I would be very afraid. But after being swallowed by the fish, Jonah repents in prayer and is expelled by the large whale. He gives his message of doom and destruction - and to his surprise, the Ninevites repent in sackcloth and ashes (3:5-9). God relents the disaster he said he would bring upon them, and this makes Jonah extremely upset.
Read MoreSong of Solomon is correctly read as a book about the romantic love a husband and a wife have toward each other in marriage. However, being that the Bible is the book about Jesus (Luke 24:44-45), I want to read this verse in a Christocentric way. When we do so, we find that it is a beautifully redemptive one.
Read MoreIt’s easy to think the Reformation that took place within the church (the then Catholic church) centuries ago has no real relevance to this day and age. But in fact, the Reformation’s impact on the church today is quite significant, and it’s important to acknowledge just how significant it really is in relation to how we participate in the church today, especially for us as women!
Read MoreI frequently get asked what is the meaning of Tirzah? This is because I run a non-profit with the name, as well as assisting Yelena with editing. In the past, I used to say “Oh, it means she is my delight”. Everyone would talk about how that is such a delightful name - especially to make women know that the Lord delights in them. I absolutely agree! However, as I did research recently, the name of Tirzah Magazine took on a new depth.
Read MoreDo you ever get fixated on the future? Admittedly, I’ve spent much of my life looking ahead. A few years ago, I moved to the Philippines for three months. The first night in my new apartment, alone and very homesick, I downloaded an app for counting down the days until I left.
Read MoreDying eggs. Baking a ham and whipping up fluffy salads. Picking out the finest pastel dress from your closet and maybe a matching hat. Hiding those eggs for little kiddos to find (or maybe just your friends). Picking up some chocolate bunnies and sugar-coated marshmallow chickies to nibble on for weeks to come. Despite their fun and entertainment, the accessories of Easter can take a lot of work and attention. It is easy to get wrapped up in all of these activities and forget what Easter is.
Read MoreWe can learn quite a bit from the first miracle Jesus performed. Although it may not be his most recognized miracle - such as giving the blind their sight, allowing the deaf to hear, or raising the dead - it was still impactful, and even today, we can learn from it.
Sometimes, people think I am a vocational missionary. It’s a simple mistake: after all, I’ve got the suitcases, passport, cargo pants and Chacos to look it. There are some stark differences between Christian international relief work and mission work, but I often receive comments like, “May God bless your mission” and “What you’re doing is kingdom-work.” Sometimes these words, kindly meant, lead me to wonder: are we, in the Church, shirking our own responsibility to make disciples?
Read MoreFor many of us, it appears we seem to be in an unending, tumultuous, and painful wilderness of trials, disappointments, and heartbreak. Deep down in the hearts of His people is the desperate need and yearning for refreshment and revival of soul and spirit. Scripture tells us this life-changing healing can only come from the presence of the Lord.
Read MoreI love theology. Honestly, I really love theologically sound Christians who care about what the bible actually says and not what they want it to say. I find it difficult to find media that I can follow and ingest that aligns with truth. Especially podcasts, the majority of Christian podcasts seem to focus on self-obsession, hustle culture, self-promotion, and twisting scripture to fit personal agendas. I always feel nervous turning on a “Christian” podcast because I’m not sure what “truth” they are choosing to preach.
Read More“If you don’t use it, you lose it!” We’ve all heard that phrase before. It usually revolves around different skills like being able to play a sport well or speaking a different language fluently. As an immersion teacher, I can usually tell when one of my students speaks Spanish outside the classroom because when they communicate, it’s typically effortless.
Read MoreLet’s just go ahead and get this out of the way: It’s been a hard year. With all that’s happening, it’s easy to want to just finish this year on auto-pilot. But what if 2020 is actually an opportunity for us to grow in our faith?
Read MoreAre you in a rut with your Bible reading? I’ve been there, sweet friend. Because of that, I thought I'd write a little about what I've been reading in the Bible recently. This past weekend found me in the book of Amos, and I'd love to show you a little of what jumped out at me.
Read MoreWe serve a God who is omnipotent. Omnipotence is the quality of having unlimited or very great power. This means His power is unmatched - He created everything and everyone that previously existed and currently exists. This aspect of God's character is all over the pages of Scripture.
Read MoreEven the most committed and strong of God’s servants may at times experience discouragement, depression, and a desire to withdraw from their calling. I’m encouraged to know that the mighty Bible hero Elijah also experienced this and succumbed to his human weakness subject to fear and vulnerability.
Read MoreI don’t think there has ever been a point in my life that I wasn’t apart of a church family. I honestly love attending a church service on a Sunday morning. It’s so uplifting and encouraging to see so many other people love and worship Jesus with you. Attending church is definitely been something I want to do, rather than something I have to.
Read MoreI love the book of Psalms. Over the last few weeks I have found myself going there often when I reach for my Bible. I love to read them, because you can hear the intensity with which the writer writes. They’re very raw and vulnerable—just like we are sometimes when we’re at our worst or lowest.
Read MoreSeveral times in my life - for one reason or another - I have found myself in seasons during which I didn’t take communion. I moved and didn’t have a church home. I was travelling every weekend. Or I just felt disconnected from God
Read MoreDo you know who is saying this? It’s surprising how many confessing Christians have never heard this scripture. This was spoken by Jesus Christ, the one our entire faith rests upon. In the slew of social media platforms, blogs, podcasts, magazines, and literature, his name sometimes gets cut out. God has a much larger platform presence than Jesus Christ.
Read MoreA few summers ago, in the midst of deep grief and loss, I had hit my breaking point and took an impromptu trip to Orlando to not only visit my friends, but in honesty, to run away from my present circumstances, get some distance, and escape from the things God was calling me to do.
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