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Making Spiritual New Year’s Resolutions
Every January, millions of people begin their year with New Year’s resolutions. Losing weight, getting organized, exercising more, eating healthier, and managing finances better are some of the most common resolutions. But what about making spiritual New Year’s resolutions? We make commitments and tell our friends and family on January 1st, only to give it… The post Making Spiritual New Year’s Resolutions appeared first on FaithGateway.
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When it’s Hard to Receive
I don’t deserve this. That’s what I thought when I drove away. Before I left the property, a man with a long white beard, loaded up not one, but two bikes into the back of my car. One was hot-red. The other was pastel, a beach cruiser for my daughter for Christmas. He wanted NO money. So, I paid him nothing and drove off with what seemed like everything packed into the back of my SUV. I wanted to cry. I don’t deserve this. It felt all wrong — to receive… To take… And, to give — nothing. I’ll have to find a bike and bring it to him. I’ll have…
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Engage with Culture: Two Books for Parents
Mama Bear Apologetics and The Pop Culture Parent both aim to help parents interact with the culture surrounding their kids. Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies, edited by Hillary Morgan Ferrer. Harvest House Publishers, 2019. 288 pages. Reading Level: Adult Recommended For: parents, educators, youth leaders, and others who work with young people We moms sometimes joke about turning into a mama bear: don’t mess with my kid. Even relatively placid mothers will fight to the death for their children. Ferrer and her fellow writers are speaking directly to this love for our children and challenging moms (and any other adults who work with children they…
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Creative Love: A Lifetime Warranty
Safeguarding Your Love Story Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. — Romans 12:9-10 NIV Audrey Have you ever bought a warranty for something only to realize that when you needed to utilize that warranty, it… The post Creative Love: A Lifetime Warranty appeared first on FaithGateway.
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Fight for Rest
The lie you might believe for far too long is that rest is for the weak. Rest is for the lazy. Rest is for those who have time for it. But you? Well, you’re out there making things happen so you cannot possibly take a break. Hustle harder. Move faster. I spent almost all… The post Fight for Rest appeared first on FaithGateway.
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Devotions to Learn the Life-Altering Love of God
Editor’s Note: It’s a new year and it’s time to form more consistent daily rhythms. One of our newest 90-day devotionals might help do the trick. God Above All is a unique devotional that will take us through 90 days of some of Fourth-century philosopher and theologian St. Augustine’s most influential works. Here’s a… The post Devotions to Learn the Life-Altering Love of God appeared first on FaithGateway.
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Until the Bitter End
For all who love pride and power with empty vanity and the display of arrogance, and all spirits who desire such things and seek their own glory by dominating others, are bound together in one association… And all men and all spirits who humbly seek the glory of God and not their own, and… The post Until the Bitter End appeared first on FaithGateway.
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Newbery Buzz #1: King and the Dragonflies
Betsy: Readers, we’re kicking off our annual Newbery Buzz discussion series with a book that has already garnered a major award: King and the Dragonflies, by Kacen Callender, received the 2020 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. (Incidentally, another book we enjoyed and rated highly was a finalist: When Stars are Scattered.) Each January, we discuss books that we’re hearing lots of buzz about and try to figure out if the book is a possible Newbery candidate—along with what we might think were we on the selection committee. The Newbery committee is famously close-lipped about the possible contenders, so we really don’t know if we’re on the right track.…
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The Restoration of Hope
YOUR FIRST HOPE “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” — Jeremiah 29:11 NLT The renewal of all things is meant to be your first hope in the way that God is… The post The Restoration of Hope appeared first on FaithGateway.
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Read the Bible in 2021
As we head into 2021 after a tempestuous 2020, one thing remains certain: The Word of the Lord stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). Reading God’s Word is a privilege, one we’ve cluttered up with so many different approaches: Is it better to read the entire Bible every year?Is it better to study one book or passage more in-depthly?What about devotionals? Do you need one to read alongside the Bible?Is it okay to just dive in and read whatever strikes your fancy?Does the translation matter?What about a story Bible?Just Read Your Bible I’d argue that reading the Bible—however you go about it—is better than not reading the Bible. (Can I get an…
