Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough? Do you find yourself constantly worried that you don’t deserve the life you have and someone is going to call you out on it? I’ll be the first to tell you that I often question my self-worth and God’s ability to use me. I’m currently knee-deep in the job-hunting trenches, and while I know that I am qualified for the positions I’m applying for, I still find myself doubting my abilities and feeling like a fake.
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This year has been anything but normal. And with the holidays around the corner, it’s safe to say our Thanksgivings and Christmases will probably look a little different than we’re used to. But, the good news is, you can still celebrate the holidays by serving others.
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Politics have always been divisive, but it seems this year has reached a whole new level of the “us” vs. “them” mentality. In the middle of a very tense election season, it can be hard figuring out how to navigate politics, especially as a Christian.
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The start of a new season usually means updating our wardrobes, decorating our homes, and buying the perfect candle from Target. But living seasonally is more than just getting a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks.
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Let’s just go ahead and get this out of the way: It’s been a hard year. With all that’s happening, it’s easy to want to just finish this year on auto-pilot. But what if 2020 is actually an opportunity for us to grow in our faith?
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Let’s be real--most of us don’t like criticism. As a struggling perfectionist, I personally hate it when someone tells me I’m doing something wrong. I have a tendency to focus on the negative, even if 90% of the feedback was positive. Because no matter how true the words may be, criticism often leaves me feeling like a failure. But I’ve learned from experience that without a healthy dose of criticism, we can’t grow.
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When I got my first debit card in high school, I felt more panic than freedom. I was worried that I would be irresponsible and make mistakes with money that would carry on into adulthood. Is there a right way to handle money? Are Christians supposed to handle it differently than the rest of the world? Is debt good or bad? When should I start investing? What exactly is a 401(k)? It was all too overwhelming.
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We’re all feeling the stress of the current season. Whether it’s fear of the unknown, anxiety over things we can’t control, grieving the loss of plans and celebrations, or trying to navigate a new routine--many of us are wrestling with many different emotions.
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I woke up in the middle of the night to an alarm on my phone and the wail of sirens. My roommates and I moved aside suitcases so we could stuff ourselves (and our dogs) into the hall closet. Within five minutes, the storm hit.
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We 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 MoreEvery year I pick a word to focus on - something that sums up my goals for the coming months, while also being more flexible than a new year’s resolution. For 2020, I’ve chosen the word invest.
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The holidays are a time of joy, family, celebrating, Hallmark movies, and Christmas magic. But it can also be a time that tries my patience like no other. Holiday traffic, crowded shopping malls, long lines at the post office, trying to find a parking spot at the grocery store, crazy family drama - the list goes on and on. Pretty soon, I’m exhausted and cranky, snapping at the checkout girl or stressing about a gift I still need to get. I can turn into quite the Scrooge if I’m not careful.
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I don’t know about you, but I’ve found that talking about Jesus with people who aren’t Christians can be a little awkward sometimes. Maybe you’ve sworn off the topic of religion at family gatherings or you avoid inviting your roommate to church because you’re afraid of how she might react. If you’ve been following Jesus for a while or if you’re a new Christian, it can feel uncomfortable trying to bring up the subject of faith with those who are not used to it or who may even oppose it.
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I used to play tennis in high school. At least three times a week, we would run drills in the afternoon. The countless hours of sprinting, swinging the racket, and hitting shots over and over again seemed mind-numbing in the moment. But by the end of my senior year, I could see how much I had improved since being a freshman. I could play tennis well because I had practiced it almost every week.
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I love fall! The minute I feel that slight chill in the air and I start seeing pumpkin everything, I can’t help but get excited. Sweaters, boots, chili, bonfires, apple cider--I love it all! But there’s something more significant about this season that draws me in every year. Fall can actually be a great reminder of God’s goodness, even in the toughest times.
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Have you ever had a day where you tried to fit in as many errands as possible? You run around frantically, but when you get back home, you feel like you barely got anything done. It’s exhausting.
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About a year ago, I decided to do my first Whole30. One of the foods you are asked to give up for the 30-day eating plan is bread. But here’s the thing: I absolutely love bread. It only took a couple of days without it to make me seriously contemplate giving up and pulling into the nearest Panera. Needless to say, that month was a hard one. But the fast made me realize just how dependent on certain foods I had become, and each day, I had to make a conscious decision to stick with it.
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I was in college the first time I visited the homeless ministry downtown. I felt nervous and awkward, not sure of what to say and not wanting to offend. I would find excuses to be inside the food pantry, stocking the shelves while I talked to the other girls I came with, instead of speaking to those who were receiving the food.
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Several years ago, I picked up a copy of Marie Kondo’s book, “The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up.” Minimalism was starting to become more popular, and I liked the idea of trying to organize my life. It didn’t take me that long into the decluttering process to realize I had so much stuff that I never use. Things that I was holding onto simply because I thought I should. It’s like I suddenly woke up and saw all the stuff that was weighing me down, and the whole idea of minimalism totally clicked for me.
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A peacemaker is someone who actively works to bring about spiritual peace in a world filled with division and hate. Here are some ways that we can work toward being peacemakers:
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