The Hope Podcast with Lina Abujamra

Lonely at Holidays [SOUL SISTERS #1]

For the next seven weeks I’m inviting my sister Diana Sahakian to conversations about life around the holiday season. Holidays can be a challenging time for many reasons, but what if we could address those difficulties from a biblical and practical perspective so that we can learn to navigate them better, and experience more peace and joy?
That’s our hope with this podcast series called Soul Sisters! To ignite your hope and stir you towards Christlikeness even through the holiday challenges.
Today we’ll kick off with a conversation about loneliness at holidays and we’re going to answer some weighty questions like What is loneliness? Is loneliness a heart issue or a circumstantial issue? Does business contribute to loneliness? Can we get ourselves out of loneliness?
Don’t miss! You’re going to see that we can deal with loneliness in a constructive way.

Dear Lina: What are some biblical ways to handle aging in a godly manner? [BREAD & BUTTER CHRISTIANITY]

What do you feel when you think about aging? Resistance? Anxiety? Hopelessness? Disorientation?
Most people associate negative emotions with the aging of our bodies. Granted, aging has its difficulties, but a look at what the Scripture says about old age is in fact comforting. God’s word is good news also for the aging, encouraging us to fix our eyes on a God who always cares for us (Isaiah 46:4), and filling us with hope for the bright future Christ has for us.
Take a listen to today’s podcast where I answer this question:Dear Lina, I’m struggling with the aging process both physically and emotionally. What are some Biblical ways to handle aging in a godly manner?

Dear Lina: How should I handle the aging of my parents? [BREAD & BUTTER CHRISTIANITY]

Caring for elderly parents can be a challenging season in emotional, practical, and financial ways, and there is no ‘one size fits all’ guide to teach us how to balance this act.
Does the Bible speak to this situation? What is the right way to handle the aging of one’s parents? What if we didn’t have good relationship with our parents? Are we doing enough? What about my own life goals and responsibilities?
These are just a few of the questions I’ll address in today’s podcast. I believe this is a topic that we need to pay more attention to because we know how deeply God cares for those who cannot care for themselves. Take a listen!

Dear Lina: Is loving yourself a biblical concept and if so, how do I do it? [BREAD & BUTTER CHRISTIANITY]

Many people believe that the way to a more confident, free, whole, and happy life is to love ourselves. In fact, some Christians think Jesus said you must love yourself before you can love others (Matthew 22:39). 
Is self-love a biblical concept and if so, how do I do it?
In today’s podcast I invite you on a journey of defining this ambiguous concept and exploring what the Bible has to say about it. Let us prayerfully discern if self love is the message of the culture or of Jesus.

Dear Lina: How can I really believe that God loves me? [BREAD & BUTTER CHRISTIANITY]

Have you ever been asked that question? Have you ever asked that question yourself?
Many Christians believe that Jesus died and rose again for our salvation but have no personal experience of the love of God. Perhaps our own shortcomings, insecurities, struggles with identity, and false measures we use to determine our value make us question how God could love someone like us.
In today’s podcast I invite you to discover some of the wrong assumptions about God’s love and how to undoubtedly know how valuable and loved you are by your Creator.

Dear Lina: How do I influence my unsaved loved ones to Jesus? [BREAD & BUTTER CHRISTIANITY]

It can be difficult to “evangelize” those who are closest to us, especially when we’ve repeatedly shared the gospel with them, and it can be too easy to believe that our loved ones will never change.  But today I’m here to remind you to not lose heart, and to not give in to the lie that your spouse, child, neighbor, or friend will never come to know Jesus. Keep walking a walk that reflects your Savior, keep patiently speaking as you have opportunity, keep praying for God to move on their hearts, and keep loving them with the love of Jesus.  In his podcast, listen to three practical ways you can influence your unsaved loved ones to Jesus!

Dear Lina: How can I be more consistent in my Christian life? [BREAD & BUTTER CHRISTIANITY]

Friend, we’re living in an age plagued by business and digital distractions, and it is easy to drift away from the godliness that God insists should characterize His people. Any Christian genuinely seeking to please God will struggle with being consistent in their walk with God.
It is true that we can’t accomplish the Christian life on our own, and we need God’s work in us to capture our hearts and enable us to live the extraordinary life Jesus promised, but I also believe that we are called to make a conscious and continuous effort to stand steadfast in faith.
Listen in to today’s podcast and hear about three postures that will help you become more consistent in your Christian life!

Dear Lina: Is it possible to lose my salvation? [BREAD & BUTTER CHRISTIANITY | NEW BELIEVER]

Someone recently asked me:
Dear Lina, can the bond of Christ ever be broken? In other words, is it possible to lose my salvation?
I understand the wrestling with this question. We read of people in the Bible like Demas, Hymenaeus, or Alexander, who started out well but ended up making a shipwreck of their faith (1 Tim 1:19-20). Does this mean they lost their salvation? Can we ever have an assurance of our salvation?
Join me in today’s podcast as we turn again to the Scripture for insight and guidance. I believe we’ll find comfort and encouragement in it pages but also a call to persevere in the faith.