The first time I saw it was in 1980. Stamped with a singular Chinese character, I recognized its meaning from the triangular yellow sign. “Yield,” I said aloud, pleased with my first translation of the ten-week trip. Eight years later, I found this same character on a page in my language school textbook. “讓 (ràng) — to let, allow, offer, or permit,” the author …
By: Linda Merriott Living in or with regret indicates that our confidence is placed in ourselves, others, conditions, and circumstances. God would have our trust placed in Him. God wants us to believe He can do what He says He will do. He is big enough to clean up any mess we make and to work it together for good. …
By: Kandy Persall You are not alone. The anxiety, discouragement, and hopelessness you feel aren’t because of your doing. The evil one has unleashed an all-out war against anyone with peace, contentment, and hope. Consistently evil has been called good, and good is called evil (Isaiah 5:20). You pushed through in the beginning months of your discomfort and disorientation, but as the months dragged …
By: Amanda Taylor Walker For the past six weeks, I have been in a cycle of fear, faith, rationale, and back to fear. For most of my life, fear has been a struggle for me. But I have not experienced this type of cycle before now. In my battle, it has been a fear versus faith cycle. However, in this world …
I get discouraged. Discouraged at my unanswered prayers. Discouraged at my slowness of growth. Discouraged at my tendency to fail. I used to think that after some mature moment in my Christian walk, this wouldn’t happen anymore. However, I’ve realized that as long as we live in this world, but not of it, God’s children can struggle with discouragement. A …
Dear Mentor, My three-year old daughter is still caught in the terrible twos. A drama queen, she has frequent melt-downs when she doesn’t get her way. My husband and I are at our wits-end listening to the excessive screams and find ourselves rushing to give her what she wants in order to avert the noise. When will this …
Dear Mentor, I am so discouraged. I have very little motivation in my life and feel that I am taken for granted. My daily tasks are menial and unappreciated, not at all the life I signed up for. Why has God left me in this barren place? …
My precious child, Are you okay? Are you feeling like the least in My Kingdom? It’s okay. I knew this would come up. Thinking of you, I’ve already addressed this issue. “The one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he…” (Matthew 11:11). Remember who I was speaking of? John the Baptist. …
“Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2) Think about the spiritual fruit that you most desire to bear – let’s say joy, for instance. What happens when He nips our bud of joy? I’m discovering that it gives me a perfect opportunity to truly know the source of …
This wasn’t turning out like I had dreamed. I’d been called by God – called to go. And I’d been obedient, hadn’t I? We’d sold some things, given away others and said tearful goodbyes to loved ones. We’d packed what was left into a few bags and set our faces resolutely toward Asia. I’d given up all I …
