How hard do you find it to forgive someone when they have wronged you?

Forgiveness does not come easily to most people.  When someone has hurt us or treated us unfairly, it is difficult to let go of that pain and release our own feelings to show kindness.  Often, what one feels is anger, frustration, and ill will toward the person who has hurt us.

The Bible clearly call us to be forgiving people.  As the apostle Paul wrote, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).

So how do we learn to forgive?  Like most aspects of life, we can turn to the life of Jesus as our example.  In the story of Jesus’ crucifixion in the book of Luke, we are presented with an amazing example of forgiveness. [Read more...]

God works in amazing ways through His people in the world.  Whether its through a radical change of lifestyle or a simple act of kindness, God’s purpose to bring light and hope to the world happens all the time.  It is our privilege and pleasure to share stories of how God is moving in the lives of His people.

We have known Pat and Barbara Dirrim for several months since we began attending Grace Fellowship Church of South Forsyth.  They are amazing people and we enjoy their friendship.  God has recently called Pat and Barb and their family to a new adventure for His Kingdom.  We share their story in the hope that you would see the goodness of God, that you would pray for their mission, and that you would prayerfully considering making a financial contribution to support this work.

Here is their story:

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When there is no other way out, it is so important to hold on to Jesus.

I’ve recently gone through a period where I found my faith was weakening.  There are a number of areas in my life where I have desperately been seeking the Lord’s help.  I’ve taken steps to ask for Him to shine the light on any sin that I may be failing to recognize.  I’ve prayed more, I’ve worked harder, I’ve asked advice.  I’ve tried to be patient, I’ve tried changing my behavior, and yet despite all I saw to do myself, nothing had changed.

It can be discouraging when you are trying to do everything you can to move forward, and yet you remain stuck.  And though in my head I was believing that God would come through, in my heart I was starting to wonder if  He would really show up. [Read more...]

Writing a blog is an interesting work, but one where success is hard to measure.

I can monitor our website traffic and count increases in numbers.  I can see new subscribers coming to our newsletter everyday.  I can see new “likes” on our Facebook page.  And I have my own definition of what determines success in terms of sheer numbers.

But determining the value of this work is totally outside of just visitors.  My goal has always been to honor God, to share His glory, and to help others draw closer to Him.  How do you measure success in those terms? [Read more...]

What is the purpose of life?  It’s an important question.  If we all have lives to live each day, shouldn’t we understand our purpose?

Finding our purpose in life goes beyond just filling in the many roles we each have to play.  Yes, one may be a businessman, a father or mother, a friend, a church member, an entertainer, a sibling, or a provider, but our purpose is more than just the activity we do.  Our purpose is our ultimate sense of direction, our meaning – it’s the reason we are here and what we are here for. [Read more...]

It has been said that we are what we think.  What we focus on often determines the results we get.  I found this to be especially true as I ran yesterday morning.

I normally get up between 5:30-6:00am and run 3 miles before the rest of the family is awake.  I use this time to pray and keep my body in shape.  Most mornings, my mind is thinking through all the stuff I have to do, and asking God to help me see how to tackle it all.

As I began my run yesterday morning, all my thoughts were stopped as a song kept running through my head.  The song was “You Never Let Go” by Matt Redman.  As I ran, I just became more and more focused on Jesus.  My favorite line from the song is “Oh No, you never let go, through the calm and through the storms”.  I just recognized how many storms Jesus has carried me through.  My life before I knew Him and the challenges I’ve faced since I accepted Him, He’s carried me through it all. [Read more...]

If we know God is always with us, and we know God is our helper, then what should we pray about?

• Pray about everything

God desires to be close to us and to share love with us.  To truly build intimacy with God, nothing can be left out.  God wants to be our helper and to help us grow into the people He made us to be.  As we learn to pray about everything, we are showing God that we desire His help, His wisdom and His comfort for every area of our lives.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.   And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”  (Philippians 4:6-7) [Read more...]

Do you ever feel alone?  Do you sometimes feel like your prayers are falling on deaf ears?

Yesterday, I wrote about how often the Bible reminds us that God is our helper.  But if we are honest, there are times when we can feel like God is not there – or at least that He is distant and silent.  In those moments, it can sometimes be difficult to believe that God is really there, that He is listening, and that He is still our help.

But despite how it may feel in the moment, if you are a believer, God is always with you.  His word reminds us over and over about how close God is to each of us, every moment of our lives. [Read more...]

Who is God?  Often the answer depends on what you are searching for.  God has revealed who He is in the Bible.  The whole Bible speaks of God’s nature, His character, how we relates to people, His power and His commands.

The answer to the question of “Who is God?” that struck me today is that God is our help.  Recently, I’ve seen people we know going through different struggles.  For some, its a time of family conflict.  Many others are struggling trying to find work and fix financial problems.  Others we know are beginning to start on a new venture, without all the details worked out yet.  Our family has its own problems and new adventures to navigate.

Whatever the challenge or opportunity presented, God is there to help us.  Whether we face poverty, distress, hurt, uncertainty, disappointment or pain, God’s word reveals that His nature is to be our protector. [Read more...]

It has been said that patience is a virtue.  For me, it is a virtue that I often have a hard time learning.   As I pray and work to generate stability in our family’s life, one of the hardest things for me to do is wait.

I’m waiting for more fruit to bear from our web ministry.  I’m waiting for our financial footing to be secure.  I’m waiting to see how God will open doors as I develop a new outreach as a speaker.  I’m waiting to see where we will ultimately settle as a family.  I’m waiting to see my own heart move to be less selfish and more wholly devoted to God.

It can be a struggle to wait.  Often, I am tempted to try to achieve everything now.  I can get tied up thinking through every possibility, chasing every lead, trying to work harder, faster, more.  I can start to lose confidence as all the extra effort I put out does not seem to bring about the results I am hoping for. [Read more...]