Fog. 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 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 MoreIt’s time to cut the cord on that toxic relationship. This does not solely apply to romantic relationships; this can apply to friendships or working relationships. Any relationship you are in, no matter the context, should not be toxic.
Read MoreShabbat shalom! For those who don’t know this is a common Jewish greeting wishing peace to those celebrating the traditional Sabbath of Friday evening through Saturday evening. In our westernized, Christian culture we tend to miss this very important commandment God gave. I recently started to research what God meant by “rest” when He rested on the 7th day. This also made me ponder what “rest” meant when the Lord commands the Israelites in the ten commandments to take a day devoted to Him.
Read MoreI was blessed to start my career at a big 4 accounting firm. It was one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do, but I also got a rare glimpse into how the biggest companies in the world are run and thanks to some amazing mentors and bosses, this is one of the lessons they passed on to me:
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 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 MoreAs redeemed daughters of God, we spend our days on earth constantly passing between two worlds: our personal lives and the secular workplace. In the morning we leave our home where we are free to paint our lives with the joy and freedom that Jesus brings. But then as we arrive at work we step into a very different place where Jesus is unwelcome and our selves unwelcome because of him.
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 MoreAs humans, we try to avoid pain. We do everything we can to fill our soul’s aches and needs by self-medicating. Some turn to drugs and alcohol to cope; others fill our schedules with work 20 hours a day until we drop into bed exhausted; and yet others fill their minds with social media, television, friends, parties, travel, and any kind of noise or distraction just so we wouldn’t have to feel the depth of our pain and need. Because hurting sucks. Having a need only God can - but won’t - fill is really hard. It is the deep, personal, felt needs that maybe no one even knows about but we carry with us every day, year after year.
Read MoreCONGRATULATIONS! You just landed your dream job. You’re going to dive in and start changing the world one [insert your primary task] at a time. There’s a post on your Instagram and Facebook. All of your friends know. Maybe you go out to celebrate with your family - sushi, anyone?
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 MoreWhen I was in 10th grade God placed a dream in my heart to start a modest clothing store. Severn years later God brought that dream to life. On June 9, 2014 we launched Marqué Modest Apparel. My hope then was to encourage women in their identity in Christ and to rebrand modesty. Yet something in my heart even then told me that there was so much more to come, God just hadn't revealed that to me yet.
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 MorePersistent prayer doesn't change God. It changes us. Because it takes everything to keep showing up at His throne with the same request day after day, and more faith than you think you have to keep believing He will answer in His time.
Read MoreYou finished school, drudged through the application processes, nailed interviews, and have now landed the job! Congratulations! But you may be asking, “Now what?”
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 More
