Life tends to break us in ways we don't see coming, leaving bits of ourselves all over the place during tough times, failures, and sadness. It's in those rough patches, when we feel utterly lost, that we finally run into God's amazing ability to change things. Being broken feels like it's game over, you know? But in God's hands, it kicks off a whole new journey toward healing, redemption, and something way more beautiful than we can even dream of.
Well, here we are: election day. If you're at all like most people, you're feeling a mix of emotions today: hope, nerves, and maybe some stress-eating thrown in there. And while it can sometimes feel as though everything relies on today's results, we actually have something concrete to fall back on. It's not a candidate, that's for sure.
When we think about worship, it’s easy to picture familiar scenes— singing together on Sundays, bowing in prayer, or sitting quietly in reflection. But worship reaches beyond a weekly routine. It’s more than a warm-up act for the message; it’s a bold act of defiance against darkness, a powerful way to align ourselves with God’s truth and claim His promises.
I'll be real — staying consistent in my walk with Christ is no easy feat. Even though I’ve written before about how hustle culture can mess with our faith, I still find myself falling into the same trap. I keep saying, "I'm just busy," but deep down, I know it’s just an excuse. The truth is, I’m making excuses for slacking off in my spiritual life. phone). The reality is, I could make time — I just don’t.
There’s so much swirling around in my mind right now that it’s tough to focus on any one thing. Between juggling the needs of my kids, managing work, nurturing my marriage, and trying to carve out a little time for myself to recharge, it feels like I’m being pulled in a million directions. But here I am, writing, hoping that through this process, God will speak to me — and maybe, in some small way, speak to you too.
If you ask me how I am doing, my usual response is that I am busy. It's my default answer, even when it's not true. Sometimes it's an easy excuse, other times it's a lie. Our culture celebrates busyness as an achievement, implying that if you’re not busy, you’re simply drifting through life and wasting space. Your worth seems to be measured by your activities and accomplishments.
From a young age, the profound promises of healing in the Bible have always captivated me. The imagery of Jesus' stripes has stirred a deep sense of mystery and hope within me. I often find myself contemplating the concept of healing, realizing that my understanding is still quite limited. With this post, I aim to deepen my faith and uncover the full extent of the healing power that comes from Jesus' ultimate sacrifice. I invite you to join me on this journey as I research and share my findings, hoping we can learn and grow together in our understanding of God's healing.
Inspired by the powerful words of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, we recognize that our struggles are not just physical but deeply spiritual. Here, we confront feelings of unworthiness, past failures, and the relentless attacks on our faith. We delve into the full armor of God as outlined in Ephesians 6, learning to wield the Sword of the Spirit to combat lies and find strength in prayer and scripture. Join us as we stand firm in faith, support each other, and seek divine victory.
In the battle for your soul, the Accuser and the Redeemer present two contrasting voices. The Accuser seeks to crush your hope, highlighting every sin and failure, insisting you are beyond salvation. Yet, amidst this condemnation, the Redeemer speaks with unwavering love and grace, countering every accusation with forgiveness and affirming your worth. This dialogue between darkness and light is the script of your life. Who will you listen to?
Embracing a crucified life demands that we make "no provision" for our flesh. We were born with a sinful nature and if left to our vices, we will remain in darkness. In contrast, we are called to walk in the light, and His “light is found in all that is good and right and true”. It’s time to wake up!
As I write these words, my heart swells with overwhelming gratitude and awe for who you are and what you mean to me. How do I even begin to express the depth of my love for you, the One who captured my heart in a way I will never comprehend?
Through all of my experiences, only a few times have cemented themself into my memory - memories that the movie Inside Out would call core memories. These memories are so influential that they become part of who I am and help define who I will become — I will never forget these experiences.
Have you ever felt like you weren’t good enough, that your mistakes define who you are and who you will become? This idea is something I have struggled with for a lot of my life. No matter how many times I have been told that my past doesn’t define me, it is still hard to shake.
Do you know what you're worth? Do you know how special you are? If not, my prayer is that by the end of this post, you will. Even if you don't realize it, there is no one else like you on this planet.
Have you seen those smart lights that display crazy designs on a concert stage? That is accomplished by what they call a "GOBO" or a Go-Between. It is a "lens" that goes between the light source and the object that is being illuminated.
I'm not much of a storyteller and never have been. It's just not a part of who I am. One thing I do know - a good story engages the listener with hope, passion, at times suspense, and any other range of emotions.
Life has a way of sneaking up on you and smacking you in the face. Sometimes that is good, but a lot of times it wakes you to something more serious. We see it coming at times, and other times it blindsides us like a linebacker. You have intentions of staying focused, then a freight train hammers you sending shock waves to every part of your body.
It's hard to know which way to go. We are pulled in many different directions and have so many people and things trying to influence us. It gets overwhelming and most people, myself included, just stop and say it's easier to stand still than to exert effort only to find out it was the wrong way.
Have you ever thought about your life? I mean really thought about where you are, what you are doing, and who you have become. When you do, what do you feel is the reason why you are where you are? I can guarantee that most of the decisions in your life can be boiled down to one thing, love or the lack of it.
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. - Ezekiel 36:26
On the way to work this morning, I heard a song I have heard many times before and I knew I liked it, but it hit me differently this morning. The song is Ghost Story by My Epic. It is a song about human nature. About fear and longing, hope and light.
If you had told me 10 years ago, I would go through some of the things I have gone through, I wouldn't have believed you. I would have argued with you and told you that it would never happen to me. How naïve I was. Not only did I go through it, but it also hurt like hell.
Life is always uncertain. We are not guaranteed tomorrow and not knowing what tomorrow brings, can bring fear. The people of Israel experienced this firsthand in the book of Exodus. They were slaves in Egypt and cried out to God to save them.
Have you ever experienced losing something so important to you that you will stop everything just to find it? No matter what it is, it is so important that it consumes your thoughts and actions until you find it.
I want you to think about your mind and the way you see things. I want you to concentrate on the way you feel, the emotions you have, and your thoughts in general as you go about your life every day. Do you feel, overall, that your thoughts are positive or negative?
If you think about your past, I can guarantee you something comes to mind that was painful. Whether it was a person, circumstance, or an experience, everyone has something that has left a scar on their life.
There is a battle raging. From the moment man fell in the garden, that battle has left the human race in the middle trying to decide which side to fight for.
It seems like, especially in the last few years, that society is going through this weird time where people feel they are in control of everything. They determine how others act, react, and behave.
Growing up, I looked up to my dad. He was my hero and I admired him. That's not to say, I didn't get upset with him or he with me, we did and we did often. Even at our worst together, I still had a sense of respect and admiration for this man who raised me and helped make me who I am today.
Life often throws us curveballs, leaving us feeling weighed down and exhausted. We find ourselves in overwhelming situations, carrying burdens that seem impossible to bear. During these times, the stories of individuals from the Bible rushing toward Jesus resonate deeply. They didn’t saunter over like it was just another day; they ran, swam, climbed trees, and pushed through crowds with a fiery urgency. Why? Because they understood something profound—Jesus wasn’t merely an option; He was the solution. And here's the amazing part: God doesn’t just sit back and wait for us to piece it all together. He approaches us with that same relentless urgency, meeting us exactly where we are.