Tag: Christian Living
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Be Kind and Compassionate
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). The verse above reminds me of Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant. The servant owed an impossible debt to his king. Because he could not pay it, the king ordered that the servant, his wife, and…
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When Guilt Weighs You Down
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions…
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What Does It Mean to be a Christian?
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what…
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Why Does God Allow Suffering?
Why does God allow suffering? If you’ve ever wrestled with this question, you’re not alone. I’m right there with you. Many Christians struggle to reconcile their faith with the harsh realities of pain and hardship—especially when other Christians and non-Christians don’t seem to be experiencing the same sort of difficulties. And that changes the question…
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When God’s People Get It Wrong
God’s people have never been perfect. Scripture gives us an honest look at people who struggled with sin, made poor choices, turned away from God, and sometimes struggled to remain faithful. And yet, through it all, God remained faithful to his promises. In this episode of Faith Footnotes, we talk with Pastor Nate Scharf, one…
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How Do I Trust God?
Can you ever fully trust someone with absolute, total certainty—knowing that he or she will always act in your best interest? As sinful human beings, trust is hard to give, and we always hold something back—whether because we don’t fully trust someone else or because we’ve been hurt in the past and now seek to…
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The Lord Bless You and Keep You
“The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.” The familiar blessing at the end of the service used to be something I only half-listened to. I thought it was the traditional ending…
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When Fear Makes You Look Away
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell…