Dear Friends,
Have you ever replayed a conversation in your mind, wishing you could take back words you said or respond differently? Most of us know what it feels like to fall short in our relationships. We hurt the people we love, misunderstand one another, or struggle to extend grace when we’ve been hurt ourselves.
In our featured article, a surprising bouquet of flowers becomes a powerful picture of forgiveness and reminds us that Christ loved us “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). We’ll also explore how healthy relationships often require trust, vulnerability, and courage, and how God invites us to notice the people around us with the same compassion He has shown us.
Whether you’re working through a difficult relationship, learning to forgive, or simply asking God to help you love others more deeply, we pray this issue encourages your heart. The same grace that has been given to us is the grace we can extend to others.
Let’s discover together what it means to love as Jesus loves.
Encouraging you in God’s truth,
Bouquets of Forgiveness | Shelly Esser
A simple flower delivery becomes a powerful reminder that forgiveness isn’t just something we feel—it’s something we demonstrate. Discover how God’s grace teaches us to forgive, take the initiative, and love beyond offense.
Rollercoasters and Relationships | Julie Ganjei
Relationships can be messy, especially when past hurts make trust difficult. Julie Ganjei shares how God helped her move from fear and isolation toward healing, trust, and deeper love for others.
Notice His People | Ashley Thomas
How do we slow down enough to notice others? Ashley Thomas shows us that God often works through ordinary moments when we're willing to see people through His eyes.
Also:
Encounter the living Jesus throughout all of Scripture. Brought to you by the Passion movement, The Jesus Bible spotlights Jesus Christ as the central pillar throughout the entire Old and New Testament and shows you how to faithfully follow him as you participate in his grand story. Hundreds of articles identify references to Jesus throughout Scripture, helping you see how the full biblical narrative points back to him.
Bouquets of Forgiveness
Who do you need to send a bouquet of forgiveness to?
By Shelly Esser
I ran upstairs. When I opened the door, a huge, beautiful bouquet of flowers greeted me. I was sure the delivery man had the wrong address. After all, who would be sending me flowers? It wasn’t my birthday or a special occasion. But, yes, it was the right address. The flowers were for me! I eagerly tore open the card to see who they could possibly be from. My heart became overwhelmed, and the tears began to flow when I read the card “I love you, John.” On a day when my behavior was at its worst, my husband sent me flowers. I didn’t even come close to deserving them, yet in my sinfulness and weakness, he reached out to me in love and sent me a bouquet of beautiful grace. He forgave me before I even asked him to. I was stunned. Never was my husband more Christ-like than at that moment when he chose to look beyond my sin and instead look at me only with love and compassion. Forgiveness is only possible with that kind of gaze.
