The thought nudges me all morning. Excuses fill my mind like the aroma of baking bread swirling through the kitchen. It tickles my appetite and propels me toward the fridge. I know I planned to fast for 30 days, but 28 is long enough, right? God can accomplish in 28 days what … [Read more...]
Self Control: The Misunderstood Fruit of the Spirit
I can’t remember when I started measuring my worth by my waistline, but I think it started around 3rd grade. At times, I engineer enough willpower to resist the gift of food, abhorring its pleasure. It works for a while. But soon my will collapses. I hide in the rubble and binge … [Read more...]
What Club Outreach Taught Me About Love.
Inside the doors music vibrates through our ribs. Stale beer sours the air. We look down at our feet, watching our footing as our eyes adjust to the dim lighting. Our shoes stick to the floor in old beer spills. They peel up with each step like half stuck stickers. We are in … [Read more...]
Love Isn’t Ashamed of You
In the summer of 1998, Jesus climbed down into my darkness and invited me into His family. The initial changes in my life were quick and dramatic. But then I spent the next 10 years trying to convince God that I was worthy of the choice He made when He picked me. So, my life was … [Read more...]
How to Belong in any Situation
I’m nine years old when I start having this sinking feeling. Everyone in the room is on the guest list except me. My last name is different than everyone else’s. My blonde straight hair is a stark contrast to the dark curly locks everyone else wears. In my mind, the new baby … [Read more...]