rebelling against low expectations
From my childhood to my late twenties, there is scarcely anything more magical to look forward to than Christmas. Nostalgia is a precious thing. Sights, smells, and sounds all take us back to a place where we were warm, happy, safe. For me the embodiment of that contented state goes back to the holidays. I’ll never forget when the magic of Christmas was especially strong for me growing up in...
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...
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! I groan and fumble in the dark to find my phone. I squint to make out the time. 6:30a.m. I wriggle out of bed and begin getting ready for school. The next thirty minutes are a blur. I finally make it to the car with my breakfast in one hand and my Spanish flashcards in the other. The school day passes by uneventfully. Classes, tests, quizzes, and lunch just like every other day...
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...
There are three principles that many Christian influencers have unintentionally ignored for far too long. Whether you are a blogger, an evangelist, or even a social media savvy Christian teen, these principles are essential to successfully sharing the gospel of Christ and influencing others to follow Him. If you feel like your ministry is running dry, or your inspiration isn’t as steady as it...
At some point in our lives, we have all asked the question, “What is my purpose?” In response, we face a multitude of answers. But as Christians, one response stands out above the rest. Our purpose—the reason for which something is done or created—is to bring glory to our Refuge and Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. That answer comes simply, but it forces us to chew on another question, “How can I...
Recently, I participated in a play with my classmates. The theme was the relationship between God and humans. I played the part of an average human. In the play, the human is lying on the couch when their phone dings. There are two notifications, one from God, and one from their friends. Do you know what they did? The human ignores God’s invitation to be together, and instead, goes to their...
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...
For as long as I can remember, spending time alone with God has been part of my day. After my family gathered for our prayer and Bible study in the morning, we would each go off and have our personal time with God. When I was younger, I loved this time. I thoroughly enjoyed reading my devotional and working on memory scriptures. Then, I got older… and busier. School intensified. I joined a...
I sit staring at my computer. A million distractions and notifications hum around me, each one tearing at my few remaining strands of focused energy and productivity. I pick up my phone, check a few emails, and give Instagram a ‘brief’ glance over. Fifteen minutes later, I attempt to refocus on the task, but my brain is still whirling. When should I reply to that friend? My new post...
rebelling against low expectations
