Be perpetually prepared for opportunities to give a gentle and respectful explanation when people ask you to explain the hope they see in you. (1 Peter 3:15 Becky’s No-nonsense Paraphrase) In-your-Face Evangelism The churches we attended through my early life celebrated in-your-face evangelism. 1 Peter 3:15 always felt like a command to accost unbelievers, probably because … Continue reading Ask, by Becky Antkowiak
As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. Colossians 1:10 The Message. Last spring, my friend and her husband tried growing tomatoes. With anticipation they carefully planted the seeds and nurtured them…batch after batch. Not a single plant flourished or even survived. They would either sprout … Continue reading Work, by Melissa Carey
“Be here—the king is wild for you. Since he’s your lord, adore him.” Psalm 45:11 (The Message). One of my favorite places to contemplate God is by the sea. But I know I can’t appreciate the calm of the ocean, without also acknowledging the wildness in it. It’s a whole entity, I found out. A … Continue reading Wild, by Beth Duewel
“So then, Be careful how you WALK, not as unwise people but as wise…” Ephesians 5:15 NASB I love the book of Ephesians. My father is a retired pastor and I’m married to a pastor. But one of the sermons I remember the most from my childhood was one on “How to Walk.” Dad took us … Continue reading Walk, by Kimberley Woodhouse
Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10) Being still is not in my two-year-old grandson’s list of abilities. I think he might spontaneously combust if he were made to be still. After a weekend of keeping him, though my heart may be overflowing with happiness, I’m both physically and mentally exhausted. The … Continue reading Still, by Lori Altebaumer