The Love Offering

Hebrews 11 is often called the Faith Hall of Fame because it celebrates the lives of those who were commended for their faith. They were commended for their faith in action. Yes, we are saved by faith alone, but I’m convinced that if we settle for mere acknowledgment of God’s existence, we are living an incomplete faith. Our faith grows and is made complete by what we do. Thankfully, even though f...

As unfathomable as it may seem, God allows our prayers to impact the world. We see the significance of prayers offered on behalf of others over and over again in the Bible. Even, Jesus modeled the importance of praying for others when he interceded for his disciples, for children, and for us as future believers (John 17). In fact, Jesus is still interceding for us at the right hand of God, advocat...

There is just something comforting about the touch of a loved one, isn’t there? An encouraging pat on the back, a reassuring squeeze of the hand, a playful rustle of the hair, a quick kiss on the forehead, or a lingering embrace—these kinds of touches can strengthen our connection, soothe our emotions, and communicate understanding without a word. From the moment we are born to the final days of o...

The apostle James says, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14b). Psalm 90 shares something similar when the psalmist reminds us a thousand years are like a day to the Lord. Realizing our days are numbered helps us to steward the little time we have wisely and for eternal good. If we have something important we want to do, we must not put...

Celebration isn’t just reserved for the holidays and big milestone moments of our lives. We can chose to celebrate each moment and view every moment as holy. Leslie Thompson wanted an everywhere, anytime kind of prayer life. But how does a young mom and entrepreneur add one more thing to days filled with diapers, laundry, client meetings and dinner prep? Leslie needed a little boost – and she foun...

Our relationships have a profound impact. We need each other, yet so many of us are lonely. But friend, you are never truly alone. The Lord is ever-present and the best companion of all. And He has given us people to live life with, however sometimes these relationships can be difficult to navigate. Michele Howe is on the show today helping us to make thoughtful, prayerful choices about the friend...

There is something special about music. It has a unique way of staying with us and speaking straight to our souls. Have you ever heard a song on the radio or at church play that was exactly what you needed to hear? I certainly have. I've even noticed whatever I've been listening to the previous day is what I wake up singing the next morning or humming throughout the day. Before I know it, the peop...

Do you believe your work is eternally significant? Perhaps you feel as if the work you do carries less eternal impact than the work of a pastor or missionary. But that’s not how God sees it. Whatever it looks like day to day, your work is ministry and central to God’s plans to restore fallen creation. As the days of creation reveal, God is quite familiar with work himself. He created humans with u...

What if your greatest heartbreak catapults you to your greatest growth? Jodi Rosser is no stranger to grief. She lost her best friend to pancreatic cancer, suffered a miscarriage, and endured a heartbreaking divorce. None of her stories got tied up with a red bow, yet God was faithful to bring purpose to her pain. She's on the show today offering hope to anyone with a hurting heart and encouraging...

Are you feeling adrift as you face transitions in the new year or in a new season of life? It’s time to start dreaming again. Shayne Moore and Carolyn Castleberry Hux are on the show today offering us the building blocks for getting unstuck and finding renewed joy and purpose. They know from experience what it means and how difficult it can be to navigate this territory. In their book Women at Hal...

My dogs and I take a walk most days. On one particular walk, I happened upon a close friend, named Trudy Lonesky. I invited her to join me for a writers conference and now three years later, Trudy has published two devotionals: Reclaim Her Heart and Confidently Crowned. Trudy is on the show sharing her perspective on our encounter as well as her heart for teen girls and their moms. While I know Go...

Does your relationship with food come as a constant source of regret, frustration, and shame? Or does it feel like a God-given blessing? Do you bounce between the two sometimes, in a love/hate relationship with food? Whether it’s a warm croissant, a bright bowl of fruit, a piece of cake, or a steaming cup of coffee put in front of her, author and Bible teacher Erin Davis has experienced all sorts...

Your Past Doesn’t Define You. Your Present Doesn’t Define You. But Who You Choose to Trust Does Define Your Future. We have all experienced a “meanwhile” in life when God is strategically laboring behind the scenes to work all things together for His good and for His glory. Sometimes a “meanwhile” can be an interminable and challenging “mean while.” Such is the story of Joseph – and it might be yo...

Have you ever wondered where God is when life is hard, joy is gone, and you have more tears than tissues? Does it feel like your circumstances are more than you can handle? YOU’RE NOT ALONE! What if in your darkest moments you could: • Embrace a clear sense of purpose • Stay grounded in God’s Word • Serve others with gratitude • Choose forgiveness—again and again • Discover the freedom of giving u...

A Little Group Goes a Long Way with Hal Donaldson In 1994, when Mother Teresa asked a young Hal Donaldson what he was doing to help the poor and suffering, he replied “not much of anything.” She told him, “everyone can do something.” Her words lingered, and the (then) aspiring journalist, returned from India and began handing out groceries out of the back of a pickup truck, and went on to found th...

Being human is hard. Being in relationships with other humans is even harder. People are complex and relationships are messy but loving one another well is possible. We can actually grow closer to God and others through the circumstances we'd rather run from. Grace P. Cho is joining us to talk about her contribution to Come Sit with Me. She along with 25 (in)courage writers help you navigate tough...

God wants to use you right where you are through every single encounter you have. No matter who you are, what you do, or where you are, join Alice Mategora and I as we talk about How to Save the World. Tune in to discover practical ways to share your faith as you join God in saving the world right where you live—one encounter at a time. Connect with Alice: www.alicematagora.com Support the Show: h...

Isn’t it time you said yes to God? What’s holding you back? The risk? The unknown? The unwillingness to shake up the comfortable status quo? Whatever it is, if you’re not in God’s best place, you’re missing out on something great. The Lord is calling you into a Promised Land. But it’s going to take some faith steps to get there. Jenn Hand wants you to be able to say to God, “My yes is on the table...

There is power in a simple invitation. I know I have experienced the effects of someone extending an invitation to me. Jesus also knew the power of the simple invitation and extended them often–to see, to dine, to rest, to renew, to be blessed, and to take up our cross. We are discussing the power of a simple invitation today on the podcast with my guest, Barb Hill. Barb is the author of Seasons o...

What do you do when God seems to have vanished? When you have a decision to make, when your stability is shaken, when your sure-fire plan fails—when everything is spinning out of control… Esther is the perfect partner for seeing our invisible God in uncertainty. Though she lived centuries ago, Esther speaks to us when we run into limited control and resources. We find in her a strength and fortitu...

High school sweethearts who started out on shaky ground but through hard work and commitment decided that marriage is worth the work. Chad and Megan Lacefield launched Built for Two so they could inspire and empower couples of all ages and stages to pursue God and each other for the sake of their legacy They call themselves two people who have defied the odds stacked against them and in spite of i...

Does Your Faith Seem Stuck? Do you ever feel like you're not growing in your faith the way you're supposed to? It turns out, there are forces working against you--threats to your faith--trying to keep you from flourishing in your relationship with God. One of Jesus' parables--in fact, the one that gets the most space on God's sacred pages--deals with this very issue. It's the story about the sower...

As women in today’s world, we face extraordinary pressure to pursue a great calling and perform to prove our worth. This pressure breeds anxiety, and we often find ourselves “toiling and spinning,” as Jesus described. After striving to find purpose in the competitive environment of Hollywood, Shari Rigby reminds us that our purpose and significance have already been spoken by God. Through her devo...

Have you ever questioned God’s leading when following Him costs you your greatest joy? Has your acceptance of God’s plan brought you grief instead of peace? Do you find that waiting for clarity is excruciating when you’re suffering in the present? These are some of the questions Heather Anderson wrestled with. When her husband, Josh, left his professional baseball career in obedience to Christ’s c...

No one gets to write the first chapter of their lives. But everyone gets to write their second chapter. From birth, chapter one is written for us by those that have control. For some, that chapter is good, right, and positive. Thus, those people have a good foundation for writing their second chapter. Over the last ten years of counseling, the word Vera Holloway hears from clients, more than any o...