All of us have read confusing words or concepts in the Bible and wondered, “What in the world does that mean?” That’s certainly the case when Jesus tells Saul, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’” (Acts 26:14).
Does your heart ever feel overwhelmed? My heart is often overwhelmed by commitments, expectations, disappointments and difficult relationships. Are you ever disheartened by your inability to meet everyone’s demands and expectations? Some days my heart vacillates between being raw with paralyzing
By Elizabeth Prata Scottish born Alistair Begg has been pastoring and preaching at Parkside Church in Cleveland since 1983. That’s over 40 years at the same church, something to celebrate. Hi…
One of the greatest ways God puts to use what he puts us through is by creating in us a deeper sense of compassion than we would have ever known without the trauma. The word compassion is derived from the Latin words pati and cum, meaning “to suffer with.” Compassion for brokenness comes from brokenness. There’s really no other way.
By Elizabeth Prata After a terrible natural disaster, people often wonder, “Where was God in all this?” Others wonder “Did God cause it? Did He allow it? Did Satan do it? Was it j…
“There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21) One of my favorite cartoon movie scenes is from “The Emperor’s New Groove”—…
Hannah
In life, it's common to encounter moments of disappointment. These are the instances when things didn't unfold as expected, when hopes were dashed, and when it felt like the universe had conspired against you. But what about disappointment with God? Yes, you read that correctly. There are moments when people...
This article is dedicated to helping people like you move beyond a conventional keep-everyone-happy-and-prove-your-worth lifestyle, so you can live the happier, healthier, more satisfying, uniquely designed life you were created for.
Chatter constantly talks to us in our minds. That chatter can be good our bad. In this post write about how to manage it.
Whether this past year was awesome or awful, I hope you take some time to end the year well by reflecting on the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The joy of Christmas doesn’t end when we remember that Jesus is always with us. With His presence and peace, every day is Christmas…an opportunity to celebrate His love, His arrival in our hearts, His gift of eternal life.
It might sound crazy to the average man when told to expect disappointment and he can never really be disappointed. This quote from Spiderman’s girlfriend MJ holds a valuable lesson for us.
Maybe gratitude comes easily to you. Or maybe it’s difficult because you’re going through a hard time at work, or the holidays bring back painful memories. Whatever you’re going through, God is not absent in your pain. He is always with you.
Ministry is hard. It’s even harder when you aren’t prepared. Take some time now and consider how you are responding to the demands of ministry, how you can improve, and developing a plan to address any concerns you uncover.
Perhaps you feel just about as “lucky” as a lost dog. Hobbling along. Impaired vision. Broken tail. Well, you get the picture. There was a woman in the Bible who also felt like she was out of luck and had nothing to give. But then God showed her how to fill up so that she could pour out. Her story is found in 1 Kings 17, and it begins with a man named Elijah.
Guichet joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about why Christians are so burned out and unsure of where to turn for sound Biblical advice that will help them with their everyday struggles. Listen as she shares advice for those who have been hurt by the church and subsequently given up on it. Also, is there a fool-proof cure for those afflicted with being a crappy Christian? Find out and much, much more on this episode.
Shattered dreams open doors to better dreams…dreams we never even thought to imagine. They become fertilizer in which God’s best for us can grow. And that’s a promise.
I was so disappointed. I had worked really hard on a project, and to be honest, it was a flop. It seemed that not as many people loved it as much as I did. And it made me just want to pitch a tent in the land of disappointment and quit!
Do you wrestle with feelings of disappointment at the end of fun seasons like Summer or the holidays? If so, you may have Chronic Disappointment Disorder (or CDD). It’s not a real disease, but Heather has experienced it as if it were. Today, she tackles what to do if you feel disappointed at the end of this season and if you wrestle feelings of sadness or loss as you transition between the seasons.
My son, Steven, was in the ninth grade when I turned in the manuscript for my book, Being a Great Mom, Raising Great Kids. I should have waited until he was in the tenth grade.That fateful morning, I placed my neatly printed pages in a padded envelope, prayed a blessing over the bundle, and then dropped a year of hard work in the mail slot at the post office. When I returned home, my phone was ringing. It was Steven.“Hey, Mom, I’m calling to let you know that I’m in the principal’s office. I got caught stealing in the lunchroom. You need to come to the school.”