Don’t Forget the Giver
It was just before Christmas, and her kids were having a difficult time with gratitude. In other words, they were pretty much “give me” instead of “thank you.” She knew how easy it was to slip into that kind of thinking—what with all the commercialism of the season. But she also knew she wanted something better for the hearts of her children. So she went through the house and placed a bright red bow on light switches, the pantry and refrigerator doors, the washing machine and dryer, and the water faucets. With each bow there was a handwritten note: “Some…
Gifts from Above
According to an old story, a man born in 270 AD named Nicholas heard about a father who was so poor that he couldn’t feed his three daughters, much less provide for their future marriages. Wanting to assist the father, but hoping to keep his help a secret, Nicholas threw a bag of gold through an open window, which landed in a sock or shoe drying on the hearth. That man was known as St. Nicholas, who later became the inspiration for Santa Claus.
When I heard that story of a gift coming down from above, I thought of God the…
Intentional Kindness
Boarding a plane alone with her children, a young mom tried desperately to calm her three-year-old daughter who began kicking and crying. Then her hungry four-month-old son also began to wail.
Free from Condemnation
As a couple drove their trailer through dry Northern California, they felt a tire blow and heard the scrape of metal against pavement. The sparks ignited the 2018 Carr Fire—a wildfire that burned nearly 230,000 acres, destroyed more than 1,000 homes, and resulted in the deaths of several people.
Free from Condemnation
As a couple was driving their trailer through dry northern California, they felt a tire blow and heard the scrape of metal against pavement. The sparks ignited the deadly 2018 Carr Fire—a wildfire that burned nearly 230,000 acres, destroyed more than 1,000 homes, and resulted in the deaths of several people.
When survivors heard how the couple were overcome with grief, they formed a Facebook page to show “grace and extend kindness . . . for the shame and despair” enveloping them. One woman wrote: “As someone that lost their home to this fire—I need you to know my family…
Forgiveness
We live in a multicultural society, where people of different classes and ages hold different opinions on the same thing. It thus presents a challenge to believers who desire to live out God’s call to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44-45). How do we communicate with people with different opinions? What does it…
The Lost Envelope
We were on the way home from a visit with family in another state when I found it. I was pumping gas when I noticed a dirty, bulky envelope on the ground. I grabbed it, dirt and all, and looked inside. To my surprise, it contained one hundred dollars.
The Flip Side of Love
The Roman inns during the time of Christ had a reputation so bad that rabbis wouldn’t even permit cattle to be left at them. Faced with such bad conditions, traveling Christians usually sought out other believers for hospitality.
NEW: Bethlehem: Beyond the Christmas Story (DVD)
Bethlehem: Beyond the Christmas Story takes you on a fascinating exploration of the city of Bethlehem, where the Christmas story took place! You’ll journey from Manger Square in the heart of this modern-day city to the Shepherds Fields on the east side with hosts Jimmy DeYoung and Bonnie Keen. Gain a better understanding of the story that changed the world forever,…
NEW: Citizens of Heaven (CD)
Listen to the powerful and practical talks from our 2019 Women’s Bible Conference: Citizens of Heaven. Bible teacher and Our Daily Bread Ministries writer Debbi Fralick opens up God’s Word to help you explore what it really means to represent, live in and belong to a kingdom we can’t yet see.
The Word Became Flesh
The astounding truth that the unseen and divine Word…
The Flip Side of Love
The Roman inns during the time of Christ had a reputation so bad that rabbis wouldn’t even permit cattle to be left at them. Faced with such bad conditions, traveling Christians usually sought out other believers for hospitality.
Among those early travelers were false teachers who denied that Jesus was the Messiah. This is why the letter of 2 John tells its readers there is a time to refuse to extend hospitality. John had said in a previous letter that these false teachers were “antichrist—denying the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22). In 2 John he elaborated on this, telling his…
