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Character Arcs and What They Teach Us About Spiritual Growth
One of the key elements in storytelling is building strong character arcs. Character arcs are the way a character changes throughout a story, whether for good or bad. They are what keep us turning the pages and reading, making us cheer for the main character, hoping they will achieve their quest and reach their goal. They are also what make us cheer against the villain. As I’ve learned more about character arcs, I’ve realized that I’m very drawn to them because they reflect the way that we learn and grow as believers and children of God. Character arcs in fiction are, many times, a parallel of our own personal growth…
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Five Summer Reads For Home or Vacation
With summer in full swing, I have seen many people online recommend their favorite “summer reads.” Summer reads are essentially fun, enjoyable books that capture the sunshine and fun feels of the summer season. Whatever your summer looks like (whether it’s a vacation, a staycation, or simply your usual routine) here are my top five recommendations to capture the feeling of summer. I have included various genres so that you can find something you enjoy, something you can recommend, and hopefully a new favorite. Heidi by Johanna Spyri Heidi is a beloved classic which has been adapted many different times and in many different ways (my favorite being the anime).…
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What if God Called You to Deep Soil Work?
I’ve been actively serving in my local church for more than twelve years. As a twenty-three-year-old, that means that I’ve been serving for half of my life. I’ve tried multiple things out, and I’ve learned some places I excel in (such as leading small groups and Bible studies) and others I’m very bad at (such as taking care of one-year-olds in the nursery). I’ve gotten to experience the great joys of serving others, such as seeing their faces light up when something finally “clicks”, or the joy that comes when they encounter God, or experience His presence during worship for the first time, or finally find a place to belong.…
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Scrolling Isn’t Sabbath
Some Sundays back my dad taught on the fourth commandment: Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God (Exodus 20:8, NKJV). He spoke on the importance of having intentional rest days, and how God designed us to work, but also to enjoy the fruit of our labor. While the Sabbath is no longer a strict ordinance punishable by death (yes, it was as drastic as that in the Old Testament), it is still something that was birthed in God’s heart. Today, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Sabbath…
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Lessons I’ve Learned About Cultivating Good Friendships
I argued with God in my mind, complaining about the lack of reciprocity in one particular friendship. I went on and on about how much I gave and how little I received. I even had specific arguments and occasions to bring up as proof of ill usage by my friend. Until God completely stopped me in my tracks. You’re acting like she owes you her friendship. That’s not the way it works, Anna. Friendship is a gift that is freely given and a blessing that is received. Needless to say, my internal argument with God trailed off. I was immediately out of steam and feeling pretty bad about my internal…
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I Love Stories About Orphans. Why?
The majority of bestselling stories (at least in middle grade and YA) feature an orphan protagonist. Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, and The Mysterious Benedict Society all feature orphans. And even The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson feature main characters raised by one parent, in both cases the mother, with the father either dead or out of the picture. In my own writing, I have found myself gravitating towards writing stories about orphans who get adopted by kings or chiefs, and orphans who play a large role in saving their world and families. This has led me to ask myself the question: why do we love stories about…
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Creative Ways to Spend Time With God
We can all agree that spending time with God should be a high priority. And yet, we often have a set image of what a devotional life is and what it looks like. In our minds, having quiet time with God looks like waking up early to sit somewhere, read the Bible, and pray without interruptions. This is one way a devotional time can look, but today I want to explore creative ways of spending time with God that carry meaning while being outside of the box. Writing Letters to God Think about this as becoming pen pals with God. One of my favorite ways to pray is to write…
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How God Speaks Through the Bible and What It Actually Feels Like
We’ve all been told that one of the best ways to hear the voice of God is through His Word. But how, exactly, does this work? What does it look like? After all, opening the Bible to a random page and pointing at a verse can land you in some pretty bizarre places. If you are seeking to hear God’s voice, opening your Bible to “you shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk” won’t be too helpful for your current situation. (Unless you wanted to know the proper way of cooking goat according to the Law of Moses…) Today, we will dive into what hearing God through…
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The Tension Between Abiding and Striving
There has been a surge in trends such as slow living, offline living, and analog hobbies. In a society rushing about to do more and hopefully, one day, become more, many people are pushing back against the grind and seeking to make space for meaningful living. This makes sense when one looks at the average amount of screen time per person per day (6 hours and 40 minutes according to Google). People want their lives back, and I believe this is a good thing. God designed us for slow living. Not unproductive, lazy lives, but fulfilling lives that aren’t intent on burning themselves out on an endless quest for meaning.…
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You Have What It Takes to Make Disciples
The end goal of evangelism is to make disciples. When evangelism only gets converts without discipling them, just part of the Great Commission is being fulfilled. Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Evangelism is essential for the expansion of God’s kingdom and the establishing of Heaven on Earth. But converts who don’t know how to be Jesus followers will be weak and ineffective Christians. This is where discipleship comes in. Many people believe that evangelism is the job of big personality evangelists, and discipleship is the job of men or women pastoring a local church.…
