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.
The latest statistics I could find say the rate of divorce in the US is about 40-50%, but I’ve discovered that statistics are hard to pin down. Some say the rate of divorce has dropped in the last decade and that as high as 70% of marriages make it to their 15th year. If that’s true, what about the 30 or 40% who don’t? And is it possible that the divorce rate is going down because many couples simply live together without marrying?
What does the Bible say about divorce? Is it allowable to divorce because we’re not happy or no longer in love? Is it okay to divorce if we realize we are unequally yoked? Are there biblical grounds for divorce? And one final question, why is it so important for singles to understand these principles, too?
What if our churches were closed down? What if it was suddenly illegal to own or read the Bible? Are you faithfully studying God’s Word for yourself or are you content to be spoon-fed on Sunday mornings? Do you have enough of God’s Word hidden in your heart to sustain you? Could you remain faithful? Could you teach others?
Ever feel like you have a purse with holes? Could it have something to do with your priorities? Are your priorities God’s priorities? Or have you put Him on a back-burner? Could He be using your finances or some other circumstance to get your attention?
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Anger can hinder your relationship with God and the people in your life. If you’re struggling with anger, you’ll find some helpful resources in today’s post.
Serving God well in our anti-Christian culture can be challenging. We live in a world where many things that were once almost universally condemned are now celebrated. Christian values like virtue, morality, and even common sense are ridiculed. Those who stand up for God’s standard can become a target themselves. But we must choose … will we fear God or fear man in the increasingly anti-Christian culture in which we live?
Abuse is real and, sadly, it happens all too often. Abuse can be physical, sexual, mental, or even spiritual.
What does the Bible say about responding to abuse? Where does Jesus’ command to love your enemies fit in? Does it mean that we ignore or tolerate illegal, immoral, or abusive behavior or that we stay in a dangerous environment or relationship? Does it really require us to forgive and love those who mistreat us? And what if you or someone you know has been the victim of abuse, where can you turn for help?
Two people will be working together. One will disappear and the other will be left behind. Men and women will be eating and sleeping and going about their business. Some will be gone in an instant and others left behind. How about you? If Jesus came back today, would you go or could you be left behind?
Finishing well … it’s probably something we all desire. No one wants to fall flat on his or her face or bring shame to the name of Christ after serving Him well. And yet, if we read through the history of God’s children, we see numerous people who started out well but didn’t end so well. What allows one person to finish well while another fails miserably? Find out what can make the difference.
Do you ever find yourself arguing for argument’s sake? Do you feel like it’s your job to point out the other side of the issue or like you have to have the last word? If so, could you be a contentious woman, at least at times? And if you see this tendency, what can you do to become more Christlike?
We were made to worship. And we all worship something. When we refuse to worship the One true God and acknowledge His authority, we simply create false religions that allow us to appease our consciences while we continue to live life our own way. But false religions never take us anywhere good. They simply take us farther and farther from God.
Ahaz was one of Judah’s wicked kings. Can you imagine a king so evil he would sacrifice his own children in the name of his false religion? Yet, instead of repenting when God brought judgment, he turned to other ungodly people for help.
And sadly, the people of Judah as a whole became increasingly unfaithful until God in His perfect judgment allowed their destruction.
Our nation, too, seems determined to go down the road of increasing unfaithfulness. We shouldn’t think that if God judged His own covenant people, He won’t judge us as a nation, as well. The question is, will we heed the voice of godly people or continue in our unfaithfulness and false religions.
Stuart Scott says, “Pride is the opposite of humility and it is one of the most loathed sins in God’s sight.” He adds, “We all have pride … The question is not ‘Do I have it?’ but, ‘Where is it?’ and ‘How much of it do I have?’”
Our Old Testament reading gives us a great illustration of what pride can do when not dealt with. So, where does pride show up in your life? Check Dr. Scott’s list of the manifestations of pride listed below. You might be surprised.
