Thoughts of a 20-Something Woman

I've come to learn so much about my walk with Christ over the past year. How real, how genuine, how messy it can be. How I desire to walk through life in complete honesty and transparency with those around me. And how many people can't handle it. Most people won't be able to handle it. Because as Christians, we all talk a big talk regarding honesty and authenticity---until we realize how messy it is...and then we just prefer easy and we prefer perfection. We preach two different things . "Come to the church and be yourself completely!" But in the same breath, we say, "But don't be too honest! Or you won't fit in with us." We preach two different things . "Come to the church and expose your sin and mess. We won't judge!" But in the same breath, we say, "But if you could actually just put a nice bow on top of the sin to make it better, that'd be appreciated." We preach two different things . "Come to the ...

The past year of my life---I've been walking down a road that I never thought that I was going to be walking down. The long road to forgiveness . Over the past year, I've been betrayed, used, and cast out from those that used to be so close to my heart. Things have been said to me that can never be unsaid. Things have been done to me that can never be undone. People have accused me of things that they had no right to be the judge of. And all of these situations have left me with broken pieces to clean up on my own. Satan's lies were thrust at me from every angle. "Why aren't you a better Christian?" "Why can't you fix yourself faster?" "If you could just fix yourself, people wouldn't leave you." "You'll never be good enough." "You'll never be worthy of true love."  And then in Satan's crescendo he says to me, "Look at all the proof that I have against you!" ...People leave you...

This weekend I was given the opportunity to volunteer with the Miss Amazing Pageant. I got to spend the entire day with girls and women that have physical and mental disabilities. These girls showed me what true beauty looked like. In our culture, we are so blinded by what the television shows and magazines deem as "beautiful." Beautiful means flat stomach. Beautiful means flawless skin. Beautiful means smart. Beautiful means long and skinny legs. Beautiful means perfect hair.  Beautiful means gorgeous eyes.  Beautiful means white, straight teeth. Beautiful means giving yourself to a guy. Beautiful means being popular. Beautiful means being a runway model Beautiful means being outgoing. Beautiful means never making a mistake. Beautiful means being perfect. Perfect . Perfect . You have to be perfect. Smile bigger...but not that big. Wear more makeup...actually---wear less . Wear a dress. But not too short ...and not too long either. Lose we...

I had the privilege of attending the Simply Youth Ministry conference in Indianapolis this past weekend with my co-worker, Shari. God absolutely blew my mind at this conference. I do not believe that our relationships with Christ are based on feeling, but I believe that God gives us seasons in our lives where we are able to feel His presence. Feel His arms wrapped around us. Feel His touch in our heart.  My relationship with Christ is not based on feelings, rather it is based on the truth that God is always with me---even when I don't feel Him. Even when I don't see Him. I trust that He is always near, He is always holding me, He is always listening. But every once in a while---in the middle of our lives, God does something incredible. He gives us a taste of His presence and we feel Him. At this conference, I felt the presence of God. And it was healing. It was beautiful. It was refreshing. James 4:8 says,"Come near to God and He will come near to you." Wha...

One of my favorite songs by Jesus Culture is called "Break Every Chain." The song is simple. The main line sings, "There is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain...break every chain...break every chain." Psalm 107:10-16 says, "Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains . Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron." These verses give an absolutely beautiful picture of what God can do in the lives of every person. Every . Person. "Some sat in darkness and t...

Tenth Avenue North is one of my favorite bands and they released a song a few years ago called "By Your Side." It's one of those songs that I've heard so many times, that the truth in it started to lose its impact. But today, this song was played during the high school sunday school class...and for the first time in a while, I felt God's voice speaking directly to my heart. I felt like He was asking me the questions in the song. I felt like He was singing truth to my heart. And I just wanted to weep in His arms. I just wanted to sit forever in that moment. I hope that as you read these lyrics and listen to this song...you feel the taping of the Lord on your heart and that you feel God wrap His arms around you.  "Why are you striving these days? Why are you trying to earn grace? Why are you crying ? Let me lift up your face. Just don't turn away. Why are you looking for love ? Why are you still searching  as if I...

It's not Easter Sunday according to our calendars. However.... The tomb is still empty. Christ has risen! We've been set free from the power of sin! We can have relationship with God! Sometimes we get so caught up in our world and our life that we fail to reflect on the most precious and sweet news...the good news...the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My high school youth pastor, Stephen, used to always tell us to 'preach the Gospel to ourselves daily.' I always thought, "Daily? Ha. I can only handle one emotional "Gospel night" at camp once a summer, Stephen! You expect me to preach that to myself daily ?! You're cray." You know what I'm talking about....they turned off all the lights, they gave some really emotional talk, the music was incredible and sobering...a skit may have even been involved. You always knew that  night was coming at camp. It was probably my favorite night because it always reminded me of the hope that I have as a ...