I spent the entirety of my teen years and twenties wishing I looked like someone else—or at least a thinner, more fashionable version of myself. I was an awkward, nerdy, bookish kid all through school who was picked on and picked last for sports. I also perceived myself as unattractive and chubby (though I really … More How to Find Confidence and Contentment When This World Lets You Down
I have always had a hard time speaking about race. It’s not because I don’t have strong feelings about how strong the racial divide is in this country, but instead because I guess because I have felt ill-qualified to speak on behalf of those who feel mistreated or misunderstood. And maybe also because I haven’t … More How White Women Need to Respond to Their Black Sisters’ Fears
Some hurts are deeper than a cut. Some thoughts are scarier than a razor blade. Sometimes, all you want just a moment’s release from your brain space—from the hurt, from the poison, from the struggle, from the invasive, intrusive thoughts. Many ask those who harm themselves, “Why do you hurt yourself? How does it actually … More Cut to the Heart: A Deeper Look at Self-Harm
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, KJV). “Too often, we pray puny prayers” Hiram Kemp said in a lesson at PTP yesterday, and he is so right. Too often we pray to Him like He … More Boldly Before the Throne of Grace // Praying to the God of Small Things
We’re taught, in today’s world, to seek what makes us happy. To do what we truly love. “Choose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life!” the entrepreneur-coach will promise––and too often we buy into these smiling lies in the pursuit of happiness. While that may be a small thing that … More Loving God When You Don’t Feel Like It
I used to think that mental illnesses were a sign of spiritual weakness—that any depression or anxiety experienced by the Christian meant they just weren’t trying hard enough. I also used to think that any measures taken—whether counseling, therapy, or medicine—were unnecessary. The Bible was enough. The church was enough. God was enough. Anyone who … More The Thorn in My Side: What I Learnt When God Didn’t Take Away My Anxiety
Some days it seems there is no reason to be happy at all: your heart is about to break from some tragedy, only bad news angrily spatters across your TV screen, your Facebook timeline is full of negativity, your loved ones have let you down or hurt you, you just cannot seem to get any … More Don’t Tell Me to Just Be Happy: 5 Verses for When Joy Seems Impossible
During the time of Hosea the prophet, the Lord had something to say to a group of people who really thought that they knew Him: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of … More Are You Sure That You Know God?
In a world of extremes, where does the Christian stand on the issue of Conservation? … More The Christian and Conservation: Should You Really Care?
We are probably all aware of the command to worship the Lord “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) – but sometimes that is more easily said than done. While worshipping in truth (in the right way) may be a given, worshipping in spirit (with the right attitude) is not always as simple. Despite our … More 6 Ways to Worship in Spirit This Sunday
Her Life, His Way 