Weekly Magazine | Being a Peacemaker in Today’s World
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Dear Friends,
Have you noticed how exhausting it is to carry tension? Whether it’s a hard conversation you’ve been dreading or the constant noise of a too-busy world, it wears on us.
Being a peacemaker isn’t about being a pushover or going silent on the things that matter. It’s about learning to carry both boldness and gentleness in the same way Jesus did. It’s about choosing the kingdom over the argument, the relationship over the win, and love over the need to be right.
What does it actually look like to pursue unity in a divided world? And when the conversation gets heated, what does love require of us? We’re diving in to those questions and we’re happy to be asking them alongside you.
Encouraging you in God’s truth,
Can I Be Bold and Gentle? | Amy Gannett
Amy Gannett wrestles honestly with what it means to be a strong woman who is also called to gentleness. Through Scripture and personal reflection, she discovers that boldness and gentleness were never meant to be enemies, but partners in the image of Christ.
The Art of Getting Along | Jill Briscoe
Jill Briscoe takes on one of the church's greatest challenges: learning to live in harmony with people who do things differently than we do. Practical, honest, and rooted in Paul's letters, this piece is a needed reminder that unity is a spiritual art worth practicing.
Living for a Different Kingdom | Ashley Thomas
Ashley Thomas asks a question that cuts right to the heart: What is the evidence of the kingdom you belong to? In a season when division has become almost expected, she invites us back to the posture of a good neighbor, one who loves beyond convenience and seeks to unite even when it's hard.
Also:
The NIV Illustrating Bible helps you interact with Scripture by giving you room to journal your thoughts, reflections, and insights right alongside the Bible verses that inspired them. The large size and spiral-bound format allow the Bible to lay completely flat, giving you the ideal surface for writing and drawing. It’s the perfect way to engage with God’s Word and deepen your faith.
Can I Be Bold and Gentle?
What God's Word Says About Strength and Gentleness.
By Amy Gannett
In our search to be Christian women who are both bold and gentle, we must avoid the pitfalls of either side.
I took a deep breath and put the book down. Sitting in bed with books and my Bible, the clock neared 5:30 a.m. Even in that earliest of hours, I could feel the fire in my belly being stoked by the words on the page.
I was born with fire in my belly. My parents often tell stories of my early childhood. Like the time when I was playing in our unfinished basement. I wanted to climb the metal post and swing like Tarzan, onto my dad’s tool bench. Thankfully, I didn’t make it far, but with the rope secured in my bite, I slipped—ripping out six of my teeth.
I was always on a mission. If I saw something that piqued my interest, I went after it. I was a go-getter with the best of them, always trying new things, always bold, and always brave.
As I’ve grown, this bold, “go-get ‘em” spirit hasn’t gone away. I still have a fire in my belly. I’m the woman who questions much of what she hears and researches to get to the bottom of those questions. If I see a path I want to pursue, I’m more likely to take three steps in any direction than to wait until I find out the best route to take.
It should come as no surprise to you that “gentle” is not a word often used to describe me. “Pit bull on Red Bull”? Yep. “Tiger meat wrapped in barbed wire?” Check. Rarely have I been called gentle. Though I have met women to whom gentleness comes as naturally as baking, I have not stumbled upon either naturally. Gentleness is something I have had to work for, train for, learn about, and seek out. Sometimes I feel as though I’m straddling a line: on the one hand, I like that I’m a bold woman. On the other, I know I need to seek gentleness. As I straddle this line, I’ve wondered: are the two mutually exclusive? Does being bold mean I can’t also be gentle? Does being gentle mean I will lose my confidence and curiosity?
