Topic > Christian Living
Mercy for ourselves, but justice for others?
God said, “I will have mercy on who I will have mercy . . .” But that mindset didn’t sit very well with Jonah and it doesn’t always sit well with us. Today on “Discover the Word,” we, along with our guest, pastor and author Robert Gelinas, discuss why our attitude might have something to do with the fact that we desire mercy for ourselves . . . but justice for others. Listen in on the discussion today on “Discover the Word”!
Lurking Lions
When I was young, my dad would “scare” us by hiding in the bush and growling like a lion. Even though we lived in rural Ghana in the 1960s, it was almost impossible that a lion lurked nearby. My brother and I would laugh and seek out the source of the noise, thrilled that playtime with Dad had arrived.
One day a young friend came for a visit. As we played, we heard the familiar growl. Our friend screamed and ran. My brother and I knew the sound of my father’s voice—any “danger” was merely a phantom lion—but a funny thing…
God’s mercy stops the consequences we deserve
We suffer because of sin and we sin to relieve our suffering. It’s an unhealthy cycle that has disastrous consequences. And today on “Discover the Word,” we, along with our special guest Robert Gelinas, discuss how only God’s mercy can stop the full domino effect that would take place if we all suffered the consequences of what we deserve. Don’t miss part two of a series on “The Mercy Prayer.”
How do we balance a merciful and just God?
Did you know that the most common prayer in the Bible is a prayer asking God for mercy? So how do we balance a God who has a reputation for being merciful, who also is a God who loves justice? Today on “Discover the Word,” we welcome our special guest, pastor and author Robert Gelinas to the table to begin a two-week study called, “Mercy Prayer.” Join the group today on “Discover the Word”!
Growing Up
Watching my young grandson and his friends play T-Ball is entertaining. In this version of baseball, young players often run to the wrong base or don’t know what to do with the ball if they happen to catch it. If we were watching a professional baseball game, these mistakes would not be so funny.
It’s all a matter of maturity.
It’s okay for young athletes to struggle—not knowing what to do or not getting everything exactly right. They are trying and learning. So we coach them and patiently guide them toward maturity. Then we celebrate their success as later they play with…
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.
3 Things to Do While You’re Single
Another Valentine’s Day has gone by and I’m still single. When I was young, Valentine’s Day felt like a popularity contest. I could gauge how well liked I was by the amount of candy, chocolate, or heart-shaped stickers I received.
Taking Notice
When I clean my house for a special event, I become discouraged because I think that guests won’t notice what I clean, only what I don’t clean. This brings to mind a larger philosophical and spiritual question: Why do humans more quickly see what’s wrong than what’s right? We are more likely to remember rudeness than kindness. Crimes seem to receive more attention than acts of generosity. And disasters grab our attention more quickly than the profound beauty all around us.
But then I realize I am the same way with God. I tend to focus on what He hasn’t done…
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.
Be Still
Years ago I responded to letters within a couple of weeks and kept my correspondents happy. Then came the fax machine, and they seemed content with receiving a response within a couple of days. Today, with email, instant messaging, and mobile phones, a response is expected the same day!
“Be still, and know that I am God.” In this familiar verse from Psalm 46 I read two commands of equal importance. First, we must be still, something that modern life conspires against. In this hectic, buzzing world, even a few moments of quiet do not come naturally to us. And stillness…
Four Ways to Look
Joan was struggling with some difficult issues with her children when she sat down for a worship service. Exhausted, she wanted to “resign” from motherhood. Then the speaker began to share encouragement for those who feel like quitting. These four thoughts that Joan heard that morning helped her to keep going:
Look up and pray. Asaph prayed all night long and even expressed feelings that God had forgotten and rejected him (Ps. 77:9-10). We can tell God everything and be honest about our feelings. We can ask Him anything. His answer may not come right away or in the form we…
The Voice of Faith
The news was numbing. The tears came so quickly that she couldn’t fight them. Her mind raced with questions, and fear threatened to overwhelm her. Life had been going along so well, when it was abruptly interrupted and forever changed without warning.
Tragedy can come in many forms—the loss of a loved one, an illness, the loss of wealth or our livelihood. And it can happen to anyone at any time.
Although the prophet Habakkuk knew that tragedy was coming, it still struck fear in his heart. As he waited for the day when Babylon would invade the kingdom of Judah, his…
Solitude and Service
Comedian Fred Allen said, “A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well-known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.” Fame often brings loss of privacy along with a relentless frenzy of attention.
When Jesus began His public ministry of teaching and healing, He was catapulted into the public eye and thronged by people seeking help. Crowds followed Him wherever He went. But Jesus knew that having regular time alone with God was essential to maintaining strength and perspective.
After Jesus’ twelve disciples returned from their successful mission “to proclaim the kingdom of God and to…
