I wrote in a previous article about acknowledging that there is a living and active God in our lives and learning to live with Him in our lives. But, practically, how do we go about living with God? Especially, if we are in seasons where it is easier to accept He’s not actually around. How do we live with a living God, when we still aren’t convinced He is living?
Read MoreI remember going on a date to a really fancy restaurant--you know the kind with chandeliers, grand pianos, and place settings that make you forget all your table manners. I felt so uncomfortable, insecure and almost guilty for making this beautiful restaurant seem dirty or somewhat tainted with my presence.
Read MoreI recently had to ask myself a question that I don’t think is asked enough, especially with Christian working women. And even more with women who are bosses. What does it mean to be a follower of God and a boss? What should it look like? How are we showing God’s love? Are we leading by example or just getting the job done?
Read MoreI did a crazy thing today. It’s not the first time and it probably won’t be the last. But most people would probably call this one of the craziest. I signed on for a new (more expensive) apartment. Not a big deal, right?
Read MoreI always start hikes with a great level of enthusiasm. My pace is quick (probably too quick) and my ponytail bounces, even on the steepest of hills. Because I typically hike alone, I use an app to track my progress. It ensures that I stay on the trail and provides a resource in case the trail blazes disappear (which they occasionally do...especially in snowy conditions).
Read MoreI love to run marathons, but I don’t always like to run. Sounds odd, right? You might be asking, “How can you love marathons but not always like to run?” You’re not alone, I’ve asked myself that same question, especially each time I race. Don’t get me wrong, I want to run, I really do. I see some people run and I think about how graceful they look or how they make running look so easy.
Read MoreI was recently at a coffee shop chatting with a friend and a man came to sit at the table near us. Feeling his stares, we both turned to him with a questioning look. “Would you ladies mind if I drew you for practice?” He pointed to a large sketch pad and pencil. We agreed, and about 30 minutes later when we got up to leave, he held out his drawing of us.
Read MoreYou’ve heard the genesis of the home for teen moms and the story of my mother. However, there’s a whole other chapter to this story. She was born in the Appalachian mountains. Born and raised. Pretty much my favorite person on the planet. Full of southern sass and the kindest heart you’ll ever meet.
Read MoreI don’t know about you, but I’ve found that talking about Jesus with people who aren’t Christians can be a little awkward sometimes. Maybe you’ve sworn off the topic of religion at family gatherings or you avoid inviting your roommate to church because you’re afraid of how she might react. If you’ve been following Jesus for a while or if you’re a new Christian, it can feel uncomfortable trying to bring up the subject of faith with those who are not used to it or who may even oppose it.
Read MoreThis whole year, I have been reading along in the New Testament with my faith family. We’ve taken it one chapter a day, five days a week—leaving a day for catching up if we’ve fallen behind—and resting the last day.
Read MoreObedience — our culture has put such a negative connotation around in, when in reality, it is such a beautiful thing in the context of Christ. Think about this; Christ was constantly obedient to our Heavenly Father (John 14:31). In that, we received grace, forgiveness, peace, mercy, salvation, love and the list could go on. Well, aren’t we called to live a life exemplified by Christ? Wouldn’t that include being obedient to our Heavenly Father? The answer, to both of these questions, is YES!
Read MoreThere I sat, thousands of feet in the air with my Bible open and pen in hand. My most honest thoughts come when I am in the cabin of an airplane; forced to sit still with my phone turned off. As the sun slanted through the window, my pen hit paper and honesty poured out.
Read MoreWhat do you focus on the most in your life? What fuels you, in a positive way? What lets you down? Is it a person? Is it a tangible thing? I think that our outlook on life is an indicator of our faith.
Read MoreThrough most of my teenage years and into my twenties, I spent a lot of time wanting to hear from God - I needed direction on what to major in, what job to accept, whether I should go to law school, where I should live, who (and if) I should marry. People told me to read my Bible and pray - that it’s where I could find the answers I was seeking, but for years, I couldn’t find them there either.
Read More“Break up your fallow ground” means to rend your heart, break down the barriers of your soul, and repent. I believe one of the hardest things to admit, especially for those “seasoned saints” or anyone who has walked with the Lord for any length of time, is our misunderstanding of repentance. I will admit that I once believed the word “repent” was directed only towards unbelievers or used only in the context of an altar call. Until recently, I never embraced the beauty that repentance brings to my relationship with Jesus.
Read MoreLet’s talk about Halloween - about its origins, what it is today, and what the Bible has to say about this issue.
Read MoreI used to play tennis in high school. At least three times a week, we would run drills in the afternoon. The countless hours of sprinting, swinging the racket, and hitting shots over and over again seemed mind-numbing in the moment. But by the end of my senior year, I could see how much I had improved since being a freshman. I could play tennis well because I had practiced it almost every week.
Read MoreI’m in one of those seasons of life that makes me question a lot. I’m questioning my motivations and passions and work habits. The future seems like a mass of unknowns and the past seems like a patchwork of disconnected experiences. Despite being 29 years old, I’m still not sure what I want to be when I grow up.
Read MoreMark is the perfect go-to gospel for men. This action-packed account of Christ’s life unfolds like a Hollywood blockbuster. One writer described this rendering as Jesus revealing Himself more by what He does than by what He says. John Mark was quick to get to the point in his factual and focused account. As a female, who happily has a higher word count per day, I prefer John’s gospel. I love its expanded discourses and intricate narrative detail. It would be fair to say it is my gospel go-to.
Read More"Does God love us no matter what?" I looked up over the rim of my glasses to see a small child standing in front of my desk. It was "free choice" time in our classroom, and while many of the students had chosen to engage in puzzles, games, and movement activities, a small group had elected to take the children's Bible off of our prayer table and sit quietly on the carpet, flipping through its pages.
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