Candidly Christian

Real Women. Real Life. Real Faith.

The Gospel

The Gospel

What Does Your T-Shirt Say About You?

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Recently, I was at a baseball game, and I noticed how many people were wearing t-shirts with slogans. Some of these were super funny, others were sad or sarcastic, and a few were quite offensive with language I won’t repeat. The whole concept about t-shirts made me think, what would I want to say if I wore a t-shirt? We make ourselves walking billboards, but is the message we are sharing on our t-shirt showing who we are? Who are we allowing to advertise on us for free?

What Does Your T-Shirt Say About You?

What we choose to wear has a significant influence on how people perceive us. Why? Because if we are wearing a t-shirt that supports something that someone else supports, it can strike up a great conversation and build a connection of comradery, but if it is something someone doesn’t support, be ready for the backlash of hate and for the venom to spew.

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Life is Hard, But God is Still Good

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“Both our van and our stove broke down this weekend, but God is still good.
My head hurts, but God is still good.
I spent the day in the emergency room, but God is still good.
I can’t breathe, but God is still good.“

As I write this on Sunday, Heather Hart has been in the hospital with covid for eighteen days. It’s been a rough time, full of joyful ups and terrifying downs, especially for Heather, but also for everyone who knows and loves her.

We thought she was getting better; we thought she’d be home in a few days, but Saturday night, the doctors said she has bacterial pneumonia. Breathing continues to be increasingly difficult and painful.

We don’t know what lies ahead, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from Heather since I found Candidly Christian in 2017 it’s this:

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Our Only Hope to Avoid Hell is Jesus

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I was crying over a Facebook comment on a post I didn’t post, about an article I didn’t write.

Romans 12:18 says we should do our best to live at peace with those around us so far as it depends on us. Thus, I generally try to avoid social media arguments.

Now, I’m far from perfect. I definitely read, write, and delete more than my fair share of social media commentary. However, you won’t often find me getting on a soapbox or ranting about pet peeves. It’s one of those areas where I try to catch myself before it’s too late.

Anyway, this was one of those times.

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4 Reasons Why I’m Comforted by Jesus’ Death

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I have another confession: I can’t handle when beloved characters in a movie die.  

I can’t even handle when I know they are going to die. Let’s take for example, the movie Charlotte’s Web. It was one of my favorite movies growing up, and thought it was a great idea to let Olivia watch it. She immediately fell in love with the pig.  

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Dear Suicidal Me…

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Dear Suicidal Me, 

Hey there! It’s me—um, I mean you. I’m so glad you found this letter. I know you’re frazzled, so I’ll cut right to the chase. 

I know what you’ve been thinking. You wonder how cold the water would feel as it fills the car. Will it hurt as the water fills your lungs? Maybe, if you’re lucky, you’ll hit your head on impact so you’ll never know what the bottom of the bay looks like.

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6 Promises of God for When You Feel Inadequate

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I found four publicly published errors before 7:00 AM. I’d literally screwed up everything for the Candid Moments launch. Luckily, I could fix them before too many people noticed.

Then I left for an errand and realized I’d forgotten to put my teeth in. Again.

Since the cognitive damage and memory impairment were worse than normal that day, I planned a simple supper: plain baked chicken, box dressing, and canned corn. And I under-cooked the chicken.

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What Good Friday Means to Me

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For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins .

Colossians 1:13-14

Not The Usual Good Friday Service

The church slowly went dark, drawing the small group of worshipers closer to the mood of that first Good Friday. All eyes followed Pastor Eric’s silhouette across the altar and behind the 10-foot projector screen. Our ears traced his footsteps to the stained glass window until we heard the flip of a switch followed by a few seconds of white noise as an old cassette played. 

Then it started. The hollow, high-pitched sound of metal striking metal in perfect rhythm. Ting… Ting…

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The Ways I Want My Life To Look, And The Truth Of The Gospel

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This past weekend, my husband and I went on a one-night marriage retreat. There was a lot of material that was covered, but there was one lesson that stuck out to me.

About if our marriages are an advertisement of the Gospel.

Hmmmm… how many times do I want our marriage, well my life in general, to look good? But that isn’t the truth, and my marriage looking good isn’t the Gospel. My life looking good isn’t the Gospel.

And in what ways do I want my life to look good? Well, let me tell you.

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Oh No He Didn’t! …When Mother Doesn’t Know Best

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The off-handed comment was followed by laughter as the two guys exchanged looks. The only purpose to that remark could have been to rub salt in the wound and I could feel the anger building in my teenage son who was standing next to me.

All three of them were oblivious to me at this point. But I was there. Oh yes, I was there in all my motherly glory, and I was taking names and keeping score.

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