Topic > Christian Living
God’s Strong Arm
My friend Joann had a strong desire to become a concert pianist and to travel and perform as either a soloist or as a piano accompanist. While majoring in piano performance in college, she developed tendinitis in her right arm, and it became too weak to perform the solo recital that was required.
A Plea For Prayer
A missionary recently visited the Bible study I was attending. She described what it had been like to pack up her household, part with friends, and relocate to a distant country. When she and her family arrived, they were greeted with a flourishing drug-trade and hazardous roadways. The language barrier brought on bouts of loneliness. They contracted four different stomach viruses. And her oldest daughter narrowly escaped death after falling through a railing on an unsafe stairwell. They needed prayer.
Overcoming Bad News
There are many who say, ‘Who will show us any good?’” (Ps. 4:6). These words of David seem to describe the pessimistic outlook we so easily develop in our world today. The front page of newspapers and the top stories on the Internet or television seem to focus on crime, accidents, politics, the economy, and prominent people behaving badly. Our conversations at work and home begin to dwell on difficulties, and it’s enough to discourage anyone. Where can we turn for better news?
When We Don’t Measure Up: Escaping The Grip Of Guilt
A life filled with guilt over not measuring up to others’ expectations can drain you spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Find hope and a way of escape from your feelings of guilt, as counselor Jeff Olson shares insight from Scripture to help you understand your true identity in Christ. Discover how you can experience freedom from the exhausting grip of guilt when you live by God’s standards and not the opinions of others.
Joseph: Overcoming Life’s Challenges
Some experiences in life bring disappointment, pain, and even failure. In this booklet, author Bill Crowder helps you gain a new perspective on dealing with difficulties, as he examines the life of Joseph. Find out how you can respond to your challenges with faith, hope, and confidence in the God who is always in control.
Dust Art
When God chose dust as His artistic medium to create Adam (Gen. 2:7), He didn’t have to worry about running out of material. According to Hannah Holmes, author of The Secret Life of Dust, “Between 1 and 3 billion tons of desert dust fly up into the sky annually.
Wonderfully Made
While getting an eye exam recently, my doctor hauled out a piece of equipment that I hadn’t seen before. I asked him what the device was, and he responded, “I’m using it to take a picture of the inside of the back of your eye.”
Ruth & Hannah: Learning To Walk By Faith
Uncertainty in not knowing what lies ahead can be frustrating. In this study, author Alice Mathews explores the stories of two women in the Bible whose circumstances led them on a journey of faith. Discover how you can move forward by faith and experience God’s peace in the midst of difficult times when you allow Him to lead the way.
From Bleak To Beautiful
Spring is the time of year when God reminds us that things are not always as they seem. Over the course of a few short weeks, what appears hopelessly dead comes to life. Bleak woodlands are transformed into colorful landscapes.
Money Talk
Marilyn and Steven had been married just a few years, and money was tight. But as she looked at their threadbare bedspread, she wanted to replace it. So she decided she would buy a new one with a credit card—hoping to somehow find the money to pay it off.
Change: Following God Through Life’s Crossroads
No matter how you view change, it’s an inevitable part of life—you can’t experience anything new without it. In Change: Following God through Life’s Crossroads, Bill Crowder examines the life of the apostle Paul and offers insights to help you overcome fears, doubts, and resistance to change. Discover how you can draw closer to God and experience His peace, follow His lead and move into a new season of purpose, and impact the world around you for His glory.
Is Ambition Wrong?
Is ambition wrong? Is it wrong to be driven, to push to be the best? It can be. The difference between right and wrong ambition is in our goal and motivation—whether it’s for God’s glory or our own.
Guard Your Brand
A popular clothing retailer requires that its sales clerks dress like the models in the store windows who advertise its clothes. This practice is referred to as “guarding their brand.” The idea behind it is that shoppers will be more likely to purchase clothes because they will want to look like the people they see wearing them.
I L-O-V-E . . .
My husband and I were at a public swimming pool when the people around us started staring into the sky. A small plane was emitting smoke in the form of letters. As we watched, the pilot spelled out the letters: “I L-O-V-E.” People began speculating: Maybe it was to be a marriage proposal. Perhaps a romantic man is standing nearby on a balcony with his girlfriend and will soon pop the Will-you-marry-me? question.
