Hello Friends,

Every day we’re invited into so many stories. Some are uplifting while others are heartbreaking. Some are infuriating, scary, and others make us laugh out loud. Whether the story is in the news, a movie, a book, or listening to a friend share a page from their life, the lens from which we view this world is story.

Story is why Living Real Magazine exists. Our goal is to point you to the one, true story which helps us understand the ups and downs, twists and turns in our own messy life stories. God’s Story as told through the Scriptures encapsulates every possible emotion while pointing us in the direction of perfect joy, perfect peace, perfect love, and a for-real happily-ever-after. The way to eternal life is through the Person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And God’s Story is all about Him.

The foolish wisdom of this world tries to explain and analyze our stories (the good, the bad, and the ugly), but true wisdom views life from God’s perspective. This is why Scripture is the foundation for the real life, real faith, and real people stories we share.

A favorite quote of mine by C.T. Studd says it all. Only one life, so soon ‘twill pass. Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When we learn to see life through the lens of God’s story, the trivial dissipates and the eternal accentuates. Reading God’s Word allows His glory, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:3) to radiate into and through our lives as He becomes the center of our sorted, messy, gloriously redeemed stories.

The Word of God is eternal. It will never fade away. (1 Peter 1:24-25) It is here to stay no matter how hard the enemy seeks to undermine it, remove it, or destroy it. Living out real faith inside a godless culture, though, takes deep-seeded courage, constant strength, and a bold faith. We find all these at our disposal through prayer and the reading of the Word.

On the pages that follow, real people exuding real faith in real life have crafted words to tell you a bit of their story through the lens of Scripture. I personally have prayed over each one, asking the Lord to use all of them to draw you closer to Jesus Christ, the One who created you, loves you deeply, and knows you better than you know yourself.

Keepin’ it Real,