God's Faithfulness

Health, Not Condemnation

April 11th, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

To the church in Sardis… I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
Revelation 3: 1-2 (ESV)

I found the admonitions in Revelation harsh and discouraging. However, God gave me a different perspective after knee surgery. Based on friends’ experiences, and on the fact that I swam, biked, and walked my neighborhood with steep hills, I anticipated a manageable recovery. I was wrong. For days, my pain was overwhelming.

My physical fitness was not “complete.” Basic, simple exercises were hard. My physical therapist told me I had weak ankles, which were causing other problems. She assigned specific exercises.

Instead of being discouraged, I was grateful to know my deficiencies. I could work toward health. And I saw that was what God was doing when He gave seven churches their “fitness assessment” in Revelation. His goal was to bring spiritual health. He assigned them exercises.

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it and repent…
Revelation 3:3a (ESV)

God's Faithfulness, Relationships

Relationship Scorekeeping

March 28th, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

I know someone who keeps score in her relationships. You only get one strike before you are out unless you have money or connections. She not only admits it, but she also believes it is right. I’m in her circle right now, but I know my position stays precarious because her standards are high—standards she can’t even meet.

Thankfully, God deals in grace rather than points.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
Romans 11:6 (ESV)

If God set standards he couldn’t meet, I would not only be irritated but also angry. Like immutability and truthfulness (see here and here), I didn’t fully appreciate God’s perfection in meeting his own standards—and giving me grace when I didn’t meet them—until I experienced the antithesis. I may not always be learning more along the way, but what I have already learned keeps going deeper.

The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

Deuteronomy 32:4 (ESV)

God's Faithfulness

Burls: Formed By Affliction

March 14th, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

A rounded, knotty outgrowth on a tree
Definition of Burl

Although burls are ugly, resembling warts, they have fascinated me for over a dozen years. I look for burls whenever I’m surrounded by trees.

I may not remember my first notice of burls, but I remember why they became intriguing. Burls are formed when a tree becomes stressed from an injury, virus or fungus. The resulting wood grain that grows in a deformed manner is so beautiful that the grain is coveted by wood carvers. Burls are poached.

Even more amazing than their unseen beauty, some burls can grow a new tree. Or multiple trees.

Affliction that seems ugly on the outside produces fruitfulness and inward beauty. That is both Biblical and amazing to see up close in God’s creation.

To grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, and the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. Isaiah 61:3 (ESV)

God's Faithfulness, Parenting, Relationships

We All Need Words to Pray

February 14th, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

Sometimes I just don’t know how to pray for someone. Sometimes my prayers have gaps. (See here.)

Along the way, I learned that turning to hymns can help.

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me save that Thou art;

Thou my best thought by day or by night;

Waking or sleeping Thy presence my light.
Translated by Eleanor Hull 1912

During one prayer time, my friend Katie and I prayed Be Thou My Vision for each of our children. She recently reminded me that I had prayed it for her.

Be Thou (Name’s) vision O Lord of (her/his) heart;

Naught be all else to (her/him) save that thou art.

Thou (her/his) best thought by day or by night.

Waking or sleeping Thy presence (Name’s) light.

A few times we prayed a Psalm for our children, inserting their names.

No matter how lacking my prayers, the good news is that I’m not on my own. Jesus intercedes for me (Hebrews 7:25 and Romans 8:34) as well as the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26)

Do you have a favorite Psalm or hymn to pray?

God's Faithfulness, Relationships

Auld Lang Syne

January 3rd, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

2024 was a hard year as my family walked alongside hurting loved ones. 2025 was worse. More loved ones struggled. Two left this earth. Unimaginable hardships. Sharp dips in my own health.

This led to reduced Christmas activities. One exception? We sang more, and we’re still singing.

Another exception? I sent over one hundred Christmas cards. I haven’t sent cards since 2020. One result? A phone call from a faraway high school friend I hadn’t spoken with in decades. She wanted to hear my voice. We talked from 8:00 pm that Saturday night until 1:38 am the next morning.

Windchimes my friend sent after our conversation.

On January 2nd, my husband, son, and I sang Auld Lang Syne—translated days gone by in standard English. It was a first. Our holiday songbooks are usually packed away before January. Auld Lang Syne is a Scottish song. The first line means for the sake of old times.

2024 and 2025 were years of Auld Lang Syne. Because of our shared history—for the sake of old times—we connected with and walked alongside dear ones we hadn’t seen much or recently.

We’ll take a cup of kindness yet for Auld Lang Syne.