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Mere Human| By Emily Lawson

Jan 22, 2020

Mere Human| By Emily Lawson

Tell me a little about yourself. What comes to mind? Your name, age, job, relationship status? Maybe your hobbies or interests? Mine would go something like, “Hi, I’m Emily! I’m a wife to my high school sweetheart, and a mommy to my son, with another baby on the way! I’m currently a financial service representative for a hospital pharmacy, but would love to stay home someday. Our family loves to be outdoors to hike, camp, and travel…” But who are you? Really? Down to the nitt

The Reason for the Season| By Emily Lawson

Dec 29, 2019

The Reason for the Season| By Emily Lawson

I’m a procrastinator. Majorly! Doomed forever into a life of rushing and running ragged. Though usually much better in previous years, this last week, I’ve done ALL of my Christmas shopping (we buy for around forty people!) and put up the Christmas tree. Like I said, I’m a procrastinator! My mind has been on what this person would like, where this present needs to go, how much wrapping paper I need to get, do I have bows, do I have enough flour for cookies, what day is that h

Interruptions or Opportunities?| Teoria Murray

Dec 25, 2019

Interruptions or Opportunities?| Teoria Murray

One lazy Sunday afternoon, I was lounging in bed engrossed in a good book, relishing in the rarity of a weekend off work. I planned to immerse myself in the peace and quiet, only moving from my bedroom to the kitchen and back again as needed. In the middle of my relaxation, the doorbell rang, and I dragged myself to the door. It was my aunt and uncle, making a spontaneous visit. Before I could greet them, I had the wind knocked out of me by an enthusiastic hug around my abdom

God Is Moving| By Zuzana Niedelova

Nov 20, 2019

God Is Moving| By Zuzana Niedelova

How many times have you prayed for a situation to change? I know I have frequently, and chances are you have too. We are called to pray and have faith that God will move. However, what if He is already on the move and working, but we just cannot see it? In the story of Elisha, the king of Aram was at war with Israel. Elisha was a man of God, and He was making the Arameans’ plans known to Elisha in order to warn the Israelite king. As a response and defense, the king of Aram s

God Is Moving| By Zuzana Niedelova

Nov 20, 2019

God Is Moving| By Zuzana Niedelova

How many times have you prayed for a situation to change? I know I have frequently, and chances are you have too. We are called to pray and have faith that God will move. However, what if He is already on the move and working, but we just cannot see it? In the story of Elisha, the king of Aram was at war with Israel. Elisha was a man of God, and He was making the Arameans’ plans known to Elisha in order to warn the Israelite king. As a response and defense, the king of Aram s

His Daughter| By Gabby Jones

Nov 10, 2019

His Daughter| By Gabby Jones

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalms 139:13‭-‬14 (NIV) When things have been taken from you, and you lose yourself, what do you do? Who do you turn to? Who do you become? Many of us go through seasons that rock us to our core. When we lose someone or something, we forget how we operated before tragedy struck. Who we are can

His Daughter| By Gabby Jones

Nov 10, 2019

His Daughter| By Gabby Jones

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalms 139:13‭-‬14 (NIV) When things have been taken from you, and you lose yourself, what do you do? Who do you turn to? Who do you become? Many of us go through seasons that rock us to our core. When we lose someone or something, we forget how we operated before tragedy struck. Who we are can

Leap of Faith| By T’eoria Murray

Sep 25, 2019

Leap of Faith| By T’eoria Murray

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is evidence of things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) In the summer before my senior year of college, I felt a tug on my heart to commit to a year of full-time ministry. As I sat before God in my devotions each morning, I heard Him whisper, “Take this leap. I’ll catch you.” My breath caught in my throat every time I thought of it. The idea was ludicrous. I was an international student. What about my plans to move on to medic

Share Your Story: Two Faces| By Corrinn McCauley

Aug 28, 2019

Share Your Story: Two Faces| By Corrinn McCauley

I grew up in one town that had two faces. One face was the glossy McMansion playground fully equipped with Trader Joe’s, an outlet shopping mall, and a Starbucks on every street corner. This upmarket face is a magnet for San Francisco foreigners hoping to take their Stanford or Berkeley education and retreat a small distance from The City with their children. However, the second face came first. It is the remnants of a railroad town established in the Gold Rush. The former sh

I AM| By Tori Savoy

Aug 21, 2019

I AM| By Tori Savoy

“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Exodus 3:14 (KJV) There are multiple passages in the Bible that God is referred to as “I AM”. An english teacher may look at that sentence and say it is incomplete. But God finishes it. He is God, the Almighty, the omnipotent, the omnipresent, Jehovah, Immanuel, and so forth. God embodies all that is good. He is truly all in all. In order to ful

Walk With Purpose| By Chelsea Verdin

Aug 7, 2019

Walk With Purpose| By Chelsea Verdin

It was day two at my new job, and frankly, I was feeling overwhelmed by all of the information my brain was trying to absorb and process at the same time. I could remember thinking to myself, “You were not created for this extreme amount of multi-tasking. You are going to hurt yourself with information overload.” I was feeling a little pressured by the amount of expectation that had already been placed on me with this new title. Then, like a gentle reminder from heaven, my ne

Surrender it All| By Bethany Anding

Jul 10, 2019

Surrender it All| By Bethany Anding

“Then he walked a short distance away, and overcome with grief, he threw himself face down on the ground and prayed, ’My Father, if there is any way you can deliver me from this suffering, please take it from me. Yet what I want is not important, for I only desire to fulfill your plan for me.’ Then an angel from heaven appeared to strengthen him.” Matthew 26:39 (TPT) This scripture has great significance because it shows that even though He did not want to, Jesus still surren

When Religion Fails| By Tori Savoy

Jun 19, 2019

When Religion Fails| By Tori Savoy

Religion. There is more than likely one of two responses people have to this word. They either feel peace in it, or cringe at the thought of what religion has done to their lives. Now half-way through my 20s, my success of moving into adulthood has come down to finding freedom from religion. Yes, I am no longer bound to religion. Do not get me wrong. I am a Christian. I have not turned my back on God or Christianity. I have just learned to let go of all the legalism and rules

Praying With Boldness| By Tori Savoy

Jan 9, 2019

Praying With Boldness| By Tori Savoy

Throughout my life, I have come against some mighty adversities. I have learned that no matter the battle, the outcome is determined by fighting on my knees in prayer. When I began to come before the Lord with boldness and confidence in prayer, I saw mighty things changing in my life. As Christians, I think we sometimes take prayer for granted. It is something we do from the moment we are saved, but sometimes it so easily becomes a chore. We begin to recite typical Christian

Let Us Return to the Lord| By Tori Savoy

Aug 15, 2018

Let Us Return to the Lord| By Tori Savoy

“Just give up on me. I am not worth it any longer,” I told, or basically yelled, toward God. My guilt had overwhelmed me, and I felt as if I would never be good enough to be loved by a perfect Savior. Even though I knew God gives us forgiveness, I could not quite forgive myself enough to accept God’s love again. I kept failing Him time and time again. I did not feel deserving of His love. All I felt was shame. But Romans 8:35-39 (NLT) tells us differently. 35 Can anything eve

Do You Even Know Me?| By Tori Savoy

May 16, 2018

Do You Even Know Me?| By Tori Savoy

Marriage is one of those things that’s beautiful and ugly all in one. It has a way of exposing your true character and teaching you lessons you never realized you needed. Marriage is a representation of the covenant we share with God and just about every struggle and every victory can be related back to our walk with God. This is something I have found true in my own marriage. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only wife who has been guilty of being upset because their husband was n

I Refuse: When Life Tries To Steal Your Joy| By Tori Savoy

Mar 21, 2018

I Refuse: When Life Tries To Steal Your Joy| By Tori Savoy

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace;” Isaiah 55:12 Joy. It is a feeling that seems so simple, yet the pressures of life somehow seem to complicate it. How many times have you begun a day with the intention of having a joyful attitude? But then, you get stuck in traffic, arrive late at work, deal with an angry customer, spill food on your brand new blouse, forget an appointment you have, and anything else to spoil your day. Now joy is the last word in your v

“Wait on the Lord”| By Jasmine Beard

Mar 19, 2017

“Wait on the Lord”| By Jasmine Beard

This scripture ran through my head constantly as I approached the end of my undergraduate career. College wasn’t the easiest thing I have ever dealt with and certainly not the hardest. But, at the peak of a grueling 18-hour course load and a 100-page thesis I was conducting, I was glad the end was finally near. This was the moment I had waited for and worked towards for 4.5 years, my entire adulthood. I had an assurance in my heart that the months following graduation would b

Who?| By Jasmine Beard

Jan 29, 2017

Who?| By Jasmine Beard

In the months after I gave my life to Christ, I began to experience true love. I always thought going to church and being a good person would ensure a personal ticket to Heaven. But, through my experience of salvation I realized that was not the case. I began to delve deep into the Bible. I had the same Bible since I was nine years-old. It was hot pink with florets all over the cover. The title page read, “Teen edition NIV version.” I didn’t know if this Bible was like the al

Jan 15, 2017

Where?

After my cousin passed away, I thought about death a lot. And eventually I began to have a repetitive dream of my own funeral. For a suicidal teen, the dreams were somewhat satisfying to me, as morbid as that sounds. I began to tell my best friend that I thought I was going to die soon because of the dreams I was having. Around that time I began visiting a local church’s youth group as well as a weekly Bible study. I mostly went because I enjoyed getting out of the house and