Many of us have watched a foot race at some point. As the runners approach the starting line, they warm up and mentally prepare to run as hard as they can toward the finish line. As they get into position at the starting line, the crowd holds its breath in anticipation, matched by the runners. All are waiting for that starting pistol, that go-ahead to run down the lane and see what happens.

In several ways, periods of waiting in our lives are similar to the anticipation before a race. There is the desire to move forward, the anxiousness to begin your progress, the uncertainty of what the final result will be. Some would say they don’t see the benefits in waiting, while others appreciate the growth they have gained through times of waiting.

If you find yourself in a time of waiting, and feeling like hope is fleeting and frustration is building, these six tips can encourage you to remain hopeful in the waiting and know God is blessing you both in this time and for what’s ahead.

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As the world-renowned crooner Frank Sinatra lamented, love and marriage are two things that go together like a horse and a buggy. Both have to be together in order to work together and move forward.

Marriage, like many aspects of life, is best if approached with the right perspective. For those of us who are believers in God, we utilize a biblical mindset to best handle the ebbs and flows of marital bliss. Wisdom, as expressed regularly through the Scriptures, must be adopted into one’s life and also one’s marriage.

Though it is impossible to have a perfect marriage, there are steps a couple can take that will encourage both a healthy marriage and a strong relationship with the Lord. It’s guiding wisdom even Frank Sinatra would approve of.

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Romantic love: the fuel for sappy movies, Valentine’s Day, and the quest many of us undertake to find that special someone chosen for them by God. The idea of falling in love has led many to pen beautiful poems and stories of love, create vivid artwork, and write heartfelt songs.

But despite all the illustrations we can find in society today, nothing paints a better picture of romantic love than the Bible. Many see God’s Word as demonstrating examples of agape love (God’s perfect love for us) and phileo love (brotherly love), but romantic love is also prevalent in the pages of Scripture.

From the intimate details between two lovers in Song of Solomon to the meaningful love shared by biblical couples like Isaac and Rebekah, Ruth and Boaz, and Mary and Joseph, romantic love is alive and well and worth emulating from God’s Word.

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We live in a society where being busy is often rewarded and seen as a sign that someone is highly successful in their career, family life, and community. We can also fall victim to the idea that being a Christian who is fully committed to the work of God means we have no time for ourselves.

However, the Bible encourages us to re-examine what society says about the benefits of busyness. Scripture highlights a different perspective of busyness, that counteracts what has been ingrained in our minds for so long.

Here, we discuss five lies we tell ourselves as Christians about the need to be busy, ranging from the idea that rest is unnecessary, to our misguided belief that we won’t look the part of a Christian if we aren’t doing something every waking moment.

By dispelling these lies – and even learning a story or two from the Bible of people who struggled with busyness – we can grow to be more spiritually healthy in our lives and daily tasks.

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It could be easy to let our emotions get the best of us during this important political year. But keeping a level head and a prayerful mind is the best way to make the right choices for candidates, issues, and the future of the United States.

God comforts us in our troubles so that we can provide the same comfort and hope to others, directing them to God’s love, grace, and mercy. That means those who are homebound and aren’t able to physically attend church on a regular basis need the same reminders of God’s love that we get in the pews.

“Well, I go to church,” is a common phrase we might say when asked what we do outside of work and family obligations. Some people may detail several ways they are active in their churches, but most would say they are primarily faithful attendants on Sundays, and maybe even Wednesday nights.

Do you want to be more active at church? Is this is the year you really want to put your servant heart to work for the Lord, the church, and the community? There are several ways you can become more involved, whether you are an introvert or extrovert, physically able or disabled, man or woman, young or old.

Following are 10 ways to become a more active participant in your church, and you can embrace them all or start small with one or two activities. Just remember that God delights in whatever service you do for Him and His children.

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).

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We understand God can do the impossible, but could this be the one situation where He can’t? Before giving this idea any time to marinade, the answer is no. There is not one situation that catches God off-guard or where He goes, “Well, I don’t know what to do about this situation, so you are on your own!” 

Maybe this coming year is the time to change your spiritual focus in life, to embrace a new direction and see where God is leading you in 2024. Maybe you need to change your mindset from unhealthy to healthy, and that might be adopting a new verse to shape your steps around.

Looking for a verse to center your upcoming year around? How about 10? These powerful verses and parables are sure to inspire you, no matter what your goals are for the coming year! Print it out and cut out each verse to put up reminders around your house, or hang the whole list somewhere you'll see it every day. 

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What do we do in situations where helping a person could actually encourage their problem? How do we share one another’s burdens without it becoming a strain on our finances, emotions, and/or physical health?

For those who aren’t familiar with the God-blessed work of this amazing man of faith, let’s take a journey into C.S. Lewis’ life and work – who he was, what he stood for, and why his legacy still impacts people for the better today.

We are facing unprecedented times today, and hardships abound. But the apostle Paul is no stranger to hardships, and his words can break through our darkest days to provide God's comfort and truth. Even when we don't feel very joyful or thankful, through Christ, we can still rejoice because we know that He is in control of the situation.

Ahh, Labor Day. The last holiday weekend of the summer before we all jump headfirst into fall plans and preparations for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s the weekend where we might have our last dip in the pool with family, our last weekend of getting bargain sales, and last weekend before school activities start to take off.

But what if for Labor Day this year, we reflect on the importance of resting from work, something that God wants us to do every week as He did at the beginning of time? Instead of seeing the day as just another summer holiday, we recognize and celebrate the need to rest from not just work, but anything that lessens our time with family, with ourselves, and, most importantly, with God.

We are going to look more closely into how Labor Day began, as well as what God’s perspective is on rest. What are some ways we can incorporate rest into this Labor Day weekend that strengthens our relationship with the Lord and others? Maybe with this enhanced outlook about what Labor Day truly represents in our lives, we can make more of an effort to rest and reflect – not just on this holiday, but all throughout the year.

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