It’s here. Again. How can four years go by so quickly? Didn’t we just live through a contentious, rancorous, raucous presidential election cycle? Of course, we’ve been hearing about poll numbers for the 2024 election for about a year, but now that the calendar has turned to January, we must brace ourselves for the roller … Continue reading Prayer for My Heart This Election Year
Author: Cindy Matson
To the New and Nervous Scripture Reader
Hi Friend, I heard you set a goal for the new year to read Scripture more faithfully. That’s great! But I was also told that now you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed. You want to be in the Word, but you’re just not quite sure how that’s going to work. I get it; and if I … Continue reading To the New and Nervous Scripture Reader
Favorite Books from the Second Half of 2023
It’s hard to believe that we’re already to this point of the year again: Christmas trees, holiday programs, Hallmark movies, and “best-of” book lists. As you may know, I like to do two lists each year to highlight my favorite reads in June and again in December. While I like to read new books, I’m … Continue reading Favorite Books from the Second Half of 2023
Exile: The Epilogue of Christmas
He supposed one never really got used to it, though it had happened to him before. Angels interrupting one’s dreams did not make for restful sleep, of this he was sure. It had taken him two years to recover from the first visit in which an angel had told him to wed Mary because she … Continue reading Exile: The Epilogue of Christmas
Your Deliverer Is Standin’ By
Joseph took his wife and her childAnd they went to AfricaTo escape the rage of a deadly KingThere along the banks of the NileJesus listened to the songThat the captive children used to singThey were singin' My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' byMy deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by1 Songwriter Rich … Continue reading Your Deliverer Is Standin’ By
Debunking Myths About Mentoring
Have you been asked to be a mentor? Have you wondered if you should reach out to that younger believer, but you’re just not sure if you’re qualified to be a mentor? Are you looking for a mentor and wondering how old the person should be? Questions swirl around the topic of mentoring, so let’s … Continue reading Debunking Myths About Mentoring
Endurance Requires Team Effort
At this point it’s no secret that deconversion is happening at an alarming rate. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly one quarter of Americans (22.8%) identify as having “no religion.”1 According to this same study, there are more “nones” than those who affiliate as Catholic (20.8%). And nearly as many as identify as Evangelical … Continue reading Endurance Requires Team Effort
A Prayer for Living in Cancel Culture
As the world-system grows increasingly hostile to God and more openly indulgent of its fleshly desires, navigating situations within our families, workplaces, communities, and even churches has become foggy and confusing. Do we let our kids watch the movie with that agenda-pushing scene? How do we talk to our third-grade son when a student in … Continue reading A Prayer for Living in Cancel Culture
God Said No. What Now?
When I was in Bible college, every Monday in chapel would bring a round of “Works of God Testimonies,” when our president would encourage students and faculty to share brief, specific, God-glorifying testimonies of how we’d seen prayers answered in the recent past. Over four years, I heard testimonies of debts repaid, hard hearts softened, … Continue reading God Said No. What Now?
Rebuked by Blessing
Have you ever been rebuked by bananas? Probably not. But Darlene Deibler was. A young missionary and wife ministering to the people of New Guinea in the late 1930s and early 40s, Darlene and her husband continued their ministry though war had broken out across the globe. Eventually Japan took control of the island, and … Continue reading Rebuked by Blessing