Books are often most powerful when they introduce us to new people. Reading a life transcribed on a page allows us to hear their thoughts and to see what they saw in a more visceral way than a podcast or film asks of us. Some authors’ lives are very different from our own, while others bear striking similarities.
Read MoreIt started with a hike and my prideful frustrations at the bottom of a mountain. I was miffed. Life was not going the way I wanted and, honestly, hadn’t been for a few months now, and I was going to take a solo hike to exercise my independence. It was the one thing I could control, the one thing I could orchestrate, and with that attitude in mind I started hiking.
Read MoreI’ve always wanted to be the kind of woman who starts her day off by reading the Bible, praying, and drinking coffee. When I see photos on Instagram of girls posting highlighted Bible pages alongside a cozy coffee cup, I always wish that I had that kind of life.
Read MoreFor most of my life, I’ve thought that discussing politics wasn’t a polite thing to do. There’s not a particular reason behind this thought. It’s just something that I’ve absorbed over the years. It may be because I feel, like I’m sure a lot of people do, that talking about politics causes conflicts.
Read MoreWe’re always on the way to someplace or something or someone. Our sights are always set on what’s next. We channel our energy and time into getting through whatever is going on right now so that we can get to that. It’s getting through the Tuesdays and Wednesdays of life to get to the Saturdays and Sundays. But what if God wants us to savor those Tuesdays and Wednesdays, those times of “in between”? What do we miss when we just power through to the “end goal?”
Read MoreWhen 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.
Read MoreAre you feeling a little shaken up these days? Between a pandemic, maybe some crazy weather (Nashville, I’m looking at you), protests and marches...the world is definitely doing some shaking. And in between all of that, you’re still trying to live life. Holding down a job that may or may not be satisfying / secure / consistent / enjoyable. Maintaining relationships with friends and family. Keeping a clean house and feeding yourself something besides popcorn and granola. It’s a lot.
Read MoreIt was pretty obvious when God began calling me to share my story but that doesn’t mean I listened or obeyed right away. When I began praying for a purpose and for God to show me what He wanted to do with this situation, I suddenly began receiving invitations to speak about my journey with blindness.
Read MoreI’m finally going to have a garden of my own this year. When I lived at home, there was always something growing during the summer. Even when my parents didn’t plan out the full garden, we still had plenty of blueberries and apples along with a decent amount of blackberries and peaches.
Read MoreThere’s a line in the famous hymn, ‘Come Thou Font’ that we sing, and for the longest time it made absolutely no sense to me: “Here I raise my ebenezer, hither by thy help I come.”
Read MoreIn times of isolation, quietness, and solitude, the noise of this world becomes amplified and the lies of the enemy can become overpowering leading to anxious thoughts, thoughts doubting God’s goodness, and hesitation to fully embrace the identity of who God says we are.
Read MoreEarlier this year, around the end of February, my dear friend, Adrian, told me she had been listening to a new podcast called “Fight Hustle, End Hurry.” As we talked about our jobs and our upcoming girls trip at the end of March, she encouraged me to listen to this podcast when I had the chance.
Read MoreIt’s ironic how the words of Invictus match the attitude of a former control freak. I was never in control of my life. I’d like to sit here and tell you I knew what I was doing from day one; but that’s just not true. I’d be lying. Married by twenty five! That’s funny. College graduate!
Read MoreI don't know about you, but during this time of lockdown, I have actually found it harder to be consistent with my quiet time rather than easier. It should seem the opposite, shouldn't it? Now that many of our social plans, outings, and even regular work hours are disrupted, shouldn't it be easier than ever before to come before the Lord? To carve out that time?
Read MoreJesus told His disciples after they had been on a mission, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.” They left by boat to a quiet spot by themselves. When they got there, crowds of people were already awaiting their arrival.
Read MoreIn the midst of the craziness of the coronavirus, I was reminded of a couple of stories of how to have peace when everyone around you is in a panic. One is from a time in my life in January where I spent the day in Washington D.C. with several friends
Read MoreRecently, I’ve noticed how drawn our society is to transformation stories. We watch home renovations on HGTV, we scroll through fitness before and afters on Instagram, and we fill our shelves with best-selling inspirational transformation stories. We cannot get enough of seeing how other people have made dramatic changes in their lives.
Read More“This was not what I expected, God.” The words came out of my mouth as I stared at a text message that changed everything. In the course of a week, I went from single to taken, and I was standing in the middle of the whirlwind, wondering what happened to my plans. “This is not the direction we discussed!” I panicked.
Read MoreI remember when I gave my life to the Lord at the age of fifteen. Yes, I had already known from a young age who Jesus was and believed wholeheartedly that he was alive and active in my life. I felt like I was on fire for God, and ready to take on life with a new and improved outlook.
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:
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