Author: mbethany
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The Surprising Reason God Says Not to Worry
“Don’t worry,” my husband says. At that moment, a hundred scenarios enter my mind as I worry about the reason he felt the need to tell me not to worry. The same thing has happened when I’ve read those words, quoted from Luke 12, on coffee mugs, t-shirts, and wall decorations. If you’re going to…
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To The Wanna-Know-It-Alls
“I don’t know.” You say it when someone asks you to do something and you aren’t sure how to answer. The words are uttered in annoyance by kids everywhere as parents inquire about homework, grades, and missing toys. “…Anymore” is tagged on when tragedies strike and we’re left in shock. Feelings of doubt, loss, vulnerability,…
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When Your Definition of Perfection Is Too Small
“You can never do anything all the way right.” It’s a line I wrote sarcastically while joking with a friend. The trouble is, it stuck with me and my perfectionist ways. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” backs up the notion (Romans 3:23) But those of us bent toward perfectionism…
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View From A Mountaintop
What is it about mountains? Moses met with God there. The Samaritans and Jews argued over which one people should worship on. People have called them holy. Jesus went up them to pray. We marvel at photos of them, take vacations to climb them, and even use them in reference to the best points of…
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Keeping Christmas: A Short Story
This Christmas, I thought I’d share something a bit different. I pray this short story about memories, friendship, and unchanging hope brings a little joy to you today! Fake Poinsettias and plastic evergreen decor signaled the arrival of the Christmas season. Agnes, quite attached to her traditions, kept a calendar to help her failing memory…
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3 Biblical Responses to Others’ Struggles
Jesus’ words are clear: “in this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). We expect it. Often, though, we wish that “you” wasn’t so all-inclusive. It can be harder to watch those we love struggle than it is to suffer ourselves. We don’t always know how to help. During the holiday season of 2020, this…
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Comfort in Prayer
My prayer list felt awfully long. As I lifted each name to the Lord, and the thoughts, worries, hopes, and requests pertaining to each one, I felt heavy. There’s just so much suffering, so much unknown. There are just so many people who need Jesus- all of us, in fact. I know God’s not a…
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Lord, Help My Countenance!
Sometimes all our favorite coping mechanisms fail us. Sometimes clearing our heads just makes the clutter in our hearts stand out more. Sometimes it’s not a matter of unbelief or challenging circumstances. Call it hormones. Label it mood. The fact is, sometimes despite what we believe, we just aren’t “feeling” it. While there are many…
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Our Hope Is Built On Nothing Less Than…
I laugh at the memes featuring people peeking out from behind their doors, wild-eyed, saying, “what chapter of Revelation are we doing today?” I’ve chuckled at stoic, cynical jokes about bracing ourselves for the last few months of 2020- a year that seems doomed. Humor is good. Laughter helps. But in case, like me, you…
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What Can Separate Us?
Words like those in Romans 8:35-39 tend to come to mind and comfort us in deep hardship, like when facing death, demons, uncertain futures, and the depths suffering. But it isn’t just the “negatives” of life we feel keep us from God. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?….. For I am convinced that…