rebelling against low expectations
I have never had a date on Valentine’s Day. Not only that, but I’ve never been on a date. Period. So as the season of red bouquets and frilly cards comes around once again, you’d think a feeling of dread would begin to overtake me. I’m as single as they come. But even though I have always been single in February, Valentine’s Day is still my favorite holiday. Here are three reasons why: 1...
When you see brokenness, how will you respond? When someone asks you about the light within you, what will you say? When God puts someone in need in your path, what will you do? Jesus once told a story about a man who was injured and needed help. So many passed by, and missed the chance to make a difference. Until finally, one man stopped to help, and it was worth it. Luke 10:30-37 “ Jesus...
Jesus went into the darkest places and the lowest parts of society. He talked with people everyone else would have avoided. He chose fishermen—a lowly, unimpressive trade—to be His disciples. The woman at the well had multiple husbands, but He didn’t look down on her. Instead He told her who He was and is. He chose a tax collector to be one of his disciples and a young girl from the middle of...
Doing the dishes, going shopping for an elderly church member, or tidying up a Sunday-school room. All this is serving. Serving is usually done in the hidden. Often, it is the “dirty jobs” or jobs done behind the scenes. On the surface, serving is as easy as picking up a broom and sweeping up after a meal–and yet, I so often see that many teens shrink back from taking the initiative when it...
In a crowded room my friend sat down next to me, looked me in the eyes, and asked me the exact question I didn’t know I needed to answer. It was 12am PST (3am EST) and still, without hesitation, I called my best friend to confess sin, to cry, and to seek comfort. When I endured test after test and still had no diagnosis, my friends laid their hands on me and prayed fervently for answers. I have...
What comes to mind when you hear the word hero? Do you see a man or woman with biceps the size of a soccer-ball flying through the air, cape floating behind them and fist leading the way? Or, do you think of someone who has had a significant impact on your life, such as a parent or teacher that helped you achieve or overcome something? It seems like everyone wants to be a hero. Everyone wants to...
They did it. They broke the record! Last month, Rebelutionaries on the Do Hard Things Community set a record by Focus Sprinting for over 40 hours. You’re probably asking, “What in the world is a ‘Focus Sprint’?” Good question. Participants of a Focus Sprint will block distractions and focus on their work for a short amount of time to complete the things they need to do. On the DHT online...
Teens filter into youth group, smiling and waving at their friends. But no one talks. No Christian rock blasts in the background. No snacks are passed around. It’s difficult to have normalcy when youth group is through a screen. Online youth group is quite the experience, but it means the world to me to talk with my small group, learn about Jesus, and pray together. I never realized how important...
As an extrovert, I have been figuring out how I can still foster relationships and satisfy my urges to hang out with people while practicing social isolation. While many of us are stuck in our homes due to coronavirus, I have discovered that hearing someone’s voice is one of our most powerful tools to foster relationships, and I think we should call people more often, even when we are not in the...
All across the country, churches have closed their doors. Two weeks ago, my church canceled all services until further notice. Since then, church has looked like sitting on the couch in front of my laptop. I’m thankful for the technology that enables me to continue hearing from my pastor, but there’s no denying it’s not the same. I miss my church family. I miss worshipping together. I even miss...
rebelling against low expectations
