Bethany McIlrath

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

Tag: Book Reviews

  • How do you celebrate the Easter season?

    How do you celebrate the Easter season?

    Early in our marriage, my husband told me Easter is his favorite holiday- and he wanted to really celebrate it. I was at a loss. The day Jesus rose from the grave is an important one, but somehow “Easter season” doesn’t have the same ring to it as “the most wonderful time of the year.”…

  • God, Grief, and Good Books

    God, Grief, and Good Books

    The email came after two others. First, a rejection letter. Second, a bitter note intended to wound. Third, an invitation to read the pre-release of a book about grief. At the time, I was sitting beside a sleeping loved one in the throes of painful, frightening suffering and uncertainty. It won’t surprise you that I…

  • Deepening Your Faith

    Deepening Your Faith

    I’ll admit, I’m not much for water. Oceans are pretty, but I’d rather climb the side of a mountain than fight the tide. When we hit the pool, my toe goes first. Then my foot. Then my ankle. It’s a long, tedious process that often occupies more minutes than time in the pool actually does….

  • Made for God’s Pleasure

    Made for God’s Pleasure

    An intriguing accent caught my attention as I scanned the radio on our long drive. My then-fiancé said with surprise, “I didn’t know you liked Alistair Begg!” I responded: “Is that this guy? I like his accent!” My guy smirked. “I think you’ll also like what he has to say.” Thus was my introduction to…

  • Getting to Know the Holy Spirit

    Getting to Know the Holy Spirit

    “The Holy Spirit isn’t an ‘it,’ but a person. You can say ‘He’.” I don’t remember who told me that, or when. But someone did, and it sparked a Bible-quisition when I was a new Christian. The more I read about the Holy Spirit in Scripture, the more excited I was about the reality that…

  • Praise the Most High!

    Praise the Most High!

    I got dizzy as I crouched in yet another spot and angled the camera again. Though I tried very hard, I just couldn’t fit the lighthouse in one shot. It’s highest height was just too high. There was something satisfying about surrendering my desired photo perspective to just sit there and look up. My interest…

  • How to Talk to People

    How to Talk to People

    “Christian college,” was sandwiched in the middle of the sentence I said to the hair dresser as she sprayed and combed. We were about two minutes into my haircut and she was asking why I’d moved to the area and what my husband’s new job was. Her flinch was made more noticeable by twitch of…

  • God-Sized Dreams Takeaways

    God-Sized Dreams Takeaways

      Are you a dreamer? Do you have God-given dreams? Last week I got to wrap up a book study of You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream by Holley Gerth. It’s been convicting and encouraging to read along with everyone. Even if you haven’t read it, I hope you’ll benefit from the highlights I’ve learned along the…