"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." Romans 5:5.

What are you hoping in? What are you hoping for? We all have hopes. Big ones (like I hope my book gets published), and little ones (like I hope I get dinner ready on time tonight). Some of them we can more or less control, like getting dinner ready but a lot we have to rely on someone else for. Who are you relying on?

Disappointment is a very strong emotio...
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So what is grace? Seriously. I'm a Christian and I'm supposed to know but I haven't got it yet.

"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:16

I've been a Christian for a while but my understanding of grace hadn't expanded beyond God's forgiveness of our sins. It's what leads us to salvation.

But then I come across verses like the one in Hebrews and I think that grace must be bigger ...
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I have been pondering today how much of the trouble that we cause as individuals is deliberate (an act of will), and how much is ignorance. I am not talking about whether it's excusable or not, but how often are we aware of what we are doing?

"Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." Romans 12:14-15.

Recently I had an unexpected meeting with someone who appears to deliberately attack me. As usual I came away from that me...
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