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The Award Winning Blog
Unstoppable with a soft heart
Love. Joy. Peace. Kindness. Goodness. Gentleness. Self-control. Those words sound wonderful when life is going well. They are beautiful when embroidered on pillows, printed on bookmarks, and highlighted in our Bibles. But what happens when life gives us a reason to be angry? What happens when fear replaces peace, grief threatens joy, and someone’s actions make kindness feel almost impossible?
Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes
Sep 114 min read
Good Grief!
It’s been said that grief is love attempting to cope with loss. There’s a correlation between the depth of grief we experience over loss and the loving connection that we have with the one who has passed. In my service to the Lord as a local church pastor and later as a U.S. Navy chaplain, God had me be a part of the coping process for many families grieving the loss of a loved one. It is called “Ministry of Presence,” in which clergy have the privilege of walking with famili
David Reid Brown
Sep 43 min read
Plans, so many plans!
“A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” — Proverbs 16:9 NKJV I have a daily plan, a weekly plan, a yearly plan, plans for school, plans for church, and plans for work. Plans abound as we move through life. Yet for all our planning, when the boots hit the ground, events often fall apart or must be altered. It’s amazing how few plans work in real life. Still, we make plans. People like to organize. It gives us a feeling of control. We feel as though we
Kathy Keenum
Aug 282 min read
YOUR NEXT STEP IS COVERED: Making Bold Decisions With God
When we depend on our limited abilities and knowledge, it’s easy to become terrified by doubt. But relying on the Lord encourages us to move forward assured that God will provide whatever we need, when we need it. This may be pivotal relationships, finances, or an innovative idea.
Lilka Finely Raphael
Aug 213 min read
Desires of the Heart
Haven’t we all succumbed to this lie at one time or another? Here’s a phrase that should put you on high alert: “If only.” It sounds something like this: “If only I had a new car, if only I could get the promotion, if only I had the latest cell phone, or if only I got a popular toy... then life would be perfect.”
Colleen Howard
Aug 143 min read
The Gift You Never Saw Coming
After enduring numerous trials, recognizing positive events becomes challenging. Or maybe you've prayed repeatedly for something, yet it feels like God isn't responding. This can lead to discouragement, making you feel unseen by God. You become weary and then decide, "I'm going to take action, regardless of whether it pleases God." You seek to escape the sensation of helplessness or stagnation.
Vonyee K. Carrington
Jul 314 min read
Harvest of Imperishable Seeds
I grew up in a rural section of eastern North Carolina where miles of crops lined the curvy country roads. Although both my grandparents owned farms, our family lived in town, one block from East Carolina College, with its large, lush lawn and towering trees.
Evelyn Collins
Jul 244 min read
The Rain Has a Reason
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10–11 (NIV) There was a season in my life when I felt like I was walking through a spiritual drought. I still believed
Crystal Johnson
Jul 33 min read
Rediscovering Passion: A Journey of Renewal
There are seasons in life when passion feels distant, when what once felt clear and meaningful now feels heavy or uncertain. In those moments, it is easy to wonder whether your voice, your work, or even your life’s direction still carries purpose.
Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes
Jun 193 min read
Rise!
Though we all experience life’s challenges, not everyone manages to get back up. It may take a day, weeks, or even years. But Proverbs 24:16 promises that the righteous—believers in faith through Jesus Christ—will rise again. We may fall, but we don’t have to remain fallen.
Lilka Finely Raphael
May 292 min read
Learning to Row a Boat: Renewed by the Transforming of the Mind
My first experience rowing a boat was on vacation in Florida. I was about twelve years old. My parents and their friends watched me from the beach as I tried to maneuver the small vessel.
Colleen Howard
May 223 min read
When Calamity Strikes
While we learn to walk through stressful seasons, we sometimes stumble for various reasons: perhaps weakness, selfishness, or a lack of faith in God. We lean on our own understanding rather than depending on God’s goodness and wisdom. But God knows our every need.
Evelyn Collins
May 84 min read
Words Matter
Know this my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.—James 1:19-20 ESV “Lord Jesus! Why am I this angry, and why did I almost curse? " I muttered to myself as I sat at my desk, staring off into space instead of focusing on the pile of paperwork I needed to work on at my job. "This isn't who I am anymore." When I was in college, every other word out of my mouth was profan
Vonyee K. Carrington
May 13 min read
Victory Doesn’t Always Look Like Winning
I’ve lived with depression for a long time. I used to feel ashamed of it. Like if I were a better Christian, maybe I wouldn’t struggle the way I do. Maybe I’d be stronger, happier, or lighter. But I’ve learned that struggling doesn’t cancel out faith. Struggling doesn’t make you less than. And God doesn’t wait until we’re perfect before he calls us his. This verse in 1 John doesn’t say that victory comes from our strength or our performance. It says that our faith is the vict
Shai Johnson
Apr 174 min read
Forged by Fire: A Faith That Overcomes
I’ve experienced losing people I loved, losing things I worked hard for, and losing pieces of what I thought my life would look like. And if I’m being honest, those moments didn’t just hurt, they changed me. There were times I questioned everything, wondered why God would allow so much pressure, so much heat, and so much breaking. But then I started to see things differently. I thought about how steel is made.
Crystal Johnson
Apr 104 min read
Yes, I can!
Instead of a promise to achieve our goals, it emphasizes the inner strength we find in Christ in times of trial and hardship, as well as in times of contentment and peace. We always need to rely on Christ for our strength.
Kathy Keenum
Mar 133 min read
Never Say Never
There was a period in my life when I was mentally and physically spent. My husband and I were raising two sons, one of whom has autism. I was also working at a job that required twelve hours of standing without a break and often without a meal. It was extremely stressful, and I wasn’t exactly young. I had long commutes, and my schedule was haphazard at best. However, it was necessary. Still, there were times I thought I would never make it. But God.
Lilka Finely Raphael
Mar 63 min read
Love Letters from God
But the heart has other feelings. Hearts break, hearts weep, and hearts cry out for help. Hearts cling to the warm, fuzzy feelings of love, but they also hold on to profound loss, sadness, fear, and doubt. If we’re expecting our lives to look like the perfect Hallmark movie, the odds of that happening aren’t always in our favor.
Colleen Howard
Feb 273 min read
The Power of Words to Crush—or Call
Suddenly, uncontrollable tears streamed down my face as pent-up emotions surfaced. I reached for a tissue while tears flowed, and relief flooded me. God uncovered the dreadful memory of a critique where someone’s harsh criticism plunged me into deep despair. After forgiving her, I thought everything was well, but it didn’t erase the words stuck in my head.
Evelyn Collins
Feb 64 min read
Who does God fight for?
We love the idea of God fighting for us. We pray and ask Him to step in and change our circumstances—the cancer diagnosis, the lawsuit, the struggling marriage, the wandering child. And often, He moves in powerful ways. But God’s faithfulness does not always look like immediate rescue or visible victory. Sometimes His work is quieter, deeper, and more mysterious than we expect. Scripture shows us that while God is always present and always good.
Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes
Jan 304 min read
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