How to Live
The Bible´s commands and advice on work, money, personal morality, the environment and more.
A Christmas Contemplation 
Slow down. I know you have seventeen people coming for Christmas dinner. The snow is deep, the tree is shedding needles, the pageant costumes will never be finished in time, you still have to buy something for Uncle Fred, and the credit card bill is truly terrifying. Take a deep breath. A God of Fresh Starts
Don’t you just love a fresh start? I mess up so often that the chance to give it another go tomorrow is precious to me. Since I can’t undo my mistakes, I rejoice that our Creator is a God of fresh starts. Angry, Angry Everywhere 
Is it just me, or does it seem like people are really, really angry? If someone asked me that, I’d retort, “Well of course people are angry! Don’t you read the news?” Granted: there’s a lot to be angry about, and how you respond is deeply connected to your sense of right and wrong—-your worldview. Are you Deceived?
I fear that sometimes the phrase “Pharisees and Sadducees” must go through Jesus’ mind when he sees what we say and do. This would not be a good thing. He told the P's and S's that they were deceived...let’s examine ourselves to be sure we haven’t slipped into one of the errors Jesus describes. Bible Basics Newsletter Sign-Up
How to sign up for the Bible Basics newsletter on BellaOnline.com, and what to expect to see in it. But I am Weary
Last week I insisted that we not grow weary in doing good. Today I am so weary. Not so much weary of doing good, perhaps, but just exhausted. Weariness is a great hindrance to doing good, so I want to explore some passages in Scripture that give direction and help in dealing with weariness. Chaste Living in a Sensual World
A while back, my husband had cause to visit a local high school for an appointment with its principal. He was shocked at the amount of skin on display as he walked through the halls. It's a challenge to live chastely in today's world, especially for our teens. How can we help them? ChristianBook.com [offsite link]
Find Bibles, study aids, books on how to live the Christian life, Christian fiction, and a wealth of resources here. Don't Grow Weary
I recently spent two days in a gathering of passionate people working hard to combat evil. I kept thinking that the solutions being considered were just scratching the surface of the situation. The problems being discussed will not be truly solved except as heart after heart is given to God. Examine Your Faith
Q: What is at the heart of Christianity?
A: Faith in Jesus Christ.
Q: What does that mean? What is faith? Can anyone get it? I don’t like religion. Can’t I just be a good person?
We can’t afford to be wishy-washy on this matter. Please, examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Give Thanks to God
Gratitude:“a feeling of being thankful to someone for doing something.” That’s the definition supplied by my word processor. Almost all definitions of the word include two ideas. One, there’s something for which you’re thankful, and two, there’s somebody to whom you feel thankful for that something. Good, for Goodness’ Sake
Good dog! Goodbye. Good movie. Good riddance. Good pizza. Good to go. Good grief! Oh for goodness sakes. Ah, words, don’t you love them? There’s juicy goodness in every mouthful. That’s “goodness: the quality or state of being good,” or “the nutritious, flavorful, or beneficial part of something.” Halloween - A Christian Strategy
Every October the world gets ugly, loony and dangerous, and Christians wring their hands about how to handle Halloween. It’s a tiresome cycle that can be broken with some clear thinking and firm decisions. History of Christmas
Have you ever wondered how the way we celebrate Christmas started? In this article I have uncovered some of the explanations. Invisible Badges
I recently read of a Christian doctor working in Uganda, struggling against multiple obstacles to give good medical care to her patients. Her life is visibly dedicated to God’s service all day, every day. Her daily work is a badge that says “I’m living my life for God.” Jesus on Taxes
Love is the answer. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Stupid is as stupid does. Ever notice how a profound or witty phrase loses its oomph after a while? Even Jesus’words can fall into this category, as they're so familiar. But take a minute for a fresh look at Matthew 22:15-22. Know the History and Content of Your Faith
So when did the books of the Bible get chosen? Don’t Christians and Muslims worship the same God? Aren’t all religions pretty much the same? What about the dinosaurs? Do questions like these send you into a mini mind numbing panic? If so don’t fret, but don’t be content with that state of affairs. Let Him Send Me
This is what burns in almost every heart of every soldier that serves in our country´s military. This is why we sign up. This is why we put our name on that dotted line and hold up our right hands and swear to defend our country from all enemies foreign and domestic. Let the Drama Go
Police arriving in the middle of the night. Teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Another emergency room visit. Life on planet Earth is inherently dramatic. Drama can be addictive, but we need to discipline ourselves not to crave the attention and adrenaline it generates. Looking into God's Eyes
If I want to teach you how to get from Seattle to Syracuse, I will get out a map and ask you to watch the map as I show you the best route. If you’re showing someone the way across town, you point out landmarks and where to turn, and they look where you’re pointing. God does things differently. My Private Anxiety
I have suffered private anxieties I would never share with anyone. I’m guessing you have, too. You know the kind of thing I mean. Those fears that bloom up in your mind when you wake at three in the morning...God knows about our fears and anxieties. He knows that fear is poisonous to the soul. My Peace I Give to You
You may have noticed-—our world is not a peaceful place. We belong to the Prince of Peace. No matter the chaos swirling without or within, we can have the peace that passes understanding. Still, it's not so easy. Nine Paradoxes of the Christian Life
The living of my brief planet-side life is permeated with the fragrance of eternity. Christians do not view success, money, love, problems or suffering in the same way as those who cannot see beyond the grave. Persecutions, perplexities and paradoxes ensue. No Whining
From whining toddlers in stores, to Martha complaining to Jesus about Mary, whining is nerve-grating evidence of an unattractive self-centered outlook on life. Time for another self-examination to see if I'm a whiner. Peace that Passes Understanding
My son’s favored farewell phrase of late is, “Alright, love you, peace,” or a variation on that theme. I smile at the retro feel of that—straight out of the sixties. The B.C. sixties, for of course the Hebrew for peace, shalom, has been used as a blessing and greeting/farewell for millennia. Plan Christmas with Thanksgiving
I’m a gadget lover. The next new, handy dandy, ingenious device is always on my want list. Do I need this stuff? Um, no. Will I have to adjust my budget because of acquiring it, and then dust it forever? Ugh, yes. This year I'm taking a new path, away from covetousness and toward contentment. Proverbs and Promises
What’s the difference between a proverb and a promise? The distinction is subtle but vitally important. Self-Absorption in the Magazine Aisle
Yesterday I cruised the magazine racks at my local supermarket. Even this brief survey of magazine cover articles revealed appalling things about the state of human beings in 21st century America. Namely, we love our stuff and we love ourselves, to a depth that is not okay for followers of Jesus. Seven Steps to a Useful Life
I love that old Saint Peter. A brash fisherman and a blustery disciple, he blurted out whatever popped into his head, he blundered and bungled things repeatedly and even denied his Savior. But he served, and this gives me hope. If God could use a blunderer like Peter, surely He can use me, too. Sweet Fragrant Fruit of the Spirit
Have you ever been strolling through the produce section when suddenly your nose is taken captive by an irresistible aroma that pulls you toward the display of fragrant peaches? Have you ever met a saint whose face radiated peace and joy? That person is as irresistible as any perfect peach. Tame Your Tongue
The human tongue, a weak muscle about four inches long and weighing in at just over two ounces, causes more damage every day than any other created thing in the universe. Granted, this is only because it’s connected to a human brain, although sometimes you gotta wonder if that’s always the case. Teach Us to Number Our Days
I went to a friend’s funeral yesterday. The service testified to a life well-lived. She had redeemed the short time given her, and used it to glorify God and share His love and truth with others. What else matters? Tent, Yurt, or Mansion?
I slept in a yurt last night. Not a portable yurt of felt like the Mongols carried across the steppes, but a tarp and wood structure with windows, electric outlets and a porch. Not so portable. I'm afraid I treat my earthly "tent" the same way, like a permanent home instead of a temporary shelter. The Fruit of Freedom
Those Galatians. I should be sorry that they gave Paul so much trouble, but instead I’m grateful because of the excellent letter he wrote to straighten them out. Chapter five has me enthralled, learning how to walk in the land of Freedom, and produce the fruit of the Spirit.
The Patience of a Saint
Don’t you love compound words? Gingersnap – snapdragon – dragonfly – flyboy – boyfriend – friendship – shipwreck…okay, nowhere to go from there. There are compound words in Greek, too, and an intriguing one appears in the the fruit of the Spirit list in Galatians. It’s usually translated patience. Trust, Faith, Belief : Don’t Go Home
What if Jeroboam’s wife had believed God? She made a choice no mother would make, and the only explanation is profound unbelief. But what if she had believed...? Useful Goodness - a Fruit of the Spirit
My son buys more knives than anyone I know. Last year he bought me a knife, and even though I didn't think I needed another knife, it has become my tool of choice for any and all vegetable chopping. It's a good knife, quite useful, like Spirit-filled Christians are supposed to be. Where is Your Armor? 
I like a charming nineteenth century novel as well as the next person. But for serious escapist reading, give me a near-future post-apocalyptic dystopia every time. I want to see life stripped down to the bare bones, in scenarios where people’s character, and beliefs determine their every move. Wilderness : Key to Spiritual Growth
In America we love our wildernesses,perhaps because we don’t have to live in them. To us, wilderness is a place we can go when we want with our hiking or camping gear, or our RV’s, taking with us as few or as many of the comforts of home as we please. Wilderness in the Bible is utterly different. Links marked with the [offsite link] designation point to websites not associated with BellaOnline.com. BellaOnline.com is not responsible for the material found there.
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