Is It Okay To Complain?

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Living Expectantly, Part 3: Is It Okay To Complain? By Beth Demme How many choices do you think you’ve made so far today? Maybe it’s early enough that it’s been simple: Coffee? Yes! Decaf? No! Maybe your day has been longer or harder and you’ve already conquered a full buffet of choices. Unless you’re a hermit, you’ve probably made decisions …

Does God Think I’m a Failure?

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Living Expectantly, Part 2: Does God Think I’m a Failure? By Beth Demme Last week we started looking at what it means to live expectantly, instead of living with expectations. Do you think God has expectations for you? Have you ever wondered if God thinks you’re a failure? As I shared before, I once ordered a bar stool, but I didn’t …

What Happens When Life Isn’t What I Expected?

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By Beth Demme Have you ever received something you really wanted, only to discover it wasn’t at all what you expected? I do a lot of online shopping (probably too much). Every once in awhile, I get something that isn’t what I expected. One time I ordered a bar stool, but I didn’t check the dimensions well enough. When it …

Stop Believing The Lies

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By Beth Demme For the last couple of years, I’ve worked with middle-school girls in the youth group at our church. The girls are at the beginning of the journey to figure out who they are and who they want to be. I love watching this journey, despite the jerky starts and stops. Last year one of the girls asked …

The Problem With Father’s Day

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By Beth Demme As we approach Father’s Day this year I’m in the midst of an emotional quandary, pulled between grief and celebration. It’s already been 16 months since my father passed away, but it seems like we were chatting and laughing together yesterday. His absence from my life is palpable and bottomless. In these months, nearly a dozen of …

Child Resting

Why I Need to Pause Today

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When I teach Bible 100, I spend a lot of time on Genesis. I spend a disproportionate amount of time on this one book because it sets the foundation for the 65 books that follow. Genesis can be controversial. It raises questions about literalism, science, history, timelines, miracles, and more. I think I’ve allowed those bits to overshadow an important foundational principle …

Little Boy Yelling

God Is Big Enough For Our Disagreements

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I tried. Honestly, I tried. I joined a Facebook group based on a version of Christian theology I knew I didn’t entirely agree with. I hoped to learn something by observing the conversation. Disagreement doesn’t scare me; I’m comfortable admitting there is a lot I don’t know. Plus, I try not to insulate myself with only like-minded people. I want …

Beautiful Woman in Head Scarf

Not Just Another Nobody

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Have you ever met someone who was completely defined by their appearance? About five or six years ago I met a former Miss Universe. She was incredibly beautiful, but also articulate, kind, charming, and easy to be around.  There’s a “but” in that sentence because she wasn’t what I expected. I expected just another pretty face, but she turned out …