A collection of links from around the web to encourage your growth in grace:
Love Your Church Anyway
“I know that if I continue to connect with people at my church, there’s a chance I’ll eventually be misunderstood, betrayed, and rejected by some, but it’s worth the risk for the chance that I’ll be understood, welcomed, and loved by others. I don’t have to deny other people’s sin or pretend it isn’t serious, but I do need to remember my own sin when I’m tempted to avoid community as if I’m not also part of the problem. Our quills are all pointy, and our pillows could use more fluff, but I want to stay vulnerable to the inevitable hurts of bumping into each other. The joys of walking in the light and having fellowship with one another outweigh the pain (1 John 1:7).”
But Joy Comes With The Morning
“We can be even more confident of this reality because the Lord allows us to see replicas of it played out before our eyes each day. Because we’ve lived a hundred sleepless nights followed by a hundred beautiful mornings. Because we’ve cried through a dozen tantrums followed by a dozen more hugs. Because we’ve climbed those mosquito-filled mountains only to get to the gorgeous view at the top.”
3 Reasons It’s Hard To Set Our Minds On Things Above
“Looking over the landscape of the church, and looking into my own heart, I can point to three reasons we’re prone to set our minds on earthly things rather than look to God, with each reason adding a layer of complexity.”
