angela hormberg

Tag: Christian Life

  • Psalm 16

    Psalm 16

    Commonplace –

    “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).

    Psalm 16 is a beautiful meditation on a life purposed to follow God. It is all about living with intention and persistently pursuing God. How do we live that way?

    Purposeful Living

    David shares with us how he lives intentionally.

    1. He puts his trust in God. (v.1)
    2. He seeks God’s counsel. (v.7)
    3. He sets the Lord always before him. (v.8)
    4. He recognizes God maintains his lot. (v.5)
    5. He rests in the hope that God will not leave him nor forsake him. (v.10).

    David shares with us how he receives God’s gifts. Often we ask for things from God and we are committed to following God, but we never receive the gifts of God. We continue to live in stress and worry. What does receiving the gifts of God look like?

    1. Recognizing the good things in our lives and being thankful for them. (v.6).
    2. Living with a glad heart and rejoicing in the Lord always no matter the circumstances. (v.9).

    God gives us the gift of life; life is a gift. There is always something to be thankful for: breath of life, sunshine, rain, food, people that come into our lives, even if it’s simply a stranger with a smile. Recognizing these things is an essential part of living with a glad heart. When we purpose to recognize the good, we are also purposing to see past our present unpleasant circumstances. This is key to obtaining the joy that David is talking about in this psalm. It is a mindset. It is affirming the goodness of God and the gift of life. It is the very essence of hope. Connect your hope with action: be “be patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer” (Romans 12:12). In this way we live the life Christ modeled for us.

    Matthew Henry’s summary includes the following excerpt:

    “This psalm has something of David in it, but much more of Christ. It begins with expressed devotion as may be applied to Christ; but concludes with such confidence of a resurrection (and so timely a one as to prevent corruption) as must be applied to Christ” (234).

    And our faith in Christ gives us the same confidence in eternal life. We can have that eternal life now through faith, and we can walk that faith out every day.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 16.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • “Shadow of the Almighty-Life and Testament of Jim Elliot” by Elisabeth Elliot – Book Review

    “Shadow of the Almighty-Life and Testament of Jim Elliot” by Elisabeth Elliot – Book Review

    Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot by Elisabeth Elliot


    My rating: 5 of 5 stars

    In the “Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot”, Elisabeth Elliot offers an intimate view of her husband, Jim Elliot, providing excerpts from his journal and his letters. It makes visible the deeply personal and mostly invisible process of following God’s will. The entire book leads up to the moment when Jim Elliot walks out the door of their home on a mission to evangelize the Auca tribe.

    In the preface, Elisabeth Elliot foreshadows this event, writing,

    “It is only when we obey God’s laws that we can be quite sure that we really know Him. The man, who claims to know God but does not obey His laws, is not only a liar, he lives in self-delusion. In practice, the more a man learns to obey God’s laws, the more truly and fully does he express his love for Him. Obedience is really the test of whether we live in God or not. The life of a man who professes to be living in God must bear the stamp of Christ.”

    In Jim Elliot’s own life, this practice of walking in obedience culminated in the decision to go to the Auca’s to share the Gospel. Elisabeth recounts one of their final conversations:

    “I was doubtful of my own willingness to let him go, however, until I challenged him with a question that burned in me,

    “Jim,” I began, “are you sure YOU are supposed to go?”


    “I’m called,” was his simple reply.

    “So, it was alright. Scripture principles, God directed circumstances, and Jim’s own inward assurance were consonant. I could share in it then. I could happily help him plan” (Chapter 24).

    This book is a love letter from a widow to her late husband. It’s a testimony to the faithfulness and obedience of a husband and a wife.

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    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • “Elisabeth Elliot: A Life” by Lucy S.R. Austen – Book Review

    “Elisabeth Elliot: A Life” by Lucy S.R. Austen – Book Review

    Elisabeth Elliot: A Life by Lucy S.R. Austen

    My rating: 5 of 5 stars


    In her book, “Elisabeth Elliot: A Life”, Lucy S.R. Austen, paints a nuanced portrait of Elisabeth Elliot. Most interesting to me was the portrayal of Elliot’s three marriages, which were complex, as marriage is. This representation of Elliot’s marriages as they truly were versus idealized versions is a fresh and much needed perspective. I left the book liking Elisabeth Elliot more for her fortitude and commitment to obedience. I would most especially recommend this book to single, young adults.



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    © 2024 Angela Hormberg