Truthful Grace
Renew your heart with these inspiring articles about Christ’s Sacrifice by author and teacher, Melissa McLaughlin~ Truthful Grace. Jesus died for your sins! Amazing Grace!
By Melissa McLaughlin “It’s mine!” he claimed. “No, it’s mine!” she retorted. With hands pulling, muscles straining, and teeth clenching, a tug of war ensued. As an elementary school teacher, recess often included resolving ownership disputes. With a little detective work, I would determine the rightful owner, request apologies, and redirect students to neutral playground … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin My fingers wrapped around the warm mug as I plopped down at the kitchen table. The smell of coffee drifted toward me. Sunlight streamed through the kitchen window. Our young black cat, Cookie, napped on her fleece bed in the corner. I gulped down the last drops of coffee in a hurry … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Little fingers gripped chunky crayons and bright markers. Their eyes sparkled and their arms whooshed. Young voices echoed with excitement. When my kids were young, one of their favorite summertime activities was decorating boxes. Not just any box, however. Each year, my parents visited local stores to pick up discarded refrigerator boxes. … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin The antique table glistened in the morning light. The sun beamed through the living room window, spotlighting this treasured piece of furniture in golden radiance. The old kidney-shaped table rests near the picture window in my parents’ home. The gently curving legs and warm wood finish bring a simple grace to the … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Birds belted out their spring chorus as warm air brushed against my cheek. The chains on our porch swing squeaked in rhythm as I glided back and forth. With supper on the stove, Mom hastened out the side door of our kitchen. She whisked away to the lower end of our driveway … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Horns honked as traffic piled up at the red light. Drivers glared at one another through clenched teeth. As I rolled into the parking lot, another car sped toward the nearest empty parking space. A sigh slipped through my lips. Upon entering the store, shoppers rushed about picking up items and studying … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Their soft faces glowed, and small fingers pointed. Delighted squeals echoed in our car as we drove through the night. “Look at that house!” “Over here’s another one!” I remember the awe our children expressed each year as lights twinkled in the windows, and Christmas carols hummed over the hustle and bustle. … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin The water in our backyard spritzed and sprayed like a center city fountain. But it didn’t come from a hose. Birds in all shapes and sizes waited at the edge of our birdbath with eyes alert. When one flitted away, a new bird dove in. Each bird plunged its wings and beak … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin He heaved and thrust the shovel into the earth. With a sudden jerk, it lurched from his hands. The landscaper had arrived to plant a new tree in our front yard. Though the lush grass appeared soft on the surface, a few inches below lay the stump of an old oak tree. … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin My gut wrenched. Tears spilled from my eyes. I was overcome as I scanned pictures of recent hurricane damage in the southeast U.S. Piles of rubble and jagged tree roots dotted the landscape where homes once stood. Roads had collapsed as the earth gave way underneath. The devastation looked surreal. Further, the … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin A sigh slipped through my lips. I was snuggled together with the kids for bedtime stories. One of our favorite family activities to close out the day. But that night, I was bone-tired. Gravity pulled my eyelids. The book weighed down my arms. Though groggy-minded, I pushed through. Normally, I read with … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Poem based on Psalm 136 I arise each day by heaven’s breath. His love endures forever. The sun greets my eyes with morning light. His love endures forever. Coffee for two and prayer with my husband. His love endures forever. Though sorrows creep in like a shadowed stray cat. His love endures … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin The aroma of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies wafted through the house. Our kids came running. When my children were young, they loved helping make cookies. Chocolate chip cookies topped their list. They rushed to the kitchen to assist. Their eyes twinkled as they mixed the batter and stirred the chocolate chips. … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin We Need a Hero Sometimes we need a hero. To be encouraged by someone who lives with fierce faith in God. To hear again a testimony that inspires. During my recent Bible reading, one such unlikely heroine caught my attention. Her name is Rahab. Her spirit bright with faith, Rahab threw herself … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin It is Finished The cross fades. The tomb lies empty. The Savior is alive! Glancing back, we reminisce and then peer ahead with new hope and strength. We remember the final moments of Jesus’ earthly ministry. As He drew His last breath, Jesus groaned, “It is finished.” It. Is. Finished. Three small … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin God’s love is a rushing waterfall. Steadfast cleansing refreshing Carrying life onward and forever Unstoppable. God’s love is like downy snow. Effervescent, emanating light holy pure ever-fresh Endless design and delight. God’s love is a daffodil. Announcing life after winter’s cold death. Undaunted by nipping winds or packed earth. The dawning season … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Love Through the Pain Searing pain torched my back. Longstanding back issues, combined with the strain of age and use, resulted in physical agony that brought me to a complete halt. Following therapy, medication, treatments, and all manner of medical interventions, I found myself on the surgeon’s schedule for back surgery. And … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Grateful as the falling leaves Releasing their tiny grip In joyful abandon Tumbling free Following the wind’s touch Lighting darkened alleys With splashes of orange, red, yellow, and brown Piling high in gutters and ditches Filling the world with remembrance… What once was living, though now dead, is still moving Announcing God’s … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin The World’s Definition of Love I swayed to the rhythm and hummed along, “What’s love got to do with it? What’s love but a second-hand emotion?” Recently, while sitting in the waiting room at my doctor’s office, I listened to the lyrics of songs playing softly in the background. The repeating theme … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin I have observed many controversies surrounding Christianity and the Old Testament Law. In our previous discussion on this topic, we looked at How Should Christians View the Law? Jesus and the Law (Part 1). It is critical to consider the whole counsel of God, understanding the Bible as a whole. We will … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin I stand amazed at the beauty of God’s Word, the Bible. God’s powerful plan of redemption in Christ echoes on and on. As we reflect on Psalm 24, the rich layers of God’s Word reverberate with His unchanging glory, truth and majesty. Let’s walk through this passage and ponder the wonders of … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin A Memory of Love As a child, one of the highlights of our school year was Valentine’s Day. Once a year, we brought a shoe box to school and cut an opening on top. With energetic hands, sparkling eyes, construction paper and crayons, we transformed used cardboard boxes into personal mailboxes for … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin The gift of Christ The gift of Christ I take the stain of your sin… I cleanse you with the light of my mercy. I take the sting of death… I infuse you with the joy of life eternal. I defeat hell, Satan, evil… I award you with my glorious victory. I … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin What do we fear? When was the last time you were afraid? I mean really afraid? But was it ever your own sin? Did you ever fear the consequences of your own sin? Can we hide our sin? Have you ever tried to bluff someone about your actions? Perhaps as a child … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and 10 Days of Awe The Day of Atonement, in Hebrew known as Yom Kippur, is the second of three fall Feast Days (or Festivals) listed in the Old Testament. The Day of Atonement was established by God in Leviticus 16. (Also Leviticus 23:26-32 and Numbers … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin One of my favorite summertime joys is seeing flowers arrayed in their colorful, radiant glory. My parents have the most amazing bush that blooms each year during mid-summer months. Every evening at dusk several blossoms on the Evening Primrose burst open and fully expand within about 45 seconds. First we stand back … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin One of the great pleasures of summertime is enjoying fruits and vegetables fresh from the garden. The deep red tomatoes, crunchy sweet cucumbers, lush green squash and overflowing beans. The list goes on and on and on. All year we wait for one bite of this sumptuous and long-awaited delicacy. As I … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin An Artist’s Image I love to gaze upon the beauty of an inspired piece of art. My husband is an artist and I enjoy pausing to reflect on his work for long stretches of time. The dynamic colors, the flowing brushstrokes, the composition of objects in the foreground and background, the images … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Home Sweet Home Surprisingly, one of the sweet joys of a summer get-away is coming home. After all the fun, the visits to see family, the sights and sounds of new places, there is something simple and beautiful about arriving back home. Seeing the familiar. Returning to your own comforts. Sleeping in … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin For as long as I can remember, I have loved horses. Horses captivated my mind and heart as a young girl. The swift, strong gallop. The playful, childlike whinny. The glistening coat and flowing mane. I drew pictures of them, read stories about them and dreamed of myself riding these majestic and … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin His footsteps fall softly in the olive grove Enveloped in verdant Garden fragrance The tender leaves, the stalwart trunks rooted and still, The young olive fruit swelling with sustenance A Garden pulsing with life Yet death casts its shadow there The earthy soil once wet with morning dew, Now soaked with the … 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 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 For many years, I struggled to understand this phrase from the Bible, “the blood speaks a better word.” Bit by bit, the deep beauty these words carry has captured my heart. We Cry for Justice When we see an injustice, our hearts cry out for wrongs to be made right. For justice … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Soft pink petals Sing of a greater One Creator, Savior and King Wearing the thorns From the roses He made Jesus of You, they sing Photo by Melissa McLaughlin Additional poems you might enjoy: Vision of Red – Poem and prayer by Melissa McLaughlin He Lives – Poem by Melissa McLaughlin
By Melissa McLaughlin Jesus, give me a fresh vision you today, that I may see the depths of your love flowing down, rivers of red, drenching my parched soul, covering every tarnished sin-stain with your beautiful, holy, pure, blood. A glorious gift of your heavenly heart for my frail and needy one. Additional poems you … 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 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 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 The Fullness of God What do we do with a God who is both: loving and holy, Savior and Judge, One who comforts and convicts? This is difficult to answer. A quick cliche just won’t do. Interestingly, as I observe my own natural response to Biblical accounts of God’s character, I can’t … Read more