rebelling against low expectations
February 14th. Also known as Valentines Day, an occasion many a forlorn single dreads. Each year, while the rest of society posts sticky-sweet, chocolate-coated tributes to their spouses and significant others’ online, all the lonely hearts of the world mourn their singleness like it’s some sort of malignant disease. Surely, you’ve seen the ‘woe-is-me-I’m-so-alone’ posts on social media, too...
Nearly every morning, I roll out of bed with a phone in hand, click on my Notes app, and scroll through my list of to-dos for the day. After breakfast, I hastily move onto Bible study. As I flip through the pages of the current biblical book I’m studying (1 Peter), I glance at the time every few minutes. With each glance, I flip the page and scan the text more urgently than before. I soon move on...
“Do you know what your spiritual gift is?” Ms. Flora asked as we sat on the swings at camp. It was something I hadn’t thought about in a while. “I know I have one, but I don’t remember what it is,” I replied at first. Suddenly I remembered, “Wait, it’s encouragement.” About a week later at church, the pastor preached a message on what makes Jesus...
Let’s face it: the Christian walk is hard. It’s not—and shouldn’t be—easy to walk the straight and narrow way. Matthew 7:13-14, ESV, warns us of this, saying, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” As Christians...
“If I take one more step, I’ll be the farthest away from home I’ve ever been.” Sam Gamgee said to Mr. Frodo as he stood on the edge of adventure in The Fellowship of The Ring. We’ve all been there, standing on the edge of something new and different from anything we have ever experienced before. We have all had hobbit moments. The question is, how will we respond to them? Will we sit on the fence...
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Many of us are familiar with these seemingly simple words, along with the rest of Psalm 23. While they may be simple, these verses do not fall short of profound truth and encouragement. Many of my family members are farmers in Michigan. One spring morning, my mom drove my siblings and I to the Upper Peninsula to visit our uncle who raises sheep. While...
These days, everyone is weighing in on screen time, technology usage, and social media. And it’s not just adults worrying about kids and teenagers; they’re finding they need limits in these areas, too. In a world that widely uses social media and technology, what is a Christian to do? Some cut social media from their lives completely to avoid all temptation. On the opposite side of the spectrum...
Each morning when I wake up I make a decision. Consistently every day I get out of bed and I put on this t-shirt. Well, not this exact one every day, but I have six identical t-shirts that all say, “Because The Gospel Is Really Good News.” I’m not kidding when I say that this decision affects my whole day, every day. Least of all because walking around shirtless in public is both impractical and...
Follow Me. Two words. Countless implications. Jesus commanded us to pick up our cross and follow Him no matter what. No matter our culture. No matter what our friends say or the world around us does. No matter our human inclinations and preferences. No matter anything. If we truly live out Christ’s command of “Follow Me” those two words can change our lives. Not only did Jesus tell us to follow...
I’ve always been puzzled when people say, “They’re a huge Christian.” Okay, that’s not a bad thing. I’ve just never understood what it meant to be a “huge Christian.” A few years ago, a couple friends and I were talking about how we enjoy attending church. One girl chimed in and said, “I love attending church—not that I’m a huge Christian or...
rebelling against low expectations
