Loving Advice for the Long-Married Julie Barrier

I have two sets of parents. Both couples were wed during the Jurassic period (not really). Both were married almost 60 years. I watched each twosome grow old together. One pair barely tolerated each other at the bitter end. My folks were sweethearts until death parted them. Mom and Dad had a ...more

God's Secret Work Within You Lisa Bevere

“Just as you’ll never understand the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman, so you’ll never understand the mystery at work in all that God does” (Ecclesiastes 11:5 MSG). Solomon parallels how God works with the mystery of a child growing in the womb. Although science has given us much ...more

Is Bitterness a Satanic Stronghold? Francis Frangipane

Two conditions of the heart exist where no one can hide: one is when the heart is filled with love and the other when we are infected with bitterness. Either condition can take over our thoughts and both can filter our entire view of life. As followers of Jesus Christ, we must make our highest quest ...more

Solomon and Spiritual Discernment Neil Anderson

In a world saturated with deceiving spirits, false prophets, and false teachers, the need to exercise discernment cannot be overstated. As believers, we think with our minds, but we discern with our spirits. Mentally we can know whether something is right or wrong in the natural realm by observation ...more

How to Understand Someone Who is Grieving Larry Barber

At many points after a loss, the mourning person can benefit from the support of others. Individual grief reactions can vary widely from person to person and also within the same person over time. Accordingly, friends need to be ready to accept and support the griever through a wide range of ...more

Top Twelve Tools for Praying with Your Grandchildren Deborah Haddix

The right tools are key… to any job. And when the job is one with an eternal impact, the tools are that much more significant. Praying for my grandchildren IS my spiritual work.  And for many years, I must confess, I went about this weighty work with no plan, no tools.  I did the job, but not ...more

Is It Okay to Be Self-Conscious? Don McMinn

“All of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for— God has had it with the proud, But takes delight in just plain people.” 1 Peter 5:5 MSG This post will be good news to everyone, except narcissists. Good news: When you’re in public, people don’t notice you ...more

John: How to Balance Truth and Love John MacArthur

How do you combine compassionate love with confrontational truth? What's the secret to "speaking the truth in love"? The apostle John knew. Pastor John MacArthur gives us a glimpse of this remarkable disciple: "No one likes confrontation. Even those who like to confront others don't like being ...more

Seven Things to Quit If You Want to Lead Carey Nieuwhof

Are you an effective leader? If not, have you ever wondered why? As a leader, there are things you do every day. Some help—others, not so much. I’ve found that as I’ve grown as a leader, I’ve regularly had to change how I think, how I lead and even what I say. Fortunately, there are hacks you ...more

Ahab: You Are Never Too Far Gone Drew Anderson

Come home. You're not too far gone. You're not out of reach. You're not hopeless. You're never too far from the embrace of the forgiving, compassionate, and loving arms of your Creator God.  Many people live their lives not believing what I just wrote. They think they've gone too far and too long ...more