Truthful Grace
Join author and teacher, Melissa McLaughlin, and grow in Truthful Grace as we ignite the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit in our hearts, minds, prayers and lives. Grow in Christ, grow in the knowledge of His Word, the Bible, grow the passion in your prayers.
By Melissa McLaughlin A Gift of Faithfulness As part of my Mother’s Day gift this spring, my husband and children helped me plant a small deck garden using tubs, buckets and flower pots. Like any faithful gardener, they helped me place and cover the seeds in rich soil, then provided proper moisture and sunlight for … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin The weight of sadness in this world with its division, hatred, animosity and harshness, at times feels like a heavy blanket of evil pressing against my soul. Every word spoken, seems to assume the worst and allows for no grace. Every news cast highlights the most destructive possible view of humanity. Every … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Have you ever felt the innermost part of your soul drying up and withering away? Like a plant left too long in the sweltering summer sun. Like a streambed gone too long with no replenishing rain. Like a person walking miles in the desert with a parched mouth and no water bottle … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin With each passing week it seems my heart sinks a little lower as I witness evil on every side, in ways large and small, near and far, both within and without. On a recent walk at a nearby park, as the heaviness pressed in on me, I cried out for my heavenly … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin In a world of lies and questionable news, it’s hard to know what to believe. Like any other child, when I was young, I peppered my parents with all kinds of questions. I never wondered if they were telling me the truth. If they knew the answer, they told me, and it … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin It was a small and simple surprise, but my heart leaped for joy at the sight! My husband had snapped a twig off our old apple tree and placed it in a vase on the kitchen table. Though half of the tree was now dead, a few branches still pulsed with life, … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin When times are hard, when we’re stressed out, worried or down, there is nothing like a song to reset our internal compass. Music can help lift our eyes, minds and hearts, especially when those songs point us to Christ. He is our hope in life and in death. Songs with Christian lyrics … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin When my kids were young, some of our beloved family pets were hamsters. Our first hamster was affectionately named Hammy. Hammy was a soft, brown and white, handful of cuddly love. At night, Hammy scampered through the trails and tunnels of his plastic hamster cage, like an energetic child unleashed at Chuck … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Spring is my favorite season of the year. I love to witness new life bursting forth from what once appeared dead and gone. The vivid colors, the sweet fragrances, the lengthening daylight. It all speaks of hope. Hope from that which seemed hopeless. Life from that which seemed lifeless. Anticipation. Promise. Expectancy. … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin If we jump back in time just 300 hundred years or so, we find some miraculous events sweeping through the Christian church in the United States and Britain. A spiritual revival was breaking out, the likes of which had never been seen before. So powerful and widespread was this revival, that the … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Ever heard one of those remarkable testimonies of someone whose life was dramatically changed after they became a Christian? I get so excited to hear about God’s mighty hand moving in people’s lives. For many years, I felt my experience following Christ lacked the pizzazz that marked other’s journeys. But this is … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin We all love to get new things. The new journal has fresh clean pages with no smudges or bent corners. The new pencil is full length and topped with a perfect, unused eraser. The new clothes have no stains, tatters or frayed edges. When we stand at the cusp of a new … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Childhood Memories Clop, clop, clop. I still remember the sound. As a child, I loved horses. I read books about horses. I drew sketches of horses. At night, I dreamed of horses. Then one year, the unthinkable happened, my parents gave me a Shetland pony for Christmas. What more could a girl … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin If we are honest, we would all admit having experienced this at some point: the world around us dances merrily to the joyful strains of Christmas hallelujahs while we sit quietly, the inner hum of sadness drones on, a low and steady beat in our spirits. We may smile for the camera, … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin There are some things I just have to write down. The side dish I promised to take to the next family gathering. The scripture verse I am attempting to memorize. Birthdays and anniversaries I hope to remember. The list for the grocery store. The new neighbor’s name. Many things can be recorded … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin “Hola, clase!” called our teacher as we entered the classroom. “Hola, professor!” was our hearty response. My faint and intermittent memories of high school Spanish class waft through my mind now and then like a whispery wind. Though I loved learning a second language, my long-term memory is sadly scant. I enjoyed … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin The Journey The journey was long. Much longer than anticipated. The website listed the hike as only a mile and a half. No problem. No sweat. No big deal. The final stretch was described as difficult, but overall the hike was labeled at a “medium” level with intermittent rocky areas. This was … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin That final moment when it’s time to leave can be difficult. Maybe it was the day you left home to live on your own. Or maybe the day you left for college. The day you left one job to start another. The day you moved out of your old neighborhood to head … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin God Closed a Door How we longed for the day when our house would be filled with the pitter-patter of tiny feet. My husband and I imagined a swing in the backyard, bedtime stories and family walks to the park on Sunday afternoons. Unfortunately, my first pregnancy was extremely difficult. Consequently when … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Heard any words that cut to the depths of your heart? Stood by quietly as others excluded, ignored or overlooked you? Betrayed, belittled, burdened with the harshness of the world? Let Jesus love you. We were made to be loved. Yes, we desire to be known and loved by those around us, … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin When the first dancing lights of summer lit up our backyard, shouts rang through the house! Lightning bugs, lightning bugs, lightning bugs! We foraged through the plastic containers to find just the right “lightning bug home”. We chased and scampered back and forth through the yard flinging our arms to capture just … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Be Seen The billboard slogan contained only two words: “Be Seen.” What were they advertising? A medical practice. Brilliant! They sold me! When calling for an appointment, it can be days, weeks or months before I can be seen by a doctor. I realize that medical offices are often understaffed and overworked, … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin We had just arrived home after visiting my parents for a home-cooked dinner. Mom packed us a hefty bag of leftovers, our very own “goodie bag”. My mom’s special recipe crispy chicken, homemade apple sauce, mashed potatoes and creamed corn. Mmm, mmm, good! But the crowning touch was her chocolate cake. Oh … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Getting to Know You I will always remember the day I first met my husband. During my final year of college, I decided to visit an area church at the recommendation of a friend. Following the worship service, cookies and juice were served in the fellowship hall downstairs. As I reached for … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin We’ve all been there. That moment when anxiety, doubt or fear grips our heart with paralyzing force. As if the jaws of death are closing in, crushing our breath, imprisoning our thoughts, consuming our whole being. Unfortunately, even in those rare moments when our personal lives appear to be quietly coasting along, … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin What does it mean to repent? I had taken a leave of absence from my teaching job that year. After giving birth to our first child, I longed to be home and devote my time and love to our precious newborn daughter. My husband graciously supported my decision. Money was tight, as … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin I still remember that day. Rain poured down in buckets, drenching our hopes of playing outside. Like all kids on a rainy day, we were feeling antsy. To release some pent-up energy, my older brother and I began tossing a Nerf ball back and forth in the kitchen. It was an innocent … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Memory of Dad Dads often carry the title of a child’s first superhero of sorts. Who doesn’t love a strong, brave protector and provider? My dad held this role in my heart for several acts of uncommon bravery. One of which involved my most hated fear…a spider. I was convinced it was … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Ever wonder about the Holy Spirit? Who is He? What does He do? As Christians, our core beliefs include the Trinity. The names Father, Son and Holy Spirit effortlessly roll off our tongues when we communicate about our Christian faith. We understand God and we understand Jesus, but how much do we … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin I have never met anyone who enjoys waiting. Never. Even the most patient and unhurried people I know do not have a deep desire to wait. When in a place of waiting, we feel like a racehorse restrained at the starting gates, bridled in the stalls, chomping at the bit, straining to … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin What are some of your earliest memories of your mom? One of my earliest recollections of my mom takes place on a small farm my parents owned when they first started out. I remember my mom singing a lullaby to me as we sat in the soft grass near a wispy willow … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Sometimes, a message of God’s hope is the only gift you can offer another person. Sometimes, this is the only gift we really need. Corrie Ten Boom’s Family Life One woman who has inspired multitudes with her message of hope in Christ is Corrie Ten Boom. Corrie was born in the Netherlands … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin My Husband’s Art My husband, Tom McLaughlin, is an artist. And oh, how I love his creations! From pen and ink sketches, to oil and acrylic paints on canvas, to clay vases, to stylized calligraphy – it is all a wonder to me! One year for Christmas, my husband gave me an … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin I Spy How our kids loved the I Spy books when they were young! They could outlast me, trying to find the dozens of specified items hidden among the endless clutter of extraneous items placed there for the sole purpose of overshadowing all the others. These books presented a challenge because there … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Making Small Talk How is life treating you? How is work? How is the family? What are your plans for the weekend? How’s your sports team doing? Have you read any good books lately? When catching up with family, friends, co-workers or neighbors, what do you usually talk about? How’s the weather? … Read more
Lori Cunningham – Guest Post This excerpt by author and speaker, Nan Jones, says it all: “I’ve only known Lori Cunningham a few short weeks through an online friendship, but I know there is something very special about her. I think of the beautiful, delicate rose whose petals have fallen to the ground only to … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin As Children – We Can’t Wait I remember it like yesterday. With eager faces and fidgety bodies we sat through the Christmas Eve service at church. Angel costumes, eyes twinkling, voices resounding, Christmas carols ringing. We were there, but looking forward, looking ahead, looking onward. Following the church service, our parents bustled … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Galatians 4:4-5 New life. New hope. New birth. I remember the touch of our children’s soft faces against mine … Read more
Guest Post By The Eclectic Contrarian The First Christmas Tree The first Christmas tree was not beautiful. The lights did not catch your eye with splendor. The ornaments did not adorn or complement and decor. In fact, the first Christmas tree (Acts 5:30) was rough, splintered, uncomfortable, cumbersome, awkward and feared. The first Light (John … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Peace I invite you to pause for just a moment and allow these words of Jesus to wash over you: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” … Read more