The Love Offering Guest Blog Series Archives - Page 42 of 46

Comfortable with Discomfort: The Best Way to Show Up for a Suffering Friend by Jodie Pine

Mar 3, 2022

I bought the brightly colored balloon at the grocery store, to deliver along with the frozen lasagna and salad fixings, even though deep down I knew it wasn’t the right message. “Get Well Soon” simply wasn’t possible for my friend, now facing the mountainous road of chemo and radiation, with the cancer detour that had radically altered her course. If there had been better options, I would have chosen more cancer-appropriate balloon words such as “Here With You” or “Courageous Warrior.”

Loving Others to Life by Dana Grindal

Feb 24, 2022

As a prayer minister, I have had many clients come for help over the years struggling with depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. These clients do not fit into one category. They do not have a unique “look” that causes them to stand out in a crowd. I have seen males and females alike. Rich and poor. All sizes and ages. People in their late 50s, and people as young as 8 years old. These are people all around us in our schools, churches, workplace, and communities.

God’s Living Statue by Aubrey Sampson

Feb 17, 2022

What does it mean to be an image-bearer of God? The phrase image of God, often referred to as imago Dei, comes from the very first book of the Bible. In Genesis 1:26, after creating the whole world from nothing, God turns his attention to something extraordinary: “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us,” God declares. (nlt).

You Can’t Out-Give God by Leah Wacek

Feb 10, 2022

Ten years ago, our pastor said these words: “You can’t out-give God.” After some conversation, my husband and I decided to test the theory. It started with giving 10% of our paycheck. We saw the Biblical call to tithing and recognized the privilege of being able to look back over thousands of years and untold amounts of people across the globe giving their first and best to the Lord. Deciding that they had already proven the hypothesis, we stepped in. We were just starting our marriage and careers. We had small incomes and big loans. When we added up what we owed and what was coming in, there was no extra.

How Has God Uniquely Shaped You? By Jodi Rosser

Feb 3, 2022

No matter your age, God has uniquely gifted you to help others. Maybe you have the gift of words and can encourage another hurting heart. Perhaps you have the gift of hospitality and your inviting home welcomes and spreads joy to someone else. It could be that you have other talents: teaching, serving, wisdom, faith, organizing…These special gifts are not for us, but to bless others. In 1 Peter 4:10, it says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” How has God uniquely wired you?