Author Archives: K.V. Paxton

The word Revival is one you have heard and likely heard a lot. We throw it around often: “Our church is having a revival on such and such date, lasting four days;” “God is moving in our (insert name of church or town or parachurch), we are seeing revival in our time;” “What our country needs isContinue reading “What is Revival? “

Check out the previous posts about saints who wrote about their sorrows at the loss of a loved one here and here. Bernard of Clairvaux was preaching through Song of Songs when, in sermon 26 of the series, he began to talk of his brother Gerard, who had lately died. His words are the sortContinue reading “When Bernard of Clairvaux Lost His Brother”

In 1961 publishing house Faber and Faber printed a new book by N.W. Clerk entitled A Grief Observed. Clerk was writing about his recently deceased wife who is referred to throughout the book as simply “H.”  The initial reviews seemed to be mixed. While some appreciated the candid look at the grieving process, other found the opennessContinue reading “Is Grief Embarrassing?”

The Grinch. Scrooge.  Two names synonymous with failing to be sufficiently gleeful during the Christmas season. Or, at the very least, names given to those who do not have the so-called “Christmas spirit.” The Christmas spirit is, after all, the mood of being jolly, making merriment, being joyful, “singing loud for all to hear,” asContinue reading “Not Merry, Not Jolly: Christmas for The Rest of Us”

Today, 1 December 2025, was the due date for my Ambrose. On July 1, I fully expected to reach this day and be holding my baby boy. Instead, on July 31, the Lord called Ambrose to himself, and Ambrose went. I held Ambrose on that July day, but he wasn’t there, not truly.  Not aContinue reading “Ambrose Was to be Born Today”

This is a photo (not original to me) taken of the moon on July 31, 2025, the day that my Ambrose went to be with Jesus. It was a waxing crescent, meaning the whole moon wasn’t visible, part of it is darkened, as you can see. The moon has been meaningful to our family theContinue reading “Ambrose the Evangelist”

Martin Luther is one of the most famous men in the last 500 years. Seen as the fire starter of the Protestant Reformation, his actions are seen as among the most important to move Christendom away from Rome. Through his life, he endured many trials for his stance, the most difficult trial in his life,Continue reading “When Martin Luther Lost a Daughter”

I alone knew what I was keeping down in my heart. I was very displeased to see the power that these human emotions had over me. Death must come in the due order and appointment of our natural condition. With a new grief I grieved that I grieved, so that I was worn out byContinue reading “When Augustine Lost His Mother”