Born to be Free

Many of us as Christians are wrapped up in evangelism, spreading the gospel to others and seeing their lives freed from the grip of evil.  It's the Great Commission and it needs to be lived out every day. But there's something else we need to be doing too - Preaching the gospel to  ourselves . Our very own Jesus, when the devil himself was standing in front of Him - what defense did He choose?  How did He refute the prince of darkness? He quoted scripture. This God incarnate - He's the Master of heaven and earth and could've called on His army of angels, but chose words instead. They say the pen is mightier than the sword - but the pen of God is a two-edged sword wielded by an all-consuming fire of a God. The Word of God is the greatest weapon for fending off the enemies of God. The devil will whisper lies into your heart every day - sometimes he'll even  shout  them.  But you almost never know it's him talking. That's the thing - all thos...

This week I'm leaving for Washington to visit a friend and help her move. Traveling has played a fairly large part in my life this year - physically and spiritually. Between Bible Quizzing competitions out of state, the trip to Canada, and a journey to the Carolinas - much of the past twelve months I've been discovering new parts of the world, and new sides of myself. When this year began, I decided to choose a word to live by for the remainder of 2017.  Feeling like I often ran away from the hard things God brought my way - I chose a three letter word - "yes".  I was done avoiding the things He had called me to do, and so I said yes. Yes to journeying out of the country, to restoring relationships, to not being dominated by my fear.  Yes to speaking up and stepping out, and learning that love is both the simplest and the hardest thing to give.  Yes to caring for the people around me, but remembering that I can't ignore my own soul in the process.  How c...

I've always been a deeply feeling person. Whether it's a tragic book ending, a triumphant battle-cry, a friend's depression, or the changing of Earth's seasons - my heart is greatly invested in the joys and the sorrows of the things and people around me. "This is their problem, not yours.  You don't need to concern yourself with it." "Yes, they're leaving.  A lot of people do.  Someday you'll just have to get used to it." But for some reason, I'd rather not get used to it. Maybe I am overcaring and sensitive - but I don't want to live life numb.  I would rather be vulnerable and risk letting my heart be broken sometimes than to be blind to the beauty of this world.  Even the beauty of the broken things and the broken people. I believe that God created us with emotions.  Though it is inherently sinful to let our feelings guide us to the point of murder, covetousness, and idolatry - it is not sin to feel other things. It...

Most likely you woke up today with your first thought being "What needs to get done?"  Life seems like a race sometimes and aren't we just trying to hold it all together?  Not just for ourselves, but for everybody else too? You can rise and breathe in the first morning air and forget Who first breathed it into you. You can walk to the sink and fill the glass unknowing of what a miracle it is - how your cells join forces and fight to keep you alive. There is nothing ordinary about the "ordinary".  We forget Who He is and just what He's doing in each of us. We overlook the miracle of living and the One Who is redeeming us, day after day.  All our mistakes, all our failures, our brokenness - crafted into beauty.  Day by day. " '...Fear not, for I have  redeemed  you; I have called you by name, you are Mine'...'You are My witnesses,' declares the Lord, 'and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me and und...

Every year we return to South Carolina, it feels a lot like we're going home.  It's a place that's etched itself into my heart, and all my childhood memories. In some ways, I feel like I grew up on the beach, among the wild things that burrowed in the sand, dampened by the salt-spray. There was "the year of the seaweed", when hurricane surges had stirred up the depths and washed color on the sand. There was the year we bought peaches and watermelons from the local farmer's market. That one time in 2015 we were there during the hortific flooding that washed out roads and railroad tracks.  We drove our 12-passenger van through water as it splashed up on the hood.  Somehow we survived. I've changed every year, especially over this past one it seems.  This returning, this coming "home" - it grounds me, reminds me who I've always been, Who's always been there. He's traveled with me every year, guarding my path, healing my spiri...

In a few days we will be leaving for our annual trip to South Carolina.  We have gone to the same spot since I was little, returning to the memory again and again. Perhaps one of the questions I hear the most is "What about the sharks?"  I tell people that the most afraid you'll ever be is when you're sitting at home.  When you walk to the water's edge, perhaps there is a bit of apprehension.  But as soon as the waves engulf you, there is no fear left - it's all been washed away. Maybe it's the same thing as when God says "Return to Me, and I will return to you..." (Malachi 3:7)  Maybe the most scared you'll ever be of the great unknown depths of God is when you're seated in your spiritual rocking chair. But when we're comfortable where we are is when we're in the most danger. Somehow, you just don't realize that until you're in the middle of the dark, when your biggest fears are swirling around you and threatening...

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1) This year so far has really been one of self-discovery. Of discovering who I am in Him.  Who I am not.  Who I am to be. Discovering what I believe.  What I don't.  And why. Where He wants me.  Why He wants me here.  What I am to do. Surprisingly enough, this journey began right when I decided to give up on the notion of possibly knowing exactly where I'm supposed to be. He has this way of letting me live what I believe to be my plan for a while.  Then my life flips upside down, and really - that's the moment He's been waiting for. Faith has never meant being tough.  It's never been about stepping up and showing people how it's done. The heroes of Hebrews 11 - their strength came from their own brokenness because it was never about being strong.  It was never about the capabilities, their intelligence, their...