There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4:18 NKJV Her life on earth was ending. Despite our multiple attempts to gently correct the legalistic, merit-driven faith of her childhood, this woman we loved rejected the idea that salvation was found by grace alone. Instead, she clung to the idea that she needed to earn her way to heaven….
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13, NRSVUE Hope Holds Us What do you have in your in-between space? A mustard seed of faith among an overgrown tangle of doubts or fears?…
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. John 20:1, NIV The First to See Mary blinks away tears as they approach the garden. She cannot see anything besides the image of her…
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 NIV “Do I belong?” We might not say it out loud, but we feel it. We feel it in…
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28–30 ESV I have said these…
“Be Still and Know that I am God.”Psalm 46:10(a) It was one of those moments when I wished I had a “fast-forward” button for my life. I sat in the sterile room waiting for the surgeon to arrive. On the tray table next to me were needles, scalpels and gauze. I could feel my sympathetic…
God’s faithfulness carries us through every unexpected turn, proving trustworthy in every step of thin-air faith. “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”1 Thessalonians 5:24 (ESV) A few weeks ago, I watched as my daughter walked across the stage to get her high school diploma. She’s the youngest of seven and…
Through Mary Magdalene’s story, we see how receiving grace, recognizing Jesus’ voice, and sharing His goodness leads to contagious joy. I once heard my friend share that when his children leave for school in the morning, he tells them to “be joyfully different.” His aim in doing so is to remind his kids that they…
“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill countryof Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.“Luke 1:39–41 We Need Community I tried seminary once before. And dropped out….
When joy fades, we can rediscover it by focusing on God’s promises, reaching out to others, and gaining a fresh perspective. Do you sometimes feel like your joy is slipping away, eroding or stale? I do too. It happens to each of us at different times and for a variety of reasons. I remember standing…
Even in the midst of life’s deepest pains, God’s grace is sufficient, and true joy is found in His presence. “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor…
The Christmas story calls us to look past commercialism and celebrate Jesus, the King of Glory, who humbly brought God’s kingdom to earth. Over two thousand years ago, shepherds stood on a hillside as they had done countless times before. They were most likely guarding sheep that would later serve as a sacrifice at the…
The light of Jesus reveals truth, exposes darkness, and guides us to redemption through Him, the true light of the world. “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5 If you looked in my kitchen…
Let’s let go of comparison this holiday season and rejoice with others fully, just as God calls us to do. Comparison only robs us of joy. Most of us want to believe that we are the kind of person who celebrates others readily. We want to believe that we join others’ joy easily and eagerly….
See how sharing something beautiful can become a powerful way to remember the goodness of God in every season of life. When my husband first suggested the idea, I went along with it. Never realizing what a powerful tradition it would become in our family. One of those things we do each year that rivals…
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