Fling your burden onto the I AM. He can easily handle anything you throw at him. He will sustain you and will never let you slip.  (Psalm 55:22 Becky’s No-nonsense Paraphrase) Cause of Anxiety My imagination almost always operates in overdrive. When a story’s protagonist swings from a precipice forty stories up, I break into a … Continue reading Burden, by Becky Antkowiak

We eagerly wait with steadfast expectation and patient perseverance for the hope we cannot see. (Romans 8:25 Becky’s No-nonsense Paraphrase) Luke is adorable, but he’s kind of an idiot. (Before you start quoting Matthew 5:22 at me, Luke is our German Shepherd.) We have a routine. This is how it goes. Every morning, he nudges … Continue reading Wait, by Becky Ankowiak

Jesus will not break a crushed reed, and he will not extinguish a smoldering wick. Just wait; he will bring triumph from the trial. Matthew 12:20, Becky’s No-nonsense Paraphrase Trials Teach Truth Since my sister left this side of eternity, Matthew 12:20 often echoes in my mind. The idea of being battered but secure pulls me … Continue reading Trial, by Becky Antkowiak

[God] comforts us in all our distress so we’ll be able to comfort others in any distress—using the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:4 Becky’s No-nonsense Paraphrase). We All Need Comfort A catastrophic brain bleed killed my younger sister. One instant changed our lives. Before she died, I didn’t … Continue reading Comfort, by Becky Antkowiak

The Ammonite commanders said, “Hanun, do you really believe David sent this delegation to express sympathy for the loss of your father? Don’t you think his intent is to explore the city, find its weak points, and overthrow it?”  1 Samuel 10:3 (Becky’s No-nonsense Paraphrase) Intent Matters As a child, I loved the movie Pollyanna. A … Continue reading Intent, by Becky Antkowiak