Blog | cherylesperbalcom

5 days ago4 min read

The Weary World Rejoices

Like pink aluminum Christmas trees, contemporary Christmas songs seemed so far from celebrating the birth of our Savior!

720 views

Cheryl Balcom

Dec 31 min read

Haikus of Hope for the Searching Heart

God says from His throne: 'These words are faithful and true; Now hear, and now live."

35 views

Lesson from the Potter’s House: When Scripture Surprises You with a Bigger Story

Cheryl Balcom

Nov 266 min read

Lesson from the Potter’s House: When Scripture Surprises You with a Bigger Story

This time, I read the “potter and clay” verses in Jeremiah in their full context, sensing that I was missing something.

24 views

Cheryl Balcom

Nov 193 min read

The Scandalous Forgiveness of Sinners

It is scandalous, unfair, abominable, unimaginable, that a sinner could just be free, that forgiveness could just be sprinkled like fairy du

119 views

Stand Firm, Show Mercy: A Post-Election Word to the Church

Cheryl Balcom

Nov 125 min read

Stand Firm, Show Mercy: A Post-Election Word to the Church

In the days after the Presidential election, let’s turn off the news and focus on four powerful truths from Jude’s letter.

36 views

Cheryl Balcom

Nov 52 min read

The Road I Thought Was Meant For Me

My strength is draining, my courage waning, I find myself whining, and calling for You.

37 views

Comfort and Joy: How God Used the Loss of a Loved One to Save the Life of Another

Cheryl Balcom

Oct 295 min read

Comfort and Joy: How God Used the Loss of a Loved One to Save the Life of Another

From soil soaked by tears, God can cultivate healing, goodness, and beauty—even if our broken hearts can't see it right away.

1,504 views

Cheryl Balcom

Oct 221 min read

The Way

I travel a road between right and left, red or blue, no or yes.

37 views

People Over Perfection: 5 Tips to Help You When Tiny Distractions Take Over

Cheryl Balcom

Oct 155 min read

People Over Perfection: 5 Tips to Help You When Tiny Distractions Take Over

There comes a time when preserving our relationship with others must trump our desire to have control.

53 views

Cheryl Balcom

Oct 72 min read

Laughing (at Yourself) is Grace

Learn from me and my self-righteous, disastrous lyric interpretations. We need to stop taking ourselves so seriously.

868 views

Cheryl Balcom

Sep 304 min read

What If? The Flip Side of Worry

The night before the excursion I allowed every terrible possible scenario to play out in my head. What if I had done this instead?

1,035 views

The Bible's Answer for our Imperfect Faith: Jesus

Cheryl Balcom

Sep 87 min read

The Bible's Answer for our Imperfect Faith: Jesus

We know the answer is Jesus, and we come to him—to ask our questions, to intercede for others. And yet our flesh needs evidence, proof.

116 views

The Bible's Answer for our Imperfect Bodies: Renewal

Cheryl Balcom

Aug 255 min read

The Bible's Answer for our Imperfect Bodies: Renewal

God didn't want this for us either. But He allowed it so that we could understand how weak we truly are, and how strong He always will be.

92 views

The Bible’s Answer to an Imperfect Past: Forgiveness

Cheryl Balcom

Aug 85 min read

The Bible’s Answer to an Imperfect Past: Forgiveness

Thankfully, our salvation is not dependent on our past. It depends solely on the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

79 views

The Bible's Answer for an Imperfect World: Trust

Cheryl Balcom

Jul 244 min read

The Bible's Answer for an Imperfect World: Trust

Though the current condition of our world is disheartening, there is a bigger picture here: sin’s reign on earth will only last so long.

103 views

The Bible's Answer for Imperfect People: Grace

Cheryl Balcom

Jul 85 min read

The Bible's Answer for Imperfect People: Grace

The reality is that people will always disappoint. Still, we act surprised when those we love fall short of perfection.

109 views

How to Trade Expectations for a Grateful, Content Heart

Cheryl Balcom

Jun 193 min read

How to Trade Expectations for a Grateful, Content Heart

Rather than seeing the intent of my husband's heart, too often I focused on how his gift of help did not meet my expectations.

33 views

The Benefits of Prayer Journaling, and How You Can Get Started

Cheryl Balcom

Jun 185 min read

The Benefits of Prayer Journaling, and How You Can Get Started

God longs for us to seek Him out. Why would He want it to be difficult?

14 views

Something Brief, Something True: When we seek Him, we will find Him

Cheryl Balcom

Jun 121 min read

Something Brief, Something True: When we seek Him, we will find Him

The Lord does not make Himself hard to find.

33 views

How to Find Your Happy Ending When Life Doesn’t Follow Your Script