Category: Faith
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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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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’s in Your Closet?
For years, I walked around with holy socks. As in, socks with gaping holes in them. At first, it was because money was tight. Over time, it was just what I was used to (and I’m a creature of habit.) Even after someone gifted me new, thick, soft socks, I still wore the old ones.…
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God’s Creative Answers to Prayer
A sweet friend of mine recently commented that God’s creativity is amazing- not just in nature but in the ways He does things, the ways He answers prayer. This is a picture of that. Over the years, I’ve prayed for a mentor. For deep friendships. For opportunities to encourage others in Christ. For my compulsion…
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When It Looks Like Jesus Gave Up…
People jeered as they looked at the man who’d performed miracles too good to be true and made lofty claims about his own power. For all His talk, Jesus sure didn’t seem strong enough to remove the nails holding Him to the cross. Some thought of one of the things Jesus said He would do:…
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Your No Is As Important As Your Yes
“All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37 Are you afraid of saying no? I am! What a gift that Scripture doesn’t condemn the word no. Rather, the Bible highlights the importance of keeping your word, whether it’s a yes or a no. Every no…
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The Best Kind of Heartbreak
I’ve got this big magenta duffel bag. It’s sewn up along the edges, almost as crisscrossed and haphazard as the trips it’s been on. The frayed lining is only slightly attached to the outer layer anymore. You can see all the places it’s worn thin and stretched permanently from being stuffed too full all the…
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Why Did You Bring Me Here, God?
I remember the excitement when the phone call came. “We just have to finalize it, but you can schedule that moving truck,” the Midwestern man’s voice exclaimed. Expectantly, we did. We waited. But the paperwork never arrived. Weeks later, the same voice apologized on the phone. Unforeseen circumstances arose. The position was canceled. We’re weren’t…
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What Are You Willing to Sacrifice?
Biographies are some of my favorite books. I love to read the stories, to learn about the faith of those who are now among the great cloud of witnesses. No matter how many I read, one thing strikes me every time… Faith requires sacrifice. Since Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for us, sacrificing today doesn’t…
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Sometimes We Need Rain
On a blistering hot day last summer, I was drawn to the sun room although I knew it would be 10 degrees warmer still. The dog curled up on my lap, insistent he wanted our burning and dehydration to be a shared experience. In the haze of the heat I heard a sweet sound: distant…