Freedom to Keep "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1, NIV). Soldiers of freedom's cause bled into the earth upon which we've founded our nation. The principles of honoring all…
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:15, NIV Holidays insist upon celebrations, thankful hearts, and cheer. Yet this challenging year has stripped our world of the usual mood. More of us grieve and suffer in isolation than ever…
We've experienced more grief as a nation this year than we ever imagined possible. Many have suffered heartbreaking personal losses which make the world's darkness unbearable. We long for comfort. A breath of air above the merciless waves of pain. No matter what condolences our neighbors offer in an attempt to…
Guest post by Dena Yohe Over ten years ago, my husband and I started a ministry to brokenhearted parents. A mom whose child almost died sent me an email one day: “As a parent, getting the news that your child is gravely (and perhaps mortally) injured is life altering. I had…
From pandemic health and loss struggles to violence and division, the 2020 year has pummeled us. We face an aftermath of financial struggles, family strain, and despair. Even those who once felt confident may now wonder if we can ever restore our lives. Is there hope for recovery after so…
I struggled with motivation at the onset of the New Year. My attempts to launch the year by setting goals or resolutions sputtered. No word for the year came to me, despite regular prayer and meditation. Instead, the questions of "Why?" and "Will my efforts even matter?" needled my thoughts. I…
I'm thankful each day. Some of the time. When I'm not tired, hungry, or complaining about something else. I yearn to define myself as an optimist, a positive individual. Instead, I seem to have a natural talent for finding what's wrong with things. Or what might go wrong. Despite my…
Listen to the cries around us. Of mourning, trauma history, poverty, and endless types of suffering. We've all experienced troubles at some point in our lives and most of us can voice some level of discontent about our current situation as well. When we add our problems to the…
The funds continue to pour out over my career with no income coming back in yet. The postcards I mailed to bring in more opportunities have harvested nothing more than a few returned as undeliverable. I stand at the edge of what might be success, but cannot see the fruit of…
Many faithful churchgoers encourage us to face hard times by saying, "Jesus has your back." We call on the Lord from those crisis moments, admitting we cannot cope alone. We recognize our need for divine intervention when things get tough. When our efforts to get through the struggle have fallen…