The Love Offering Guest Blog Series Archives - Page 28 of 51

Loving Every Part of Ourselves by Molly LaCroix

Jan 11, 2024

Did you know that the verse at the center of the Torah—the first five books of the Bible that were the heart of spiritual life for Israel—is “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18, NIV)? When the religious leaders asked Jesus, “What is the greatest commandment in the Law?” he said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…and love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39, NIV).

Opportunities for Growth by Kendra Roehl

Jan 4, 2024

Our neighbors had invited several people to their home, including the two of us. But as the time came to walk across the street, my introverted tendencies arose with a vengeance. I dreaded small talk and worried that I wouldn’t know anyone. I wanted nothing more than to stay in my house and curl up with a book.

Raising Her Voice in the Presence of Jesus by Paige Allen

Dec 28, 2023

Our voices are a force. They determine our future and they reveal our hearts (see Luke 6:45). Our words may sound simple, but they elicit every emotion—from tears to laughter and fear to faith. Your voice has the power to set the world on fire (James 3:5), and it is needed in this hour like never before.

Why is Rahab’s Story Our Story? by Shadia Hrichi

Dec 21, 2023

The story of Rahab the prostitute has fascinated Bible students and lay persons for centuries. Her story appears in a mere two chapters in the book of Joshua, and the events are curious right from the start. The book opens with God commissioning Joshua to lead the Israelites after the death of their leader Moses. Yet no sooner do the people come to the edge of the Promised Land than God puts the whole drama on hold to tell us the story of a Canaanite prostitute. This interruption of the conquest story is not an accident, and it gives us our first glimpse into the theological significance of Rahab’s story.

Repairing Unintentional Hurts by Katy Parker

Dec 14, 2023

It was a simple sentence, a question that I thought would be welcomed by all. “Please, could you take a photo of us?” I asked the waitress as we all sat at the table enjoying our Sunday meal in an imaginatively furnished restaurant. “Of course,” said the waitress with a smile as she took my phone. However, neither of us appreciated the drama that was about to unfold. It didn’t even cross my mind that there may be someone who would be so strongly against having their picture taken and that it could even cause someone pain.