Focus on the Positive
On Saturday night our pastor preached from Philippians 4:6-9. In this message he pointed out that while Paul was sitting in prison suffering for the Lord he was encouraging people to manage their stress and their anxiety by focusing on the positive and the truth. Focusing on What God has provided and done good in this life rather than all the junk. (Did you catch that Paul was in a totally crappy situation, preaching about stress relief to a bunch of people at a church he deeply loved, doesn’t give us much room to say that doesn’t apply to our stress)
In This Life we Will Struggle
This Past week I have spent it sitting next to a loved one in the hospital and I’ve been remind that in this life we will struggle. It can be with health, Friends, finances or even persecution. These Struggles remind us that this world is not our home and we should not get too cozy here.
Suicide… More Than Skin Deep
Suicide. When we hear this word, a lot of us (including me) like to skip over it because it’s either a word that we don’t want to think about, or just simply know how it feels to be involved in the thought process or knowing of someone who has made that drastic life choice. Statistics tell us that this is a serious situation that cannot be taken lightly. In Washington State, statics read that 10 in 24 young adults between the ages of 10-24, every week 2 of them commit suicide. 2!!!! Every single week! I don’t know about you guys, but this disheartens me. The fact that innocent people are taking their lives for whatever reasons, makes me re-evaluate how I treat people in life and how I, as a christian, are encouraging people in everyday life. I recently had a encounter with the word “suicide” and this is the story behind it.
An Encounter Changes Everything
Last night my pastor preached on how an encounter changes everything.
In Luke 7:11-17 we find a Woman helpless, distraught racked with grief with no hope and no future. The Woman is walking in a funeral processing by the casket of her only son, her only hope. She was now a childless widow in a world that had no social security, no government funded programs for the elderly and absolutely no way for a woman to earn a living.
I Hate Myself
Sitting in my dorm room last night, I began writing this confession to God about my day. Basically, it came down to this (Mind you, everything I am telling you is the absolute truth):
“I hate myself and that is my confession.” More…
Dear Kentucky
Dear Kentucky
This week God brought me here to restore me. I came on this trip broken, Discouraged and exhausted not knowing what I could give or who I could serve. I was a little reluctant to still come, I had suffered the loss of two dearly loved family members, sent my exchange student home after ten months and had a few large disappointments in the mix! My heart was not in this to say the least, but God had other plans. More…
I’m Sorry, I’m Sorry, I’m So So Sorry
I could feel him shaking in my arms. Together we wept, breathing in unison. Over and over his words chimed, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so so sorry.” I felt helpless. There was nothing I could change, years of damage could not be renewed with merely an embrace, but still, I pulled him in tighter.
I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so so sorry.
Bikini Season: The Christian Perspective on Eating Disorders
Bikini season is rearing. Let me tell you, I think about it every day; every meal I am constantly calculating what I can and can’t get away with. Yet, It wasn’t until health class that I realized I may have been struggling with the beginning stages of anorexia. Although, those of us who suffer from self-image problems hardly think about the Christian perspective on eating disorders. -But shouldn’t we? More…
Sometimes I Get Down
Sometimes I get down
Sometimes I Get Down
Even us as Christians will get bogged down by life, or become depressed. This is normal and OK. Our heavenly father knew we were prone to heartache so he filled his love letter to us with encouragement! Here are just a few verses that have helped pull me through those difficult times.