Everyday Faith

So often, when we hurt someone, we feel that we must do something to make amends. We have to ask for forgiveness and hope that the other person will forgive us. Just so, when we do something to harm ourselves, we need to forgive ourselves. God’s Word says that when we believe Jesus Christ died…

The Purpose of this Journey   Suzanne Elizabeth Anderson   I explode off the starting blocks. My arms slice through the water, my legs create a rooster’s tail of frothy water behind me as I race for the other end of the pool. My turns and finishes are my strength, so I count on them…

Often, when I’m speaking with someone who doesn’t agree with something I’ve said, especially with regard to my religious beliefs, I’m too quick to defend myself or take offense or worse yet, get angry out of frustration . . . or dare we say, insecurity. This last chapter of Acts describes Paul’s journey from Malta, as a prisoner,…

This was a big week. The house I rent went under contract. I have two months to find another dog-friendly home. Then I caught pneumonia, and spent five days in bed. I wish I could tell you that I met both events with raised hands and a confident, “God’s got this!” But that wouldn’t be…

Here’s the thing that makes forgiving others difficult: to do so may require that we re-visit whatever painful event that caused the need for forgiveness in the first place. More often than not, we find it easier to brush the event under the carpet, keeping it safely in the past, so we don’t have to…

I believe the Bible contains a simple, yet profoundly effective, recipe for success in life. Don’t believe me? Well, let’s pull them apart and see what God is recommending for a more fruitful life And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and…

Part of pursuing our dreams is learning how to use our time wisely, living consciously, especially when we have families that count on us and jobs that take up the better part of our day. It’s very easy to let hours and then days flow by, being busy with the daily requirements of life and…

Do we need to move forward? I spent the last two days of the year reading my journal and coming to the unhappy conclusion that many of the goals I want to accomplish in the coming year bear a close resemblance to the same ones I wanted to accomplish last year. How many times can…

When everything seems to be going wrong, the best thing you can do is write a list of what’s going right. I’m a great fan of gratitude lists. After reading Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts, I decided to take on her challenge of keeping a dedicated journal where I number and count my “thank yous” with…

  Waiting for a prayer to be answered can be challenging. Especially when the prayers involve a loved one, one’s own health, or a long-held dream. When we don’t hear an immediate answer one way or another, our belief can feel like it’s being chipped away as each day of disappointment leaves us a bit…

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