Weekly Magazine | Courageous Love

Your weekly magazine is here—real stories, real faith, real encouragement. Just for you!

Dear Friends,

Let’s be honest—loving like Jesus in today’s culture isn’t easy. We’re constantly pulled between speaking the truth and showing grace. We don’t want to compromise God’s Word, but we also don’t want to alienate the very people we’re called to love.

In this issue, we’re diving into that tension—and finding that it’s not either/or. With Jesus, it’s both/and.

You’ll hear from voices who’ve walked this path in real relationships and painful circumstances. We’ll explore how to hold truth and love together, how to engage hard conversations with kindness, how to live as citizens of God’s kingdom first—and how to walk alongside those we don’t always understand or agree with.

More than anything, we hope this issue reminds you that courageous love begins not with having all the answers, but with having the heart of Christ.

Encouraging You in God’s Truth,

🌿 All Are Welcome | Shelly Esser
It’s easy to say “all are welcome,” but what happens when someone walks in who challenges our comfort zones? This honest reflection asks what it really means to love like Jesus—and how courageous love creates space for every soul.

🌿 Truth and Love—Why We Need Both | Dr. Juli Slattery
What does it really mean to hold truth and love together? This article explores why love and truth aren’t opposing forces—and why we must embrace both if we want to live like Christ.

🌿 Living for a Different Kingdom | Ashley N. Thomas
What happens when our need to be right overshadows our call to be loving? This piece reminds us that our allegiance isn’t to a side—it’s to a Savior, and His kingdom looks very different from the world’s.

🌿 Parenting in the Tension of Grace and Truth | Teri Carabello
When your child’s choices don’t align with your faith, how do you love well without compromising truth? This heartfelt story invites the church to respond with compassion—and reminds us that grace is never wasted.

🌿 Loving Me Like Jesus | Alexis Lyons
What happens when someone in the pews doesn’t fit the mold? This first-person reflection invites us to listen more closely, love more fully, and make space for every soul shaped by God.

🌿 Talking with Grace When You Disagree | Bethany Bernhard
When emotions run high and opinions clash, it’s tempting to withdraw—or lash out. This practical guide offers eight Christlike ways to engage with empathy, courage, and kindness—even when you disagree.

📖 For Your Heart
📜 Bible Verse of the Week
🙏 Prayer of the Week

A Jesus Shaped Life