ትንቢተ ኢሳይያስ 54:8

My 10-year-old daughter recently created a beautiful journal to honor me on Mother’s Day. I loved all her poems and sweet words, but one line in particular stood out to me: “Mom, I pretend nothing with you.” That was one of the best compliments I could ever receive. In her own words, she was saying that she trusted me enough to be open and vulnerable with me. It dawned on me that God wants this from us, too. He wants us to trust Him completely and hide nothing from Him. In this five-day study, we’ll examine five questions God asks to help us find true intimacy with Him. I pray that by answering them, you’ll be able to say, “Jesus, I pretend nothing with you.”

Experience the wonder and mystery of God’s Word as you explore key miracles in Jesus' life on earth. In this five-day plan based on his book, Signs and Secrets of the Messiah, join Rabbi Jason Sobel in examining some of the miraculous deeds of our Savior and the details revealed in the context of His Jewish culture and traditions.

Self-pity slyly whispers that we deserve better. It clouds our thinking until grumbling seems inevitable. But thanking God lifts our gaze. This plan examines Bible characters tempted toward self-pity, Jesus’ sinless victory over a similar situation, and God’s invitation into gratitude and joy. We’ll counter self-pity’s lies like “I’m in this alone,” “I don’t have enough,” and “I’m taken for granted” by celebrating God’s ability, help, provision, honor, and love.

If you are filled with longing for home right now, you aren't alone. All of us want a place to be safe and comfortable, to be loved and understood. This desire for home runs through the Bible too. In this seven day series, Steven Bouma-Prediger looks both at our desire for home and God's call to our true home with him.