Accepting the Holy Spirit’s Help: What Pentecost Teaches Us About Self-Sufficiency
“The stubborn strain of self-sufficiency is found throughout Scripture, and we’re no different in our modern context. Our culture praises those who do it all, do it perfectly, and do it themselves. Even within the church, we can use our obedience to God’s good commands to prove our own self-sufficiency. But when we refuse the help Jesus promised us, we become exhausted by our feeble attempts to prove ourselves or ashamed because we could never do enough. However, Jesus hasn’t asked us to strive in our own efforts; he’s invited us to be empowered by his Spirit.” Accepting the Holy Spirit’s Help: What Pentecost Teaches Us About Self-Sufficiency by Bethany Broderick
What is There to Celebrate on Mother’s Day?
“Motherhood. It brings with it such complicated grief; yet in the midst of that grief, there lies a beauty endowed by the Creator. Because since before the fall, motherhood has been God’s very good plan to show us more of himself. Since the fall, its complexity often clouds out the beauty, leaving us wondering at times what there is to celebrate on Mother’s Day.” What is There to Celebrate on Mother’s Day? by Madelyn Istrate
Comforting Others with the Comfort of God’s Word
“God’s Word is living and active, and it does not come back void (Heb. 4:12; Isa. 55:11). And its pages are filled with incredible truths. Revelation 21:4 tells us that one day God will “wipe away every tear” from the eyes of his children and “death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more.” What a promise to hold onto in our darkest times—and the Bible is a book all about why and how this promise will come to pass. Where else can we find the words of a Creator God who experienced the same human pain and loss as we do? himself.” Comforting Others with the Comfort of God’s Word by Kelly Ottaway
Spiritual Disciplines in Every Season
“Each time life changed, I was frustrated that the rhythms of Scripture reading, prayer, and memorization I had worked hard to cultivate crumbled like sandcastles. Yet it was during these difficult seasons that God taught me that my spiritual growth was not based on my own efforts but in his gracious and powerful work in me. In his Word, God has given us an abundance of “tools” for spiritual growth: Bible study, prayer, fasting, corporate worship, confession, meditation, silence, and more. Each of these tools is a gracious gift God uses to draw us to himself.” Spiritual Disciplines in Every Season by Bethany Broderick
A Miraculous Rescue: Three Lessons on Prayer
“We’ve all faced suffering alone. We all know how it feels when no one else is on our side or understands how we feel. As we see the early church praying together, we see a group of men and women actively caring for each other, hearing each other, and being near each other. In the face of persecution and the approaching death of a beloved friend and leader, they needed one another. They needed each other’s words and tears. They needed those who were strong to point those who were weak back to the goodness of God. Through prayer, this is exactly what they did.” A Miraculous Rescue: Three Lessons on Prayer by Ashley Anthony
Think Deeply About the Church
“It’s easy to confuse the blessings of the Church with her purpose. Being part of Christ’s household comes with so many wonderful benefits. In the local church, we have spiritual family, opportunities to use God’s grace gifts, good teaching, kids’ activities, events to attend, music, people to help us grow spiritually, and so much more. These are all gifts to be grateful for. But if we elevate the perks of the church over the purpose, we make the church about us and suffer mission drift. When the people in our pews are more concerned with “what we get out of it” rather than “why we exist,” we are in a state of amnesia.” Think Deeply About the Church by Beverly Chao Berrus
Death, You Terrible Thing
“When confronted with death, Jesus reacted with a mixture of deep sorrow and indignant anger. He was offended by the evil reality of death, for he knew it did not belong in his Father’s kingdom. Death had no place in God’s original design in Eden, and it will have no place in the new heavens and the new earth (Rev. 21:4)! It is the direct result of sin and the curse that followed (Rom. 6:23, Gen. 3:19). To Jesus, Death is an enemy invader, an unwelcome plague, a Terrible Thing. Jesus’s indignation in this passage shows us that he hated death too—he hates it with us and he hates it for us, just as a loving shepherd hates the wolf who preys on his sheep. We are not alone in our hatred of death and our desire for its defeat. In fact, Jesus likely hates it even more than we do! This reality is a strangely beautiful solace.“ Death, You Terrible Thing by Caroline Cobb
Memory Isn't a Solo Affair
“We forget those truths we desperately want to remember. We forget the prayer request our friend shared in a small group or the very words of Scripture we read mere minutes ago. Our faulty memory becomes a mark of guilt for all we’ve failed to remember. The calls to memorize and meditate on Scripture can feel like condemning reminders of the spiritual discipline we’ve let go. Amidst the onslaught of noise that permeates our day, we can feel incapable of storing these truths in our minds. Yet this battle with our memory isn’t a lost cause. God has already provided for our ailing and exhausted minds, not only by our willpower or gumption, but through his own body. You and I don’t have to remember alone.” Memory Isn't a Solo Affair by Brianna Lambert
Biblical Literacy in a Culture of Instant Gratification
“The ease that technology allows brings with it many consequences: we are now an impulse-driven society, craving instant gratification and reflexively reaching for quick rewards to cater to our every impulse and desire. Sadly, these tendencies have even permeated Christianity, affecting our appetites for God’s Word. It seems that many of us have lost the art of slowly and deeply studying God’s Word for transformation rather than micro doses of transactional truth.” Biblical Literacy in a Culture of Instant Gratification by Ashley Upchurch
The Veil is Torn: The Transformative Power of Grace
“Our renewed relationship with God should affect how we live because it transforms our hearts. Our desires, affections, and propensities were renewed as the knowledge of the glory of God was revealed. Christ's beauty, riches, and value are attainable through the gospel at all times. With access to such treasure, why would we behold anything of this world? Paul tells us to behold God’s glory continuously. For Christians, there is no other activity to turn to.” The Veil is Torn: The Transformative Power of Grace by Amy Hornbuckle
Back to the Basics: Practicing the Rhythms of God's Grace
“The gospel assures us that we are kept and held and secured in Christ (that is unchanging and forever), but these rhythms of grace help us to press all the more deeply into him—again and again and again. We don’t pursue deeper holiness through the spiritual disciplines in order to achieve or earn anything before God; rather we grow into richer knowledge of him by weaving these rhythms into the fabric of our lives. We will always (even in heaven!) be growing into deeper understanding of and love for God. And with the Spirit’s help, day by day we can work to grow in this knowledge of God by practicing the rhythms of God’s grace so that we might 1. love God more, 2. train ourselves for godliness (1 Tim. 4:7), and 3. teach, disciple, and grow alongside other brothers and sisters in the faith (Col. 3:16).” Back to the Basics: Practicing the Rhythms of God's Grace by Lauren Bowerman
Winter’s Cold Will End: The Promise of Spring
“There is beauty in the white snow covering every tree, home, and street. The peaceful silence it spreads across the earth points us to the peace of Christ. Yet, we would be remiss to pretend that winter’s dormancy doesn’t also point us to spiritual truths. When once-bright zinnias shrivel and brown in the first frost, we are reminded of death. When every leaf falls from the tree in our backyard, we see the effects of death. The reality of dying and decay is undeniable…” Winter’s Cold Will End: The Promise of Spring by Brittany Allen
Holy Interruptions: A Call to Love
“The Lord does not turn away from his people’s sin and suffering with irritation or disgust. Rather, he draws near the most aching, unattractive parts of us. As we revel in the compassionate love of Christ, we will increasingly reflect him—remembering our own reliance on God’s grace, bearing with others in their pain and weakness, and persisting in love when it’s not easy or convenient. As we lean on the Spirit for help to do this, we might ask ourselves, ‘How can I orient and structure my life in ways that are interruptible and available to the needs of others?’” Holy Interruptions: A Call to Love by Mallory Manning
Called to Cultivate: How to Discern Your Calling
“Many of our moments and days feel achingly ordinary. We clean the house, steward finances, write emails, make dinner, build friendships, change a child’s diaper, and we do it over and over. But 1 Thessalonians 4:1 tells us it is good “to live quietly…and to work with your hands.” While there are women throughout history who have made dramatic impacts on society and on the world, there are millions of godly women who have lived quiet, faithful lives, diligently loving and serving their families and communities, executing their work with excellence. Their names might not be remembered on earth, but they have received a far better reward than earthly remembrance.” Called to Cultivate: How to Discern Your Calling by Chelsea Sobolik
Weathering the Weary Days of Winter
“For some of us, winter is a wearying time of year. It’s not just the cold wind rattling us to the bone, but also the dark mornings and evenings, the fears of driving in snowstorms or slipping in parking lots, the thoughts of the heating bills, and the snow days that steal away appointments, school, and daycare. Winter can be a reminder of all we are without, whether it’s a first winter without a loved one or a winter still without someone like a child or a spouse. As the snow packs around our houses, we feel closed in—both physically and emotionally. Winter can feel like many dark nights of the soul.” Weathering the Weary Days of Winter by Lara d’Entremont
Changing Our Heart Instead of Our Goals
“This season, I want to focus on changing my heart instead of chasing worldly goals. Yes, goals are a good and helpful tool, but Christ looks at the heart. What is our heart like? Are we moldable and able to conform to the Potter’s hands? Or is our heart hard like rock, unwilling to change?” Changing Our Heart Instead of Our Goals by Grace Thomas
When God Feels Unsafe
“As a long time believer and as a lay counselor, I have seen myself and others go through seasons where God feels more like a severe taskmaster than the compassionate Father he actually is. We default to either meeting with him to appease him or avoiding him—either because we are afraid of failure or because he seems dissociated from our reality. I want to share with you 3 practices that God can use to comfort you with his safety in those seasons.” When God Feels Unsafe by Aylin Merck
Where Can We Find Rest for Our Souls?
“Over the years I have earned the self-given title “Queen of late-night problem solving.”This is not a title I’ve loved, because it often comes at the expense of several hours of sleep. No trouble is too small to merit spending a good chunk of my resting hours turning a problem over and over in my mind until the perfect solution (or the proper amount of self loathing) appears. Have you been there?” Where Can We Find Rest for Our Souls? by Elizabeth Santelmann
Church Member, How Can You Protect Your Pastor from Burnout?
“I've been an ordained minister for nearly 15 years, which means I have now officially beat the odds of longevity for pastors. I've joyfully served my current church for the past 2.5 years, and I honestly hope to retire here. But that's not the case for everyone. Not even close. So, I want to encourage you. As a congregation member, you have a vital (and remarkably simple) role to play in pastoral burnout. How does this look, and how can you help your pastor?” Church Member, How Can You Protect Your Pastor from Burnout? by Chris Ammen
In the Wake of Church Hurt…You Need the Church
“I hope our church will be a place where you guys can heal.” The gentle words of our new pastor fell upon my heart like a soft blanket, adding a little comfort to a time of suffering. For the first time in months, I began to hope for a future with a new church. An inkling of belief that we might find community again lit up in my heart. But my fear of getting hurt—no, more than that, trampled—by those called to shepherd me remained a close companion. Spiritual abuse is destructive, its scars long-lasting.” In the Wake of Church Hurt…You Need the Church by Brittany Allen