Change Is Possible
One Saturday afternoon, some teenagers from my church’s youth group gathered in a cafeteria to ask one another some hard questions based on Philippians 2:3–4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Some of the difficult queries included: How often do you take an interest in others? Would someone describe you as humble or proud? Why?
As I listened, I was encouraged by their honest answers. The group agreed that it’s easy to acknowledge our shortcomings, but it’s hard…
Surviving the Unbearable
The Experience Project, one of the largest online communities of the twenty-first century, was once a site where tens of millions shared deeply painful firsthand experiences. As I read through the heartbreaking stories, I reflected on how desperately our hearts long for someone to see—to understand—our pain.
In Genesis, the story of a young handmaid reveals just how life-giving this gift can be.
Hagar was a slave girl likely given to Abram by a pharaoh of Egypt (see Genesis 12:16; 16:1). When Abram’s wife Sarai was unable to conceive, she urged Abram to conceive a child with Hagar—a disturbing yet familiar practice…
“Great Expectations”
Looking back, we can see evidence that points to Jesus as the long-anticipated Messiah. But at the time, He didn’t meet the Jewish people’s expectations. Today on Discover the Word, we consider why Jesus was, and in many ways still is, rejected as their Savior. Hear the conclusion of our series titled, “Great Expectations,” today on Discover the Word!
Need a New Heart?
The news was grim.
My father had been having chest pains, so his doctor had ordered a test to peer into his heart. The result? Blockage in three arteries.
Triple-bypass surgery was scheduled for February 14. My dad, though anxious, saw that date as a hopeful sign: “I’m getting a new heart for Valentine’s Day!” And he did! The surgery went perfectly, restoring life-giving blood flow to his struggling heart. A “new” heart. A second chance.
My father’s surgery reminded me that God offers us a new life as well. Because sin clogs our spiritual “arteries”—our capacity to connect with God—we need spiritual…
The Son Of God
In Jesus’s day, the people of Israel admired heroes such as Abraham, Moses, and David. Yet Jesus said He was greater than them all. Today on Discover the Word, the team will examine how Jesus outraged the Jewish leaders by claiming to be God Himself. We’re continuing our series called, “Great Expectations,” today on Discover the Word!
Watch Out!
I grew up in warm southern cities, so when I moved north, it took me a while to learn how to drive safely during the long, snowy months. In my first hard winter, I ended up stranded in a snowdrift three times! But after several years of practice, I began to feel comfortable driving in wintry conditions. In fact, I felt a little too comfortable. I stopped being as vigilant. And that’s when I hit a patch of black ice and skidded into a telephone pole on the side of the road.
Thankfully, no one was hurt, but I learned something…
I Thought I Would Never Forgive
When I got married and moved in with my husband’s family, there were many conflicts. I was immature and hot-tempered, and exchanged many harsh words with my in-laws.
The Awaited Messiah
Your DNA can reveal a lot about you; your hair color, your skin color, even where your family is from. Today on Discover the Word, the team will discuss where Jesus came from and how the Pharisees struggled to understand His earthly and heavenly origins. Another fascinating discussion, today on Discover the Word!
Situational Awareness
My family, all five of us, found ourselves staying in the heart of Rome over the Christmas holidays. I don’t know when I’ve ever seen more people jammed together in one place. As we snaked our way through crowds to see sights like the Vatican and the Coliseum, I repeatedly emphasized to my kids the practice of “situational awareness”—pay attention to where you are, who is around you, and what’s going on. We live in a day when the world, at home and abroad, isn’t a safe place. And with the use of cell phones and ear buds, kids (and…
The Lord Of The Sabbath
You would have expected the Jewish Messiah to fit right in with the religious leaders. The thing is, though, they rarely saw eye to eye. Today on Discover the Word, we will discuss why Jesus’s behavior seemed so shocking to the established religious people of His day. Pull a chair up to the table, today for Discover the […]
Autism Awareness Day: How I Learned to Enter into Their World
He was having a very bad day. Something in his routine had changed. He was screaming, crying, and dashing around, hitting out at tables, the walls, and even his forehead. As his distress level escalated, he started grabbing my shirt and pulling at my hair. When he scratched me amid the tugging, I held him at his wrists and said with a steady voice, “Ouch, it’s painful.”
Unexplainable Love
Our small church decided to surprise my son on his sixth birthday. The people in our church decorated his Sunday school class with balloons and set up a small table with a cake on it. When my son opened the door, everyone shouted, “Happy birthday!”
Later on, as I was cutting the cake, my son came over and whispered in my ear, “Mom, why does everyone here love me?” I had the same question. These people had known us for only six months but were treating us as long-time friends.
Their love for my son reflected God’s love for us. We can’t…
The Danger Of Expectations
For centuries, Israel had been conditioned to look for a certain kind of Messiah. Today on Discover the Word, we will explore what Israel expected in a Messiah . . . and what they got instead. Join us for the start of a new series called, “Great Expectations,” today on Discover the Word!
