Faith

“Bloom where you are planted.” How often do we hear that phrase? It’s on that T-shirt you bought at Target three years ago, that print you want from that artist girl’s Etsy shop, that pin you pinned a few weeks ago on Pinterest … everywhere. Such a well-known and over-used phrase. But are you? Are you blooming where you are …

Last August my grandma turned 80 years old. For the past 7 months she has yo-yoed between the hospital and rehabs as her health continues to deteriorate. It’s a difficult process, watching someone you love so dearly slowly fade from the strong, determined woman you once knew. My grandma was a powerhouse of the faith — the kind of woman …

There’s a good chance you know someone who’s going through a difficult time. If not, take a quick scroll through your social media newsfeed or a brief listen to the national news networks, and you’ll hear of people facing horrible realities. Just within the last few weeks, we’ve seen innocent people attacked — from Dallas, Texas, to Nice, France. Daily, …

I spent the first portion of the year forging through Brene Brown’s Living Brave semester. This online course delved into her two bestselling books: Daring Greatly and Rising Strong. During the 12-session class I pressed into challenging introspective work that caused me to turn my emotional insides out, dissecting them with microscopic analysis. Some days were really ugly, like dumpster-diving …

Believing in God and His power has gotten me into trouble a time or two. Now before you grab your torch and pitchfork, hear me out. Believing in God and knowing of His power doesn’t require much of me. It doesn’t rub against my flesh in a way that makes me uncomfortable. I have believed in God all my life …

When I walk through a lively city park, I see excited children splash in water fountains and hear families laughing together on restaurant patios, and inexplicable joy penetrates my heart. Recently, on a perfect Saturday evening, distracted by this joy, I failed to notice the grassy areas devoid of Frisbee players or blanket layers. That is, until I nearly tripped …

I recently landed on a Facebook post that referenced a Coast Guard – On Scene article about recognizing when a person is drowning. As I read, I began to sense the Holy Spirit resonating a spiritual reality in the description of someone who is caught in “Instinctive Drowning Response.” In the article, Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D., identifies the natural form …

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” I remember this question being asked of me so many times as a child. I am not even sure of my answers now. Although the memories of my childhood desires are vague, I have always wanted to build things and work with my hands. At age 9, I remember taking …

There’s a battle raging at this very moment. Though you may not recognize or admit it, you are right in the middle of it. This battle’s origin is from eternity past, but its finale is fast approaching. It isn’t a visible, physical battle of human flesh, blood, and smart bombs; rather, it’s a spiritual war against the powers of this …