god
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When you hear the word craving, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For me, most of my life I’ve heard that word used around food. “I’m really craving tacos today.” Which, if I’m being honest, is still true most days. But when we look deeper into the meaning of craving, there is a…
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People are transformed by encountering Jesus, not by me winning an argument. Scripture is remarkably clear about that. When I read the Gospels, I see Jesus continually inviting people to follow Him. Not, “Wait. Before you follow Me, let’s make sure you’ve cleaned everything up.” Not, “Here’s your checklist. Come back when you’ve fixed XYZ.”…
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There is a longing inside every one of us. We try to fill it with day-to-day things—relationships, work, accomplishments, comfort, distraction. And for a time, those things satisfy. They give moments of happiness, relief, or stability. But their satisfaction is temporary. When the pains of this world surface—loss, disappointment, trauma, unmet expectations—the happiness fades. What…
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One thing is certain in life: you don’t get to skip through the daisies without difficulty. Hardship is unavoidable. And honestly—how strange would life be if it weren’t? In many narratives we consume, hardship is framed as the defining moment of a person’s life. Whether it’s death, violence, abuse, childhood trauma, or loss, suffering can…
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Listening for God in Stillness, Scripture, and Simple Obedience I am deeply aware of my desperate need for Jesus—every moment of every day. By God’s grace, my faith journey has grown into one of continual, conscious contact with Him. When something frustrates me, I talk to God about it. When something is good, I praise…
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As I continue to see discord and division among God’s people, it grieves my heart—because I know it grieves our Father’s heart. Scripture tells us that we are to “live at peace with everyone, as far as it depends on us” (Romans 12:18). I’m not writing this to point a finger at any specific brother…
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And Why That’s Actually Good News I know that sounds bold, but stay with me. Every day brings opportunities to be annoyed, irritated, or offended. Something won’t go the way you expect. Someone will say the wrong thing. A situation will feel unfair or uncomfortable. And before we even realize it, we’re reacting—internally or externally—often…
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Control issues were once a driving force in my life—and still, at times, they can creep back in if I’m not attentive to what’s happening within me. Let me explain. Not always in ways that were obvious to others, but in ways that were deeply exhausting to me. I found myself increasingly annoyed by the…
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Blessed Be the Name of the Lord Thankfully, I went to bed early on New Year’s Day. With the anticipation of one of my closest friends getting married at sunrise on January 2, the night that followed was restless and light. After a false alarm call at my home in Phoenix, I had finally fallen…
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(And How That Truth Leads to True Freedom and Hope) For nearly eighteen years, I had been walking with Jesus—aware of my need for Him, grateful for His grace, and continually learning what it means to depend on Him rather than myself. Then one conversation shifted something deep in me. I was talking with a…
allison elaine writes 