Recently, I’ve noticed how drawn our society is to transformation stories. We watch home renovations on HGTV, we scroll through fitness before and afters on Instagram, and we fill our shelves with best-selling inspirational transformation stories. We cannot get enough of seeing how other people have made dramatic changes in their lives.
Read More“This was not what I expected, God.” The words came out of my mouth as I stared at a text message that changed everything. In the course of a week, I went from single to taken, and I was standing in the middle of the whirlwind, wondering what happened to my plans. “This is not the direction we discussed!” I panicked.
Read MoreI remember when I gave my life to the Lord at the age of fifteen. Yes, I had already known from a young age who Jesus was and believed wholeheartedly that he was alive and active in my life. I felt like I was on fire for God, and ready to take on life with a new and improved outlook.
Read MoreAs the Coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads around the globe, a lot of people are either under self-imposed or mandatory quarantine for a couple of weeks (or even months). Events have been canceled, people are staying home from work or working remotely, and travel is restricted. This means many of us now have a lot of time to fill at home. It’s so tempting to turn on Netflix or find some other form of entertainment, so we wanted to put together a list of other things to fill our time with that are more edifying:
Read MoreOne of the things I think that young people have the most questions about is counseling. Should they try it? What are the benefits? How do they even find a counselor? As someone who holds therapy in very high esteem, I decided to write an article answering questions and providing encouragement for those hoping to get into therapy or find a counselor.
Read MoreWe live in the age of social media, where we can share anything we’re doing at any moment. And let’s be real, most of us can’t go on a trip, visit a store, or eat a meal without broadcasting it to the masses. Listen, I’m as guilty of it as you are. But sharing everything with everyone isn’t healthy.
Read MoreTwo things defined her, her marriage and her barrenness. No more, no less. She was the wife of a great man, who was called by God to do great things. Called princess at birth, Sarai was beautiful and privileged, yet despite these blessings there was one insurmountable issue – her. Barrenness put a boundary around her and defined her as a failure.
Read MoreI would like to preface this article by saying that I am a 30-year-old who thankfully doesn’t have any health issues that might affect my weight. While weight can be a sensitive topic, once we clarify a little bit more about my age and health there is a better understanding of the following article.
Read MoreI tossed aside another wedding invitation, got another text message about my friend’s graduate school acceptance, saw yet another pregnancy announcement, and agonized over another Facebook “in a relationship” status change that overwhelmed my news feed. I said farewell to a close friend as he got to travel cross-country.
Read MoreThis wasn’t the life I had planned. It wasn’t part of the carefully filled out “five-year” plan I completed in senior English. This wasn’t what I had strived for, what I imagined, what I dreamt of. It was nothing I would have wanted for myself. By now, I should be putting a down payment on a house. I should have my New York Times bestseller published.
Read MoreRecently my son’s health began to decline, whilst trying to navigate this I was preparing to teach on Sunday. I kept on moving forward, childhood illnesses come and go, and I imagined this too would pass. My assigned passage was James 1.
Read MoreFor two days in a row now, I have had such excellent time with the Lord each morning. I always do this, but some days are better than others...you know what I mean. I've been trying not to rush on these days when I don't have to rush off somewhere, and in that time, I've really been praying some specific things regarding those I know and love.~
Read More“You can’t just decide you want to do something and do it.” The statement by my pastor really jolted me in my seat. My immediate reaction was disgust. As a typical human, if someone says “you can’t” to me, it immediately becomes my life goal to be able to come back and say “I can . . . and I DID.”
Read MoreThere is something liberating about new beginnings. A clean slate. A fresh start. That is what 2020 brings. But we are not just entering a new year, we are also entering a new decade. And as we enter a new decade, we, more often than not, cannot help but want it to be grand. We have big goals in mind. We set a vision for our lives and how we want to live it in the next 10 years.
Read MoreGoal setting used to be easier for me, back when my life track was a little more clear: get into college, graduate from college, get into law school, graduate from law school, get a job, get promoted, get a different job that aligns more with my personal priorities ... I checked all those life milestones. Now what? Because being unmarried in my late twenties feels a bit like an unknown path.
Read MoreAs a society, we are always promoting our best for ourselves. However, these self-centered statements like “being my best self,” “being the best version of me,” or “ I am living my best life” can end up hurting ourselves and others. This happens when we interpret these phrases with the idea that we do it by ourselves, which is not a sustainable way to live. When I see these “best” phrases, there are two ways they potentially affect people's lives.
Read MoreBefore you can even think about 2020, you have to get your head around what 2019 has meant to you.
Read MoreWe checked our analytics and rounded up our 10 most-read articles of the year (can you sense a theme?!):
Read MoreI always have mixed feelings when I look back over my photo collection from the past decade. Facebook always seems to be able to pick out and share some good times that are memorable moments to remember. I love to reminisce over all the wonderful changes that have taken place in my life and I feel blessed to see how far I have come. On the other hand, I have to admit, I also feel a twinge of sadness.
Read More“Comparison is the thief of joy” - I tell myself this often, and while there is truth to that statement, there’s also value in looking back to other, harder times in our lives and comparing the past to today’s victories. When I compare my life to where I was 5 years ago, I rejoice at what God has done for me.
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