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Anxiety, Salvation, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual discernment Dana Rongione Anxiety, Salvation, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual discernment Dana Rongione

Nervous About Sharing the Gospel?

Last week, I had the privilege of teaching several young children (and some of their parents) about four interesting Bible animals, explaining how God created each one with specific traits and what we can learn from these lovely creations.  The lessons were only about 20 minutes long, but I spent hours preparing for them. The animal facts or Bible verses weren't what was causing me trouble.  No, it was making sure every lesson ended with a brief introduction to, and explanation of, salvation.

I know what it means to be saved. I know what the Bible says about salvation. I know how one can be saved. But explaining it to young children can be overwhelming. I didn’t want to make it too complicated, but I also didn’t want to oversimplify it and leave them believing everyone goes to Heaven. So, I agonized over every word, and in the end, I still feel like I tripped over my tongue and did a miserable job representing the gospel.

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Hope, Easter, Discouragement, Encouragement, Comfort Dana Rongione Hope, Easter, Discouragement, Encouragement, Comfort Dana Rongione

Fixing Your Eyes on the Risen Christ

Okay, real talk. Easter Sunday has come and gone. The ham has been eaten, the Easter lilies are wilting on the windowsill, and the chocolate eggs are gone (or maybe that's just at my house). The decorations are back in the bin, and life has rudely resumed its regularly scheduled programming, complete with the bills, the aches, the worries, and that one news headline that makes you want to go back to bed and pull the covers over your head.

And somewhere in the middle of all that ordinary Monday-ness, you might be wondering: Was Easter just a Sunday? Or does it mean something for right now, when my circumstances are anything but hopeful?

Oh, friend. Peter has something to say about that.

The Apostle Peter wasn't writing from a cozy armchair. He was writing to believers who were scattered, suffering, and facing very real persecution.

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Easter, disappointment, Deadly Darts of the Devil, expectations Dana Rongione Easter, disappointment, Deadly Darts of the Devil, expectations Dana Rongione

The God We Want vs. the God Who Is

It started with palm branches and praise.

"Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel!" The crowd was electric. People threw their coats on the road, waved branches, and shouted themselves hoarse. If you'd been standing in that crowd on Palm Sunday, you might have thought, This is it. The revolution is here. And honestly? That's exactly what they thought, too.

The same people who had been groaning under Roman rule for generations finally saw their moment. Jesus was riding in. A miracle worker. A man who had raised the dead, fed thousands with a few fish sandwiches, and made blind men see. If anyone could overthrow Caesar's grip, surely it was Him!

And then... He didn't.

No armies. No swords drawn. No Roman soldiers sent running. Just Jesus weeping over the city, turning over tables in the temple, and talking about things like eternal life and the kingdom of Heaven. Not quite the battle plan they had in mind.

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