The circumstances I went through is what brought me back to Christ, through the years of legalistic rules that were now ingrained in my head made it difficult to align my thoughts with God’s love for me as I was persistently being spiritually attacked with fear and doubt.
Read MoreOn Sunday, we had two missionaries visit our church and both of them spoke about the organization they work for, the mission trips they've been on and the miracles they've experienced. And I sat there and listened....and felt incredibly selfish and defensive.
Read MoreI was now working as a forensic nurse. It was truly such a special job, but it definitely required a calling to be able to work in that field, just due to the nature of the job. As a forensic nurse, most people assumed two things: I worked with dead people, or that I was at crime scenes doing CSI work. NOT QUITE.
Read MoreLately, I've been praying a lot about ministry - it's a topic that's always been quite foreign to me, but lately I've felt a need to dedicate my life to ministry. Yet, I wasn't sure what that meant exactly. Growing up, the word ministry brought to mind missionaries and church leaders - of people like Mother Teresa, Billy Graham or the people I know who are always going on one missionary trip after another. But, since the Bible tells us that we're all called to a life of ministry in Christ, I know that it extends beyond just missionary or church work.
Read MoreRepentance is one of those words that we tend to stumble over (imagine scrambling and stumbling over rocks on a bushwalk or mountainous hike) because our hearts find it challenging to understand and to do.
Read MoreHave you ever received a text, letter or even a note scribbled on a napkin from someone you liked - like giddy almost-loved kind of like? You know, like when that cute boy texted you and no matter how simple or unromantic the text is, to you it carries all the hidden mysteries of your relationship, so you treasure it by reading it over and over again.
Read MoreSitting by the potted plants on our balcony, I opened my Bible and read these verses. I had read the passage many times before, but today it seemed to call me to pay attention as it popped out of the page.
Read MoreIn the United States we've become experts at simplifying the Bible - we pride ourselves on 20 minute sermons, we prefer the message Bible to "better understand" it, and our Christian stores have shelves upon shelves of books to guide our spiritual life and walk us through reading the Scriptures. There is nothing wrong with this, necessarily. It's just that too often we become to dependent on these crutches to lead us through life.
Read MoreNo one - no one - can honestly say their life is perfect. No matter how the social media posts read or what the pictures look like; no life is perfect. Now, some people invite in more (emotional) mess than others, but even so, no one has a ¨mess-free¨ life. We live in a fallen world.
Read MoreWe have all experienced them. A shattered business endeavor; a disappointed dream; a wayward child. Like a stillborn child, the dream is unable to be resuscitated. We are left wounded, devastated, hope deferred and our path deterred. When the rug is pulled out from under our feet; when we find ourselves on a detour we didn’t map out; while yet clutching onto our stillborn dream, He is still holding us.
Read MoreYou know that moment? When you stretch a rubber band to its max and you can just feel that if you stretch it for even a fraction more, it will snap in two? That's the moment God loves to work in most. In our human terms, it's the point where you rest your hands in defeat, acknowledging there is no way that you can humanely solve the problem any more.
Read MoreAs I previously mentioned, I truly enjoyed working as a labor and delivery nurse. It was a true joy to come to work everyday. Through the adrenaline rushes, slow moments, sweet moments, and stories that are engraved in my memory for a lifetime, it was a great job.
Read MoreIf you are like me, you probably recognize the names Priscilla and Aquila. They are mentioned several times by Paul in the books of Romans, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Timothy. They are also noted in the book of Acts. If you are also like me, you may have unfortunately glossed over their story. I am here to share their lives more in depth with you, as they are an amazing example individually, and even more so as husband and wife, of living out your life for the Lord.
Read MoreLately, God has been guiding me to out of my comfort zone. And although I haven't actually taken any physical action to leave my comfort zone, God seems to be preparing my mind and my soul for some kind of big life change. And that both excites me and scares me.
Read MoreOur theology series (see Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5) has moved from the history of the church in the Bible to the history of the church in England to the divisions in the church and reformation! This month we are looking at a denomination I have attended because it was a church God called me to.
Read MoreWe are naive and beauty obsessed people. Always have been, and probably always be. In today's world, we are pestered with images of what beauty should look like and how we can achieve it. Open any magazine and you'll see at least one article/info graphic/ad telling you how you can draw attention to yourself by the clothes you wear, how you do your makeup or even the way you walk/talk.
Read MoreThe son of God wept. According to dictionary.com, to weep is “to express grief, sorrow, or any overpowering emotion by shedding tears; to mourn with tears.” Weeping is essentially the crying of your soul, it’s the most heart-breaking way to express the pain your heart feels.
Read MoreThis quote is often said to someone who’s experiencing something emotionally taxing and overwhelming. The advisor intends to give encouragement to the person who is ‘in the valley’ to not rely only on their feelings, but to take everything to God.
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