• Topic > Spiritual Growth

    God invites us to wait with Him

    Waiting on God is never easy. And yet in the process of waiting on God we find an invitation to wait with God, drawing us closer to Him. Today on Discover the Word, the group, and author Adele Calhoun continue their series “Invitations from God,” by discussing how we can wait well. Would you say […]

    Shaping Your Thoughts

    When Marshall McLuhan coined the phrase “the medium is the message” in 1964, personal computers were unknown, mobile phones were science fiction, and the Internet didn’t exist. Today we understand what great foresight he had in predicting how our thinking is influenced in this digital age. In Nicholas Carr’s book The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, he writes, “[The media] supply the stuff of thought, but they also shape the process of thought. And what the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation. Whether I’m online or not, my mind…

    Seeing ourselves as others see us

    The poet Roberts Burns once said, “Oh the gift to see ourselves as others see us.” Today on Discover the Word, special guest Adele Calhoun joins the group to discuss the gift she received when her husband told her the brutal truth . . . that she interrupted people! So, what happened when she gave up […]

    When Our Success is Actually Failure

    Everywhere I go, I see people around me striving after something. Some study hard to get the grades they want, some work hard to get promoted in their jobs, while others earn extra to buy nice cars and houses.

    Cooperating in the sanctification process

    “I can’t help it,  that’s just the way I am!” How often do we say that, and why do we say it? Today on Discover the Word, the team, and author Adele Calhoun, digs into our collective psyche, exploring the excuses we give for the way we are. Learn how to cooperate rather than resist in the […]

    Repair Your Soul

    No matter what your circumstances, God has a plan. If you’re beat up and feel like you have nothing left to offer, let the Master take control. He knows your purpose, and He will see you through.

    Be willing to participate

    Today on Discover the Word, the team and special guest Adele Calhoun continue their series on “Invitations from God” by turning to John chapter five and the story of the broken man at the pool of Bethesda. Explore how, just like with us, Jesus’s invitation to make him different included a willingness to participate on the […]

    Fear of missing out

    Do you suffer from F.O.M.O. . . . the Fear Of Missing Out? Maybe that’s why you say, “Yes” to an invitation when you should be saying, “No!” Well, today on Discover the Word, we along with our special guest, Adele Calhoun discuss the role invitations, and our responses, have in shaping the course of our lives. […]

    Finding the GPS that Never Fails

    Some time ago, my brother and I drove to Miami from Florida to fix an item we had recently purchased. Although it wasn’t the first time we had taken this route, we decided to (once again) rely on the trusty Global Positioning System (GPS) on his cell phone.

    I Was Jealous of My Best Friend

    I have something to confess: I was once jealous of my best friend. I didn’t mean to feel this way, and I’m not quite sure how it happened. We’d grown up and shared everything since we were young: our joys and tears, our secrets and dreams.

    Never Give Up!

    Joop Zoetemelk is known as the Netherlands’ most successful cyclist. But that’s because he never gave up. He started and finished the Tour de France 16 times—placing second five times before winning in 1980. That’s perseverance!

    Many winners have reached success by climbing a special ladder called “never give up.” However, there are also many who have lost the opportunity to achieve success because they gave up too soon. This can happen in every area of life: family, education, friends, work, service. Perseverance is a key to victory.

    The apostle Paul persevered despite persecution and affliction (2 Tim. 3:10-11). He viewed life…

    Believing is Seeing

    Familiar paths are comfortable, but it’s the unknown that forces you to trust. When you struggle and fall, faith may be the only thing you have in this cruel world. It’s a gift given to help you. Trust the Giver. And He will help you see the way again.

    Why Pneumonia Was What I Needed

    I used to be a very ambitious person. In college, I enjoyed life and worked hard to get what I wanted—especially when it came to grades. I wanted to be the top student so that others would look up to me. This came at the expense of everything else: God, family, and friends.

    God’s Sandpaper

    My friend’s words stung. Trying to sleep, I battled to stop mulling over her pointed comments about my strong opinions. As I lay there, I asked for God’s wisdom and peace. Several weeks later, still concerned about the matter, I prayed, “I hurt, Lord, but show me where I need to change. Show me where she’s right.”

    My friend had acted as God’s sandpaper in my life. My feelings felt rubbed raw, but I sensed that how I responded would lead to the building of my character—or not. My choice was to submit to the smoothing process, confessing my pride and…

    Tactical Distractions

    It became painfully clear the first time my wife and I collaborated on a writing project that procrastination was going to be a major obstacle. Her role was to edit my work and keep me on schedule; my role seemed to be to drive her crazy. Most times, her organization and patience outlasted my resistance to deadlines and direction.   

    I promised to have a certain amount of writing done by the end of one day. For the first hour, I plugged away diligently.  Satisfied with what I’d accomplished so far, I decided to take a break. Before I knew it, my…