The Love Offering Guest Blog Series Archives - Page 12 of 51

Swimming with the Sharks by Max Lucado

Aug 12, 2025

In the mid-1970s Steven Spielberg produced a movie called Jaws, the fictional story of a monster shark that made a meal out of the swimmers off the New England coastline. One iconic scene involves a crusty boat captain, the police chief, and a scientist. They set off on the captain’s fishing boat in search of the shark. No one had seen it before. When these three men did, they nearly fell over in fright. The police chief delivered one of the most famous lines in cinema history: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat!”

Creativity As a Cure by Jake Weidmann

Aug 5, 2025

Have you ever considered that listening could be an art form? Listening well to someone is one of the greatest gifts you can offer another person. It recognizes and affirms that they, too, are made in the image of God and what they say has value—indeed, that they themselves have value. Listening well also offers a cure to the self-centered impulse that assumes that my desire to communicate and connect—particularly as an artist—is the only one that matters. Yet within the reciprocity of conversation, where each actively listens to the other, a true creative partnership can be formed.

3 Ways to Find Fulfillment in Christ by Grace Thomas

Jul 29, 2025

Have you ever longed for someone’s attention, desperate to be seen? The world tells us we can find satisfaction apart from Jesus. But Scripture says only Christ makes us complete, “and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority” (Col 2:10). Notice it doesn’t say complete through earthly accolades—it’s through Christ.

Live Like It Matters: Intentional Living In A Distracted World by Dana Hanks

Jul 22, 2025

What if the small things you do today matter more than you know? I used to think intentionality was only needed in the big moments. The life-changing decisions. The brave yeses. The new beginnings. However, over time, I have come to realize that the most powerful kind of intentionality is often found in the quiet, everyday choices, the simple moments that don’t have a platform, a big audience, accolades, or achievements.

Start Enjoying Life by Mandy Arioto

Jul 15, 2025

In our Western understanding of this passage, we interpret Martha as the ultimate hostess with the most-est, a busybody who is making sure everyone has had their fill of the charcuterie board and who wouldn’t imagine serving refills of lemonade without a rim of lavender-infused sugar on the glass. The narrative we are given is that while Martha is worrying about what shape to cut the sandwiches, her sister Mary is doing what Jesus really wants, which is sitting in his presence. The problem is that this isn’t what the story is about, and it isn’t the way the original hearers of this text would have interpreted it.