The Love Offering Guest Blog Series Archives - Page 35 of 51

Beauty From the Ashes by Rachel Bridges

Jun 15, 2023

Spring in the Texas Panhandle brings two things with it. Wind and a high chance of wildfires! The climate in the panhandle is extremely dry! So, when you mix a dry climate with gusting winds the risk of wildfires increases dramatically. I will never forget the wildfire that ravaged the land in the spring of my sixth-grade school year. The eerie glow of the orange flames illuminated the dark night sky, and smoke billowed through the air. Everything smelled of smoke.

Gripped by Jesus: Released to Love by Heather Hutchinson

Jun 8, 2023

As a child, I watched in wonder as my great-grandmother enjoyed World Wide Wrestling on her eighteen-inch television with the bunny ears antenna. As a young adult, I taught kickboxing and took classes in jujitsu. Through these and other experiences, I learned to be a fighter. However, none of my defensive techniques nor the power of my own will were any assistance in overcoming what felt like a tag team of self-pity and shame. I longed to stand empowered to proclaim God’s truth and passionately love His people, yet I continued to battle to believe I was enough for God.

On Showing Up by Andrea Fortenberry

Jun 1, 2023

I opened the door and saw a woman I didn’t know holding a bucket of fried chicken. “I wanted to do something,” she said. “I knew there would be people here and I knew you all would need to eat.” She handed me the food and asked me to give her condolences to my aunt and uncle, who had just lost their 10-day-old baby boy, my cousin.

Motherhood As an Act of Surrender by Katie M. Scott

May 25, 2023

One Monday evening I found myself solo parenting my three young children while my husband worked late.

“God please let tonight go smoothly…just give me strength to get through” I prayed as I stirred spaghetti noodles on the stove. During dinner, my youngest, a toddler, decided to style his hair with spaghetti while we ate…not exactly the smooth dinner I was hoping for. I decided a quick bath was in order. As I filled the tub with water and began scrubbing his rounded tummy, my preschooler came charging in, “I wanna bath, mommy!”

The Gift of Saying Yes or No by Corella Roberts

May 18, 2023

My five-year-old daughter had been at the neighbor’s house for a while. Should I go get her? I wondered. Our neighbors at that time were a precious Korean family, and I didn’t fear any harm to my daughter, but I struggled to know when she had overstayed her welcome.