Topic > Christian Living > Love >
Receiving mercy turns to bestowing mercy
Pastor and author Robert Gelinas says that “receiving mercy is meant to transform us into dispensers of mercy.” And today on “Discover the Word,” we explain why God’s mercy is meant to flow out of our lives and into the lives of others. We’re talking about “The Mercy Prayer” today on “Discover the Word”!
Justice, mercy, and grace in perfect harmony
There are events in life that call for justice. Other times, we’re desperately seeking mercy. And almost every day, we’re in need of grace! Well, today on “Discover the Word,” we, along with our guest Robert Gelinas discuss how justice, mercy, and grace are displayed in perfect harmony through the person of Jesus Christ. Another intriguing conversation on “The Mercy Prayer” . . . today on “Discover the Word”!
Is Love All You Really Need?
This world makes much of “love.” It’s in movies, books, art, and music—it’s basically everywhere. We’re bombarded constantly with the notion of love—falling in love and being in love—that it seems impossible for us to escape the idea that love is all you need.
Mom, why don’t you love me?
Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I felt unloved by my mother—the person I was supposed to be the closest to. Instead of showing me love, she often scolded me and used words that hurt me deeply.
Why Did We Break Up?
My boyfriend and I had marriage in mind when we first started dating. Hence, the possibility of us breaking up one day never crossed my mind.
Why Marriage isn’t the only way to experience True Love
When I was in my teenage years, one of the signs of our coming of age was being able to buy liquor, and drink in bars or pubs. But as time went by and the guys completed their time in National Service and the girls entered their final year of university, drinking lost its novelty.
Why Love isn’t a Good Feeling
I’ll ’fess up. I plain didn’t like Terence (can’t tell you his real name, of course). I didn’t like the way he walked or talked. I couldn’t stand the way he moved around with a swagger, swinging his arms confidently and looking left and right as if he ran the whole church.
When He said He Didn’t Like Me
Relationships. Many of us, myself included, crave to be in one. There was a time in my life when I was head over heels with this guy, whom I shall refer to as Andy.
Praying for others is risky business
The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, “I have you in my heart.” As a model for how we are to pray for others, those words may be the most powerful ever spoken. Today on “Discover the Word,” we’ll talk about how just as faith takes risk so does love. Find out why loving others and praying for them is risky business on “Discover the Word”!
Minister of Reconciliation
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached on a Sunday morning in 1957, he fought the temptation to retaliate against a society steeped in racism.
“How do you go about loving your enemies?” he asked the Dexter Avenue Baptist congregation in Montgomery, Alabama. “Begin with yourself. . . . When the opportunity presents itself for you to defeat your enemy, that is the time which you must not do it.”
Quoting from the words of Jesus, King said: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you .…
The Perfect Gift
Every year our local botanical garden hosts a celebration of Christmas around the world. My favorite display is a French nativity. Instead of the traditional scene showing shepherds and wise men with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh gathered around the manger, it shows French villagers bringing their gifts to baby Jesus. They bring bread, wine, cheese, flowers, and other items that God has given them the ability to produce. This reminds me of the Old Testament command to bring the firstfruits of our labor to the house of the Lord (Ex. 23:16-19). This depiction of the nativity illustrates that…
When Not to Rejoice
The Akan people of Ghana have a proverb: “The lizard is not as mad with the boys who threw stones at it as with the boys who stood by and rejoiced over its fate!” Rejoicing at someone’s downfall is like participating in the cause of that downfall or even wishing more evil on the person.
That was the attitude of the Ammonites who maliciously rejoiced when the temple in Jerusalem “was desecrated and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile” (Ezek. 25:3). For spitefully celebrating Israel’s misfortunes,…
Reaching out to others
We all have our reasons for not doing what we can to help others. And yet we’re still plagued with guilt when we don’t do anything. Today on “Discover the Word,” we’ll discuss excuses we give for not reaching out to others. Excuses like “What if I’m rejected?” or “What difference could I make?”
Living loved
How often do we talk about doing good for others, but then never act on it? Today on “Discover the Word,” we will talk about how Mary of Bethany was a woman who “lived loved.” As a result she found the courage to step up at a pivotal moment in Christ’s life, giving Him comfort when He needed it the most. She did. “She Did What She Could” continues today on “Discover the Word”!
Of Geese and Difficult People
When we first moved into our present home, I enjoyed the beauty of the geese that nest nearby. I admired the way they cared for each other and the way they moved in straight lines in the water and in majestic V-formations in the air. It was also a joy to watch them raise their young.
Then summer came, and I discovered some less beautiful truths about my feathered friends. You see, geese love to eat grass, and they don’t really care if it ruins the look of the lawn. Worse, what they leave behind makes a stroll across the yard…
