Bethany McIlrath

First and Second: Perspective On What Matters Most (Matthew 22:36-40)

Category: Loving Others

  • I Do! But How Did I Do It?

    I Do! But How Did I Do It?

      Confessions of a Bride on a Budget Guest Posted by the lovely Maggie Miller A newlywed, Maggie has been blessed by the Lord with a wonderful man- and a wedding to fit their story. Though she faced discouragement, she can testify to the Lord’s provision for their wedding and the beginning of their marriage….

  • 4 Biblical Strategies for Honoring Your In Laws

    4 Biblical Strategies for Honoring Your In Laws

    You’re probably familiar with Exodus 20:12 –“honor your father and mother”. While fumbling over “Nan-uh, Mrs., uh, Mom?” it isn’t always obvious that this command applies to your relationship with your in laws too. According to the current stereotype, in laws are common household enemies. There’s even the popular mantra “you don’t just marry him…

  • The Battlefield of the Heart is the Lord’s

    The Battlefield of the Heart is the Lord’s

    Photo from: Pixabay Oh, that her heart would change. That his heart would turn from bitterness to joy. Even that my own heart would be more patient. I try. We try. But we come to the battle with no weapons save our own will. Paul knows a thing or two about how effective a weapon…

  • Letting “It” Be

    Letting “It” Be

    Photo from: weheartit.com Moving from a place of resignation to the holy space of accepting God’s sovereignty joyfully and humbly isn’t easy. One of the benefits of resignation is that we get to give up responsibility and keep complaining anyway. We get to say “it is what is” and then harbor bitterness and doubt. That’s…

  • We Need to Witness to Believers Too

    We Need to Witness to Believers Too

    Photo from: Pixabay “Witnessing” and “testifying” are words generally reserved for evangelizing. It is by hearing a testimony that many people become interested in the Lord. Through the witness of Christians, many have been convicted by the Spirit and accepted Christ as their own. But there is also a place for witnessing to other believers….

  • You Were Right!…Or Were You?

    You Were Right!…Or Were You?

    Photo from: pixabay 3 words everybody loves to hear: “you were right.” We like to be right. Many of us try to do the right thing. In fact, our desire to be “right” is so strong and deep that we have opened its meaning up to include ideas like: Do whatever feels right Do whatever…

  • What Hope Can a Broken Heart offer?

    What Hope Can a Broken Heart offer?

    How can our brokenness be useful to others? Offering our broken hearts to the Lord as a sacrifice and a praise is one thing. But, giving ourselves to others when we’re messy and vulnerable is another. Though we shouldn’t recklessly hand over the reins to our heart or carelessly welcome anyone’s influence into to our…

  • Being Empty Versus Being Emptied

    Being Empty Versus Being Emptied

    photo from: mymorningmeditations.com Who hasn’t reached the end of a day exhausted, empty, and totally wiped out? We all have moments like that, and sometimes they come after we’ve done good things. It’s often after VBS, the big retreat, or an amazing series of conversations about the Gospel that we find ourselves feeling drained. Paul understood…

  • Praying After Has a Purpose

    Praying After Has a Purpose

    Photo from: www.missiochurch.com We pray before we eat. Before our days begin. Before we go to sleep. Often, we pray before big events and decisions. We pray as loved ones face difficulties. But we don’t have to stop there. Keep praying after. In our limited sense of time, that can feel futile. Why pray about something…

  • Love Others

    Love Others

    photo from: everydaywild.com Love your neighbor as yourself. This, we know well, is the second greatest commandment: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law…