Sheep of Jesus

Sheep of Jesus

I was watching a video where a woman was talking about following our callings, and she recited John 10:27: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." I instantly got emotional. For 3 years I've heard the message "wait." I don't know why, and I don't know what I'm waiting [...]

Loyalty is Rewarded

Loyalty is Rewarded

I was reading through 2 Samuel and noticed a name I had never paid much attention to: Ittai. Don't recognize the name either? Let's talk about who he was. Ittai was from Gath, a Philistine city. Another Philistine you'd recognize from the Bible is Goliath, the giant David killed with a slingshot and a stone. [...]

Don’t Forget

Don’t Forget

We are forgetful beings. We forget loved one's birthdays, where we put our keys, even memories go hazy around the edges, details lost to time. And sometimes we don't even remember we forgot. That might sound weird, but its likely someone will eventually mention the birthday party you missed and you won't forget the existence [...]

Let it Shine

Let it Shine

One of my favorite things I bought in Italy is a Venetian glass necklace. Venice is known for their blown glass, and one of the places we went was a glass blowing company. It's a small, teardrop shaped piece of glass that reflects light in yellows, blues, purples, and oranges. Venice was the first city [...]

Praying for Change

Praying for Change

We've all been in situations we wanted to change. Whether they were situations of mild discomfort or life or death, it's likely there have been moments you prayed for God to intervene. My prayers for change usually end up being very similar to one another: "please change this," "please remove this obstacle," "please make this [...]

The Greatest Gift

The Greatest Gift

In the busyness of the holiday season, we can get distracted from Christmas' true meaning. As you buy gifts for loved ones, prepare meals for gatherings, and take time off of work, remember what you are celebrating. Jesus came into this world as a baby to live and die for us. What we know about [...]

Isaiah 12

Isaiah 12

"Indeed, God is my salvation; I will trust him and not be afraid, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my song." Isaiah 12:2 My biggest fear is that I am walking down the wrong path. That I am somehow missing my calling, missing out on the best parts of my life. [...]

Craving Growth

Craving Growth

In college I really began to come into my faith. I started learning what it was like to have a relationship with Jesus and live out my faith every day. I was excited about beginning to walk on this faith journey that was more than Sunday mornings and praying when I needed something. I began [...]

Jesus Revealing Truth

Jesus Revealing Truth

As I was reading Matthew 21, this conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees caught my particular attention: 23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus [...]

Healing Worship

Healing Worship

I've learned a part of maturing is doing the things you don't wan't to do but know you need to do. At least, that's what I told myself one Sunday as I got ready for church. My body was charged with anxiety, my mind weighed down from the difficult week. I was getting emotional thinking [...]

Gentle Answers

Gentle Answers

I ended my last blog post with a verse from Proverbs. “A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.” Proverbs 15:1 I think a lot of us can attest to this verse. We’ve been on a receiving side of someone snapping an angry answer at us, only to feel that [...]

I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry

I settled down in the lawn chair, looking out into the changing colors of the woods, wrapping my blanket around my legs. The air was cool, a slight breeze picking up every now and then. The sun was shining down on my face through the trees, warming me. I reached into my backpack and pulled [...]

Passion Burnout

Passion Burnout

For a long time I’ve carried an image of the ideal person I wish to be. This person does everything right. She knows exactly who she is. She goes to bed early, she works out, spends time with God, writes every day, eats well, maintains relationships and makes everyone she knows feel loved. She is [...]