To be named. To be known. Isn’t that what lies at the crux of every human being? To have ties, roots, and traditions to keep us anchored. Herein lies the premise of adoption—an orphan, who has no earthly ties, taking on a new surname. It is such a compelling metaphor.
Read MoreJeremiah is speaking hope to the people of Jerusalem in this passage. The Northern Kingdom of Isreal has already been destroyed and scattered by Assyria some years back, and at this point in history, Jerusalem continues in their idolatrous sin without realizing that their days are numbered. Babylon is coming soon.
Read MoreThis meditation took me down an awesome but unexpected path. (Isn’t that just His way?) Like many, I get sentimental around the holidays and enjoy all the feels of Christmas music, twinkling lights, and the Nativity scene. I am, however, realizing that I have been equating Advent with Lenten season, a preparing of the heart. That’s not wrong; it’s just that I think it is easy to hyper-focus on Advent with its connection to the Nativity or Mary’s perspective.
Read MoreFor Advent this year, we chose to discuss the foretellings (prophecies) of the Old Testament. These were Scriptures that foretold Christ & His coming. They prophesied over a future Messiah. I was assigned to Numbers 24:
Read MoreWhat a beautiful example of love and trust. Abraham loved and trusted God, and in turn, his son, Isaac, loved and trusted him. Abraham loved God enough to sacrifice his one and only son, but assured his son that God would provide. Isaac did not question this answer, even when no lamb was being taken up the mountain as the sacrifice.
Read MoreNursing was my dream. I had worked so hard to become a nurse, and was blessed with the most amazing jobs: Labor and Delivery Nurse & Forensic Nurse. I woke up everyday so grateful to serve my community in this manner, and I was so honored that God chose me for that profession.
Read MoreTracing back in time before the job in the streets, I can remember a distinct moment in my parent’s kitchen. It was around 2021. I was standing there and I heard God almost audibly say “You’re going to see Roe v. Wade overturned.”
Read MoreTypical Bible study tools include (obviously) a Bible study, journal, and pen. There are other additions you can add to help you understand the Bible even more. Commentaries break down each verse, chapter, and book in detail with a human’s perspective on it. You can get Greek or Hebrew translations helps, so you can understand the original wording of the Bible. There are so many resources to help YOU understand what God is saying in His Word.
Read MoreWe are an image driven society - yes, we've made some improvements lately - women like Mindy Kaling, Melissa McCarthy and the Dove campaigns are beginning to send a more positive message about beauty, image and embracing our differences, but there is still this stigma about what beautiful is and unfortunately it hits the most vulnerable of us the hardest.
Read MoreFor the past week, I have been waking up in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, for a few of these nights I could not go back to sleep for anything for several hours. I would make lists in my head about what I needed to do, think about work, think about the upcoming months, and eventually went to the living room to watch a show to try to help myself fall asleep.
Read MoreI don’t like waiting, there, I’ve said it. I also think that most of the population is probably like me. I am about to age myself and say that waiting was part of my everyday life for the first 20 years. My siblings and I would have to take turns talking on the one phone line we had in the house. I would mail letters to friends back when the USPS wasn’t called snail mail because it was the only way to mail things. Things could not be ordered online because there were no e-commerce sites. Every 10 minutes into a TV program or movie, there was ad time, and I would have to wait it out to finish watching what I wanted.
Read MoreI am being very vulnerable in this post, hoping that it may help you or others who feel weighed down and held captive by emotions call out to God with all that you are, hope, and need. For a quick background about me, I have been diagnosed with chronic depression and anxiety since I was 16. My struggles with mental health have affected my life in so many ways, some bad, like not being able to finish college, and some good, like learning to rely on others for prayer, help, and encouragement.
Read MoreCan we please take a moment to appreciate how amazing our God is? He is quick to answer our questions and guide us on the desires of our heart, if we should humble ourselves and seek Him with all entire heart and soul. Yesterday, I wrote this post on my struggles with modern and lukewarm Christianity and I ended the post with ambiguity of not knowing what to do other than pray.
Read MoreStrongholds are mentioned numerous times in the Bible, yet in modern-day times we rarely hear this word. What is a stronghold? Why were they used back then? How does a twenty-first century Jesus-follower respond to this concept?
Read MoreIn my renewed pursuit of growing my relationship with Christ these last few months, I've been praying about growing my dependence on God - yes, it's kind of weird to pray to God about having a deeper love for Him and a hunger for His truth, but it's what I wanted in my lukewarm state, so I prayed. And this weekend, God gave me a glimpse of that.
Read MoreI was saved on Halloween when I was five years old. Yes, you read that right. Although my family faithfully went to church, it took a salvation tract (a pamphlet, religious in nature, intended to share scripture and salvation with others) in my Halloween loot for me to make the decision to allow God into my heart. It was a cartoon called “The Fool,” about how only a fool won´t prepare for eternity.
Read MoreIt’s Alycia - our leader here at Tirzah! I’m jumping on today to let y’all know that there is a new movie coming out today called “Miracle in East Texas”. It’s in theatres now if you enjoy a good evening and popcorn at your local movie theater.
Read MoreAs a newly minted college graduate who is still trying to figure out who I am in God and just life in general, as I look through my social media channels and the blogsphere and see people still in that college phase, I have this urgency to tell you to step outside of that college bubble. So here it goes - words that go against everything you're told and probably against what you want. But, I pray that you'll read this with an open mind and a love for Christ. That's all it takes for the Holy Spirit to work in you.
Read MoreIf the last chapter of my life could be labeled, it would be “Breaking Generational Cycles.” For those who are unaware, generational cycles are patterns passed down from each generation of your family - they can be both good & bad! The chapter I’m currently living is titled “Foundations.”
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