One of the hardest topics to unpack is the perceived success rate of prayer. We measure God’s yes versus His no’s, without always understanding why God has chosen one direction over another. Each time that God says yes, there is a sense of joy and relief that enters our hearts. Yet when God says no, we’re left to unpack those emotions, which often include anger, grief, and frustration. Nevertheless, it is the waiting periods that can be the toughest. We don’t know if God is saying no, or if we need to exercise patience in order to receive our yes. In our despair, we search and we search, readi ..read more

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes In Colossians 2:8 we read: Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. I find this scripture interesting because it portrays being led astray as simply adhering to the basic ideologies of this world – which aren’t always so different from what we believe. In reality, such a concept can leave us with a “close enough” kind of spirituality, where we make our own rules based on the principles of this world, while interweav ..read more

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes In a world of imperfection, love is no exception. For many, the ways in which we care, or don’t care, are external reflections of our internal conditions. It would be foolish to think otherwise… to believe that we only love from a place of light, as if our shortcomings and trauma do not hinder us from expressing a love that is pure. Sometimes, because of this when situations arise, we won’t care enough – simply because we can’t. We haven’t put in the work needed to overcome what blocks us from fully showing up for others. Maybe we also haven’t spent enough tim ..read more

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes There’s a story found in Acts 4 about a time when Peter and John were arrested by the Sadducees for testifying of Christ. The next day, when Peter and John were brought out to account for their actions, Peter – filled with the Holy Spirit, said that he spoke by the authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they crucified but God also raised from the dead. As the rulers, elders, and scribes saw the boldness of Peter and John, they realized that these men had walked with Christ, and were His disciples. Also with the disciples was a man they had healed. The Sad ..read more

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes There is a passage found in James 1:2-4 that reads: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. These verses give us a lot to unpack, but in order to better understand them, I wanted to first start with a point of clarity as it pertains to the trials referenced. These trials aren’t the ones that we cause; they are ones that find us. The unforeseen and oft unexpected. We know this because t ..read more

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes I did it. I finally moved – multiple states away. There will be many stories to tell from such a decision, but for now, I’ll focus on the dress. As I was getting ready to leave, there was a sale from a store I really liked, so I ordered this green dress. Considering how close it was to me moving, I knew I was taking a risk, but the risk seemed low. Clothes from this store usually arrived within 3-4 days, which left me with some extra time. My plan was to get the dress, pack it, and ship it with the other items. Of course, the dress didn’t come in time. To make ..read more

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes If I were to take a poll to see who was content with where they are in life, I think I’d find that the majority of people would say they are not – which is understandable. Darkness likes to keep us in a state of want because it makes us feel unsettled. With uncertainty weighing down on us, we are unable to see clearly. Our judgements and choices become reactionary instead of intentional. We tend to overlook the fact that our decisions could have permanent ramifications. Instead, we’d like to think that what is done can be undone, but such is not always the cas ..read more

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes There is a parable found in Luke 8 (and also in Matthew and Mark) that discusses a sower who went out to plant his seeds. We read in verses 4-8 about the four places where the seeds fell – the wayside, rocks, thorns, and good ground. After Jesus finishes the parable, the disciples convey to Christ that they are having trouble interpreting its meaning. Christ then breaks down the symbolism found in this parable, and the message that it carries, starting with the seed – which is the word of God. He follows up with place 1 – the wayside. This scenario represents ..read more

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Our emotions often start off innocently enough. Something happens and we respond. When our emotions are regulated, we can express anger, disappointment, happiness, and/or relief without those emotions controlling us. If they are not, however, our feelings become obsessions. If you think such a scenario could never happen to you, consider the following: When our emotions begin to linger a little longer than they should… something else starts to occur. We begin to feed those emotions in ways that we shouldn’t. For example, if it’s anger we’re feeling, we find pe ..read more

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes In Colossians 2:8 we read: Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. I find this scripture interesting because it portrays being led astray as simply adhering to the basic ideologies of this world – which aren’t always so different from what we believe. In reality, such a concept can leave us with a “close enough” kind of spirituality, where we make our own rules based on the principles of this world, while interweav ..read more