Topic > Christian Living
Living an integrated life
Do you ever feel like two different people, acting one way at work and another way at home? Well, it’s possible to live an integrated life conscious of God’s presence wherever you are and whatever you do! Today on Discover the Word, we will address the tendency we all have to compartmentalize our faith. Listen to […]
Signs and Feelings
A young man I know has a habit of asking God for signs. That’s not necessarily bad, but his prayers tend to seek confirmation of his feelings. For instance, he’ll pray, “God, if You want me to do X, then You please do Y, and I’ll know it’s okay.”
This has created a dilemma. Because of the way he prays and the way he thinks God is answering, he feels that he should get back with his ex-girlfriend. Perhaps unsurprisingly, she feels strongly that God doesn’t want that.
The religious leaders of Jesus’s day demanded a sign from Him to prove the…
Building a “nest of rest” in God’s presence
Some people think bird watching is, well, for the birds! But there’s a lot we can learn from our fine-feathered friends. And one of the most important lessons is found in Psalm 84 where the psalmist talks about a sparrow that builds its nest near God’s altar. Today on Discover the Word, we will reveal […]
We Had No Idea
Volunteers from a local church spent a frigid evening distributing food to people in a low-income apartment complex. One woman who received the food was overjoyed. She showed them her bare cupboard and told them they were an answer to her prayers.
As the volunteers returned to the church, one woman began to cry. “When I was a little girl,” she said, “that lady was my Sunday school teacher. She’s in church every Sunday. We had no idea she was almost starving!”
Clearly, these were caring people who were seeking ways to carry the burdens of others, as Paul suggests…
Are you flying solo?
Running on empty? Fainting from exhaustion? Welcome to the “new normal”—where everybody’s always stressed! Today on Discover the Word, we will discuss what to do when we find ourselves depleted—spirit, soul, and body. Chances are good that it’s because we’re flying solo when God calls us to live in relationship. De-stress your life with a […]
Editor’s Picks: Top 3 Articles | Idealism
“If only we had this or that.” How many times does that thought cross our minds every day?
Love in Action
“Do you have a few items you’d like me to wash?” I asked a visitor to our home in London. His face lit up, and as his daughter walked by, he said, “Get your dirty clothes—Amy’s doing our laundry!” I smiled, realizing that my offer had been extended from a few items to a few loads.
Later as I hung clothes outside on the line, a phrase from my morning’s Bible reading floated through my mind: “In humility value others above yourselves” (Phil. 2:3). I had been reading Paul’s letter to the people of Philippi, in which he exhorts them to…
The Day I Got Hit By A Truck
It was fall 2012. Like many millennials, I was over-committed to a variety of service and extracurricular pursuits—none of which I was willing to subtract from my life, but the sum of which left me completely drained.
Compassion: Learning to Love Like Jesus
Displaying the character of Christ is not always easy, especially in a society that promotes selfish ambition. In this booklet, Dr. Vernon Grounds brings clarity to the meaning of compassion as he examines the life of Jesus. Discover how you can become a channel of God’s love and kindness when you follow the example of Christ—the One whose compassion never fails.
Run to Me
During a walk at a local park, my children and I encountered a couple of unleashed dogs. Their owner didn’t seem to notice that one of them had begun to intimidate my son. My son tried to shoo the dog away, but the animal only became more intent on bothering him.
Eventually, my son panicked. He bolted several yards into the distance, but the dog pursued him. The chase continued until I yelled, “Run to me!” My son doubled back, calmed down, and the dog finally decided to make mischief somewhere else.
There are moments in our lives when God calls to…
The Praying Patient
The obituary for Alan Nanninga, a man in my city, identified him as “foremost, a dedicated witness for Christ.” After a description of his family life and career, the article mentioned nearly a decade of declining health. It concluded by saying, “His hospital stays . . . earned him the honorary title of ‘The Praying Patient’” because of his ministry to other patients. Here was a man who, in his times of distress, reached out to pray for and with the people in need around him.
Hours before Judas betrayed Him, Jesus prayed for His disciples. “I will remain in the…
Naomi or Ruth?
The central character in the Old Testament Book of Ruth is . . . Ruth. Or is it? Today on Discover the Word, the group and guest Torrey Robinson weigh in on why they think this famous book of the Bible is actually more about Naomi than Ruth. Wrap up the week with longtime Discover […]
Learning to Count
My son is learning to count from 1 to 10. He counts everything from toys to trees. He counts things I tend to overlook, like the wildflowers on his way to school or the toes on my feet.
My son is also teaching me to count again. Often I become so immersed in things I haven’t finished or things I don’t have that I fail to see all the good things around me. I have forgotten to count the new friends made this year and the answered prayers received, the tears of joy shed and the times of laughter with good…
Is God at work in your mess?
Naomi’s story begins with a mess, but ends with a blessing. Today on Discover the Word, guest Torrey Robinson and the group assess the character of Boaz, Naomi, and Ruth. They weren’t perfect, but they were virtuous, notable standouts in a culture that had largely forgotten God. Is God at work in your mess? Listen […]
