rebelling against low expectations
When was the last time you looked up at the sky? No, really. Think about it. When did you last stop what you were doing to tilt your head, gaze up, and admire wisps of clouds or an array of stars? How about the last time you said “hello” to a stranger or started a conversation with someone you didn’t know? If your answer is “not much lately” or “maybe sometime last summer” or “I just haven’t”...
I’ve always feared caring for small children. Obviously, small children are not inherently scary, but I have never had any practice in caregiving. I started volunteering in the elementary children’s church when I was twelve years old, and I stayed with that age group for years because that’s where I was always needed. Thus, I never got any practice caring for smaller children. Of course, I...
In today’s world, coveting isn’t given a second thought. We often covet without remorse, perhaps without even conscious thought. It has become such a common part of our daily lives that we don’t even notice it. We buy our cars and eat our expensive dinners, but we rarely stop long enough to think of what the Bible says about coveting. So, what is coveting? We all know the classic “Thou shalt not...
For many teens around the world, birthdays are a special time. Family and friends gather for parties, presents are exchanged, and candles on the top of the cake are blown out to the tune of “Happy Birthday.” Birthdays are a celebration of another year of life on this earth and even offer opportunities to reflect on God’s work in one’s life. I love birthday celebrations for...
Recently in my youth group, my pastor gave three criteria for examining our actions to see if they are what God would call good: “What kind of actions do you think God would call good?” • Those done in obedience to God’s command • Those done in reliance upon God’s power • Those done for God’s glory But as I thought about them, these three criteria really convicted me. Can we honestly...
If you could ask for anything in the world, what would it be? Tough question, isn’t it? Just think about it for a moment. Maybe money, video games, or a new phone with the latest update…? Whatever you would ask for likely mirrors your heart’s deepest desire, first priority, and ultimate goal in life. But there’s one thing–besides salvation through Christ alone–that every person...
Editor’s Note: Throughout the years, TheReb has published thousands of articles, each challenging and encouraging Rebelutionaries to do hard things and seek God. But among these posts, some have especially resonated with you, our readers. So over the next few weeks and months, we’re bringing back these classics, reposting our most popular and well-read articles every Thursday. May they encourage...
“God, please tell me everything I need to do. I’d feel so much better if I knew what your plans were.” Does that sound familiar to you? Have you ever wished to know what God’s plans are and what you need to do in the future? I have, and many times I’ve wished that he would reveal more than just the “next step.” However, moving and writing has taught me...
“So, who wrote this book then if no one was living?” she asked, eyebrows scrunched, freckled face questioning me. I smiled, chuckling to myself, “That’s a great question kiddo. There’s even some adults who have never asked that! The book of Genesis was written by Moses because God told him what to write. Have you ever heard of ‘God-breathed’?” “Umm, no,” she replied. “Well, let’s go to 2 Timothy...
“You’re too hard on yourself.” I’ve heard this so often that after a while I took a strange kind of pride in it. Such perfectionist tendencies must be good, I thought, and surely this is much better than the other extreme. Unfortunately my obsessive compulsive perfectionism spilled over into my spiritual life, with very bad consequences. Only last year did I start to realize how much pressure I...
rebelling against low expectations
