rebelling against low expectations
My heart breaks every time I see another story. The ones where pastors are let go because of integrity issues and moral failures. The ones where leaders are fired for not leading and acting in the way the Bible commands them to. Adultery. Greed. Sexual immorality. It feels like the stories will never end, and in my heart, I feel hopelessness and grief settling in. What about you? Through each of...
I have yet to meet a teenager who is not (at least somewhat) intimidated by their future. As we reach the brink of adulthood, questions abound, and the future often feels uncertain. As I near the end of high school, those dreaded decisions about colleges and majors are getting closer. When explaining this feeling to friends and family, they consistently say, “Pray about it.” But, as I started...
When I was twelve, I vividly remember creating the armor of God at a local Vacation Bible School. Cutting out long strips of construction paper, pouring mounds of glitter, and writing in all caps with a permanent marker, my masterpiece was complete. As I made my way to my mom’s car, my best friend and I struggled to walk. The armor was stunning. Oozes of glue and sequins flaked with every...
Exhausted, I tripped through the door of my cabin, made a bee-line to my bunk, and collapsed. It was my third week working at a Christian camp in Ohio, and my battery had simply run dead. Three weeks of 6-hour nights, 90-degree days, and bubbling with energy unknown had caught up with me. I was a wreck, and in need of a major refresh—physically, mentally, and spiritually. In between listening to...
When you’re confronted with a problem, blindsided by a crisis, or pressing through a season of difficulty, asking for prayer should be a no-brainer. It should be easy. But too often, reaching out for prayer support can feel daunting and overwhelming. At least, that’s been my experience. Prayer Request Dread I used to hate asking for prayer. Even now, when I have a need, there’s still a moment of...
Actions speak louder than words. Sound familiar? I’m guessing it does. The thing is though, our actions don’t speak–they scream. Our actions are the thing that sets us apart from everyone and everything around us, including the low expectations we are all trying to rebel against. People nowadays don’t have a high opinion of teenagers. They don’t consider us respectful or responsible, and their...
A few years ago, I went on a bike trip with a group from my cousin’s church. Over three days we biked 109 miles and camped out at different locations along the trail. Despite the fact that it was over ninety degrees during the days, freezing cold during the nights, and the trail boasted some pretty nasty inclines, not one person quit. It was crazy hard, but we all got through it. How? The answer...
You’re lying in bed, trying to fall asleep. Slowly, your mind begins to wander back to all the day’s events. You went to school, maybe a sports practice, and hung out with some friends. As you roll over onto your side, beginning to grow tired, it suddenly hits you: you haven’t prayed yet today! Immediately, guilt washes over your conscience. However, your eyelids are getting heavy, and you don’t...
“Lord God and giver of all good gifts, we are grateful as we pause before this meal, for all the blessings of life that You give to us. Daily, we are fed with good things, nourished by friendship and care, feasted with forgiveness and understanding. And so, mindful of Your continuous care, we pause to be grateful for the blessings of this table. May Your presence be the extra taste to this meal...
Mining can be hard work. It can also be immensely rewarding. And unlike physical mining, where a vein can be depleted or not have much in it, Scripture will always have more gems to unearth. We never have to wonder whether we dig in vain, especially if we know where and how to look. Over the past three posts, I’ve provided tools specific to the three steps of mining. But before we conclude this...
rebelling against low expectations
