There are times in our lives when our world gets rocked and we’re knocked down by a situation, a diagnosis, a crisis that attacks our peace and threatens our tenuous emotions. I’ve had three such moments in the past five years that I remember vividly: My dad’s COVID diagnosis, hospitalization, and death, my two-week bout […]

Many of us have either experienced or are currently walking a path of suffering and hardship. Paul endured intense hardships throughout his ministry—beatings, imprisonments, shipwrecks, hunger, and constant danger, to name a few—as he traveled to preach the Gospel (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-27). Despite challenges, he stayed firm in faith, seeing suffering as a path […]

Think of a gift you have received that was particularly meaningful to you. What made it meaningful to you? My boss threw me a celebratory party when I chose to leave my position at the University of Michigan to start a non-profit with my husband. I loved the administrative team I managed, and it was […]

Charles Spurgeon, the “Prince of Preachers,” once told his seminary students, “When you speak of heaven, let your face light up with a heavenly gleam. Let your eyes shine with reflected glory. And when you speak of hell—well, then your usual face will do.” It’s a witty jab, but it cuts deep. Far too often, […]

Did you know that the phrase “jumping for joy” actually comes from the Bible? It’s true! Jesus wraps up the Beatitudes with this stunning command: “Rejoice on that day and jump for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven” (Luke 6:23a, NASB). But let’s pause for a second—how do we rediscover God’s joy […]

This is the final installment of our four-part series, exploring four attributes of biblical love that are challenging yet ultimately rewarding in growing our faith and capacity to love like Christ. Our series covers: Less Talk, More Walk Many of us are familiar with the expression, “Talk is cheap,” implying words alone do not hold […]

This is the third installment of our four-part series, exploring four attributes of biblical love that are challenging yet ultimately rewarding in growing our faith and capacity to love like Christ. Our series will cover: To Love and Obey? There are many complex and wonderful facets of love, but one that does not receive much […]

This is the second installment of our four-part series, exploring four attributes of biblical love that are challenging but ultimately rewarding in growing our faith and capacity to love like Christ. Our series will cover: Love Stinks…or Does It Think? Fans of the rom-com movie The Wedding Singer, which presents a nostalgic portrayal of the […]

This is the first installment of a four-part series, exploring four attributes of biblical love that are challenging but ultimately rewarding in growing our faith and capacity to love like Christ. Our series will cover: What Does the Alamo Have to Do with Love? The phrase “head over heels in love” is famously linked to […]