Having a loving father is a gift from the Lord and something I am very thankful for. Growing up, you may not have experienced a loving earthly father, but you have always had a loving heavenly Father. There is something special about being in God’s family. In the Lord’s family, you are accepted, highly favored, …
When life is a struggle, everything is difficult. You might be experiencing this now and not sure which way to turn. Sin or something out of our control may cause problems. It can be heart-wrenching to see those around us struggle, especially family members and friends. Struggles often bring us to our knees to seek …
There are consequences for our actions. This is something we all need to take seriously. One of my siblings got divorced, and their children were impacted and still are today as adults. The Lord can work through our sinfulness, but that doesn’t take away the consequences of what we have done. Galatians 6:7Don’t be misled—you …
Taking responsibility for our actions is never easy, and sometimes we find it easier to shift the blame to others. Adam and Eve sinned, and when confronted by God, they immediately did everything possible to avoid responsibility. Adam blamed his wife, Eve, for giving him fruit from the tree which they were forbidden. Genesis 3:12 The …
Where do we turn when we have sinned? As people, we are born sinful, and our sin and its consequences can overwhelm us. As you read this, you may be weighed down with sins of your past and unsure of what to do. Sometimes we wonder if the Lord will forgive us for our actions. …
Zechariah makes mention of salvation through forgiveness as he prophesies what his son will do. Luke 1: 77 You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. [1] Zechariah was a priest and would have known of the Old Testament prophesies of Messiah. Interestingly, the Holy Spirit emphasizes forgiveness in Zechariah’s …
Forgiveness brings freedom, a gift the Lord wants to give anyone struggling with forgiving another person. Sometimes, struggles leave us deeply hurt, even if it isn’t our fault. These may include a relationship problem, false accusations, or physical or emotional abuse. These can be the source of the root of bitterness in our hearts. The …
God uses life to refine us as we walk through our time on earth. When life is going well, we focus on things that may not be all that important. The Lord uses trials to recalibrate our minds and hearts as they occur. When I am undergoing emotional or physical difficulty, the little things in …
Overcoming guilt can be an ongoing battle if we don’t resolve its root cause. I can feel guilty for several reasons, and what I did may have happened or been years ago. I believe if we are honest, we all have felt guilty at some point. A person I went to high school with was …
A question many people wrestle with is: will God forgive me when I fail? One of my friends had two abortions and wrestled with this sin for many years. One day we had a private forgiveness service for her, where she also gave the children names. In God’s grace, great healing took place as she …