This morning I woke up with sweet memories in my mind. The 4th of July used to be my favorite day of the year. I always looked forward to what that day would hold–family, lots of good food, and fireworks. And each year I secretly hoped that my cousin's friend Heath would be at our … Continue reading 4th of July
I met Heath when I was really, really young (probably 12 or 13). He was friends with my cousin, Jonathan. From day one, I had a huge crush on him. I thought he was very cute, and I always hoped he would be at our family gatherings. My family was not very subtle about implying my … Continue reading Love Story
There’s a tree next to my house that I have always loved. I believe it is a Weeping Cherry Tree (Disclaimer: I am not a plant expert, by any means). A few months ago, the man who trims the bushes and trees at our house paid us a visit. Normally, he simply trims up the … Continue reading Restored
I don't get to watch the news very often. Most days the only headlines I see are the ones trending on Facebook. This weekend, however, I caught a glimpse of the madness in Paris. I spent my Thursday and Friday of last week sitting on the jury of a rape trial. A 14-year-old girl was raped … Continue reading It’s a Mad World
Over the past few weeks, I have watched the news about Kim Davis, the county court clerk who was imprisoned for refusing to grant a marriage license to a gay couple. I have seen people on both sides of this controversy pointing fingers and calling names. Mud has been flying. Through it all, my heart has … Continue reading But God
God loves you. I know that you've probably heard that statement a thousand times, but that doesn't take away from the reality of it. But hearing it so often may take away its impact. I'll say it again: God loves you. Yes, you! I know so many people who haven't quite grasped it yet. If … Continue reading A Truth That’s Hard To Accept
I was on my way home from Mrs. Jane’s house late on a Friday afternoon when I discovered something about myself, something I didn’t like at all. I discovered that I am a Martha. I was supposed to record her giving a testimony of God’s faithfulness. The video was going to be shown in both … Continue reading Mary in a Martha World
I step up to the wooden podium—my hands shaking. My breathing is heavier than usual. I look out at faces I know, faces I love. For a small moment I think about watching these faces grow and morph and mature with time. I remember a lot of these kids when they were sweet, chubby-cheeked babies. … Continue reading More Than Useless
The more I grow in my relationship with God the more I notice that He reveals the different aspects of His character to me one by one. This usually happens over long periods of time. I can look back and tell you what He was revealing to me at different points in my life. At … Continue reading Grace
After years of being involved in church-- I have served as a volunteer, an intern and a staff member--I've noticed that sometimes church people can be hateful, selfish, and down-right mean. There is nothing more discouraging to a young person doing ministry work than witnessing ugliness coming from Christians. I am constantly fighting cynicism. I keep … Continue reading Stop Being Mean
Honoring Christ 