Bethany McIlrath

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

  • 25 Days of Beholding the Lord

    25 Days of Beholding the Lord

    There’s a lot to be said (and done!) in December.   Comfort for the lonely during this time of constant reminders of family and togetherness. Wise reflections on the arrival of Christ and His impact on our lives. Advice for traditions, planning, and keeping up with the busy schedule. Celebrating and preparing for winter as…

  • 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…

  • Saved From Self-Condemnation

    Saved From Self-Condemnation

    Photo from: pixabay.com “This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:” -1 John 3:19             Oh, those words. That verse. How enticing it is to our souls. To mine, at least. A person naturally quite keenly aware of her sin, it’s…

  • 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…

  • It Is(n’t) What It Is

    It Is(n’t) What It Is

    Photo from: www.armstrongeconomics.com The phrase has been floating around for years. It came to my attention as friends of mine from different circles and walks of life spoke the words. I noticed the phrase on television and the radio. Then I saw it on decorative signs in a couple of stores. So I tried it on…

  • 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….

  • The Nuts and Bolts of Building Your Faith

    The Nuts and Bolts of Building Your Faith

    Photo from: pixabay.com You know the monumental moments of your faith. When you take the first step of faith and your foundation is laid in Christ.  Days, months, years later when crucial decisions arise and you find that you indeed want to live with Him as your cornerstone, it’s big. There are moments of obvious…

  • HE is More Than [Fill In the Blank]

    HE is More Than [Fill In the Blank]

    Photo from: Piaxbay We need to “love the Lord, not just the idea of the Lord” said my dear friend (SkillzUSA). AKA: Don’t reduce God to some idea you have about Him and miss out on His whole person as a result. Our ideas tend to address issues in reactionary ways, focusing on what isn’t…

  • 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…

  • You Didn’t Need to Make It Right

    You Didn’t Need to Make It Right

    Photo from: genius.com “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” –James 1:4 Gosh. You read all that Scripture has to say about being perfect, being loving, and acting like Christ. The Words are great. The aspirations are high. But you and I always fall short. We’re…