Articles Tagged 'Hard' (Page 2)

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Our Chorus is the Gospel

'The verses are the blues, the chorus is the gospel.'

Patrick Odum picks up a line from a Bruce Springsteen interview and helps us understand the need for being real about our struggles but also celebrating our hope in the gospel.

Dry Pine Needles and Cold, Dusty Attics

Jesus' real-to-life circumstances, along with his dangerous predicaments caused by his divine reality, are comforting to me.

Phil Ware reminds us that as we clean up from Christmas and New Year, the mess left after the holidays should remind us of the hard times Jesus and his family faced after his birth.

Even Though They Are Small?

If we are not careful, the challenges of the moment can wilt the joy right out of our Thanksgiving.

Phil Ware reminds us that no matter how difficult our circumstances, because of Jesus we have reason to give thanks!

Purpose that Brings Meaning to Life

As human beings, we can survive almost any 'how' if we have a 'why'!

James Nored and Phil Ware share God's message for us about purpose and meaning through words and video.

Holding on to Bitterness?

Without forgiveness, bitterness is all that’s left!

Max Lucado reminds us of the importance of forgiveness or bitterness poisons our hearts and destroys our influence.

C.S. Lewis and the Struggle to Find Faith

The final destination of our journey to faith often depends upon the orientation of our hearts.

James Nored and Phil Ware challenge us to look at C.S. Lewis and his journey of faith along with a broken-hearted father and see how we might be able to find faith in our own lives.

On Tiptoes with Angels

Christmas, like the coming of Jesus, is about waiting!

Phil Ware begins a five-part series on Jesus at Christmas. This week is focused on waiting for Jesus to come.

The Holy Family, Incarcerated!

Christ Church takes the story of the flight to Egypt and uses it to make us think about what the “old, old story” of Jesus tells us about this very contemporary issue.

Patrick Odum challenges us to think critically and lovingly in light of our new-found awareness of baby Jesus' status as a refugee from violence.

Dear Husband, You're Worth It!

What happened last weekend felt hopeless and dark. But this weekend says it wasn’t.

Jordan Harrell captures the reality of the good times and challenging times in a marriage and what God is up to in all of it if we will keep on loving each other.

Life Happens!

No one is exempt from life’s challenges.

Brian McCutchen uses the journey of Asaph in Psalm 73 to remind us that life happens to everyone, but God is with those who love him.

A Thanksgiving Conversation

What would a frank conversation between us and God about thankfulness look like?

Tom Norvell shares an imaginary but important conversation between himself and God.

Honesty with God on Our Journey of Faith

Thankfully the Bible is honest about the flaws of our heroes so we can know that we can be a person of faith useful to God, too!

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that Abraham's journey of faith wasn't easy, his life was not perfect, and his questions for God were real.

Finding My Story in God's Story

Life's ultimate questions need answers. Do you know where to find them? Do you know how to share them? Do you know how your story fits into God's big picture?

James Nored begins to share his great video series on the Story of Redemption, entitled Finding Your Story in God's Story.

Another Perspective

Was 2016 a hard year? So how are you going to face 2017?

Byron Ware reminds us that even after a very hard year in 2016, we have good news to carry with us in 2017!

Give Me Jesus: Now

God came to us in a way that all of us could find him, know him, and find our way home!

This is part of a 4 part series on Jesus' birth called, "Give Me Jesus," and this one focuses on finding him now.

After the Crowd Has Gone

Thanksgiving is over; so what do we do now as we return to the challenges of life?

Phil Ware reminds us that Jesus gave us a great example on how to deal with the challenges we face after a great thanksgiving feast.

God Surrounds Us!

Will I be hard like a stone or open like a sponge to the ever-nearness of God?

Max Lucado reminds us to be open to God even when things are bad and times are tough and we want to harden ourselves against him.

More Bread than Peanut Butter to Spread

What do we do when we have way more going on in our lives than we can handle?

Phil Ware begins a series of posts on our needing rest with Jesus and focuses on what we do when we have more to do than resources or strength and we don't have a rest time close at hand.

Pray

To touch the broken as Jesus did, I must learn to pray as Jesus prayed!

Phil Ware shares his second post on Mark 1:35-45 and learning to touch the broken as Jesus touched them by learning to pray as Jesus prayed.

Lifestyle: Connecting Others with Jesus

How we view people impacts our lifestyle

Phil Ware finishes his series on "The Andrew Effect" about connecting people with Jesus by reminding us how Jesus viewed people.

Temptation

In an age that has lost any sense of sin, why worry about temptation?

Brian McCutchen reminds us that dealing with temptation is not easy for the Christian and must be dealt with seriously.

Getting Our Lives on Track

Life is full of ups and downs, but God goes with us through it all!

Bill Sherrill reminds us that life is full of ups and downs, good things and bad, so we need to find the good and not the bad.

The Emmaus Option

How an old journey and a brief meal can help us reshape ourselves... and our world.

Ann Voskamp looks at our ravaged world this summer and uses the image of a ravaged countryside to help us remember the power of sharing scars with the one who bears our sin in his scars.

Can Jesus Survive Religion's Failures?

How has Jesus survived the messes his followers have made over the centuries?

Jesus and the gospel message about Jesus continues to be more resilient than the failures, foibles, and fractures among his people.

Don't Settle for a Small Destiny

What do we let define us, call or catastrophe?

Max Lucado from his book "You'll Get Through This" encourages us to not let our disappointments define us but instead let God's destiny for us define us.