Bethany McIlrath

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

Tag: trust

  • A Tree Proverb

    A Tree Proverb

    Long into a serious and frustrating conversation about faith, my husband pointed at a familiar tree in the yard. It’s been there for decades longer than we’ve been alive. “How does the tree stand?” he asked. I knew the question was loaded. I also know him; he won’t answer until I do. “It’s weight. And…

  • Leave God-Room

    Leave God-Room

    “Leave room for Jesus.” That’s what we’d tease dating friends who always seemed to want to be close to each other. It was a light-hearted way to remind them that God’s way is better than our way. The principle applies to much more than just purity in relationships though. Franklin Graham, in his autobiography Rebel…

  • That You May

    That You May

    Though the preposition in the phrase changes, there is such certainty in God’s words: “that you may”. We encounter the phrase throughout Scripture. These 3 little words are pivotal in directing our feet on His path.  Rebekah, in Genesis 27:10, tells Jacob to bring food to Isaac so “that he may” bless Jacob. In Deuteronomy 5:33, the…

  • Standing Out and Standing On His Promises

    Standing Out and Standing On His Promises

    No vacation will ever beat our honeymoon in my memories. I’d just turned 21. He was fresh out of college and I had one semester left. The two pennies we had to rub together reflected our motto the day we said I do: In God we trust. Generous loved ones let us stay in a…

  • Wasn’t Always

    Wasn’t Always

    I’ve never met a happily married person who’s always been happily married. I’ve never met an adult who wasn’t once a child. I’ve never known a Christian who hasn’t been without Christ. When Jesus said He came to call the sick, not the healthy, His point was this. None of us has always been righteous….

  • When Resumes Don’t Match Dreams

    When Resumes Don’t Match Dreams

    Call me weird, but I love helping people with their resumes. It reminds me of those fun matching worksheets we’d fill out in school. Maybe you remember them too? One column might list dates. The other would outline events. We would draw a line between those that matched. Similarly, good resumes tend to align with…

  • Treating God Like a Fair-Weather Friend

    Treating God Like a Fair-Weather Friend

    “God, I need this!” You’ve heard that one before –you’ve probably even said it. You have probably also been warned against relying on God as if He is a giant vending machine. That’s a fair point. God doesn’t exist at the whim of your happiness, and His will does not revolve around giving you what you want….

  • The Faith-Science of Courage

    The Faith-Science of Courage

    Beneath the headache-inducing fluorescent lights of the high school’s health classroom, my scrawny self learned something life changing. It didn’t seem all that scientific back then. I learned the word resilient. In a passing moment, the teacher said “want to impress college reps? Use this big word. Resilient. It means you bounce back.” He went…

  • Knowledge Isn’t All Powerful (4/6)

    Knowledge Isn’t All Powerful (4/6)

      This post is the 4th in a 6-part series on Idolizing Knowledge. Read the rest of the posts here. Guest directory info is available here. Sitting down to play a board game is relaxing. Until it isn’t. One game in particular gets my wheels spinning with a frustration that is probably healthy for me….

  • Knowledge Isn’t Complete (3/6)

    Knowledge Isn’t Complete (3/6)

      This post is the 3rd in a 6-part series on Idolizing Knowledge. Read the rest of the posts here. Guest directory info is available here. Serving with a mission which crossed over daily into Mexico, I didn’t head to the border with any intention of interpreting. My Spanish was mas-o-menos just okay. But as I…