I first met Rachel Craddock through her book, Slowly Unraveled, Changed from the Inside Out. While most of us might believe becoming unraveled is a bad thing, Rachel’s eventual responses to the hard places in her life give us hope that maybe the unraveling can be good.

This week as we have considered the treasures of the gospel, have you noticed that they don’t stand in isolation? Fellowship with God is impossible without forgiveness of our sins, forgiveness is out of our reach without Christ’s propitiation…

Anyone who knows me knows that I love jigsaw puzzles. Gradually discovering a whole picture made up of a multitude of smaller pieces is fascinating to me. This week we have been walking through the treasures of the gospel: fellowship with God and with one another…

Yesterday we explored the treasure of propitiation. We are forgiven of our sins because our sinless Savior substituted himself for us when he died on the cross, thereby turning away God’s wrath and causing him to look upon us with favor.

Yesterday we rejoiced in the treasure of forgiveness: a gift of God’s grace. By this grace, our sins are cleansed by the blood of Christ so that we may walk in God’s light. I know this to be true and can quote the verses that declare it…

Have you felt the discouragement described by Jeremiah? I sure have, and so did my Lisa. The remembrance of my own sins bows my soul down when I consider the countless ways I have failed to love God with my whole heart and my neighbor as myself…

Daily Treasure; what a fitting description of the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For the gospel is not only a treasure on the day when a believer’s heart is opened by grace to receive the gift of faith, nor is it merely a treasure awaiting a believer on the final day of their earthly pilgrimage, but…

For many of my younger years, I was not interested in theology. Instead, I was drawn to Bible studies on personal application. However, each time life took a sudden turn into a place of fear or loss, I began to better understand the critical need for sound theology as the grid through which I viewed life.

Recently at a concert with our son, lyrics appeared on a big screen in the front of the auditorium.  The words grabbed my attention: “Somebody went to the throne of Heaven; Somebody lifted my name; Bringing me into His Holy Presence; Saying what needed said”

I wanted our children to stay children as long as possible.  Being a mom with young children was a role I enjoyed. But childhood is the very time we must prepare our children for adulthood.  We spend time encouraging them with schoolwork.

As you evaluate the values you want your child to have as an adult, is being respectful and showing mercy to those who are elderly on your list?  Do they see you value the skills of older people? Much of life is reactive, but why not be proactive? Be intentional about teaching this character trait.

I may never be called to give my life for a friend physically, but I am called to put my friend’s needs before my own needs at times. We can make our family a laboratory for learning and developing lots of things.   A significant character trait is a skill for interpersonal relationships.

Laughter is a gift that leads me to a grateful heart, a joyful heart.  Often laughter helps me see the fun in life or the silliness in our human condition.  Fun is not just something we do, it is an attitude. We can enjoy it with friends, but it should start with our family, the people God has given us directly in our circle of influence.

It’s time for our What She Said! Summer Series. I get such great feedback when guest writers share their thoughts on Daily Treasure.  It’s a pleasure to welcome back Sherry Bitler as our Guest Writer this week. For many years, Sherry served as Director of Children’s Ministry for her church…

In John 17, our groom, Jesus, prayed for His bride, the people of God, the church. He prayed this prayer right before He was arrested…

God graciously gives us pictures in His Word that help us understand this interdependent living grounded in the truth that He calls us to. We begin to see how He uses this ultimately for His glory but also for our good. Truth and relationships…

Yesterday we talked about being built as living stones into a holy temple, a dwelling where God lives by His Spirit. In chapter 4 of Ephesians, Paul describes this…

In both of these passages, we read that we as “living stones” are being built – it’s a present, continuous process. In a culture of instant gratification, we envision the finished product, a beautiful temple. Yet the Scripture…

You who were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. That is good news! No longer are we foreigners without hope and without God but citizens of His kingdom. It is here that His promises, His provision,