The Garden of Grief
Read: Matthew 26:36-46 My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. (v. 38) The garden of Gethsemane scene may be familiar to you. One spring weekend, this story was no longer just a distant scene for me to imagine—I received a personal invitation into my own garden of grief when my first pregnancy ended in miscarriage. […]
Just Ask
Read: Luke 11:9-13 The heavenly Father [will] give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (v. 13) Parenting coach and therapist Mary Van Geffen said in a 2021 Instagram post: “We use words to build each other up and ask for what we want!” This strikes me as a radical—and refreshing—idea. Parental discouragement gave generations […]
October 2022 Prayer Guide
IRAN — Give thanks for the conclusion of another successful discipleship conference held at a safe location outside the country of Iran. Iranian Christians had the opportunity to be baptized and share communion together. All participants were able to return safely to their homes afterwards, built up in their faith and with a better understanding […]
Self-Control
Read: Titus 2:1-8 The grace of God . . . teaches us . . . to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives. (vv. 11-12 NIV) In 1972, Stanford University conducted a study of “delayed gratification.” The now-famous “marshmallow experiment” tested children’s ability to forego an immediate reward (one marshmallow) in favor of a later, greater reward (two marshmallows). In his practical letter […]
Gentleness
Read: Matthew 11:28-30 I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (v. 29) My best friend once recounted play-wrestling with his three-year-old son. The toddler was about to pounce on his head when my friend reared up and growled. His son froze in terror. The boy then burst out […]
Faithfulness
Read: Hebrews 10:19-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (v. 23) In Beyond Good and Evil, Friedrich Nietzsche wrote, “The essential thing ‘in heaven and in earth’ is . . . that there should be long obedience in the same direction . . . [This] has always resulted in . . . something which […]
Goodness
Read: Matthew 5:13-16 Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works. (v. 16) As a pastor, I regularly encounter people outside the church who say, “I don’t go to church, but I try to be a good person.” I regularly encounter people inside the church who say, “I’m here because […]
Women’s Sewing Center
In Lohardaga, India, Words of Hope operates a training center to teach women living in poverty how to sew, tailor clothing, and knit. This hands-on ministry provides women with a marketable skill so that they can provide for themselves and their families. The relationships formed during training often open doors for sharing the gospel with […]
Kindness
Read: Romans 2:1-4 God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance. (v. 4) In his memoir, actor Danny Trejo describes how he once accidentally stumbled into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting while trying to crash a rival gang’s house party. Trejo, armed and expecting a fight, was welcomed by a room full of friendly older people. […]