earnest prayers
As a child, I was told that I should put my hands together and close my eyes to pray. So I used to scrunch up my eyes and clench my fingers together to be even more earnest as I asked God for the things on my heart. The harder I worked at praying this way, the more God would answer—or so I thought!
What Does It Mean to Hope?
I recently bought a pair of shoes online. Naturally, I waited in great anticipation for the shoes to arrive—like kids do when anticipating the arrival of Santa on Christmas Eve. (Okay, it’s just an analogy; I don’t actually believe in Santa Claus.) Every morning, I would check the delivery status and hope to receive the […]
Now Go!
More than 10,000 evangelists and Christian leaders sat in a giant auditorium in Amsterdam in 1986 listening to world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham. I sat among them, listening as he narrated some of his experiences. Then, to my surprise, he said, “Let me tell you: every time I stand before the congregation of God’s people to preach, I tremble and my knees wobble!”
How Naomi heard from God through her daughter-in-law Ruth
In her season of pain, Naomi asked, “Where are you God? Why have you forsaken me?” And the way God answered her was completely unexpected! Don’t miss the encouraging discussion today as we continue our series on Ruth.
motivated
My husband and I recently saw a friend we hadn’t seen in a while. Standing outside the gym where he worked out, he highlighted the facility’s offerings. His words revealed his sense of ownership of the exercise facility. Though he wasn’t a financial stockholder, he had found identity, purpose, and a place to belong amid the mats lined with barbells and other strength-training equipment. This place had become his community and a big part of his life.
My Paradigm Shift on Christianity
Written By Joanne S. Dionela, Philippines I was born into a fairly religious family. I attended church regularly, and participated in the same church activities as my parents did—not just in one church, but two. Nobody ever questioned the state of my salvation. Naturally, I didn’t either. In high school, however, my paradigm on faith […]
A Happy Ending
A friend told me about the time he was watching football on TV as his young daughter played nearby. Angered by his team’s bad play, he grabbed the closest thing and threw it down. His little girl’s favorite toy was shattered, along with her heart. My friend immediately embraced his daughter and apologized. He replaced the toy and thought all was well. But he didn’t know how much his fury had frightened his 4-year-old, and she didn’t know the depth of her pain. In time, however, forgiveness came.
What Ruth teaches us about the spirit of God’s law
Many people view God’s law as a list of “dos and don’ts.” But the story of Ruth reveals a bigger perspective on God’s instructions. Join us as we discover the difference between being good and being changed!
pure persistence
My neighbor wondered how raccoons kept getting into his commercial trash bin. Covered by two sturdy lids hinged side-by-side, the Dumpster looked raccoon-proof. It wasn’t.
Facing The Impossible
In 2008, house values were tumbling in the United Kingdom. But 2 weeks after my husband and I put our home of 40 years on the market, a buyer offered us a good price and we agreed to a sale. Soon our builders started work on the house I had inherited, which would be our new home. But a few days before the sale of our old home was finalized, our buyer pulled out. We were devastated. Now we owned two properties—one whose value was tumbling rapidly, and the other a virtual ruin that we could neither sell nor move into.…
Let’s gather around the table to study the life of Ruth
Sometimes loving God with all your heart looks a lot like you’re “breaking the rules”! Join our special guest Carolyn Custis James as we continue our series on the life of Ruth and explore those times when it seems like the letter of the law is in conflict with the spirit of the law.
decisive
The line between victory and defeat can be quite slim. Did the winning shot leave his hands before the buzzer sounded? Did the goalie deflect the ball early enough or did it slip across the line? Relieved victors often say “a win is a win,” but they realize the contest could have gone either way.
Are We Sinning More on Social Media?
It’s 3 a.m. in the morning. I toss and turn in bed, trying to combat insomnia. I give up, reach for my iPhone and, without thinking, launch my Facebook app (bad habit, I know.) Facebook and Instagram seem to be the two apps I’m always clicking on my mobile phone, most of the times unconsciously. […]
A Father Who Runs
Every day a father craned his neck to look toward the distant road, waiting for his son’s return. And every night he went to bed disappointed. But one day, a speck appeared. A lonesome silhouette stood against the crimson sky. Could that be my son? the father wondered. Then he caught sight of the familiar saunter. Yes, that has to be my son!
foolishness of the cross
On beaches around the globe, you can find people sporting shorts, flip-flops, and headphones as they comb the seashore with metal detectors. While many sun-lovers return from a day at the beach with a tan and a few seashells, these modern-day treasure hunters often bring back something more valuable—gold, mostly in the form of lost jewelry.
