rebelling against low expectations
When I was a teenager I made a choice that changed my life. At only thirteen years old, I sat down at my computer and read about a program called the National Bible Bee (kind of like a spelling bee, but for Bible memory). That can’t be too hard, I thought to myself as I convinced my mom that I wanted to sign up. I thought it would be something fun for the summer. Something to keep me busy. And...
I can still remember the time when I lost a very close friend. I still remember the way it hurt and the way I cried into my pillow. I still remember the sadness I felt in my heart when I thought of this friendship. I can imagine you understand those feelings too. I imagine you also know what it’s like to “break up” with a close friend. While we always hear about boyfriend and girlfriend break...
When I was a young teenager, I began to fight a battle I didn’t want anyone to know about. It was a battle I didn’t talk about for a long time. A battle that I tried to fight on my own, without anyone to help me. This was a battle against depression. We don’t talk about this battle much. Many Christians would rather fall silent on it. Because depression is the type of battle we want to pretend...
In the last couple weeks, you’ve probably found yourself with more time on your hands than you ever expected. Because in the midst of quarantines, lockdowns, and social distancing there are only so many video games and movies and books you can enjoy before you start feeling a little crazy with boredom. So if you’re one of those people that has said the phrase, “I’m bored” at any point over the...
I’m not a fan of football. It’s just not my thing. I’ve never been good at sports in general, but I’ve always failed at anything involving throwing or chasing a ball. Therefore, while the world gets excited about Sundays such as Super Bowl Sunday, to me it’s really just another day. However, as I was sitting and thinking about the Super Bowl and football in general, I saw some amazing...
2019 was rough. I don’t say that lightly. 2019 was simultaneously the best year and hardest year of my life at the same time. If you asked me to pick just one favorite memory from the year it would be impossible, because I experienced and lived so many wonderful moments. But at the same time I walked through some of the darkest valleys I have ever experienced. I had days where I sat in the...
I used to think I knew what worship meant. I used to think that worship was raising your hands while singing Chris Tomlin lyrics or praying passionately while soft piano chords played in the background. I used to think that worship was going to church on Sunday and Wednesday and participating in the service. I used to think that worship was doing all of the “church” things I was supposed to do as...
When I first started driving, I remember a day when I glanced in the rearview mirror for a second too long. A friend was following me in her own car, and so I glanced in the rearview mirror to make sure that she was still behind me. Well I must have glanced for a split second too long because when I looked back ahead of me I realized that I was merely inches away from hitting the curb, which I...
This past summer I went on my first missions trip to Kentucky. It was the most amazing, challenging, and spiritually growing week of my year. The lessons I learned during those seven days have stuck with me as I have continued to think about them and how they will affect my life now. Here are just three of the things God taught me during that one week in Kentucky. I NEED TO BE WILLING TO BE...
I don’t bake. Now there is a reason for that and the reason is simply this: I’m bad at it. Like really, really bad at it. I knew this when I decided it would be a fantastic idea to try making a homemade pecan pie. After all, what could go wrong? I mean, the recipe I found didn’t look that hard. All I really had to do was follow the directions. So that’s exactly what I set...
rebelling against low expectations
