This is a question I struggled with myself a couple of years ago. I would read verses in Scripture that would talk about predestination or election and become confused by how this could be. I would think to myself: “I am a free person, and I make my own choices”. This idea went against what I thought or assumed the Bible taught about salvation. Not to mention I didn’t think it sounded fair. How can God choose to save some but not others?

Every day, we face decisions—whether it’s what to wear, where to go to college, how to find a job, or how to build relationships with others. I often hear Christians talk about listening to God’s voice when they make decisions. But, how can they be sure it is really God speaking?

“What is the difference between mercy, grace, and compassion?”

These three virtues are very similar and oftentimes go together, but they each have their own unique concepts. Let’s take a deeper dive into each of them. Mercy withholds punishment even when it is deserved. It’s saying, “You deserve ___ but I won’t give it to you.”  And who else has shown us this attribute any better than Jesus Himself…

“Why Does God Allow Evil & Suffering?”

This is one of the oldest and most significant questions in history. Is a good God compatible with a world full of evil? This is the famous, “Problem of Evil,” and it is by far the most common reason that people give for rejecting Christianity. One helpful way to approach this question is to split it into the logical problem of evil, and the emotional problem of evil…

Wads of crumpled wrapping paper peek out from under the couch in my tousled living room — the norm after our traditional post-present-opening paper wad fight. New sweaters, books, puzzles and games lay haphazardly under the slightly tilted Christmas tree along with a few broken ornaments. Sighing, I scan the mess and head into the kitchen to rummage hopefully for some leftover turkey and stuffing as rain lashes the window in the growing darkness. Spotify is still crooning my Christmas playlist, but the music seems out of place and the joy I had just a few days ago listening to the carols is gone. Christmas is over and spring feels like years away…

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” We often sing these words at Christmastime, as we celebrate the birth of Christ.  But interestingly this song is about the second coming of Christ, not His first. More on that later. This song is still fitting to sing at Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Christ. We are filled with joy when we reflect on the first coming of our Lord and Savior, and we are joyful as we look forward to His return…

On a dark night, in a regular field, 2000 years ago, ordinary men watched over their sheep. On this seemingly routine work night for the shepherds, God chose to change their lives and make the most wonderful news known to them. He revealed the birth of the long-awaited Savior to these ordinary men! Why reveal this great news to shepherds? Why not share it with a religious leader or someone with political power? You see, God knew the hearts of these men. He didn’t just randomly flip a coin to see which field His angels should arrive in. God had a perfect plan. The shepherds were specifically chosen by God for His divine purpose…

The holiday season often feels like a whirlwind. Between holiday parties, shopping for gifts, decorating, and school events, the pace of December can leave us feeling tired. Christmas, the celebration of Jesus’ birth, can become just another thing on our to-do list. But what if we celebrate Christmas a little differently this year? What if taking the time to slow down this year isn’t just good for us but essential for experiencing the true joy of the season?

I love the musical diversity of Christmas carols. Seriously, how often do we get to sing in a minor key at church? Most of the time we are trying to capture the joy of the Lord with our worship music, but this carol is mournful. At a time as cheerful as Christmas, what is there to mourn?