rebelling against low expectations
“I don’t think bad words are really that bad.” A lot of us may be tempted to agree with this comment I once heard a girl make, wondering if “bad words” really are bad. Some Christians won’t say curse words, but they’re okay with watching movies and listening to music that has language in it. Where should Christians draw the line, and why are bad words, um, bad? Here are a few things to keep in...
Before firearms were invented, a sword was the most deadly and powerful weapon someone could own. It was the weapon of choice in battle and in self-defense. He who was skilled at wielding it was a dangerous man to mess with. In addition to knowing how to use a sword, it was also important to keep it sharp. A dull sword was a bad defense in protecting life and property from harm. In this world of...
Your head rests on your desk. Bags under your eyes indicate lack of sleep. Tears spill out of your closed eyelids, and for a moment, all you can think about is your exhaustion. You’re so tired you can barely function. Whether it’s due to stress, anxiety, or illness, exhaustion is a heavy enemy. We fight it, but eventually, it overtakes us, hurting us and the people in our lives. Your life is so...
“O Lord, I want my life to speak on When I am gone: May something I have done my days outlive, Some sacred act of faith its memory weave, And unto men a lasting blessing give, When life is done. Oh, may some word I’ve said, some deed of love, A comfort prove: Let something stand a lasting monument – Approved by God, a[n] holy complement, That I upon His work was full intent, Sent from above.”...
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...
Knowledge is a great place to start in uncovering the gems of Scripture, but knowledge alone isn’t particularly helpful. Alone, it tends to cause us to feel smart, which can lead to arrogance or pride. Rather, we need to sift through the dirt to find the gems of understanding. So here we move from knowing the facts of the passage to comprehending what those facts actually mean. You may know that...
The Bible can be a little daunting to study. First, there’s all those pages, well into the hundreds in many versions. Then you have those unpronounceable names that seem to come from the latest fantasy novel. And have you read some of the stuff this book contains? Wheels covered in eyes (Ezekiel 10:12). Belly fat oozing over sword hilts (Judges 3:22). Prophets walking around naked (Isaiah 20:2-4)...
Most of you probably know the hymn, “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus.” Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face And the things of this world will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace. Often, we sing hymns and read verses, but don’t grasp their magnitude and significance. The words of this hymn recently hit me. If you are fixing your gaze on Jesus, all the things of...
I’m Alycia, and I’m a recovering perfectionist. For years, I struggled to connect with people because perfectionism controlled my life. I was constantly working, stressed about the size of my to-do list and the fleeting hours of my day. Desperate for respite, I tried therapy, journaling, reading my Bible, taking long walks, anything I could think of. But they only provided temporary relief. I...
“I am so glad you will be able to have the ‘college experience’,” a couple of people have told me recently, when hearing of my plans to move out of state to attend college. After spending almost two years taking online college classes and living with my parents after high school, many are thrilled that I will finally have the “college experience” and get out on my own. But the concept of the...
rebelling against low expectations
