyes. You are right and I have to live this way and believe this. Thank you for your wisdom and your timing. There’s a lesson, a pruning, a truth, a circumstance in the future, that I can’t know and may never know but He knows. And I have to trust that that is more than enough. ❤️🩹
I’m praying for you guys. That is a very difficult circumstance.
My encouragement to you is to keep talking to Jesus. Don’t stop. Cling to Him in the struggle. He knows your thoughts but there is power in hearing your voice cry out to Him. Keep asking questions too and then wait for His leading. He’s already doing work that we know nothing about.
I suspect the lesson here will be for your son as it’s not always easy to provide everything for our children. I went to college in my 30s and studied with my children. I saw students that had a free ride via parents and students who worked to scrape together the funds for tuition. You know the answer as we humans typically do not appreciate what we obtain without effort
So true! There’s a big world out there and he’s sheltered in a bubble called high school. It’s funny how insignificant those years are now to me and where I’m at. They were fun, but I didn’t learn much about life.
That’s so true of all of us!! He might look into grants. I don’t know the names now, because it’s been a while, but there are those who will invest in college students…🙏🙏
For some reason I found myself rereading this post this morning, my comment, and those that followed. I’m so glad I did! My son is growing up, slowly, but surely. He says he loves me at the end of our calls from where he’s living now. I’m grateful. ☺️
As a parent, I suspect you've done a good job with your son. Your son needs to learn that there are obstacles, in life, that we all have to face from time to time. No one says "life is fair". It's clear he feels you need to remove them for him. Your son needs to build character, as probably most, if not all 18 year olds need to do. Remove that obstacle for him, to your own detriment, and you are creating more harm than good. The most valuable lessons in life are learned outside the classroom...not in the classroom. Let's just say, your son is now learning how the REAL world works. Once he gets this lesson down pat, he'll be able to face other rejections, along the way, with much more grace and acceptance. I love the Rolling Stones song, "You Can't Always Get What You Want"...but you'll get what you NEED!
Thank you, Joe. I can’t believe how timely this was! I am in the midst of intense legal battle, and your comments about redemption. Has really been a game changer for me! I am praying that the person who is unjustly suing me and someone else will have a change of heart and decide to settle this matter, especially for her own sake. It has been a tremendous learning lesson for me, and I am just beginning to embrace a life of faith and I love the combination of faith and truth that you bring to all of us at your Substack and in the Badlands briefs.
I’m sorry you are going through that Karey but I love your attitude.
God is the only One who can change someone’s heart. I will pray with you that God would bless the person as only He knows how and that they will come to know His love.
Thank you, Joe. Timely message. Our family has lost 3 loved ones within a month. It's been rough. God gives me strength. My husband was injured as a first responder in the midst of these 3 loved ones going to heaven. He could have been seriously injured due to the nature of the accident, but I believe my prayers & those of friends & family members spared from very severe injuries. He is recovering remarkably well.
I also take care of my 89 year old mom while living several miles away. Frequently, I am driving in to see her, take her to appointments. It's all good. I'm so very thankful she's with us! I don't know how people get along in life without knowing Jesus & living with faith. God is my rock, my strength. Thank you for writing this message. May it lead many others to Christ.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the Light of His glory and grace.
Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Joe.
Do not forget orphans and widows. They need your help in some of the smallest things. Pick up the phone, go visit. Don’t let them hang out alone.
People will forsake you. It’s been a year and a half since my husband died and I guess they think you ought to be over it. But then I think of Jesus on the cross. There were 3 people left there; His Mother, Mary of Magdala and John.
Everyone else left.
Grief is feeling forsaken. At least for me. But God!!! If I didn’t have Him I don’t know that I would make it.
Thank you Joe. A very timely message. God bless you!!!
Bless you, PamelaCarola; the death of your spouse is devastating. I went through that at age 38. I've been remarried for many years now, but my husband and I are getting up there in years and I dread having to go through it again, if the Lord takes him first. But Jesus is more than enough! I wasn't even a believer yet when my previous husband drowned, but God brought me through and saved me a few years later.
“As I’ve found out in my life, God allows those very struggles, so that He can use you somewhere down the road, to help and encourage someone going through the same thing.”
Also, when I first read the words of Jesus, to come to him, 53 years ago, and did just that, because I heard Him speaking to me in them, my life forever changed. But I still need to do that everyday and every moment.
My personal favorite is The Garden. 🎶…and he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own…and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.🎵
So many of us are weary.. I'm so blessed to have found the Badlands team. I don't feel so alone anymore. Your words are so uplifting and encouraging. God Speed🙏
What a blessing God laid on your heart to share today! Life (and thinking about ‘things’) does create a weariness and the relationships between people can be tricky, discouraging, hurtful and frustrating, but God loves us and in all circumstances tells us to pray to him for healing. So often physical pain can be cured much more quickly than the pain of relationships. We, too, have looked back on our lives together and have seen the steady hand of our Creator as He opens doors we never imagined after a painful experience. Our selfish nature is our biggest enemy and I find I often hate to ask for the small things…don’t want to be a whining pest; yet He tells us to come to Him for everything we need and He will be faithful to us….and He always is.
Thank you, Joe, for this timely and encouraging reminder. I turn to music, too, and my backyard with beautiful plants, productive garden and a couple of chickens provides a front row seat to the beauty He gave a fallen world. Music and nature speaks in ways we can barely understand sometimes, but it always lifts our worry. Thank you and God bless you.🙏
Great comments ALtab and I too love music and nature. Both bring me closer to God. I’m sitting out on the deck right now listening to all the birds and frogs.
I was just chatting with my wife. She likes the frogs but they literally scream at night and keep her up. I told her that not only are there tiny tadpoles all around the pond but there are also huge masses of eggs.
I told her I need about twenty more bass to keep them under control and I will be fishing in my neighbors huge pond for the next few days.
One of my bass already had babies but the small fry are too small to help control the frogs right now. There’s a school of what looks to be about 300 babies, so they will be a big help next year if they survive.
The 20 lbs of shiners need to get busy and start eating these tiny tadpoles and eggs before they drive my wife crazy.😁
Very well said, Joe! I’m so glad you are a man of The WORD, and a man of your word. Personally, I take The WORD as my most vital necessity. I can’t say it better than it is written, so I leap off The WORD to begin my trust conversation, and then weave in and out of HIS gracious insights. I’m always “more than” I was when I began the conversation. Although, HE started HIS conversations with me . . . before the world was!
How timely was this drop if your Sunday article? Well-very, to say the very least. I’m struggling mightily with my relationship with my son, who is angry and sorely disappointed that he is being held back from his dream of going to his chosen college because it’s out of his parents financial reach. “I’m an A+ student, all my friend’s parents are paying for their tuition, what’s wrong with you?” “why are you crushing my dreams ?” My heart is broken, I feel like a failed parent, I’ve done what I can but it’s never enough. Then you point out that I must put Jesus first, above my son, above my pain of not being enough in his 18 year old eyes. You are right and I have to live this way and believe this. Thank you for your wisdom and your timing. There’s a lesson, a pruning, a truth, a circumstance in the future, that I can’t know and may never know but He knows. And I have to trust that that is more than enough. ❤️🩹
I’m praying for you guys. That is a very difficult circumstance.
My encouragement to you is to keep talking to Jesus. Don’t stop. Cling to Him in the struggle. He knows your thoughts but there is power in hearing your voice cry out to Him. Keep asking questions too and then wait for His leading. He’s already doing work that we know nothing about.
Blessings my friend
Thank you 🙏🏼💔🩵
Maybe its your son’s lesson to learn 🙏
Yes, I’m beginning to think that as well. Thank you.
I suspect the lesson here will be for your son as it’s not always easy to provide everything for our children. I went to college in my 30s and studied with my children. I saw students that had a free ride via parents and students who worked to scrape together the funds for tuition. You know the answer as we humans typically do not appreciate what we obtain without effort
So true! There’s a big world out there and he’s sheltered in a bubble called high school. It’s funny how insignificant those years are now to me and where I’m at. They were fun, but I didn’t learn much about life.
That’s so true of all of us!! He might look into grants. I don’t know the names now, because it’s been a while, but there are those who will invest in college students…🙏🙏
For some reason I found myself rereading this post this morning, my comment, and those that followed. I’m so glad I did! My son is growing up, slowly, but surely. He says he loves me at the end of our calls from where he’s living now. I’m grateful. ☺️
❤️
And your son sorely needs to do what we are doing, that is to cry out to Jesus, and not to you.
As a parent, I suspect you've done a good job with your son. Your son needs to learn that there are obstacles, in life, that we all have to face from time to time. No one says "life is fair". It's clear he feels you need to remove them for him. Your son needs to build character, as probably most, if not all 18 year olds need to do. Remove that obstacle for him, to your own detriment, and you are creating more harm than good. The most valuable lessons in life are learned outside the classroom...not in the classroom. Let's just say, your son is now learning how the REAL world works. Once he gets this lesson down pat, he'll be able to face other rejections, along the way, with much more grace and acceptance. I love the Rolling Stones song, "You Can't Always Get What You Want"...but you'll get what you NEED!
Great advice my friend. I was a self centered and immature person in my teens and twenties.
The greatest lessons I learned in life were the hard ones I learned on my own.
That's where we ALL learn them...painful but rewarding in the end:)
Thank you, Joe. I can’t believe how timely this was! I am in the midst of intense legal battle, and your comments about redemption. Has really been a game changer for me! I am praying that the person who is unjustly suing me and someone else will have a change of heart and decide to settle this matter, especially for her own sake. It has been a tremendous learning lesson for me, and I am just beginning to embrace a life of faith and I love the combination of faith and truth that you bring to all of us at your Substack and in the Badlands briefs.
I’m sorry you are going through that Karey but I love your attitude.
God is the only One who can change someone’s heart. I will pray with you that God would bless the person as only He knows how and that they will come to know His love.
I know that kind of blessing can change anyone.
Thank you, Joe. Timely message. Our family has lost 3 loved ones within a month. It's been rough. God gives me strength. My husband was injured as a first responder in the midst of these 3 loved ones going to heaven. He could have been seriously injured due to the nature of the accident, but I believe my prayers & those of friends & family members spared from very severe injuries. He is recovering remarkably well.
I also take care of my 89 year old mom while living several miles away. Frequently, I am driving in to see her, take her to appointments. It's all good. I'm so very thankful she's with us! I don't know how people get along in life without knowing Jesus & living with faith. God is my rock, my strength. Thank you for writing this message. May it lead many others to Christ.
Blessings to you and your family my friend. May God continue to give you all strength and healing. ❤️
Praying for the Lord's comfort and strength for you through the grief and trials.
Thank you. Philippians 4:13 is one of my life verses. Simply saying it brings peace & strength.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the Light of His glory and grace.
Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Joe.
Do not forget orphans and widows. They need your help in some of the smallest things. Pick up the phone, go visit. Don’t let them hang out alone.
People will forsake you. It’s been a year and a half since my husband died and I guess they think you ought to be over it. But then I think of Jesus on the cross. There were 3 people left there; His Mother, Mary of Magdala and John.
Everyone else left.
Grief is feeling forsaken. At least for me. But God!!! If I didn’t have Him I don’t know that I would make it.
Thank you Joe. A very timely message. God bless you!!!
Blessings Pamela. I can’t imagine all that you’ve been through. I’m sure it hasn’t been easy.
Jesus emphasized helping widows and orphans because of that heartbreak and grief. They need more help than most.
Prayers my friend and can I encourage you?
Keep your chin up and keep clinging to God who is faithful.
Blessings
Love you, Joe! You are a blessing in so many ways. I thank God for you. ❤️
Love you too Pamela, I’m just trying to be all God made me to be and love what He loves, which is people.
Blessings dear friend
He made a good son! 👍🏼❤️
Only because I reside in His shadow. That’s the only reason I’m good. On my own I had many regrets.
Bless you, PamelaCarola; the death of your spouse is devastating. I went through that at age 38. I've been remarried for many years now, but my husband and I are getting up there in years and I dread having to go through it again, if the Lord takes him first. But Jesus is more than enough! I wasn't even a believer yet when my previous husband drowned, but God brought me through and saved me a few years later.
God bless you.
🙏🙏
Thank you, Joe.
I sure can relate to this,
“As I’ve found out in my life, God allows those very struggles, so that He can use you somewhere down the road, to help and encourage someone going through the same thing.”
Also, when I first read the words of Jesus, to come to him, 53 years ago, and did just that, because I heard Him speaking to me in them, my life forever changed. But I still need to do that everyday and every moment.
I need to do that every day too!!
THIS was exactly what I needed to hear in THIS very moment to give ME hope! Thank you, Joe Lange!!
Never lose hope my friend!!
Jesus is always faithful and there is no greater Savior than!
What a wonderful message. Thank you, Joe.
Blessings Kathy!!
Beautiful, and much needed. Thank you Joe!
Blessings always Joann!!👊🏼👊🏼
Beautiful, Joe! I needed this.
Blessings Lynn! I think many of us need the encouragement!
Wonderful work on your post. God is so good.
Thank you Dutch! God is definitely good and has been good to me my whole life, even in the struggles.
Blessings my friend!
If God be for us, who can be against us. Those hymns really do the trick for me too.
Love that Deb!!
Love generates love. ❤. Thanks!
"Standing on the Promises" is a great old hymn that I've been singing lately. Verses filled with great theology and worship of Jesus!
I have Onward Christian Soldiers on repeat in my head.
My personal favorite is The Garden. 🎶…and he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own…and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.🎵
Thank you Joe 🙏 I needed to read these words today.
Jesus knew my heart was heavy….he always knows. God Bless everyone reading this today. 🥰
Blessings Nancy!! God’s timing is always perfect!
I soooo needed this. Thank you!
God was pressing this on my heart this morning and I think many need this encouragement.
So many of us are weary.. I'm so blessed to have found the Badlands team. I don't feel so alone anymore. Your words are so uplifting and encouraging. God Speed🙏
I’m an encourager and I need to do more of it I think!
🙏🙏
What a blessing God laid on your heart to share today! Life (and thinking about ‘things’) does create a weariness and the relationships between people can be tricky, discouraging, hurtful and frustrating, but God loves us and in all circumstances tells us to pray to him for healing. So often physical pain can be cured much more quickly than the pain of relationships. We, too, have looked back on our lives together and have seen the steady hand of our Creator as He opens doors we never imagined after a painful experience. Our selfish nature is our biggest enemy and I find I often hate to ask for the small things…don’t want to be a whining pest; yet He tells us to come to Him for everything we need and He will be faithful to us….and He always is.
Thank you, Joe, for this timely and encouraging reminder. I turn to music, too, and my backyard with beautiful plants, productive garden and a couple of chickens provides a front row seat to the beauty He gave a fallen world. Music and nature speaks in ways we can barely understand sometimes, but it always lifts our worry. Thank you and God bless you.🙏
Great comments ALtab and I too love music and nature. Both bring me closer to God. I’m sitting out on the deck right now listening to all the birds and frogs.
What a peaceful place.
I even have a frog pond….great barometer! You are right…such a peaceful place!🙏
I was just chatting with my wife. She likes the frogs but they literally scream at night and keep her up. I told her that not only are there tiny tadpoles all around the pond but there are also huge masses of eggs.
I told her I need about twenty more bass to keep them under control and I will be fishing in my neighbors huge pond for the next few days.
One of my bass already had babies but the small fry are too small to help control the frogs right now. There’s a school of what looks to be about 300 babies, so they will be a big help next year if they survive.
The 20 lbs of shiners need to get busy and start eating these tiny tadpoles and eggs before they drive my wife crazy.😁
I’m chuckling because between the frogs and mockingbird’s singing all night….nevermind the tree frogs ….I’m not in Kansas anymore.🙏🐸🐸
That is so true!
❤️
Very well said, Joe! I’m so glad you are a man of The WORD, and a man of your word. Personally, I take The WORD as my most vital necessity. I can’t say it better than it is written, so I leap off The WORD to begin my trust conversation, and then weave in and out of HIS gracious insights. I’m always “more than” I was when I began the conversation. Although, HE started HIS conversations with me . . . before the world was!
We are so blessed by a good God that showers us with grace every day.
All I want to say is…thank you
You are certainly very welcome Brigette!! I appreciate you my friend!
Thanks Joe. Really needed that
You are very welcome Blaine!! I needed it too!