Like a hiker in the wild, we sometimes find ourselves stranded in the snow, caught in the storms, and endangered by the trials of life. It’s dangerous to be ill equipped for the journey. When we haven’t packed the right gear, we’re underprepared, over-exposed, and at risk of the elements. That is never God’s… The post Prepare for the Journey appeared first on FaithGateway.

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. — 1 John 4:9 God uses every single trial, every detour, every obstacle in our journey for our benefit, for our good. That’s because what the Enemy means for evil,… The post The Winning Side appeared first on FaithGateway.

Understanding Your Grief But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. — Isaiah 40:31 Grief is not an enemy or a sign of weakness. It is a sign of being human. Grief is… The post Season of Grief, Journey of Faith appeared first on FaithGateway.

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. — James 5:13 The day I met Rebecca, she invited me over to her house for egg salad and raspberries. We were coworkers, the only two squeezed into a ten-foot-by-ten-foot office like two college roommates. Within hours… The post Comfort in God Alone appeared first on FaithGateway.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love. — Psalm 145:8 Have you ever witnessed road rage? Once, a burly man in a truck started angrily gesturing and screaming at me. I’m not even sure what I did to rouse his fury. Perhaps I cut him off. Or perhaps I did something else wrong. But his behavior left no doubt in my mind as to how he felt. Then, as if obscene gestures and expletives weren’t enough, he began to aggressively tailgate me. It wasn’t until I turned into the parking lot of a nearby police station that he stopped his enraged pursuit. I’m glad that…

Oh, the things we do to give gifts to those we love. But we don’t mind, do we? We would do it all again. Fact is, we do it all again. Every Christmas, every birthday, every so often we find ourselves in foreign territory. Grownups are in toy stores. Dads are in teen stores. Wives are in the hunting department, and husbands are in the purse department. Not only do we enter unusual places, we do unusual things. We assemble bicycles at midnight. We hide the new tires with mag wheels under the stairs. One fellow I heard about rented a movie theater so he and his wife could see…

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. — 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 I felt the call of God on my life when I was eleven years old. I sensed then that my life would amount to something great. Even though I could…

Many of us are facing a storm. You may feel: left outside with a flapping shirt and no rain jacket, afraid that the winds of change will tumult you, overwhelmed by the force of all you cannot handle coming at you, convinced you will not weather the storm in your marriage or certain that you will ‘make it’. I assure you, you will — make it. You must know — with God, you WILL make it. Psalm 57 is a place of safety for your storm-torn heart. Let’s take a look at it: Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I…

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” —Numbers 6:24-26 One of the best things about being a parent is getting to watch your child grow up. That’s also one of the hardest things, particularly when the paths our kids choose don’t line up with our vision for what their “happiness” is supposed to look like or when we aren’t really sure what God’s best plan is for their lives. We want our children to become the people God meant for them to be (“God’s handiwork, created…

Editor’s note: Margaret Feinberg wondered, How can people understand the promise of a land overflowing with honey when we buy it in a bear-shaped bottle? So she set out on a journey to find out the significance of honey… and sheep and wine… to better understand God and have a richer relationship with Him. Enjoy this excerpt from Scouting the Divine. * One of the most popular sweeteners in history, honey is a rich, nutrient-filled food mentioned in the Old and New Testaments. Even though bees are the ones who make honey, God is portrayed as the One who provides the honey. Nearly two dozen references throughout the Old Testament describe the Promised…