February 2023

truly an answer to prayer. read the mission statement serving residents in a Biblically community, we knew we found

Back Row (L to R): Darrin Douglas, licensed funeral director; Mason Holliday, funeral assistant; Perry Horner, funeral assistant; Marc Rush, licensed funeral director; Jim Hibbard, funeral assistant. Front Row (L to R): Brent Swanson, funeral assistant; Robert Bankston, funeral assistant; Judy Satterfield, administrative assistant; Kathy Partin, family services; Joseph Bathe, funeral assistant; Darla Rush, administrative assistant; Greg Rush, licensed funeral director. Not pictured: Jenna Eve Picou, licensed funeral director; Harold (Joe) Parker, funeral assistant; Susan Harper, after care-family support.

WRITERS

Dr. Alan Hix

Arietta Grimmett

Dr. Bobby Sneed

Brenda Dedmon

Brent Goodge

Candyce Carden

Chad Hess

David Huff

Donna Swann

Donald Cantrell

Dorothy Teague

Greg Grotewold

Jonathon Wright

Jordan Burchette

Kristen West

Lori Sentell

Paula Burgner

Rick Hughes

Samuel Burger Sandra Gilmore

Sheneka Land SALES

Bud Kinches 423-650-2801 Email: bud.goodnews@gmail.com DESIGN

Caleb Prytherch Email: art.goodnews@gmail.com PHOTOGRAPHER

Hello Friends,

We want to take a moment to tell you who we are and what we are about. Our names are Matt and Bethany Ruckman and we have six beautiful children, Brendon, Kailey, Andrew, Leah Jean, Emma, and Cooper. We live in Cleveland, Tennessee, and love what this town has to offer! We have started GoodNews Christian Magazine because we feel that when God, family, and community are combined, lives will be changed.

GoodNews Christian Magazine is a complimentary, Christian lifestyle publication. You can find us throughout the community in retail establishments, churches, restaurants, and more. Our magazine opens the door for Christians to work together to grow and strengthen our community through relevant editorial and effective advertising.

GoodNews Christian Magazine is written by men and women in the community who love and serve the Lord. Our hearts are open and willing to be used by God to reach out to the community to spread the GoodNews!

Disclaimer

All of the content in the GoodNews Christian Magazine is for general information and/or use. Such contents does not constitute advice and should not be relied upon in making (or refraining from making) a decision. Any specific advice or replies to queries in any part of the magazine is the personal opinion of such experts/consultants/persons and is not subscribed to by GoodNews Christian Magazine. The information in GoodNews Christian Magazine is provided on an “AS IS” basis, and all warranties, expressed or implied of any kind, regarding any matter pertaining to any information, advice or replies are disclaimed and excluded. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement or article we deem inappropriate.

GoodNews from the Pastor’s Desk 6 The Theology of Marriage by Samuel Burger

GoodNews for Kids 8 Who Needs a Friend? by Brenda Dedmon

GoodNews Money Matters 10 Understanding Fixed Index Annuities by Rick Hughes

GoodNews for Men 12 Friendship for Men by Chad Hess

GoodNews for Women 14 Hope in Motion by Sandra Gilmore

GoodNews for Everyone 18 A Broken Heart by Dorothy Teague

GoodNews for Everyone 20 A Heart as Pure as Snow by Paula Burgner

GoodNews for Everyone 22 How Well Do You Understand Love? by Dr. Alan Hix

GoodNews for Grandparents 24 Iron Sharpens Iron by Donald Cantrell

GoodNews for Everyone 26 Choosing to Love by Kristen West

GoodNews Cover Story 28 Legacy Village of Cleveland

GoodNews for Everyone 30 Trust: Even When God Seems Silent by Donna Swann

GoodNews for Everyone 32 Sovereign Goodness by Greg Grotewold

GoodNews for Family 34 What Influences Your Family? by Brent Goodge

GoodNews for Everyone 36 Love Is... by Candyce Carden

GoodNews for Everyone 38 I Love You Most by Dr. Bobby Sneed

GoodNews for Everyone 40 The Value of Relationships by David Huff

GoodNews for your Taste Buds 42 Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Cake Pops

GoodNews for Everyone 44 Mind-Reading by Sheneka Land

GoodNews for Everyone 46 A Call to Perfect Love by Jonathon Wright

GoodNews Poetry 50 Not Yet by Arietta Grimmett

GoodNews for Everyone 52 Let Us Love One Another by Lori Sentell

GoodNews for Everyone 54 God-honoring Relationships by Jordan Burchette

The Theology of Marriage

by Samuel Burger

Marriage is theological. God is the reason for marriage. God gives the design and origin of marriage to tell us something about Himself. Although marriage is for our benefit, the loftier view is that marriage exists solely for the glory and grandeur of God.

If marriage is by God and for God, His design is the formula for successful longevity. Marriage is always theological and covenantal (not contractual) in nature. If we think marriage exists for us, we will inevitably find disappointment in the long term. Although marriage is God-centered, it is a sanctifying tool to purify us and to demonstrate the visibility of God’s relational and redemptive nature to the church.

Marriage Exposes You

Throughout the tenure of marriage, accountability is automatic. Whatever issues that haven’t been resolved while you were single will be carried into the marriage; you will need to commit to the sanctifying process to love your spouse more. Although you may have entered the marriage from a theological perspective, you still have selfish ways that must be crucified. So, expect some purification in the life-long tenure of your marriage. In other words, you’ll be wrong a lot. You must own it.

Marriage Changes You

As you submit to one another, you begin to realize the purpose. The point of the change is to glorify God. You realize actions of love lead to feelings of love, not vice-versa. Marriage, committed to God’s way, will painfully crush your pride leading to greater intimacy with God and your spouse. Keller writes in his book, The Meaning of Marriage, about the impact of self-centeredness: “It is hard enough in relationships with friends and associates to put their interests ahead of our own and live to please them rather than ourselves. But to practice these principles inside marriage is to practice them in the most

intense way. If two spouses are spending the day together, the question of who gets each’s pleasure and who gives in can present itself every few minutes. And when it does, there are three possibilities: You can offer to serve the other with joy, you can make the offer with coldness or resentment, or you can selfishly insist on your own way. Only when both partners are regularly responding to one another in the first way can the marriage thrive. But how hard that is!”

Marriage Reflects God

Correction is evident in your relationship with God, but divine abandonment doesn’t exist. As you commit to each other and God, you visibly demonstrate the eternal and God’s eternal and abiding presence. There is suffering and joy. Although marriage is a tool of sanctification, it is a demonstration of the redemptive nature of God. Marriage is a picture of how God deals with us, His church.

Understanding the purpose and mission of marriage provides the foundation for a meaningful marriage. It’ll be incredibly self-centered if you don’t come into the marital relationship with a noble view of God. Remember, marriage is theological.

Samuel Burger is pastor of Chestuee Worship Center in Calhoun, Tennessee, and holds a Master of Arts in Ministry from Piedmont Divinity School.

About The Author

Who Needs a Friend?

by Brenda Dedmon

Ibelieve having friends and being a friend is an important part of our lives. I have friends today that I made when I was a child, and we still enjoy doing things together. It is important to remember the friends we have made, but it is also important that we continue to make new friends.

We find examples in the Bible of people who were friends. We find in 1 Samuel 1:18 the friendship of David and Jonathan. David said his friendship with Jonathan was as if he was his brother. In the New Testament, in John 15:15, Jesus said to His followers, “You are my friends.” In the book of Acts, we read about Paul, Silas, and Timothy as friends. Paul was also friends with Lydia and the women she had church with by the river. When Paul wrote letters to the churches in the New Testament, he always called them his friends.

We also read in the Bible reminders of things we need to do to be a friend and what we should do for our friends: “Be kind and compassionate” (Eph. 4:32 ) and “Pray one for another” (James 5:16). What do you think you have to do to make friends and be a friend? It may be hard to make new friends when you move to a new neighborhood or move to a new school. So where do you start?

You will discover on this page four suggestions that could help you with making friends. Ask your parents to help you develop a plan using these ideas.

• Learning how to meet friends by asking questions. Start with asking simple questions such as their name, their favorite food, game, movie, and how old they are. Explore other ideas you might want to ask.

• Make a storyboard of action steps. Using the questions you decided on, make a storyboard of “how” to put those steps into action. You may want

to explore what to do if someone answers no to answering questions.

• Play a game of “What If?” Think about the best or worse thing that could happen if you are fearful about making new friends. For example, “What if you ask others to play and they do not respond like you think they would? Sometimes talking about what could happen and sharing ideas of how to deal with it in a variety of ways could give you confidence in making friends. You will also realize that it is not a big deal if things do not go perfectly every time.

• Read books. Using books is a fantastic way to help you realize how to make friends, be a friend, and that making friends is a natural part of life. The following books are part of my favorite books about making friends: How to be a Friend by Laurie Krasay Brown, Will you be friends with Me? by Kathleen Long Bostrom, and The Kids Book of Friends by Catherine Stephens.

About The Author

Written by Rev. Brenda Dedmon, retired director of Children’s Learning Center, First Baptist of Dalton and an avid Roll Tide fan.

Understanding Fixed Index Annuities

Money Matters Rick Hughes

with

Fixed Index Annuities can be confusing. For one thing, they are not fixed annuities, which have been around for a long time. FIAS, which came about in 1995, guarantees a set interest rate. Usually, the rate is fairly low, such as 2.5%, but guaranteed no matter what the economic conditions. The major question is whether FIAS are good for your portfolio.

An FIA is an insurance contract between you and the issuing insurance company. The insurance company is guaranteeing your principal and backing your principal payments with their assets. They make these guarantees based upon the claims-paying ability and financial strength of the issuing insurance company.

In an FIA, during the accumulation phase, your contact growth potential is linked to an index, such as the S&P 500, but not directly invested in the index. The insurance company has guaranteed that if the linked index is positive, you will receive interest credits to your account, but if the linked index is negative, your contract value will not be negatively impacted. Remember, you are not directly buying a stock—instead, your contact value is only linked to the index you have chosen.

Many insurance companies offer a bonus for your principal purchase. Let’s say you make a principal payment of $100,000 and receive a 10% bonus, which would increase your contract value to a theoretical value of $110,000. Why would an insurance company be willing to do that? It’s very simple, they have plans to make money from your money, in the same way, banks loan out your money for profit.

Driven by a passion to educate, inform and prepare future retirees, Mr. Hughes founded Hughes Retirement Group in 2007. His main interest is helping his clients in reducing their taxes.

Most FIAS have two phases, the first phase being your accumulation phase. This includes your principal payment(s) and bonus that you may have received, plus any credited interest rates you received as well. Most insurance companies will allow you to withdraw up to 10% a year without a surrender penalty. Be sure to review your specific insurance contract for certain conditions, exceptions, and limitations that may apply. The insurance company only allows you to take up to a 10% surrender penalty-free withdrawal. If you take more than 10%, a surrender penalty is assessed and you may lose any potential credited interest rate that could have occurred.

The second phase would be the distribution phase. Purchasers receive a percentage of income depending on their age, and if a spouse is involved, it will be a percentage based on the youngest spouse. Again, be sure to review your specific insurance contract for certain conditions, exceptions, and limitations that may apply. The owner can choose to receive a monthly check. If the policy owner dies, the spouse can continue to receive the monthly check until they die. If there is still money in the account when the policyholder dies, their beneficiaries can typically receive the remaining funds in a lump sum.

One of the biggest fears most seniors have is outliving their money. Including an FIA as part of your retirement strategy can help prevent that from happening.

Friendship for Men

by Chad Hess

Godly friendships between men based on a shared love of Jesus Christ are a true blessing. Proverbs 17:17 tells us that “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” There are numerous examples of friendship in the Bible, but perhaps my favorite is the bond that existed between David and Jonathan. It is perhaps the best example of friendship ever recorded.

Jonathan was the son of Israel’s first king Saul and a warrior of great renown. When David was the only one willing to stand against Goliath (and, with the power of God, defeat the giant), Jonathan made a covenant with David, stripped himself of his armor and robe “because he loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1-4). We read further in 1 and 2 Samuel how their relationship becomes one of love, admiration, respect and character as they protect and defend one another through the many perils faced, mainly arising from King Saul himself. They endured much together and were only separated by death.

This biblical story from over one thousand years prior to Christ, remains for men today a perfect example of how men in the 21st century should strive to be friends and brothers. We should love, stand by, and stand up for our friends: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). We should spend time together as friends in work, play, conversation and prayer: “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man

speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11). We should choose our friends wisely, and then as Jonathan and David, remain steadfast in our friendship: “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

Friendship, true friendship, is a rare and beautiful thing. It is something to be sought and closely guarded. In the modern world, we are often isolated from others because of technology and the norms (not necessarily good ones) that surround us. Time spent with a friend should be something that we make an honest effort to achieve. A true Christian friendship is one that aids both members of the friendship to live a life of discipleship, love, giving, responsibility and commitment. Of course, we have no greater friend than our Lord Jesus, but a friend in times of joy and trouble is a gift from God.

About The Author

Chad Hess is a husband, father and Army Veteran. He is a parishioner at Saint Andrews Anglican Church, where he is involved in lay ministries.

Hope in Motion

by Sandra Gilmore

Are you busy making New Year’s resolutions? Let me guess: one of them has to do with getting organized. Besides losing weight, getting organized is a top goal early in a new year. Americans are fascinated with clutter and organizing. Have you noticed all the shows dedicated to this one topic? Have you noticed all the gadgets and even rising careers associated with household and office organization? The Proverbs 31 Woman had it covered long before plastic was even mentioned! Proverbs 31:27 says, “She watches how things go in her house” (The Complete Jewish Bible translation). Do you know how things go in your house? Or even how they come? Research through the years finds a deep connection between clutter and hopelessness. Let’s start this new year off right!

Through the years of being a mom with a career outside the home, then years of being a stay-at-home mom, I collected and developed a list that helped keep me organized and focused. Listed here are just a few. Pick one that resonates with you. Put it into motion soon. Where confusion and clutter once grew, you’ll see hope take root!

*Make several sets of keys. Place them strategically at home, at work, or at the neighbors if need be.

*Keep multiple hair dryers in the house. The Bible says a woman’s hair is her glory. It is terrible to have the hair dryer die when you are not quite “glorified!”

*Make copies of important papers, including digital copies. Secure a safe box at your financial institution. Put anything you deem important in your box with an inventory list of its contents. Keep an extra inventory list at home too.

*Keep a calendar with big boxes for each day visually handy to record family events. You could quickly jot down milestones, whether it’s the last time you had your oil changed or your baby’s first sentence. When you

have time, you can easily scrapbook or journal these milestones. Encourage your children to log items. It will be even more special in years to come to see their own handwriting.

*When possible, put the kids to bed in their clothes. Summer short sets or winter stockings and turtlenecks are often as soft and flexible as pajamas. Come morning, you and your children will be glad for the extra winks!

*Keep a 3x5 card with important information secured to the visor of your car. Cell phones lose their charge or hit dead zones. A simple card can save the day.

*When you are working on an important document or want to archive important information, email it to yourself. If your computer is inaccessible or you lose a flash drive, you can usually access accounts in libraries or other public places. Your information is now available to you 24/7, anywhere in the world.

*Pray Proverbs 8:12, “I wisdom dwell with prudence and find out knowledge of witty inventions.” When we are in a tight spot, Holy Spirit will send wisdom when we ask. Wisdom can reveal “witty inventions,” meaning new ways of doing things, effective time management methods or ways to multiply effectiveness.

*Keep prayer a priority. Redeem time to spend with the Father. He loves you. He created you. He is especially proud of you. Spend time with Him as your source of strength and growth. His unconditional love will sustain hope for you like nothing else!

You’ve probably got some of your own tips for watching how things go in your house. Share those in a conversation, on a blog, or even a post. Pass on hope!

Sandra Gilmore serves the Lord as wife, mom, and encourager, mostly through writing and speaking, occasionally through cooking, rarely through anything athletic and only because of the mercy and grace of Jesus. You can reach her by email: tandsgilmore@yahoo.com or her website: www.sandragilmore.org

About The Author

Cleveland Church Directory

Apostolic

First Apostolic Church Of Cleveland

4859 Freewill Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (229) 343-6880

Grace

Assembly of God

Assembly

1976 Westland Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-7729

The Collectives Church 3925 N. Ocoee Street, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 641-0193

Triune Assembly 301 Sunset Drive Cleveland, TN 37312

Baptist Beacon Baptist Church 505 Corvin Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-7056

Bellefounte Baptist Church 132 Bellfounte Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-2312

Bethel Baptist Tabernacle 3165 Buchanan Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-5820

Berean Baptist Church 2355 Bucks Pocket Rd SE, Old Fort, TN 37362 (423) 478-1697

Big Spring Baptist Church 1415 Hardwick St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-1101

Blue Springs Baptist Church 699 Blue Springs Church Rd SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-0932

Candies Creek Church 294 Old Eureka Rd Charleston, TN 37310 (423) 479-3731

Cedar Springs Baptist Church 723 Cedar Springs Church Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-5506

Center Point Baptist Church 1205 Lower River Rd NW Charleston, TN 37310 (423) 336-2133

Cleveland Cowboy Church 3040 Blythe Rd. Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-7936

Cloverleaf Baptist Church 2290 Waterlevel Highway Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 339-3617

Clingan Ridge Baptist Church 2412 Georgetown Road, NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-3511

Church At Grace Point 2595 Old Freewill Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 728-5050

Covenant Baptist Church 249 Calhoun Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 559-2653

Dalton Pike Baptist Church 3055 Benton Pike NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-7606

East Cleveland Baptist Church 1145 Arnold St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-8728

Echos of Mercy Baptist Church 535 Durkee Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 715-9739

Elkmont Baptist Church 4030 Old Freewill Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-4600

Emmanuel Baptist Church 1227 Powerline Dr NE, Cleveland, TN 37323

Farmland Community Church 1675 Greendale Dr. SE Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 473-9891

First Baptist Church 1275 Stuart Road Cleveland, Tennessee 37312 (423) 709-9100

Galilee Baptist Church 665 Old Chattanooga Pike SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 496-2019

Henegar Baptist Church 7423 Mouse Creek Rd. Cleveland, TN 37312

Hopewell Baptist Church 188 Old Georgetown Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-3763

Lebanon Baptist Church 1411 Old Parksville Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-6700

Macedonia Baptist Church 3119 Spring Place Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-1713

Maple Street Baptist Church 1700 Maple St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-3622

Maranatha Baptist Church 453 Blue Springs Ln SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 614-8991

Michigan Avenue Baptist Church 2741 Benton Pike NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-8891

Mt Carmel Baptist Church 7619 Blue Springs Rd, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-1620

New Friendship Baptist Church 1344 Chatata Valley Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-6007

New Salem Baptist Church 175 Ladd Springs Rd, Cleveland, TN 37323

North Cleveland Baptist Church 2815 Ocoee St N, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-8524

Oak Grove Baptist Church 4452 Bates Pike SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-9125

Old Pathway Baptist Church 224 Rymer Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323

Parkway Baptist Church 185 Meadow Ln SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 339-5522

Philadelphia Baptist Church 910 30th St SE, Cleveland, TN 37323

Philippi Baptist Church 2325 Old Harrison Pike NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-5385

Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church 799 Inman Street East Cleveland, Tennessee 37311 (423) 476-4081

Public Church 850 17th St. NW Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 458-4405

Ridgeview Baptist Church 1501 S Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-5119

Samples Memorial Baptist Church 371 Samples Chapel Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-2329

Shenandoah Baptist Church 138 Osment Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 339-0103

Shiloh Baptist Church 357 Highway 64 Ocoee, TN 37361 (423) 338-4292

Shiloh Baptist Church 3406 Blair Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-5755

Stuart Park Baptist Church 850 17th St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-6741

Tasso Baptist Church 164 Old Charleston Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 559-2114

Temple Baptist Church 3070 Harrison Pike, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6813

Thompson Spring Baptist Church 5660 Bates Pike SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 790-1823

Union Baptist Church 797 Hughes Lake Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 559-1720

Valley View Baptist Church 4657 Spring Place Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-7707

Washington Avenue Baptist Church 1720 Perry St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-0489

Waterville Baptist Church 4555 Dalton Pike SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-5582

West Cleveland Baptist Church 1959 Westland Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311

(423) 472-8927

Westwood Baptist Church 4001 Georgetown Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-1534

White Oak Baptist Church 2043 White Oak Valley Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 559-2359

Catholic

St Therese Catholic Church 900 Clingan Ridge Dr NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-8123

Charismatic

Cleveland Christian Fellowship 695 S Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-2642

Church of Christ

North Bradley Church of Christ 1510 Stuart Road NE, Suite 207 Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 473-3298

Church of God

Community Chapel Church of God 807 Blythe Ave SE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-2143

Cornerstone Church of God 1826 SE Dalton Pike Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-0006

Church of God Sanctified, Inc. 746 First Street N.E. Cleveland, TN. 37311 (423) 479-3895

East Cleveland Church of God 900 15th St NE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3389

Fellowship of Praise Church of God 931 Inman Street East Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3121

Grace Community Church of God 4745 Mouse Creek Road NW, Cleveland, TN 37312. (423) 614-0708

Heritage Fellowship Church of God 4635 South Lee Hwy McDonald, TN 37353 (423) 476-6316

International Worship Center

Centro Internacional de Adoración 533 Central Ave. NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-1977

Kinser Church of God 141 Kinser Road Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-7400

Lakeview Church of God 105 Pound Street SE Cleveland, TN 37323 (423)-790-5805

North Cleveland Church of God 335 11th St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5513

Michigan Avenue Church of God 515 Minnis Road NE (423) 284-7573

Mt Olive Church of God

3522 Harrison Pike, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3381

Mt View Church of God 210 Roadway Dr SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (706) 455-3528

Pine Hill Church of God 1484 Old Alabama Rd McDonald, TN 37353 (423) 488-0939

South Cleveland Church of God 1846 Volunteer Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6382

Westmore Church of God 2440 Legacy Pkwy NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-3415

Church of God of Prophecy

Cleveland Spanish COGOP 2610 Grove Ave. Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 473-7199

Durkee Road COGOP 201 Durkee Rd. Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-4384

Keith Street Ministries COGOP 4000 Keith ST. NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-2448

Peerless Road COGOP 3301 Peerless Rd. NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 303-2680

Spring Place COGOP 2530 Spring Place Rd. Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6414

Union Grove COGOP 533 Union Grove Rd Charleston, TN 37310 (423) 479-5357

Wildwood COGOP 140 Wildwood Ave Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-6584

The Church of God

The Church of God Jerusalem Acres 1826 Dalton Pike SE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-1597

Community Fellowship in Christ 1025 Beech Circle NW Cleveland TN 37312 (423) 314-2382

Disciples of Christ

First Christian Church 3625 N. Ocoee Street Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-6682

Episcopal

Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church 320 Broad St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311

Lutheran

First Lutheran Church 195 McIntire Ave NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-6811

Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

4200 Pryor Rd N.E. Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 503-6394

Methodist

Big Spring United Methodist 1196 Hardwick St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5242

Black Fox United Methodist 1820 Old Chattanooga Pike SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 339-1908

Broad Street United Methodist 155 Central Ave NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5586

First United Methodist Church 3425 Ocoee St N, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-4504

Mount Zion UMC 7223 Germantown Rd NW Cleveland, TN 37312

Pleasant Grove UMC 3043 Pleasant Grove Church Rd SW Cleveland, TN 37311

Red Hill United Methodist Church 527 Red Hill Valley Road SE Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 728-5413

South Cleveland United Methodist 1165 Church St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 507-5760

Tasso United Methodist 1106 Tasso Ln NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-4457

Trinity United Methodist Church 731 1st St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 614-7900

Valley Head Methodist Church 920 Mouse Creek Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-0575

Wesley Memorial Methodist 3405 Peerless Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-9578

Pentecostal

Faith Memorial Church 910 17th St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6281

First United Pentecostal Church 4095 Peerless Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-9436

Revolution Life Church 1525 Jones Ave SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 310-7287

Full Gospel House of Prayer 1500 Wildwood Ave. Cleveland, TN

Set Free Christian Fellowship 1175 King Edwards Ave. Cleveland, TN

Nazarene

Cleveland First Church Of The Nazarene 2712 Henderson Ave. Cleveland, TN 37312 423-472-7371

New Hope Church of the Nazarene 4514 Waterlevel Highway Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 473-3379

Non-Denominational

Benton Pike House Of Prayer

2615 Peach Orchard Hill Rd, Cleveland, TN 37323

Christian Fellowship Ctr 895 6th St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-9591

Church Alive Ministries 6315 Mouse Creek Road NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-8133

Cleveland Community Chapel 1823 Forest Ridge Dr. Cleveland, TN 37311

Cleveland Cornerstone Church 533 Broad St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-1775

Community Hall Church 1305 6th Street Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-2178

Crossroads Community Church 1000 South Lee Highway Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 716-2871

Dwelling Place Church International 523 Urbane Road NE Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 790-5200

Evening Light Gospel 200 20th St SE Cleveland, TN 37311

Freedom Fellowship Church 3555 Blue Springs Rd, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-0654

God’s Family Fellowship 2823 South Lee Hwy Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 458-4490

Graceway Chapel 221 14th St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 728-2226

Jacob’s Tent Fellowship 1080 Montgomery Ave NE, Cleveland, TN 37311

Eleven22 Church 1701 South Lee Hwy Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 488-4526

The Journey Church 3191 South Lee Hwy, McDonald, TN 37353 (423) 728-4100

Living By Faith Ministries 1175 King Edward Avenue Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 457-9072

Living Stones Church 4165 Peerless Rd NW Cleveland, TN 37312

Living Word Church 930 25th Street NW Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 339-3028

New Life Bible Church 155 S Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-3882

Redemption To The Nations 2750 Keith Street NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 591-7886

Restoration Fellowship 211 Trewhitt Dr SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-4249

The Sanctuary 1203 Smith Dr. Cleveland, TN 37311

(423) 478-2843

Tasso Christian Church 1135 Tasso Lane, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-2705

The TRIBE 1175 King Edward Avenue SE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 380-8802

Tri-State Cowboy Church 200 Natures Trail SW, McDonald, TN 37353 (Building 3) (423) 303-8954

United Christian Church 2200 Peerless Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-4277

Unity Christian Ministries 2419 Georgetown Rd NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 473-9338

Walker Valley Community 787 Lauderdale Memorial Hwy Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-9696

Presbyterian

Charleston Cumberland Presbyterian Church 8267 N Lee Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-5004

First Cumberland Presbyterian 161 2nd St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6751

First Presbyterian Church 433 N Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5584

Flint Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church 515 Flint Springs Rd Cleveland TN. 37323 (423) 284-6397

Prospect United Cumberland Presbyterian Church 310 New Murraytown Rd. NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-6181

St James Cumberland Presbyterian 151 Short St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-5762

Trinity Presbyterian PCA 1780 Stuart Rd. NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 559-9595

Seventh Day Adventist

Bowman Hills Adventist

300 Westview Dr NE Cleveland, TN 37312

Cleveland Fellowship Church 211 Trewhitt Drive Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 400-7054

East Cleveland Seventh-Day 801 Howard Circle SE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-9299

Ladd Springs Seventh-Day 5860 Bates Pike SE Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-1889

Zion Assembly

Zion Assembly Church of God 5512 Waterlevel Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-3337

A Broken Heart

by Dorothy Teague

Just mention February, and people automatically think of Valentine’s Day. For most people, images of flowers, chocolates, cards, and the whole romantic Hallmark scene is what we think of and aspire to. Being in love is a wonderful feeling, but as we surrender our hearts and open ourselves up to love someone, we become vulnerable and risk being hurt. As a matter of fact, chances are one hundred percent that we will have a broken heart several times in our lives. People will hurt us, and we will hurt others because we are human. The only one who will not fail us is Christ. In Jeremiah 31:3, He says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love…” Jesus, Himself, knows quite a lot about having a broken heart.

Jesus died of a broken heart when He hung on the cross and died for all mankind. As He hung there, with all the sin of the world upon Him, He was in such physical, mental and emotional distress that His heart burst open and spilled out for us. There is a condition known as Broken Heart Syndrome, also known as stress cardiomyopathy, which occurs when a person experiences sudden acute stress that can rapidly weaken the heart muscle. Two kinds of stressors, emotional or physical, often cause this. Emotional stressors include grief, while physical stressors such as significant bleeding, difficulty breathing, and chest pain can result in this (www.hopkinsmedicine.org).

Jesus had been beaten and wounded repeatedly before He ever got to the cross and endured the physical trauma that hanging there put on His heart. But, more than this, He was experiencing grief from being separated from His Father. God could not look upon sin, so He had to turn away. Even though Jesus knew He must finish the work on the cross for our redemption, the agony He felt being apart from His Father must have been unbearable! Yes, Jesus knows all about a broken heart in every sense of the word. He knows us and understands us better than we know ourselves. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet without sin.” He “knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). We were designed to love and be loved. But, when we get hurt along the way, we can find solace in the Word of God. He reminds us that He is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18), and that He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3). Your Valentine’s Day may not be like a Hallmark movie where everything turns out perfectly in the end, but there is One you can depend on to always love you perfectly; His name is Jesus!

Dorothy Teague is a Tennessee native, who resides in McMinn County with her husband, Lewis, on their farm. After completing 31.5 years as a teacher in the Bradley County School System, she is active in her church at Eastanallee Baptist Church where she is a member of the choir and praise team.

About The Author

A Heart as Pure as Snow

by Paula Burgner

Frozen still as if they had just been sprinkled with sugar and glue, the trees stand tall covered in a full frost. Drifting in the wind, looking out over the land from up above the sky, slowly and steadily, the snow drops into place just as if it was being placed there by someone. This is how it feels when God lays something on our hearts. It’s like the snow. It’s quiet and light, but once it piles up, it becomes heavy—just

must stick together, keep the Word of God in our hearts, and pray for one another. Through this, God can make some amazing things happen.

It seems so cold and uninviting when it snows. However, time seems to stand still, all while bringing people together. Though some of us have lost one that we love throughout the year, remember that when you see those snowflakes falling, it is like kisses from heaven. When you close your eyes and stand out in the snow as the snowflakes fall silently, you can listen to hear God’s still voice. Though it’s freezing cold, the snow quietens the surroundings and whispers to you to be relaxed and enjoy the peace you are blessed with once in a while. We can feel like we are frozen by the burdens of life, but when we trust in God, He will bring peace to our hearts and lives. The Bible tells us in Romans 15:13, “Now the God of hope fills you with all joy and peace in believing.”

like the burdens we carry for others. As we try to uplift those who are feeling weighed down with things in life, God will raise us up when we lay our problems down to Him. The Bible tells us this in Psalms 145:14, “The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.”

When you stop to think about it, snowflakes are one of God’s most fragile creations. It takes just the right mixture of water and cold air to form those perfect fluffy flakes. It can make such a mess if they get blown through the air like confetti, but look what they can do when they stick together! This is how we must be as Christians. We

God’s love is like the snow—it shows the grace and beauty of everything it covers. As light as a bubble that floats through the air, every falling flake is a unique spark of interest that falls from heaven like a beautiful piece of art from the hands of God. Snowflakes are pure and white, representing serenity and peace, just like the peace that God gives us. God makes us pure when we ask Him to come into our hearts and clean our souls. The Bible tells us this in Psalm 51:7, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

About The Author

Paula Burgner is a very strong willed, outgoing, girl who loves working out, and she believes in her heart that you are capable of doing anything that you put your mind to.

How Well Do You Understand Love?

by Dr. Alan Hix

When people think of February, many immediately think of Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is often viewed as a time to express one’s love for another. However, what we mean when we say we love someone is conditioned by our definition of love. How would you define “love?”

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary lists three aspects of its primary definition of love.

a. Strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties

b. Attraction based on sexual desire: affection and tenderness felt by lovers

c. Affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests However, for human beings, “love” is an emotional word that cries for expression beyond a simple definition. Let’s return to the question above: How would you define love? My suspicion is that your definition would come from your own emotional connection to the concept of love.

Poetry is a common place to find expressions of love. In Hartley Coleridge’s Sonnet VII, he begins his poem with, “Is love a fancy, or a feeling? No. It is immortal as immaculate Truth.” In his Sonnet 116, William Shakespeare echoes a similar expression of the lasting nature of love: “Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks but bears it out even to the edge of doom.”

From these lofty expressions by classic poets, the definition of “love” finds it poorest expression in the 1970 movie Love Story. After a lovers’ quarrel, Jenny reveals to Oliver that she is dying of leukemia. Heartbroken, he begs her forgiveness. Her response has found a continuing life in popular culture: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” This definition is a far cry from the one expressed by Coleridge and Shakespeare.

Country music fans may be familiar with Clint Black’s “Something That We Do.” He closes his song with:

I remember well the day we wed I can see that picture in my head Love isn't just those words we said It's somethin' that we do

This description of love as not just a feeling but as an action goes far beyond Jenny’s definition above. However, is this definition sufficient? Defining love only within the context of human relationships will always fall short, because a complete definition of love must include the source of love—which is God.

The Apostle John approaches the subject of love in this way: 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. . .. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another (1 John 4:7–8, 10-11).

John helps us to see that true love is not simply a feeling or an action. True love is a person God. Genesis 1:26 declares that we are made in the image of God. Part of that image is loving as God loves. This rich understanding of love is the basis for the Apostle Paul’s description of love in 1 Corinthians 13. Here we see that love is feeling, doing, giving, sacrificing, enduring, and much more. In this moving passage, Paul gives us a picture of what it looks like to love as God loves.

On this Valentine’s Day, let us as believers in Christ commit to reflecting his image by loving as he loves.

About The Author

Dr. Alan Hix is an Associate Professor of Christian Studies at Shorter University. In addition to being and educator, he has served churches as a pastor, been involved in mission trips to Africa, Canada, and Alaska, and participated in archaeological excavations in Israel for several years.

Iron Sharpens Iron

by Donald Cantrell

Those of you that follow my articles know that I often write about life events that occur between my granddaughter and myself. Kinsley will be ten years old in a few weeks, and I have been her primary babysitter since she was four weeks old. It has been lifechanging for me to watch her grow up from a baby to a “tween” as she calls it.

Throughout the years, we have had some awesome excursions as we went on our weekly trips to the Chattanooga Zoo, the Tennessee Aquarium, various jump parks, petting zoos, or eating maple flavored ice cream with chunks of bacon in it at a working farm over in Ellijay. I have watched her learn to eat everything from sardines, mayo and honey sandwiches to chomping down on gator tail or Alaskan crab legs.

Our journey has been much tighter than merely being her “poppy” or her “babysitter” because I have had the joy of also

being her pastor, literally since birth. During the past ten years, I have watched her grow up singing “Jesus Loves” to singing “Christian Songs” during karaoke on a cruise ship and bringing the house down as everyone applauded and hugged her for singing songs about her faith and her relationship with Jesus Christ.

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (Pro 27:17, KJV).

You might think that I am always the teacher, but as I have watched her grow up, Kinsley has taught me some wonderful things about life. In watching her, I have learned that it is okay to make yourself vulnerable and put yourself out there in the forefront. It has been a joy to see her grow up and grow into a young girl that not only listens to my sermons, but tries to live by them and then calls me out when I don’t.

One day, I preached on never taking “tomorrow” for granted and that we ought to never put stuff off for tomorrow if we can do it today. The next week, I heard some people in our family saying they would get to some things “tomorrow” and Kinsley told them they should never say “tomorrow.” I find great joy in knowing that she is listening to my messages, but on the other hand, I find it very gripping to know that I better live what I preach.

I have developed a relationship with this girl that is sincere, it is brutally honest, and I can honestly say that she has made me a better preacher, because I see that the words I say are literally taken to heart and that I need to be very careful in how I present the “word of God.” I have enjoyed the last ten years of this relationship and look forward to the coming years. God has blessed me mightily by placing this “fireball” into my life, and I will not take any day for granted.

Donald Cantrell is a lifelong native of Murray county and has been pastoring and preaching since 1980. He has had the honor of publishing over thirty books and his sermon material is sold all over the world by various online companies. If you visit his house any weekend in the fall you will find them watching the “Florida Gators or the New England Patriots… Chomp Chomp.”

Choosing to Love

by Kristen West

Storefronts and florists are awash with red and pink décor this month as they promote Valentine’s Day. And many people are looking for a feeling that is as ooey-gooey as the centers of those gourmet chocolates they hope to get.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-Valentine’s Day, and I certainly love getting flowers and chocolates as much as the next person, but how often do we stop there—at the superficial level—and never really learn to love.

I can attest that after 19 years of marriage now, on MOST days, there are no “butterflies in my stomach” feelings or tingly puppy love rush of emotions. There are choices…intentional, deliberate, thoughtful choices.

While that may sound boring to some, those of us who buckled up for life understand that this is where the rubber meets the road. When Anthony and I married, I vowed to love him, “for better or worse; in sickness and in health; for richer or poorer…”

Choosing to love each other—in all of our broken, imperfect “humanness”—is what love is all about. It’s what God modeled for us in hopes that we would follow His example. “We love because He first loved us…” (1 John 4:19). God’s love is always anchored in choices. According to John 3:16, God “so loved” the world that He gave His only Son. That choice wasn’t founded on a good feeling. Jesus knew He was being sent down a path that would end in brutality, public humiliation, and a tortured criminal’s death. There was nothing “lovey-dovey” about it. It was love in its rawest form—a choice to do good to another human being; to put their interests first; to consider and honor them as the valuable individual that God created them to be.

Every day I wake up, I choose to love my husband— even on those days when our brokenness bubbles to the surface and we’d like to have “time-out” chairs for each other. The choice to ask God to continually make me a better wife is love. The choice to stay “till death do us part” is love. The choice to work hard on my marriage so that those around us have a picture of what God’s heart looks like for His Bride is love.

Hmmm, I think I’ll be on the lookout this week for a conversational heart that says, “Choosing to Love!”

Kristen West recently published a book of 40 devotions called He’s an Everyday God. About The Author

Legacy Village of Cleveland

Life. Love. Legacy

Legacy Village of Cleveland is a faithcentered, non-profit assisted living community purposefully designed to meet the needs of each individual resident. The staff at Legacy Village is comprised of experienced professionals who are motivated to assist each resident as needs arise. They are here to give you and your loved one peace of mind. Whether it’s a simple reminder to take medication, or help with bathing and dressing, each member of their team respects the worth of the individual and is dedicated to the resident’s comfort and security.

At Legacy Village, their philosophy for their community is to recognize the accomplishments and value of each resident. You’ll enjoy an active lifestyle to keep you up and going. Their programs are focused on helping you thrive physically, socially, and spiritually. Legacy Village offers a lifestyle that promotes independence and the opportunity to live life at its fullest! They listen to residents

and families so that they can tailor a customized care plan that meets the unique needs of each individual resident. Their caring and experienced staff is committed to making Legacy Village a place you will be delighted to call home. \

The property has cultivated a safe and secure homelike environment with 24hour staffing and an emergency response system. The team is trained to assist the residents with their medications, bathing, hygiene, and dressing. Legacy Village also provides daily and weekly housekeeping which includes washing the linens and personal items weekly. Every day, the residents are welcomed to three delicious home-style meals with the options of snacks throughout the day. Every day there are different activities for the residents to participate in, social events, and group outings opportunities.

The community amenities include activity and craft areas, a fitness center, and outdoor gardening activities. The property

also offers a beauty and barber shop, a spa and nail salon, as well as a fireplace lounge, bistro, and wellness café for relaxing. With an active chaplaincy program, the community offers ministerial needs and counseling for residents, team members, and family members. These chaplains will also provide weekly services in Legacy Village’s beautiful chapel.

“Our chaplaincy program is one of the many things we offer residents at Legacy. Our chaplains are here in the building for any spiritual need a resident may have. They assist with our Life Enrichment programs, and they are here for our team members and families of staff and residents. They are a great asset to our community, and we are blessed to have three chaplains on service at Legacy Village,” said Ashley Seymour, Life Enrichment Director.

The Harbor Memory Care of Legacy Village is an innovative, nationally recognized neighborhood in Legacy Village

that is designed to be a refuge from the storms associated with memory loss. The neighborhood has been developed incorporating years of research in the areas of design, colors, furnishings, and technology. The Harbor has a completely unique design separate from the rest of the property. The wing is decorated in midcentury 1950s furnishings and colors that take residents back to happier times!

“Our Memory Care is top-notch, with seven days a week activity program, circadian rhythm lighting system, and with a staff that are well trained to meet our residents where they are in their dementia process. We offer a variety of room styles from studios, one bedroom, two bedroom, and companion rooms. People choose Legacy because it feels like home,” said Seymour.

Memory Care services are offered in addition to the assisted living services and amenities. Memory Care residents have Alzheimer’s and dementia certified caregivers and reside in an electronically secured wing. Memory Care residents have a specialized activity program, the Purposeful Day, which is designed to meet the needs of seniors with memory loss. This

program allows Legacy’s caring staff to value each resident and to recognize each of their different histories, current desires, and needs. They recognize that memory loss effects everyone differently, and that is why they developed a special service plan for each resident. A Purposeful Day focuses on four types of non-drug therapy—Reminisce Therapy, Trusted Voice Therapy, Time and Place Therapy, and Music Therapy.

Legacy Village’s compassionate community is the preferred option for families in need. Anyone can give a bath or serve a meal, but Legacy Village is building a team of people who have a heart to do it. “I feel blessed to lead in a building that God is invited into every day. We start our mornings praying for our staff, our residents, families, and things happening in our city that need prayer. Jesus is the center of it all, and it shows in the care we give to our residents daily. You can feel the difference when you walk into our building and hear it in the laughter of our team. My team is amazing, and they each bring such high level of expertise and devotion to their positions. Their hearts are beautiful, and they love our residents like their own family. Our residents bring so much joy to

Life. Love. Legacy.TM

us daily! It is so special to be able to work in someone’s home. You get to experience daily life with them, and I couldn’t think of a more precious way to spend your day than that. This is more than just a job for us—it’s family we have been invited to be apart of,” said Destiny Helms, Executive Director.

If you would like to learn more about the advantages of their premier senior living community, you can visit Legacy Village at 2255 Candies Lane NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 or online at legacycleveland.net. You can also call them at 423-472-4700 and schedule a time to tour the community.

“Legacy is truly an answer to prayer. When we read the mission statement about serving residents in a Biblically based community, we knew we found the right place. The atmosphere is what Mom needed to continue fulfilling her

Trust: Even When God Seems Silent

by Donna Swann

On the morning of New Year’s Eve, I sat drinking my coffee and reflecting on the past year. So many changes have occurred in my life. Many changes were small, like getting a cat, while others were huge, liking getting a husband. As always, some were wanted, like a new house, and some less desirable, like my best friend moving further away. Many blessings were a surprise, while others were answered prayers. God answers all prayers. He may

possibilities. Then I began viewing houses with the agent. It was so exciting to see all the potential homes. However, each time I found one and put in a bid, poof! It was gone. Someone got it before me. House after house, after house. Then the loan officer I was working with left the company she worked with, and I was told I was no longer eligible for a loan. This went on for two years. I could not understand why God was not answering my prayer. Well, here I sit in my new home. My prayer wasn’t answered because it wasn’t to be my new home, but our new home. God had the man, the gold band, and the home already planned.

not give the answer we wanted, or He might take a while. Of all the prayers that were answered in 2022, two really stood out to me. One being my quest for a house.

About five years ago, after unfortunate circumstances, my credit score was bottomed out, and I was barely surviving financially. I rented a small house in which, at times, four of us lived. My goal was to become a homeowner again. I worked diligently to raise my credit score and save for a down payment. About three years ago I reached the desired goal, and the search began.

I prayed that God would help me find the perfect house. First, I located a real estate agent and found a loan officer that would give me the benefit of the doubt. Spending hours on the internet, I looked at houses and made lists of

Also, this year God answered another prayer. This particular prayer had been going up for four years. At one point, I remember sitting in my car, literally crying out to God with tears streaming down my face, begging for Him to help my loved one. Watching this person struggle was heart-wrenching at times. I think God was working out the pieces slowly, and finally my prayer was answered this year. Sometimes God’s plan and timing don’t make sense to us. Imagine being an Israelite at the Battle of Jericho. I might have said, “He wants us to do what? Walk around Jericho for six days? We can easily circle the city in one day! And we will be sitting ducks walking around and around out here in the open! God said he would make it collapse. Why doesn’t he just do it the first time we circle?”

Even though the Israelites did not understand the process, they trusted God. They endured six days of silence and circling, just as God instructed. We must pray with endurance and faith. Believe in God’s promises, even when it seems like nothing is happening. In the silence, God is at work.

Donna Swann is a second-grade teacher in Rome, Georgia. She attends Grace Faith Bible Study where her husband Jack is the pastor. She coauthors a Christian blog, Smorgasbord of Sisterhood, with her cousin. About The Author

Sovereign Goodness

by Greg Grotewold

Life is full of sad stories. Like this one. A medical examiner’s office in upstate New York recently concluded its investigation of a two-year-old boy’s death earlier in the year. It was determined that the toddler had died of starvation after his father (the only other person living in the house) had died of a heart ailment. By the time a welfare check was performed, it was too late. The two bodies were found in the father’s bedroom.

This is not the way things are supposed to be. It’s becoming clear that the world is categorically broken, perhaps irreversibly so. And for those like me who lack a certain intestinal fortitude, the prevalence of such suffering can cause deep sadness.

But feeling sad, as a blood-bought believer, is okay, I’ve learned. Sadness need not be the antithesis of hope. The two emotions can coexist, for the former clings to that which can be seen and the latter to that which can’t. “Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for which he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience” (Romans 8:24-25, ESV). One is today’s reality, and the other tomorrow’s. Someday my faith will become sight, and I will be in the glorious presence of Jesus. Until then, Paul tells me to wait patiently. Easier said than done, though. What do I do with my growing angst over disease and death, a culture hellbent on its own moral destruction, my own sinful contributions? Paul provides that guidance, too:

May [the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory] give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:17-21, ESV, bracketed language rearranged).

I grow my ability to endure the sickness when I grow my understanding of the One who will eventually deliver me

from it. In other words, I need to enlighten my heart with a clearer view of Jesus’s sovereign goodness. He makes colossal promises throughout Scripture, but none more seemingly outlandish than the gift of a glorious inheritance for all who trust and obey Him. In any other sphere of life, it would be lunacy to hope in such things. Not Jesus. Not Heaven. Glorious promises are only fulfilled by glorious sources of power. And His prowess is both immeasurable and unparalleled. Nothing— no rule, authority, power, or dominion—will preclude Jesus from delivering His children into Glory. Nothing. Colossians 1 provides even greater illumination as to His power.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (15-18, ESV)

These four verses are very dear to me. I go to them when the world gets me down, which means I frequent this passage often. Jesus Christ creates all things, holds all things together, and is before all things. These facts tell me He is able to keep His promises. Such assurance regarding the future is what allows me to face the present. May His sovereign goodness do the same for you.

Greg Grotewold lives with his wife, Sandi, and their two sons, Luke and Eli. He is a deacon in his local church and greatly enjoys serving in this capacity.

About The Author

What Influences Your Family?

by Brent Goodge

Society today is driven by information overload. The never-ending scroll feed on social networks often turns a simple message check into an hour-long hiatus. There will always be one more post to scan or one more video to view.

Ignoring the obvious waste of time, consider the harmful images and sounds we subject ourselves to through social media. Ads suggestive of immoral thoughts and behaviors, violent videos, and the enormity of information we absorb posted by influencers who don’t know God.

Social media may be the most obvious issue today, but the concept is not new. Television programs and advertising have been guilty of the same for decades. For those who have no screen time, billboards along the road are designed to tie a product to sell to immoral pleasures. What is all this doing to our walk with Jesus? Think of what it does to our kids.

When Abram offered Lot the choice of where to go to find pasture, Lot should have deferred the choice to the one God had promised Canaan to in the first place. But Lot saw the fertile river valley and the cities it cradled and decided that was the ideal place to live the easy life with his family. Lot knew the practices in the valley’s cities were abominable in the sight of God. But he felt quite secure in the knowledge that his connection with God was strong enough to overcome the evil. Genesis 13 says he “pitched his tents near Sodom.”

Living in tents near Sodom was apparently not very cool. The rich inside Sodom in their luxurious houses probably thought the rift raft was camping outside of town. Maybe Mrs. Lot was embarrassed. Maybe it was just for protection. But by Genesis 14, Lot’s family had moved inside the wicked city of Sodom.

War came to Sodom. In His mercy, God used Abraham to rescue Lot and the rest of the captives from the

invaders. This should have been a warning to Lot that it was time to get out of the wicked city. But he remained.

God’s mercy is so amazing! When it was determined by God that Sodom must be destroyed, God sent angels to rescue Lot and his family. But the influences of Sodom had become so ingrained in the hearts of his family that not one

of his children who lived around town would believe him and choose to escape.

When the angels grabbed Lot, his wife and the two daughters still living at home, dragging them to safety, Lot’s wife looked back with longing at Sodom, and she died with the city. The two daughters eventually ended up incestuously pregnant.

The influences we choose to allow our families to be subject to makes a difference, often an eternal difference. May we each make the commitment to make Christ and His sacrifice for us the center of our home. May we never in our own families have to regret the results of Lot’s poor choice.

Brent Goodge lives in Whitfield County. He doesn’t understand how prayer works, but he trusts the God who gave us the gift of prayer. Brent is praying that this message was a blessing.

About The Author

Love Is…

by Candyce Carden

My mother wrote the following poem when I was a teen. Love Is…

Sometimes love is one red rose, Sometimes love is orange blossoms And a diamond ring.

But oft times than not, love is plain every day, Like potatoes boiled, mashed, or baked;

Like clean clothes on the line, A bandage on a cut finger, or just a family gathered ‘round.

I’m a romantic, and the poem struck me as incredibly corny. Nevertheless, I added it to a folder labeled MAMA’S POEMS.

Fast forward several years. I’m now the mother of three young children. My family is spending Spring Break knocking out home maintenance tasks. My husband paints while I clean house and entertain the kids. We’ve had a pretty good week.

“Mommy!” shrieks my oldest from the bathroom. What now? Too much togetherness had led to petty squabbles all morning. I enter the bathroom and watch the commode’s overflow soak the bath mat. My toddler flashes me a blissful smile as he repeatedly flushes the toilet. Through wails, his sister tells me her Barbie doll’s head is down the drain.

I wonder what my friends at the beach are doing. After I settle the mishap with promises of a new doll, we walk to the park to play. Now the house is peaceful. Baby boy sleeps. Older daughter enthralls younger daughter by dancing last year’s recital decked out in ballet garb.

I decide to sort through last year’s summer clothes. What still fits? What can go to charity? I wash and dry them and begin the tedious task of folding and stacking. As

each pile grows, the individuality of my kids emerges. The oldest, seeking self-identity in fashion, owned the wackiest collection. Middle Child’s stack reveals a rainbow of pinks and purples. Toddler lived in t-shirts and jeans.

I examine one of his shirts now, a favorite worn yesterday. The garment, streaked with grape juice before

washing, is stain free. A wave of contentment sweeps over me, and I press my son’s warm shirt to my face, inhaling its crisp scent. It was a cup-running-over kind of moment.

A memory is triggered. I scurry to find mama’s poem and smile as I read it. Closing my eyes, I send God a “Thank You!” The poem no longer seems corny. My mother’s heart treasured familial love when she wrote it. And now, so did I. My mother died two years after penning “Love Is,” and we connected in a big way twenty years later through her poem.

That evening, with family gathered ‘round the wooden picnic table, I dished out potatoes, mashed. I smiled as my freshly-showered husband batted away a gnat and a child knocked over a cup of milk. And I knew there’s no place I’d rather be than with this family, wiping up spilt milk.

A retired teacher and beach lover, Candyce Carden writes devotions for CBN, Refresh Magazine, The Quiet Hour, and Reflections among others. She’s currently at work on Waves of God’s Glory, a devotional set at the beach. Follow her blog at CandyceCarden.com.

About The Author

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I Love You Most

by Dr. Bobby Sneed

Aparent’s love for their child is a uniquely powerful thing. I am fortunate to have a daughter who is now in her 30’s, but some of my fondest memories of her growing up are the “I Love You” exchanges we had. I have no idea where or when it started but one of us would say to the other, “I love you,” to which the reply was “I love you more,” followed by the one who initiated, “I love you most.” It sounds simple and perhaps to some “silly,” but it was a sweet exchange of affection that defined our commitment to one another as father and child. As the years have gone by and my walk with the Lord has grown nearer and sweeter, I have come to the realization that this exchange epitomizes God’s affection for us.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The gift of the Son to a lost and dying world was, and still is, God saying, I love you! There is no other way to describe this singular act of grace and mercy than to say it was born out of love and devotion to His creation (us), which we know based on scripture is truth because God doesn’t just love; God is love (1 John 4:16).

In response to God telling us, “I love you,” if we receive this love and understand that God is love, then our response is to love Him back. The entirety of the verse listed above (1 John 4:16) states, “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” We didn’t initiate the “love,” God did! Nevertheless, having known and believed the love that God has for us, we learn to love Him more and more, thus “I love you more.”

The love that God has for us will never be outdone! Coming to the earth in human form is an “I love you” from Heaven. Giving us the gift of grace by faith in Jesus to understand and accept this love is “I love you more” as we grow in our relationship with Him; but God finishes the exchange with “I love you most” by dying on the cross for our sins. He became sin that we might live forever with Him. He overcame death so we would have life. Jesus says to us all today, “I love you,” “I love you more,” and “I love you most.” His love will never be outdone!

As we celebrate love, be reminded of this, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7). The people in our lives may come to know God’s love by how we love them. Take the time today to say, “I love you!”

About The Author

Dr. Bobby Sneed is the pastor of Deep Springs Baptist Church. His greatest desire is that all will experience the peace, hope and love of the Father made possible by faith in the Son, Jesus Christ.

The Value of Relationships

by David Huff

One of the greatest aspects that come from being in a relationship with someone is the unity and love that is created. For this reason, it hurts when we become separated from someone we truly care for. A friend can become a family member and sometimes even closer than our real family. This is the beauty of walking in a relationship with someone.

So many times, the word relationship is taken to believe that it is a “couples-only” word. Boy, girl, or man and woman in a romantic bond. In reality, relationships as a whole are so much more. Dictionary. com describes the word relationship as the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected or the state of being connected. Being in a relationship with someone does not mean that we are romantically involved with them; it can also mean we are in a deep friendship with them.

In Proverbs 27:17, we are told that iron sharpens iron. When we join a group of friends, we are allowing ourselves to be sharpened by someone else. This is not always easy because that also involves us having to look deep within ourselves to answer some questions that are laid out before us. A relationship is also where we find the true definition of who someone is and how much love they show to the people around them.

God calls each and every one of us to first be in a relationship with Him and then second to be in a relationship with those around us. How we are changed and influenced by these relationships is completely up to us. The value of being

in a relationship with someone is that we grow in Godly grace and love. Jesus tells us to love each other as He loves us. That is a tall order because what happens if we have never had an opportunity to see true Biblical love in our lives? However, when we are in a relationship with the Father, we are also allowing the Father to show us how to love as Jesus did.

We have to make a conscious choice to not walk life alone and enter into a relationship with someone. In the most volatile moments of my life, when I needed to feel love at its deepest level, God led me to people that I needed to be in a relationship with. Some of these relationships were only for a season, and they were with brothers that I will forever be thankful to for walking with me in the most distressful moments of life. Through these small group relationships, bonds were formed that allowed me to become a better person, but also a better Christian. In these relationships, I had to face the reality of being called out by brothers and sisters who genuinely loved me and wanted the best for me. These relationships also led me to be a better husband and father in my personal relationships as well.

My name is David Huff, and I am married to Brittany and together we have five wonderful kids. We attend Rock Bridge Community Church Calhoun where I serve on the prayer team, host team, and production team. I am also a senior at Liberty University.

About The Author

Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Cake Pops

Sometimes, nothing says I love you more than a freshly baked cake—or in this case, a no-bake cake pop! This twist on the classic red velvet cake is the perfect sweet treat to make this Valentine’s Day. With only eight ingredients, and a quick, no-bake preparation, you can spoil your loved ones without spending too much time in the kitchen. If you try this recipe at home, tag us on Facebook at GoodNews CM and let us know your thoughts!

Ingredients

• 1 cup of medjool dates • ¼ cup of almond flour • 1 tablespoon of coconut flour • ¼ cup of cacao powder • 2 tablespoons of beetroot powder • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract • 1 tablespoon of maple syrup • 1 tablespoon of coconut cream

Instructions

1. Remove the pits from the medjool dates. Then, add the pitted dates to a food processor and blend until a ball forms.

2. Add almond flour, coconut flour, cacao powder, beetroot powder, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Blend until a dough is formed. Add coconut cream and blend again.

3. Scoop out a tablespoon amount of dough at a time and roll into balls.

4. Roll balls in cacao powder and add a cake-pop stick to one end.

5. Store cake pops in the refrigerator for up to two weeks!

Mind-Reading

by Sheneka Land

Have you, like me, ever fallen into the trap of trying to read the mind of others? Or have you expected others to read your mind? Too often, we fail to clearly articulate our wants, needs, opinions or ideas in fear that we will be misinterpreted or misunderstood. So, we hope that others will figure out on their own where we are mentally, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually. However, the most healthy and effective communication occurs when we clearly communicate these things to others. I wonder how many marital arguments could be avoided if the practice of mindreading were to be replaced with telling those we love exactly what they need to know. Dropping hints is not conductive to healthy relationships. Let’s save our loved ones time, energy, and brain strain by simply asking for what we want or need.

Those who come from abusive situations learn to mind-read in a different manner. They often monitor body language, voice tone and facial expressions in order to self-protect. Unfortunately, our fear can become so deeply ingrained that we may carry this habit into most every part of our lives, finding ourselves assigning meaning to others’ actions that may be completely incorrect. Manufacturing our own reasons for others’ behaviors and actions could be generating fear, insecurity, and discouragement that isn’t even based on truth. I am learning that most things people do and say aren’t as calculated and intentional as we may believe. Sometimes we are simply triggered to make wrong judgements based on personal past experiences.

As a hospital chaplain, I remember one particular charge nurse who seemed to always have a scowl on her face when I interacted with her. If I asked her a question, her answer was usually curt as she looked at me over the rim of her glasses. I immediately assumed that she did not like me for some reason. Maybe she doesn’t care for female chaplains. Maybe she

doesn’t care for chaplains in general. Maybe I should stay out of her way. I shared my concerns with a chaplaincy mentor, and he encouraged me to read the book Conversation Transformation by authors Ben E. Benjamin, Amy Yeager, and Anita Simon. My interactions with hospital staff began to transform as I began to realize the ways that mind-reading can be detrimental to both personal and professional relationships.

A few weeks later, I found myself having a deep and meaningful conversation with the same nurse. She became vulnerable and honest, trusting me as she shared some of her deepest struggles in life and the heart pain she often felt. Guess what? As she communicated these things, she still had a scowl on her face as she stared at me over the top rim of her glasses. Nothing had changed except my perspective as I realized that my previous mind-read of her had been completely wrong. Eventually, I left that particular hospital unit, and on my last day, she gave me a huge hug and told me how much she was going to miss me. I managed to push past my mind-read, just in case I was wrong, and I was pleasantly surprised with a new friendship when I discovered that I was.

Sheneka Land is an ordained minister, community service chaplain, and a graduate of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary where she earned her MDiv. She is co-author of From Rejection to Validation (pathwaybookstore.com). She and her husband, Jon, currently reside in Cleveland, TN. Sheneka can be found on Facebook at Strokes of Hope. About

A Call to Perfect Love

by Jonathon Wright

ou have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:43-48, NIV).

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This passage is a small excerpt from the Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon, Jesus addressed many people from all walks of life. I can imagine some things that could have gone through their minds when they heard these words.

He wants me to do what? There is no way I can do that. I hate the Romans who worship idols and are trying to take over our land given to us by God. Don’t get me started about the greedy and corrupt tax collectors or the religious hypocrisy in Israel!

People during this time—and today—do not have to go far to find someone or something to hate or complain about. Of course, we see a similar picture when we look at the Middle East and the world today. Yet, Jesus was preparing His disciples for His mission to die for the sins of the world. He wanted them to love like God the Father loves the world. The Lord also redefined murder, adultery, violence, and hatred. These attitudes and actions of the heart are some of the things that make the world a bad place. He called God’s people to be God’s people. This passage is the key to the entire Sermon on the Mount. See Matthew 5-7.

Ever since the time of Cain, Abel, and Noah, violence and evil have filled the world and grieved the heart of

God. That is why He encouraged them to be peaceful, merciful, nonjudgmental, and forgiving. He encouraged them to reconcile with their enemies and even pray for their enemies. Christ wanted them to no longer buy into the world’s ideology of an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth. Jesus wanted His people ready for the kingdom of Heaven that He was preparing for them. Christ was trying to make their lives better. Thus, making the world a better place. He

called them to be perfect in love and become like God, who genuinely cares for people. Jesus wanted them and us to experience life the way God designed it to be.

Christian perfection is a great challenge. Oh heck, who am I kidding, it is impossible without a Savior. That is why He died for the entire world, and we all need Him to be saved and have eternal life. But it has many rewards. And God’s amazing grace, as well as His abiding presence, fills each day. May God continue His work and fill us with His spirit to be the people He calls us to be. I know I need it. How about you?

About The Author

Jonathon Wright has been a member of the Church of God for about twenty years. He is a graduate of Lee University and Beacon University where he earned a BA and MA in Biblical studies. He loves studying the Bible and has done so for over thirty years, but only now has God given him a desire and the opportunity to be a writer. You can find more from Jonathon at https://christianwritersbookstore.com/jonathon-wright

Not Yet

by Arietta Grimmett

Do I know Yeshuaq (Jesus) as He knows me, Have I seen the nail prints in His hands and His feet, The scars on His brow from the crown of thorns, The wounds on His back from the blows of a whip? Not Yet

Have I seen the One who died for me, The One who saved me to the uttermost, The One who healed my body too numerous to mention, The One who truly gives life after death? Not Yet

But one of these days I will see Him. I will see Him as He sees me now. I will know Him as He knows me now. No, not yet. Still waiting! But by His grace, I Shall.

Arietta Grimmett, D. Min. is a Retired Minister and Sunday School Teacher and attends Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy.

About The Author

Let Us Love One Another

by Lori Sentell

When we think about February, we think of the month of love. It reminds us to tell others that we love them. We may show them with cards, candy, or flowers. We may exhibit affection to those we care about. But we need to show love to others, not just once in a while or when it might be expected.

Showing love is a daily action, not once a week, monthly, or yearly. We have to show others that we love and care for them. It may be a kind word, a smile, or a gesture of kindness that lets others know that they are important. It might be giving your time to help others when they are in need or just being there for them. As a Christian, we have to show the love of Christ to others. Our family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances are the ones who really deserve and need our love. In 1 John 3:1(NKJV), the Bible tells us, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it didn’t know Him.”

Sometimes, it might be difficult to do when a person doesn’t know how to receive love because they have never experienced it personally. In our daily walk, it may be hard to convince them that you love them and care for them, just because. They might think you have an ulterior motive. The world’s view of love and kindness is distorted

compared to the love of Christ. Jesus Christ showed what perfect love is by His death on the cross for us (1 John 3:16). He accepted this sacrifice for our sins, so we are called to love others the same way. We should not compromise for anything less than this type of love. The world around us does not see that it is necessary to be kind and loving to those around us. We need to be the example and show true love. We are commanded to love one another in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” This type of love is selfless and referred to as agape love, which is a spiritual kind of love. This “greater” love is the most powerful thing on this Earth. Let us love one another because He first loved us.

Lori Sentell is the pastor’s wife of Cornerstone Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee, and she is a teacher at Hopewell Elementary School.

About The Author

God-honoring Relationships

by Jordan Burchette

For the past few years, I have struggled to cope with the reality that I don’t have a thriving relationship with my parents. They divorced when I was a child, and most of my childhood was spent dealing with the effects of their choices and addictions. To this day, I vividly remember lying awake in a pitch-black back bedroom in the house my father lived in at that time, counting down the hours until morning. The air was thick with cigarette smoke, and my little brother was sound asleep beside me in the bed, unaware of my turmoil. As I lay there, confused, terrified, and brokenhearted, I vowed to myself and God that I would never make those choices for my future family. Although I couldn’t predict the future, I have watched as Jesus has graciously helped me create a different life for my own family.

When I became a mom seven years ago, I had to come face to face with my past. As soon as that little pink bundle was placed in my arms, I knew it was time to heal so I could learn how to be a godly parent. At first, it was perfection I was seeking. The longer I prayed and searched scripture, the more I realized there are no perfect relationships or parents. What I did find in my healing process was that godly relationships are possible, but they require a lot of selflessness, forgiveness, and work. In order to form a healthy and godly relationship with our children or anyone in our lives, we first have to focus on our most important relationship—our relationship with Christ Jesus, the author of life.

When we are immersing ourselves in scripture and prayer daily, we deepen our relationship with Christ. As we soak up the word of God, we are instructed on how to love others as Christ loves us. God’s word not only shows us how to love others but also magnifies the sin we may have hidden in our hearts that is preventing us from having healthy relationships. When we neglect God’s word and don’t spend time deepening our relationship

with Him, we often have a harder time keeping our other relationships healthy. Pride, bitterness, anger, and other sins start to creep in when we neglect to feed ourselves spiritually. Mark 12:31 says, “The second is this: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Scripture is full of people who had both healthy and incredibly unhealthy relationships. When we think of biblically healthy relationships, we think of Ruth and Naomi or Esther and Mordecai. They stood by one another and kept their promises even when it could have resulted in their death. If we reflect on unhealthy relationships for a moment, David and Bathsheba may come to mind, or King Xerxes and Vashti. From the start, their relationships were formed on lust and lies that caused problems for years to come. Not only does scripture show us examples of healthy and unhealthy relationships to learn from, but it also gives us wisdom on how to create God-honoring relationships with those around us.

Jordan Burchette writes stories to encourage, inspire, and challenge others. When she isn’t writing, she is running her small business, enjoying time with her family, and drinking coffee. You can follow her blog at www.thewordsofjordannoel.com.

About The Author

“Legacy is truly an answer to prayer. When we read the mission statement about serving residents in a Biblically based community, we knew we found the right place. The atmosphere is what Mom needed to continue fulfilling her purpose in life.” – Daughter of Resident