How To Find More Godly Friends
How To Find More Godly Friends

I struggled with friendships throughout my entire childhood. I was very quiet, more than a little shy, and extremely lacking in the confidence that helps most people in this area. I remember meeting my very first friend in kindergarten, though, and it was a girl I sat with on the bus. (Side note: I never even rode the bus except for maybe three times.) Her name was Allyson, and the first time I ever met her was a year before that in a vacation bible school at a nearby church. Her dad was the pastor of the small church in my area, and I was so glad that I saw a familiar face that day, in a sea of unfamiliar ones on that big, scary bus.  

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CommunityJennifer GoodwinGodly friendships, authentic, churchComment
The God Of The Hills And Valleys
The God Of The Hills And Valleys

I wasn’t always close to the Lord. I became a believer and follower of Jesus when I was a young girl, but then I proceeded in those following years to live life only for myself. I would think about the Lord from time to time, and I never stopped attending church, but my walk with Him was nowhere near where it should have been. I helped out with a lot of events at church, I helped write for their weekly newsletter, and I even led worship on Wednesday nights. But other than that, I really didn’t consider my faith any other time during the week.

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DiscipleshipJennifer Goodwinhighs and lows, God's goodness, hardships, victoryComment
Yahweh, He Will Cause To Be
Yahweh, He Will Cause To Be

A name is powerful. One of the biggest decisions new parents have is to name a child. That name holds all the hopes, dreams, and potential for our babies. It is their identity wrapped up in a single word. For example, we named our daughter Elisha, which means “God is my salvation”. We chose that name for her because we wanted her to always know that truth. We named our son Lucas, which means “bringer of light”. He was called this because we believe this is his potential, that he will be one who brings God’s light to the world. 

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DiscipleshipCharissa Steffenspotential, possibility, God's graceComment
Creating Time For Rest
Creating Time For Rest

Hustle. It’s become the buzzword of our time - along with similar words like grind and productivity. It seems like everyone is managing a job, plus a side project, a full social life, an intense workout routine, and an Instagram-worthy home with a fridge arranged in rainbow order. There are hundreds of articles with advice for getting more things done in less time so you can then do even more things.

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LifestyleElizabeth McNairrest, relaxation, scheduleComment
How to Bring God to College: Secrets From Your Professor
How to Bring God to College: Secrets From Your Professor

I vividly remember driving across state lines, wistfully looking out the window of the car that was packed to the brim with my belongings, daydreaming about how my life was about to change. I had packed up the things I would need, and the things that meant the most to me, and was moving across the country to begin my first year of college. The world was about to see me as an adult, and I wasn't completely sure of what that would mean for me and the relationships I had with the people I held nearest to my heart – including God. But I knew that if I loved and trusted Him the way I said I did, that He would remain with me, even in this new chapter of my life.  

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CollegeRebecca Flaszcollege experience, faithful, Christians in collegeComment
Are You Called To Youth Ministry?
Are You Called To Youth Ministry?

I remember the day that the Lord caused me to notice teenagers through new eyes. Before this day, I knew them to be loud and intimidating (at least to me). It was at a summer church activity, several years ago, an event called Street Reach that my older two boys were attending. They spent five nights at a school campus, giving Bible clubs (similar to VBS) Monday through Friday. Graham and Drew were the second day in, and Drew was involved in a wreck. I don’t remember all the details, but I knew I had a nervous son, and he needed his mom.  Two days afterwards, they had a share-night, and he invited me to come; my friend’s daughter invited her to come as well. 

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DiscipleshipJennifer Goodwinministry, leadership, encouragementComment
Not Enough
Not Enough

There is a voice I know too well. An acquaintance whose presence is as loyal as a friend. I’ve grown so accustomed to her message that some days I don’t even recognize it. I wake up to her subtle nudges, pulling me out of bed to obey her demands and be productive. She lingers in my aimless scrolling through Instagram and shouts at me in my work throughout the day.

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DiscipleshipDanielle GermaineGod's strength, fullness in Christ, enoughComment
On Words
On Words

Whoa! Where did that come from? Has it ever happened to you? Sometimes words come out of our mouths with little to no thought behind them. This has definitely happened to me, especially when I’m making an effort to be direct and deliver a clear message to someone, my words aren’t as gentle as they should be. God has been showing me the power of words through Scripture and how their misuse can be detrimental to others. 

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CommunityMeagan Gutierrezspeech, words of truth, communicationComment
The Hidden Cost Of Modern Dating: Part 2
The Hidden Cost Of Modern Dating: Part 2

We touch our Bibles with the same hands that touch what, in God’s eyes, is someone else’s husband or wife. We worship God with the same mouth we flatter and flirt with, and sometimes, during prayer as we stand in the presence of the Holy One, the guys think about how good she looks in that skirt and we ladies daydream of what it would be like to be married to him.

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RelationshipsGuest Userdating as a Christian, Godly relationship, modern dating Comment
The Hidden Cost Of Modern Dating: Part 1
The Hidden Cost Of Modern Dating: Part 1

As the young people in my life recently discovered dating, watching them couple off has left my heart burning with one overarching piece of advice. This is not a purity post (although that is an important discussion as well!). No, this is something much more important. This is about a holy God and the heart He has for His people, especially the youth, because I’ve gotten a glimpse of the Lord’s heart for the next generation, and y’all, if we can walk before Him with a pure heart and love Him above all else, what God can do through us and in us is without boundaries!

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RelationshipsGuest Userdating as a Christian, Godly relationship, modern datingComment
Praying Is Different Than Wishing
Praying Is Different Than Wishing

This summer, I was laying out by my parent’s pool one evening and I saw two shooting stars within a span of five minutes. I smiled and wished upon those comets, just for the fun of it.  There’s a part of me that will always have a child’s imagination and, for the duration of a story, I’m willing to pretend there’s a Neverland or whatever you wish upon a star really does come true. But does it really?

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PrayerPayden Hallwishing, praying, hopes and dreamsComment
On Mindful Balance
On Mindful Balance

A trip to the grocery store this time of year is an opportunity to witness balance at its finest; families are often seen roaming the aisles together, putting boxes of crayons and boxes of graham crackers into their shopping carts in equal quantities.  The start of the school year is right around the corner, but that doesn't mean that there still isn't time for one more camping trip, one more opportunity for quiet and reflective family time, and one more new memory of summer before the dinner table becomes a site for homework help and weeknights get busier with the start of after-school sports and clubs.

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LifestyleRebecca Flaszmindfulness, balance, peace, calmComment