grace Exploring the Gift of Imperfection I’ll confess, the prospect of imperfection after years of the need to be perfect is not in the least enticing. It’s hard pretending that I want to be anything less than perfect most all of the time. As I said, I learned
christianity A Reflection on Imperfection I’m not sure when I first learned it, but I figured it out pretty early in life that to receive love, attention, affirmation, protection, and sustenance, I needed to be perfect. Looking back, I’m honestly in awe of how observant and sponge-like
christianity What the Mona Lisa Taught Me About My Sense of Self I’ve been in Paris for a couple of days now. It’s been many more days since I last wrote here. It’s time to process some of the thoughts I’ve had over the past few weeks and several hours alone in
christianity Praise Chorus: My Wife Is an Amazing Woman I woke up this morning convicted of the idea that I need to thank God for my wife. Maybe you know her, maybe you don’t. That’s beside the point. She’s an amazing woman and I’m going to shout it from
fear Golf Isn’t Just About Golfing I played a few holes of golf with my dad yesterday. There was a group playing behind us, so we were hurrying — I should say, my dad was trying to hurry us. Thus, I was being hurried. You don’t hurry someone who’s
Deaf Deaf Isn’t a Disability But a State of Being I was on the way to the airport to spend a few days with my dad. I stopped by the house to drop off a few items of clothing that
forgiveness Redeeming the Shame There are many things that can seem to bring us shame in this life. We are fragile souls treading lightly across an unforgiving and often harsh earth, so it should be no surprise that we all at some point experience shame for something we
community Stress and the Months of Darkness I don’t know where to begin, as it’s been…too long. So, like any good writer, I’ll start in the middle. I’ve been struggling to put words to paper (screen) for over two months, because I’ve been unwilling to
Christian living Learning How to Fight Fair When Life Isn’t Something that was drilled into my head at a relatively early age were the words “life isn’t fair.” I didn’t really understand what that meant, but since then I’ve been very careful not to mix fair with life or its circumstances.
Christian living Marketing God In a World Filled With Noise While having a conversation the other day, I was asked the question, “Is a marketer successful if their efforts don’t result in sales?” “No,” I answered instantly, startling myself with my certainty. I gathered my thoughts and explained how the purpose of a
children Sabotaging God and the Pursuit of Happiness We all want to be happy. We’re all in our own ways striving after the things we think will bring us that long happiness. I know I am. But I also know that I have a tendency of sabotaging God when He does
children Prayer Will Break Your Heart Over the last week or so, I’ve come to believe that if you’re doing it right, you’ll eventually find yourself in prayer for something which you never thought you’d pray. You’ll pray for things like broken relationships, hardship, destitution,
culture Humility Is Inherent in Recovery So, it’s been three weeks since I pulled my back. Therefore, for one who treats most things as if they have an on-off switch, it’s been three weeks of moderate torture. I’ve always been fortunate enough to physically do just about
Breaking Down Broken Gratitude and Pulled Muscles So, it’s fitting that I’d be sitting here typing this post on New Year’s Eve with a strained back. No, I’m not going for self-deprecation or even some take on karma. The past few weeks have been a noted time
Adults Snow Day In the Adult World Today is a snow day here. Still working, but working from home. I’ve realized that a snow day like today is a catch-22 for most adults, a term which I now must begrudgingly apply to myself. After college (even in college), snow days
Christian living Prolonging the Gratefulness Gratefulness, gratitude, does not come easy to my heart. That’s what I realized last week. I always want more. Like the Israelites in the desert, the perennial whipping boy of faithlessness, I can always find something to complain about. Maybe I’m alone
consumerism Consumerism Fever Is What I Got It’s once again been a few days since I’ve posted, but to be honest I’m torn as to what I want to share with you today. It’s been an interesting week, honestly. The high note has certainly been the restoration
Friday Can’t Quit, Won’t Quit, Just No Need To “I am weary, tired of all the struggle. I want to know that at some point the war for my heart’s affections will die down and cease.” – I don’t like to quote myself, however today I couldn’t resist. It’s
Calm The Seas What the Storms of Life Show Me Storms are an inevitable part of life. Seems like they always have been and always will be. And I hate that fact. I want calm. I want peace. I am weary, tired of all the struggle. I want to know that at some point
change Change of Heart and Mind I don’t want to know her; I don’t want to take the time [to know her].I know it’ll lead to heartache.I don’t want to open up.What’s the point?Always the same result.But is it me?
disappoint This Monday, Remember God’s Proud of You http://instagram.com/p/ftAEdsvdJt/embed/ God’s proud of you, as He was yesterday Before time, God made you; perfectly, He arranged every cell, saw each one of your days (Psalm 139:13–16). He loved you before you were ever you. If
Calm When I Need to Calm My Soul https://play.spotify.com/track/5Jfhlu1nOVWSc9a9G5bbGmI feel like my heart has been clamoring for peace over the past couple weeks. Work’s been a crazy-maker as of late, I haven’t been sleeping well, and I’m still trying to find a place of
caring Three Things I Learned From the First Missionary You may remember me talking about Jesus and the woman at the well on Monday. Well, this is a continuation of my marinating on that passage. It’s just the beginning of a new outlook on what it means to live a life transformed
Flaws Grace and My Desperate Need For It It’s hard running a small blog. I’d imagine it’s harder than running a large one. Why? Because I don’t get a whole lot of feedback and so even when I feel like my words aren’t being received well, it’
Economy Of Grace The Economy of Grace: Free But Not Cheap http://instagram.com/p/ddDnQzvdA1/embed/ Free in the economy of grace Grace is extended freely to all who ask it of God. Two millennia ago, God secured the future of grace when He sent His Son to the cross and Jesus rose forever