by Emily | Jan 4, 2015 | Glory, Kingdom of Heaven, Love, Pain, Prayer, The Beatitudes
It was the morning of Good Friday, almost 2000 years after Jesus was on trial. My father and other organization members had gone to the courthouse. I lived with my family in Central Asia, and for months our whole team had faced investigation from the government, court... by Emily | Dec 6, 2014 | Freedom, Kingdom of Heaven, Love, Prayer, The Beatitudes
When I look at the news headlines, I almost always see accounts of discord and power struggles, which catch our attention because of our aversion to pain and conflict. The global history of wars speaks of the human tendency to seek power, yet there remains a deep... by Emily | Nov 27, 2014 | Freedom, Love, Prayer
There is something special about Thanksgiving: It is a holiday reminding us of something to do, not only on one day but throughout the year. It is like other holidays in that it is based on the remembrance of an earlier event, but the name itself is based on an... by Emily | Nov 10, 2014 | Freedom, Kingdom of Heaven, Love, The Beatitudes
Have you noticed the cyclical patterns of relationships? It can go two directions: When one person demeans another, the recipient will often react negatively and hurtfully, giving more grounds for hard feelings, a pattern of conflict gradually escalating as the lists... by Emily | Oct 30, 2014 | Love, Pain, Prayer
There are many times when someone we know is struggling with pain, loss, or grief, and we want to show some kind of comfort or support. But good intentions don’t always become helpful outcomes, and at times a well-meaning word can actually be quite painful. For...
by Emily | Oct 27, 2014 | Kingdom of Heaven, Love, The Beatitudes
I just read in the news that between 1990 and 2014 the percentage of people going hungry in this world has dropped from 18.7% of the total population to 11.3%. An incredible global effort has been reaching out to those who hunger and thirst, because of the fundamental...