Encouragement — English

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good… God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. —Genesis 1:1-5 What a powerful God we have! He is the ultimate Creator and everything we know was spoken into being by Him. It is God’s spoken word that resulted in His new creation. God SAID, “Let there be light,” and it was so. God SAID, “Let the water under the...

The colorful preschool chairs around the u-shaped table quickly filled with eager little ones. As they each found their place, they wiggled excitedly waiting to say the words they had memorized. It was the same verse each week for a whole month. The story was different, but the words of the verse were repeated often. And they stuck. “He cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7 ******* I sat at my kitchen table searching for words to write to a troubled friend. She was going through some difficult days. I had no words of wisdom. My heart ached for her....

As Christian leaders and teachers, we are called upon to “be like Jesus.” We are to be servants to those we are responsible to guide and direct. The biblical model for leadership is not about gaining power or success or even being in control — it is about serving others. It’s an awesome responsibility that can be challenging. But it comes with great rewards! As ministers to children, we need to heed the words of Jesus when He said, “Unless you become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) Children have a level of trust...

Inflation is a significant challenge for almost all of us. After three years of inflation in excess of 6% annually, we are feeling the impact on our personal finances. Recent statistics are showing evidence that many families are relying on credit card and other forms of debt to finance the rising costs of daily life. Credit card debt balances are at record levels and savings levels are at historical lows. Here are 9 ways to win the inflation battle: 1. Give consistently, joyfully, and generously! Though it sounds counter intuitive, God challenges us in Malachi 3:10 to test Him in...

Being in Christian ministry can be both rewarding and satisfying, but it can also be challenging and difficult — leaving you exhausted or feeling like you are not accomplishing your goal of serving our Lord and Savior. So, what are some things you can do to keep your faith alive and help you stay motivated? I believe the secret is in combining spiritual faith and hope into all of our interactions. We grow in faith as we serve. In our dealings with children, it is by faith we keep planting seeds into their lives, and then we water and fertilize,...