Donna is a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, and Biblical counselor. She has been blogging through the Bible each year since 2012. She loves God's Word and sharing how freeing and practical it is. She is certified through the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors.
No parent sets out to sabotage their child’s future.
And yet… it can happen more easily than we think.
Sometimes, in our desire to love our children well, we try to give them everything they want. We smooth the path, remove obstacles, and shield them from discomfort. It feels right in the moment—after all, what parent doesn’t want their child to be happy?
But instead of producing lasting joy, this approach can quietly create something else: entitlement, frustration, and a growing expectation that life should always go their way. Over time, that can shape not only their character, but also their view of God—seeing Him less as a loving authority and more as someone who exists to meet their demands.
That raises some important questions:
How is your parenting shaping your child’s understanding of God?
Are you preparing them for the realities of marriage, work, and relationships?
And what lessons can we take from the life of Samson—a man of great potential who was undone by his thinking and self-focus?
If we’re honest, forgiveness isn’t always the struggle we expect it to be—it’s often harder.
We know what God says. We’ve heard the verses. We understand, at least in theory, that we should forgive. And yet… something in us resists.
Maybe you’ve caught yourself thinking:
“I’m not going to forgive—this isn’t the first time.”
“If I forgive, they’ll think it’s okay and just keep doing it.”
“What she said really hurt. Maybe it’s time she felt some of that too.”
“I’ll forgive… but I’m not going to forget.”
“I’m just not ready.”
“How do I forgive when I don’t even feel like it?”
“Wouldn’t it be hypocritical to say I forgive if I don’t mean it?”
Those thoughts are more common than we like to admit—and they reveal something important: forgiveness isn’t just a simple decision; it’s a deep heart issue.
But what if part of the struggle comes from not fully understanding what forgiveness really is?
What if there are truths we’re missing that could actually help us move forward—even when our emotions are lagging behind?
“Why did God allow polygamy in the Old Testament?” I’ve heard that question many times. Or “Did God approve of it?” And “If not, why did He allow it?” The truth is, it was never God’s intent. But it was what many considered acceptable, we might say an acceptable sin, if they viewed it as sin at all. What sins has our society come to consider acceptable? What sins do you and I consider acceptable?
Also, today, what keeps you from sharing your faith? Fear? Intimidation? Not having the right answers? What is hindering you from being a faithful witness for Christ at a time when many people are fearful and possibly considering eternal things?
Loving prodigals can be heartbreaking and confusing. It’s hard to know what to do. When should we help? And when should we stay out of the way? Perhaps we should ask ourselves, are we really helping, or could we merely be helping them stay comfortable in their pigsty, the very place God wants them to feel uncomfortable, even hungry?
If you have a prodigal, I hope you’ll read today’s post and share your thoughts.
And from our other readings:
What is death? Why do we call an unbeliever spiritually dead? What is the second death?
Finally, some questions we should ask ourselves. James tells us we are to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. But I think we could also say that we should be doers and not just talkers when it comes to doing. Do we talk a lot about God or actually live for Him? Do we talk about winning souls, or do we share the gospel? And do we talk about prayer or do we pray? I know these are convicting questions for me. How about you?
Do you ever find yourself a little bored with the Bible? Or skimming over a passage because you’ve heard or read it many times before? Is it possible that our familiarity with the Word or with certain passages can keep us from benefiting from our Bible reading? Today, we’ll look at one very familiar passage of Scripture, talk about why God doesn’t want us to have a ho-hum attitude, and why every verse in the Bible is important.
Is God calling you to be a superhero? Today in the book of Judges, we will meet two women, both of whom might be called superheroes. What do their stories possibly have to do with us? How might God be calling us to be superheroes?
And in our New Testament reading, great multitudes were following Jesus. What an evangelistic opportunity! But instead of encouraging them, he wanted to know if they had counted the cost of following Him and whether they were prepared to love Him so much that their love for father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, even love for themselves would seem like hate in comparison. So, is Christianity really that simple … just pray a prayer and ask Jesus into your heart?
When it comes to parenting, few of us are prepared for the hard work and confusion that accompanies the job. We get caught up in the excitement of the first sonogram, getting the nursery ready, and buying all those cute little bibs and blankets. It’s not until we’re sleep-deprived and walking the floor with a crying baby that we start to wonder, am I doing something wrong? But gradually, day by day, we muddle through, making the best parenting decisions we can.
And the challenges don’t go away after those first few months and years. So, it’s important to ask ourselves, what overall views and ideas inform and influence the way we parent? Could a different backstory make our parenting easier and more meaningful?
Normally, on Sundays people around the world fill their churches. Most would identify themselves as Christians. Perhaps because they grew up in a Christian home or because they have some general belief in God. But could there be a great danger in that assumption? Could many, even some who attend church every week, be Christians in name only?
When an observer in Jesus’ time asked, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” He warned that the gate is narrow. And when the people of Joshua’s day claimed that they would serve the Lord, he told them not to take that commitment lightly. Are there many today who have failed to heed those warnings? Are there many who base their relationship with God on something besides the true gospel?
That should be a heartbreaking thought for those of us who truly understand the gospel because it is the most incredible GOOD NEWS ever! Today’s post includes a link to a video that could shake your understanding of what the good news of the gospel really is!
Perhaps more today than ever before, our nation’s airways, print media, internet, classrooms, political arenas, and even living rooms are filled with diverse and opposing views. There is a clash of ideas ranging from religion to science to right and wrong itself.
These aren’t minor differences of opinion. They are, at their heart, worldview issues. Yet, Jesus didn’t pray for us to be taken out of the world or out of these discussions. In fact, understanding what God says about many of these ideas should make us first examine our own ideas and opinions and then be willing to share the truth with others. But how can we do that without getting as angry as many of those with whom we disagree?
Maybe you go to church, or maybe you don’t. Maybe you call yourself a Christian or maybe you’re not even sure you want to. What you do know is that you live with a sense of guilt and confusion. You lack any lasting peace and wonder if it will ever change.
Guilt sometimes leaves us with the vague feeling that we are not good enough and that we deserve whatever happens. But sometimes it leaves us angry and confused about why others seem to have peace and seem so sure of their relationship with God, while we live with constant doubt.
The problem with guilt is that it’s more than an emotion. It is a state of being. We are all guilty before a holy God. And there is only one remedy and one road to real peace.
