How do you usually react when trials and troubles come your way? What is your response when your soul grows weary and the burden you carry seems almost unbearable? For me, trials often initially cause a particular response to bubble-up within my soul. An attitude of self-pity and a no-one-around-me-could-possibly-understand-what-I'm-going-through mindset are usually my first …
Author: Kristen Johnson
Heaven Without Christ?
If you knew, as a Christian, that when you died and went to heaven everything would be wonderful (no sickness, no death, no mourning, and no sin), but Christ wouldn't be there, would you be content with that? This question was posed in a recent sermon I heard, and - wow! - did it cause …
Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart
Throughout the course of my childhood and teenage years I "asked Jesus into my heart" probably at least a thousand times. I know that may seem outrageous to you and, believe me, I desired more than anything for my soul to experience peace and rest in Christ. Instead, however, I lived with a terrible fear …
Prone to Wander
I don't know about you, but many times I come to a sudden realization that distractions have completely overtaken me. Diversions tend to creep in unnoticed when I least expect them, and before I even recognize what's hit me, I'm spiritually parched and in need of refreshment - refreshment that can only be found by …
Pom Poms, Hair Bows, & Finding Our Identity in Christ
Not long ago, I took on the role of coaching a junior high cheer squad at a private Christian school in our town. Several years back I taught second grade at the same school, and now I'm coaching a few of my former students. It's so neat to see how those sweet little girls I …
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The More I Grow, the Less I Know: I am a Worrier
I have a confession to make: I am a worrier. I've heard it said before that worry is one of those "respectable sins." You know, sins like adultery or murder are seen as heinous, while other sins, such as gluttony or worry, tend to be overlooked or are viewed as the not-so-bad brand of sin. …
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Our Journey with Infertility
Let me start by saying that our journey with infertility has been easy compared to the difficult road walked by many people I know. I don't pretend to understand what some people have gone through during their struggles to get pregnant. For most infertile couples, the heartache is unspeakable. Sometimes they want to share but …
Christian Apologetics: Gentleness and Respect
In our world today, most of us probably know of at least one person who denies the existence of God, the saving power of God, or the reality of heaven and hell; or maybe they deny all three of these points. Some people couldn't care less about the things of God, some will ask questions, …
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Arms, Legs, Pinky Toes, and Armpits: We Are the Body of Christ
Recently I learned a difficult but necessary lesson regarding service to others, both inside and outside the church. God used a particular situation in my life to open my eyes to the massive structure that makes up the body of Christ -- each member performing and accomplishing different tasks with one sole purpose in mind: …
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Hosea: Sin, Judgment, and Prevailing Love
My friend and I recently finished a bible study on the book of Hosea. We have studied several books of the bible together and are usually able to finish any given book within a few months. This one, however, took a year! We didn’t intend on the study taking so long, but once we started …
Proclaim His Name 