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You Do You, (Christian) Boo
Whether we like it or not – titles usually come with preconceived notions. Lawyer? Argumentative. Homeless? Lazy. Rich? Selfish. Christian? Judgmental. Whether these assumptions are true or not – they do exist. Oftentimes as a Christian we may feel the need to explain ourselves as to not be clumped into the “self-righteous” category. How do you find that happy medium of being successfully in but not of the world? The answer is crystal clear in scripture: “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take…
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Risking Mediocrity
I love listening to motivational speeches. When I’m getting ready in the morning, when I’m cleaning, when I’m doing cardio – ok especially then (talk about needing motivation). Today’s theme seemed to be about taking risks. I must have listened to at least five talks today and they all shared this topic in some way. Let’s be clear – not all risks are equal! The risks that I am referring to are those dreams and ideas that stir inside of you – the steps and opportunities that seem crazy or even impossible. We serve a God that is over the top. He knows what we are truly capable of (he…
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God wants us to be reckless
There’s no shadow You won’t light up, Mountain You won’t climb up, Coming after me. There’s no wall You won’t kick down, Lie You won’t tear down, Coming after me. (Reckless Love – Cory Asbury) I wish I could accurately explain the images in my head as I listen to that bridge. The image of God lighting up the dark like an explosion, climbing up mountains in a rage, busting through walls and battling with the enemy… This warrior-like description of God is nothing new – this is part of God’s character. Oftentimes we put God and his angels in a box. God is an old man with a white…
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Epic Sadness
I recently discovered the secret to my random sad thoughts, fears and discouragement: something epic is about to happen. The other night was just one of those nights. Nothing was wrong, but I felt emotionally drained. Is there a sort of jet-lag for major life changes?! Some days I am on top of the world, and by evening I am overcome by sudden discouragement and sadness. It comes like the weather in Michigan: sporadic. One day it is 75 and sunny and the next day there is a foot of snow. But I noticed that pattern: the negative usually comes right after a positive… The next morning I got up…
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The Belayer, the Rope and the Rock Wall
So I went rock climbing (indoors) for the first time today! I have always wanted to do this. No time like the present, right? I was super nervous but excited. It wasn’t the typical nerves one may assume would come with your first climb. I had no fears of falling, breaking bones, or equipment malfunctioning (although the fact that the person I went with is an awesome, positive, encouraging person who just so happens to be an instructor probably helped to keep any of those traditional fears at bay). My fear was much less logical than all of that: the fear of failure. We started at what was basically the…
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Why Christians Should Meditate
Meditation is defined as follows: to think deeply or focus one’s mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation. It is derived from Latin meditate, meaning ‘contemplated’, and from the verb meditari, meaning ‘measure’. To contemplate means to look thoughtfully for a long time at or to think profoundly at a length. Measure (as a verb) has many synonyms including evaluate and assess. Stillness, Silence and Simplicity There are three main components to meditation. In relation to meditation, stillness simply means to be still and remove any distractions. Silence means to let go…
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How To Have A Successful Day
We can be so critical of people. We are quick to judge before knowing the backstory; we notice flaws before strengths; we hold grudges. When someone hurts us, we feel entitled to hold onto it. We use words like “fair” or “deserve”. I’m in the air right now and I’m looking down at what looks like little boxes and little specks moving along a little line. Below me are thousands of people. Some are getting up and going to work. Some are dropping their kids off at school. Some are still curled up sleeping in bed, and some are curled up on a street corner because they have no bed.…
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Flex Your Faith
While working out, I started thinking about how faith is like a muscle. Seems like a corny illustration, I know, but it’s a very accurate one! When you first get into fitness, your muscles are in a state of shock. They quickly begin adapting and the results you start seeing are amazing and motivating! You feel happier from the endorphins, you feel strong physically, and you become more confident in both your body and your abilities. You can do more than you anticipated and you feel unstoppable. You crave more. Fast forward a little and here comes the inevitable brick wall. You are still strong, but the results you once…
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Everything Comes Alive – We Are Messengers
“In the evening when my bones are tired You’re my strength and my heart’s desire You’re the light when the sun expires I remember how far I’ve come I’m not lost with You I’m home I didn’t find You on my own” I was listening to one of my favorite songs on the way to work this morning — Everything Comes Alive by We Are Messengers — and I was reflecting on a sermon I heard on one of my favorite stories in the Bible — The Valley of Dry Bones. In this story, God gives Isaiah this vision and commands him to prophesy to a valley full of human bones. Isaiah trusts God…
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Breadcrumbs From a Hair Dryer
I was sitting on the floor drying my hair yesterday and trying to figure out why I’m here (in Nashville). I felt called here without knowing exactly why or what my next step was going to be. Now here I am, almost three weeks later, still searching for an answer or even a hint. Usually I feel ungrateful or selfish if I ask God for things – especially because I am sad to admit the last year or so I feel as though when I need help I only pray as a last resort instead of an initial instinct. But as I was drying my hair I realized how crazy…
