God wants us to surrender our all to him. He wants us to put up a white flag and give him everything.
Read MoreWere you raised or are you raised by the mother who accommodates for every need? She has sunk her whole identity into being a wife or a mother. Does the thought of losing yourself completely to motherhood scare you? Rachel talks about setting strong boundaries, so your identity remains grounded in Christ and also loving your children fully.
Read MoreAs a kid I loved stickers. Every single sticker I could get my hands on got a place of honor in my Lisa Frank sticker book. Mostly they were random “good work” stickers from school or a smiling tooth giving a thumb’s up from the dentist’s office. And 90s kids, remember the sticker boxes? They opened like a treasure chest to reveal several individual compartments filled with rolls and stacks of colorful, sparkly stickers.
Read MoreEven before the world was struck with the COVID-19 pandemic, many people already struggled with anxiety. However, this pandemic has exacerbated those feelings of worry, uncertainty, nervousness, and fear in both Christians and unbelievers. The difference between us and those who are lost, is that we can hold onto God’s truths for our lives even when we feel like we are in utter despair.
Read MoreIn times of isolation, quietness, and solitude, the noise of this world becomes amplified and the lies of the enemy can become overpowering leading to anxious thoughts, thoughts doubting God’s goodness, and hesitation to fully embrace the identity of who God says we are.
Read MoreThere are seasons when it’s tempting to give up and simply stop reading the Bible and praying entirely. Because you’re just not feeling it, so what’s the point? You try to pray, but your mind just wanders anyways. You try to read the Bible but get nothing out of it - it’s just words on a page. Maybe it will fix itself tomorrow. So, how do you get out of this funk? How do you find your way back to your first love?
Read MoreEverything is uncertain in this world right now. No one’s health or life is guaranteed to be spared from this virus. The job market and economies around the world are plummeting. Maybe you’re feeling the anxiety or stress of potentially losing your job. Maybe you’re graduating this spring and are wondering what kind of job market will be waiting for you come summertime.
Read MoreFog. God has been using this natural phenomenon to give me perspective for many years now. This past week has been different. With the many historical changes occurring in our nation in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, and working in healthcare myself, I could not help but feel overwhelmed.
Read MoreI was a young Christian and dutiful to follow the Christian checklist exactly. I glued my eyes to the page. I read this verse with all my might and slowly, so that I would not miss one single word of it. But however hard I tried to read and get it in my head, I could not seem to understand it with my heart.
Read MoreAnxiety has become a buzzword in society. Everywhere we look we see people openly admitting that they have anxiety, followed by their recommendations on how to alleviate it. It’s almost becoming a normal thing to have some sort of mental illness and declare it across social media. Let’s not forget the jokes suggesting things like needing a Xanax to calm down from a day.
Read MoreWorry and stress are seemingly inescapable. Even if you have a relaxed personality—which I for the record do not—you will still face numerous changes that are just part of life and will create stress. If you are already more prone to worry, then any event can cause you to become more and more anxious.
Read MoreThe topic of anxiety is one that pulls at my heart like no other could. But I’m going to be honest, I don’t suffer from anxiety like most people do. I suffer from the outside looking in. I see people I love being swallowed whole by this epidemic, and I feel so powerless… but am I?
Read MoreI was mid-way through a prayer – I’m not sure I could even call it a prayer – as I was processing my fears and overwhelmed thoughts out loud. As I sat in my car, I couldn’t get my head to feel any clear or relieved no matter how hard I concentrated on giving my burdens to God.
Read MoreGrad school wasn’t the problem. That became apparent as the tears welled up in my eyes, and I was suddenly at a loss for words as the unknown future loomed in front of me, and the weight of it all made me put my face in my hands and sob on my friend’s leather recliner when she asked what my plans were.
Read MoreI sat in the room, with only one other person. He told me about an opportunity I had never heard of. I never imagined this opportunity would ever be offered to me. I did not even know the thought existed, before taking those few steps into his quaint, quiet office. As my hands became sweaty and my mind became numb, he explained this choice to me and encouraged me. I was faced with a difficult decision. Do I take the opportunity? Or do I stay where I am, and on the plan I had set for myself?
Read MoreHave you ever thought about where your worry stems from? I think when we are made aware of the root of our worry, it can help us understand it. Most times, worry feels uncontrollable. Maybe that's why us worriers dislike it so much.
Read MoreMany of us have heard about the concept of Sabbath in the Christian faith. This article isn’t about telling you legalistic rules or condemning you for not Sabbathing. I am not here to argue about the validity of Sabbath after the New Testament and Jesus. I am here to encourage you about Sabbath and to point out some reasons why you may need one more than you think.
Read MoreOne day, it feels like smooth sailing over calm waters: the waves gentle and quiet, the water so clear you can peer into it for miles. We make our plans and with smooth sailing, we cast away full of hope, faith and peace. But what happens when the storms start rolling in?
Read MoreEvery decision is an opportunity to draw nearer to God. I choose God every time, no matter what. Has it been hard? Absolutely. Will it continue to be challenging at times? Yes. God evens says so himself but the joy, strength, contentment and peace are so worth it. I can either break down walls with God’s grace and get closer to the Father or build walls up that draw me away from Him, His presence, voice and will. The choice is up to me.
Read MoreLast year, I slowly studied through the book of Matthew. It took me six months to get through the book, but I’m glad I stuck with it. As I was studying through Matthew, one of the things that struck me was how Jesus handled the disciples.
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