Whitney Hopler
When two women who love the same man are thrown together, the results aren't always pretty. Mother-in-laws can have trouble letting go of their sons. Daughter-in-laws can struggle to embrace their husbands' families. Mutual understanding and wise negotiations are required to help mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws fuse healthy relationships with each other.
Here's how you can get along with your mother-in-law or daughter-in-law:
• Choose to act in love. Don't depend on your feelings to guide your actions. Follow God's guidance instead. No matter how you feel, decide to act lovingly toward your mother-in-law or daughter-in-law. Trust that once you act in...
Sarah Coleman
1. Trust God.
"Mary responded, 'I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.' And then the angel left her.” (Luke 1:38)
It may not make sense. The situation may seem impossible. The odds may be stacked against you.
Trust God. Trust He knows what He's doing. He knew what He was doing when He entrusted the birth of His Son in the care of two young people. He knew what He was doing when He brought you and your spouse together. The Father will work all things together for good. Trust in Him.
· 2. Love can...
Herod: The Part of Me That Doesn’t Want Another King
Herod is the part of me that does not want another king, that does not want to bow down before anything else that is not myself. This part of me is completely ruled by my fear, the fear that I am not enough.
This fear distills itself into pride, to prove that I am enough by myself, rather than enough when completed by Christ. Herod is the part of me that will defend my own kingdom no matter the cost, (Matt 2:16) the part of me that ignores the desire of my heart...
The doctrine of the Incarnation—the belief that the eternal Son of God truly became human in the person of Jesus Christ—is one of the central pillars of the Christian faith. For many skeptics, however, the idea appears either unnecessary, illogical, or mythological. Yet, when examined carefully, the Incarnation stands not only as a coherent theological claim but as a rationally compelling answer to humanity’s most profound questions. This article provides an apologetic exploration of why the Incarnation matters and why it makes sense both intellectually and spiritually.
The Incarnation Addresses the Human Condition in a Unique Way
Humanity’s deepest problems—moral...
First, it's important to mention that a large church is not a foolproof sign of a healthy church. Growing in numbers can be a sign that a church is healthy (Acts 2:47; 5:14; 16:5), but it's not an automatic guarantee of health. Spiritual growth and biblical soundness, not numbers, are how we measure the healthiness of a church. What are the key things to look for?
Sound Biblical Doctrine
The Bible should be the center of all teaching, and the doctrine should be sound (Titus 1:9; 2:1; 1 Timothy 6:3–4; 2 Timothy 2:2). Sound doctrine will be reaffirmed throughout the Bible and is generally not based on a...
Introduction
The cosmological argument is one of the oldest and most influential philosophical arguments for the existence of God. It has formed a central pillar in religious and philosophical thought from the time of Plato and Aristotle, through the classical Islamic and Christian philosophers such as Al-Ghazali, Avicenna (Ibn Sina), and Thomas Aquinas, and continuing into contemporary philosophical discourse. This argument is grounded in the principle of causality and proceeds from the observable existence of the universe to conclude the necessity of a first cause or an uncaused cause—commonly identified as God.
At its core, the cosmological argument relies on a...
Diana LéGere
1. Be an Initiator
God took the initiative with us first (1 John 4:19). Jesus didn't expect people to come to him; he looked for them. Loving your wife as Jesus loved the church means pursuing her to maintain and strengthen the relationship and the family unit. He sets the marriage firmly on the "rock."
Leading is foremost, acting. It takes time. Godly leaders care enough to step up and devise plans. Love motivates them to make the first move in everything. They are responsible for the marriage. There is no room for laziness and they refuse to accept the status quo....
Karen Whiting
Routines and Rituals
predictable routines foster healthier and better-behaved children. They fall asleep sooner and sleep better. They feel a sense of security and belonging when parents provide such consistent care.
Such repeated patterns in early life become the first building block of lasting relationships. Nighttime may start with brushing teeth and piggyback rides to bed and end with a story and goodnight kiss. A song or exchange of familiar phrases that engage children will add to the bonding.
A few words like “It’s bedtime” become prompts to transition into routines. Routines provide security and comfort with the repeating of a...
Amanda Idleman
1. A Prayer for Protection
(Psalm 121: 7-8)
"The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."
Lord, I ask as my children head back to school that you would keep them from all harm. Watch over their lives. Watch over their coming and going. Graciously be with and protect my kids this school year. Amen.
2. A Prayer for Diligence
(Proverbs 12:24)
"The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor."
I pray that my children will approach this school year...
Mike Leake
What Is the Context of )Hebrews 11:11(?
(Hebrews 11) is known as the faith chapter. In this chapter, the author of Hebrews outlines several characters within the Old Testament and how they were examples of faith. All of these stories are to show us what faith looks like.
Think about Sarah’s story. She was childless all those years. It was a source of deep shame for her. It’s one thing to wrestle with barrenness when you are 25 or 35. But when you are 90 years old, that is one of those longings that has already been shut away.
A 90-year-old woman,...
