rebelling against low expectations
Do you ever look at other people’s lives and think, “It’s not fair”? Do you wonder why others have different resources or greater opportunities or better experiences than you have? Why can’t everyone be the same? Take it from someone who has admired the green grass on the other side too often: this mindset is not just useless, it is irrational. And if we indulge in it, it can quickly become...
When people hear the term modesty, they often think of it merely as a list of rules for covering one’s body. However, true modesty is less about covering and more about revealing the dignity that comes from salvation in Jesus. Modesty is about glorifying God and His Holy Spirit in us. And only one aspect of that is manifested by our attire. Choosing to wear modest clothes is a service of...
We’ve all heard it. Pastors, preachers, people who call themselves “prophets,” telling us that if we give a certain amount of money, God will bless us double the amount we gave. Or that God wants us to be happy, He wants to put more money in our bank account, He wants to see us prosper in the world. Maybe you’ve read a book by a famous pastor, about how to make your life great, and how to live...
What book of the Bible do people often suggest you read? In my experience it tends to be one of the gospels, usually the gospel of John. Organizations like the Pocket Testament League print thousands of copies of the book of John to send out to hurting souls every year. But what book of the Bible do people often say is their favorite? Many people in my church have a favorite book of the Bible in...
“You can always make more money, but you can’t make more time.” Time links the world like nothing else. The world runs on a system of time zones, and our watches and phones constantly remind us of it. The biggest question then is, how will we use our time? Time Affects Everyone There are few things in this world that everyone has access to. But time and the choice of whether to follow God are two...
Almost everywhere we turn, messages like “I am a child of the king,” “I am loved,” “I am chosen,” and “I am worthy” are plastered on t-shirts and water bottles. They are prevalent in many song lyrics, books, talk shows, and everyday conversations. These phrases of identity in Christ and worthiness in God’s eyes are attempts to replace despair, self-doubt, and feelings of inadequacy. Yet despite...
Self-love is an ideology that has taken our culture by storm. Messages of “you are enough,” “all you need is yourself,” and “to love others you have to love yourself first,” are plastered all over social media platforms. This idea sounds wonderful on the surface and appeals to the insecurities many of us face. But there are damaging worldview messages packed into these seemingly innocent phrases...
“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” – Albus Dumbledore “Sara, I wish that you had invited me.” We sat across from each other, afternoon light playing with the steam rising from our mugs of tea. I uncomfortably folded the tea bag tag into a tiny square. Erin and I were serving on the same ministry team, and God had been...
When the iPhone was introduced to American society in 2007, everyone fell head over heels for this shiny, new, flashing rectangle of limitless possibilities. We dove right in. But who could comprehend how such a small piece of metal would change our lives as we knew it? I was only two years old then, and wouldn’t get a phone for many more years, though I am now as hooked as everyone else. But...
There are a few things I believe most everyone could work on: being polite, thankfulness, and taking an interest in others. These things sound simple enough, but they require intention and practice. Today I want to talk to you about how these three things can glorify Jesus in your everyday life, and how you can grow in each of them. #1. Politeness When I was about seven my dad started teaching my...
rebelling against low expectations
