Faith & Lifestyle According to the Bible Archives - Page 7 of 10

April 6, 2021April 6, 2021

Is God Able to Trust Everyone?

Trust. What does this word mean to you? Do you give your trust easily? Or does it take a lot of time and effort for you to even start thinking about trusting someone new? When we think about the ones we trust the most, think about what has led you to give it. Usually it has something to do with time. You’ve known them since childhood or their friendship has weathered the test of time. Or maybe they’ve proven that they are reliable again and again and will be there when we need them. For those that do have our trust, we could probably all agree that these people are the ones we would be okay sharing our important information or vulnerable feelings with. We trust these people to safeguard our secrets and the things we hold closest to the heart.

April 1, 2021April 3, 2021

Are You Living Up to God’s Standards?

God's standards, God, relationship, faith, knowledge

If we think about relationships, do you think it’s possible to have a successful relationship without having any standards? Maybe in a romantic relationship, you want to be with someone who lives a certain lifestyle that matches yours. Maybe in a friendship, you make an effort to keep friends who are positive and encouraging instead of gossipy or cynical.

Even if we don’t want to admit it, we all have standards and expectations for our relationships. And we should. Having standards is a way of ensuring you can trust the other person while also protecting your own heart. But let’s also think about when you have clear or set standards in a relationship, but the other party constantly breaks or ignores them. How would you react? Even when you sincerely love a person, you set standards that you hold them to and usually they do the same for us. For any of us who say we’re in a relationship with God, should we expect God to be any different?

March 25, 2021April 1, 2021

Which Parts of the Bible Apply to Me?

Have you ever picked up the Bible and wondered, “Where do I even begin? Which parts of the Bible apply to me?” I was once told that the New Testament was all that us Christians need to read. They even went as far as saying that the Old Testament was just history. Just references and laws of the past that have nothing to do with our future. The instruction was to start reading from the Gospels to Jude, neglecting the Old Testament and Revelation. Have you ever heard anything similar? It seemed odd that I was only being told to read parts of the Bible, with the assumption that the Old Testament didn’t apply to me.

March 22, 2021April 1, 2021

Why You Shouldn’t Dig for Dinosaurs in the Bible

Have you ever had or heard a conversation along these lines? “Since the Bible only records 6,000 years of history, it’s technically claiming that dinosaurs didn’t exist, right? You know that’s completely impossible…We have scientific evidence to back their existence up.” Usually, things like this derail what could have been an eye-opening discussion on the Bible and faith. Why does this happen so often? For me, before I understood the purpose of the Bible, I never knew how to respond to a comment like this. I’d nod with a, “You do have a point…”

March 18, 2021September 12, 2021

How Can I Live a Righteous Life?

Am I good enough? Does God care about me or listen to my prayers? Am I Iiving a righteous life? How do I know if I am doing things the ‘right’ way? If you’ve ever had these types of thoughts, then you’re surely not alone. I know I personally struggled a lot with these questions and negative feelings when I was growing up, despite always making sure to put on the facade of a good, happy, Christian daughter.

March 15, 2021April 1, 2021

Music to God’s Ears: How to Pray a Prayer that Pleases God

Picture this. You’re at a church gathering, everything is coming to an end and it’s about time for the closing prayer. They’re about to choose someone to pray and everyone starts to get nervous. You know the drill… smile, don’t make eye contact, don’t act suspicious, close your eyes, get ready to pray. But then, you hear your name. “Gabriella, will you pray for us?” My whole body seizes, and I forget how to talk. But I’m somehow able to mutter a nervous, “Sure,” with a smile on my face. Have you ever felt like this before? Or is it just me?

March 11, 2021April 18, 2021

…And God Will Wipe Away Every Tear

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation‬ 21:4‬

God will wipe away all of our tears. Hopefully this gives you hope and comfort. Especially considering the way the world is now, with wars, death, and suffering at every turn. Is this a world that we want to live in and are content with the way it is? For certain, it’s not for me. I’m pretty sure, none of us are content with the current state of the world. But, although we may be in the midst of endless miseries, please take heart. Because God promised a time when all of those things would come to an end. He made a promise to wipe the tears from our eyes, to create a world where there would be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.

March 9, 2021June 22, 2021

Why Are There So Many Denominations in Christianity?

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different denominations of Christianity? And they aren’t just different in name, each denomination has its own understanding of Scripture. They have different traditions, different ways to worship, and various things that each regards as important.

For example, at a Catholic church, communion and confession are vital. At a Pentecostal church, speaking in tongues is emphasized. At other churches with different denominations, baptism, praise, or volunteer work have greater value.

March 6, 2021December 28, 2021

Expectation vs Reality: Jesus, the Man of Sorrows

How Do You Imagine Jesus? (Our Own Expectations)

When you think of Jesus, what comes to mind? Is it a tall, handsome, bearded man with long flowing hair, deep brown eyes, and tan skin? Or something completely different? Christians around the world all have their own ideas and expectations of what Jesus looked like, who he was, and what he did and taught. Media also depicts Jesus in various ways. His appearance and demeanor changes according to the cultures of believers around the world. For example, we’ve got Black Jesus, Jewish Jesus, White Jesus, Asian Jesus, and Hulk Jesus. Yet, no matter the culture or appearance, people usually portray him as a humble, kind, and loving man.

March 4, 2021April 1, 2021

We Talk About the Bible At Church…So Why Can’t I Understand It?

As believers, we should consider from time to time, what’s the purpose of going to church? What’s the purpose of learning God’s word? Is it for community? Is it to understand the Bible and God more?

It’s good to take time to reflect on our current lives of faith. Are we content with them? And if we’re not, then what should we do? When we go to church and talk about God or the Bible, do we understand everything we learn?