Cain, a farmer and his younger brother, Abel, a shepherd each presented an offering to God. God accepted Abel's gift of the best of his flock but He rejected Cain's offering of the fruits from the ground. God promised the angry, dejected Cain that if he did right, He would accept him but, Cain, later …
Love Compels Us
Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular …
The Cold Shoulder
It was Friday evening and outside the sun was setting. He was sitting on the sofa and the phone was beside him on speaker. He had decided to call this time instead of doing the usual ZOOM call. Usually, his mother answered the phone but this time, his father did. "Hi, Dad." "Hi, Jason." "How …
The Aftermath
It's a Saturday afternoon and I'm sitting in my apartment, feeling awful--really down because Bobby's mother got very upset with me. She wanted nothing more to do with me because I had told her that her son who was like a little brother to me wouldn't go to Heaven because he had committed suicide. The …
For Better or For Worse
"How long are you going to continue looking out that window? She's not coming back. Sooner or later you must accept that." He didn't answer. Her words cut to the core but he refused to believe that Brittany was gone forever. "She got tired of waiting and decided that it's time to move on. Can't …
It is What it Is
“Have you told your parents?” she asked, toying with the straw in her milkshake. He shook his head. “Not yet.” She sighed. “How long are you going to keep putting it off?” “I promise, I will tell them—when the time’s right.” “And when will that be?” “I don’t know. My parents are old fashioned…” “So, …
The Unknown God
“Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD..." - Acts 17:22, 23 One of my favorite sermons of the apostle Paul's was the one he …
Finishing What They Started
Monique had just taken off her dressing-gown and was about to get dressed when the door opened and Shane walked in, bold as brass. "Who gave you permission to just walk into my room?" she demanded, hands on hips. In the past, she would have covered up to hide her curves but that was before …
Acceptance
“Stop trying so hard to impress Ariana,” Stefano told Nora. “I just want her to accept me, that’s all.” “Give her time, Caro. When she’s ready, she’ll come around.” “Why doesn’t she like me? Is it my color, my background?” “Neither. She’s just not used to seeing me with anyone since her mother and I …
World Mental Health Day
“The deepest pain I ever felt was denying my own feelings to make everyone else comfortable.” Today is World Mental Health Day and the theme for this year is Mental health in the workplace. It is so important for those who are living with mental illness work in environments that are supportive and conducive to …
Notes to Women 