Truthful Grace
Renew your heart with these inspiring articles by author and teacher, Melissa McLaughlin~ Truthful Grace. God is holy.
By Melissa McLaughlin As frigid winter temperatures released their grip on the earth, my young eyes scanned our yard for springtime buds. Among the first signs of the new season were pussy willows. Each year in March, my mom cut branches to create a spriggy springtime bouquet for our table. My small fingers stroked the … 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 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 A Family Line “You sound just like your mom!” Ever heard those words? As the years pass, we often see more of our parents’ habits and traits reflected in our own lives. From our favorite recipes, to our favorite hymns to our ways of mowing the lawn. How easy it is to … 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 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 Fearsome Power Is there anything that keeps you awake at night? One thing that will awaken me from a dead sleep and keep me wide awake is wind. When the wind howls and swirls at high intensity, our windows rattle and our house rocks. At times like this, I remember my smallness … 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 Burn, O Holy One Burn bright within me Breathe on the embers of my heart Ignite a raging inferno, a consuming fire, a blazing torch That I may love You more That I may shine Your light That I may not grow cold with the dust of ashen faith Let me abandon … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin What is one of your greatest fears? I have quite a few. Spiders top my list, followed by extreme heights and playing piano before large crowds. However, something that is more soul-shaking than these is my fear of being rejected. I think most of us like to be liked. We like to … 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
By Melissa McLaughlin Peace on Earth! Joy to the world, the Lord is come! One of the sweet joys of the Christmas season for me is the sound of Christmas carols flooding the air. Joyful songs that tell of the birth of Jesus our Savior, played in the stores, in the workplace and freely released … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin The Power of a Name “What should we name her?” came the expectant and reverent voices of my children. My daughter had discovered an abandoned kitten in my parents’ barn. Crying, wailing, calling for someone to rescue her. And rescue her we did! Immediately we began preparations for welcoming a new kitten … Read more