Your Testimony

"So that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest … since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted."—Hebrews 2:17–18 NASB Priests of the past performed important services, but they had inevitable limitations. First, they were just humans, with limited understanding and abilities. They could provide opinions, but their…

Secrets to Breakthrough Faith

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” —Hebrews 11:1 The Bible says “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith has “substance” and provides a confident assurance of God’s unseen reality. I’ve heard some people say, “I don’t have faith,” or “I wish I had faith,” or “I wish I had more faith.” But…

Fear of Death

"He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."—Hebrews 2:14–15 Death. It is a certainty for everyone … something no one can escape. Yet many people do not face this inevitability. The subject of death causes fear and anxiety…

A Still, Small Voice

"The LORD was not in the wind … after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake … after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire … after the fire a still small voice."—1 Kings 19:11–12 John Greenleaf Whittier had seen how some people worked hard in an effort to hear from God and experience His presence. In one extreme example, the priests of another religion…

My First Miracle: The Power of Miracles

While My First Miracle is an entertaining film with an endearing message, it is not an edge-of-your-seat clincher, nor is it meant to be. It is more likely to make you reach for the Kleenex than it is to get your heart and adrenaline pumping. The 2015 film, starring Katya Martin as a 17-year-old cancer patient, does deliver for those interested in watching a heart-warming, moving drama (albeit at…

Explaining Sin to Kids

Excerpt taken from Thinking About God: Theology Q&A for Kids by Alex Early   Chapter 5 Sin When God made the world, everything was good. There was no evil, fighting, crying, sickness, or death. The world did not need police officers to keep people safe, firefighters to rescue us from disasters, or paramedics to rush people to the hospital. You couldn’t find a cemetery because there…

Pray for Him: Change Things Behind the Scenes

Excerpt from Cover Him: Caring for the Hidden Needs, Thoughts, and Feelings of the Man You Love by Roderick L. Hairston, M.A. Chapter 2 Pray for Him: Change Things Behind the Scenes I am thoroughly convinced that the most powerful tool (and weapon) at anyone’s disposal is prayer. But I have a personal bias: I think women, especially mothers, have a unique audience with God. When a godly…

Simple Organization for Homeschools

Excerpt from Simple Organization for Homeschools by Bethany LaShell The Time Factor Does it take you half an hour to find the grammar book each morning? Do the kids spend five minutes finding and sharpening a pencil? Have you ever found three copies of the same book lying around because you had no idea you already owned it? (Yes, I know someone to whom that has actually happened!) Here’s…

Prison Break: Why Forgiveness Is the Key to Your Freedom

One of the most predictable truths of the Christian life is that those who have high callings will have to overcome great trials on the road to their destiny. I wish this weren’t true, but I’ve seen few exceptions. If you want to have an extraordinary impact on the world, get ready for some difficult trials, often accompanied by injustices at the hands of other people. The story of Joseph, the…

The Kingdom of Heaven

"In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’" – Matthew 3:1-2 NIV The ministry of John began with a call to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Then, at the beginning of His earthly ministry, Jesus declared the same message (Matthew 4:17). Thus, this message was so important that both John…