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A Tale of Two Plows
Happy September! We’ve arrived at the time of year that brings the sound of kids going back to school, the smell of pumpkin spice lattes, and a chill riding the wind. This month wraps itself in burnt orange and rain, reminiscent of endings and new beginnings. In a way, it feels like turning the page in a book to a new chapter. As seasons change, literally and figuratively, I’ve found myself thinking more and more about faithfulness. There is a certain verse in the Bible that haunts me: “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom…
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I Grew Up In Ministry and Here’s How I Turned Out
On hard lessons and big blessings that came from growing up as a pastor’s kid I’ve recently seen many young people entering Bible school with a burning desire to serve God and love the Church. And I’ve asked myself: what madness has possessed them? To which I can only answer: the same madness that has possessed me. It took a hold of me early in life, since I practically lived in church where my dad pastored. It grew when I discovered a love for teaching the Bible. It practically took over when God confirmed my calling at the age of fourteen during a leaders’ conference. And so I did what…
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What If We Included the Holy Spirit More in Our Stories?
Growing up, there was a popular series I became obsessed with: Left Behind. You’ve probably heard of it. Google describes it as a collection of apocalyptic novels centered on Christian eschatology, particularly premillennialist dispensationalism. (That’s a bunch of jargon for end times fiction with the belief that Jesus will come back to earth to reign for a literal thousand years after a literal seven year tribulation occurring after the rapture.) I absolutely loved this series. So much so that I read all 13 books of the main series, and then a few years later proceeded to read all 40 young adult novellas. Then I got older. My relationship with God…
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What If God Isn’t Safe?
In The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, there is a part where the Pevensies meet the Beavers. They are speaking about Aslan, and this conversation has always stood out to me: “Is he—quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion,” said Susan. “That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.” “Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy. “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King,…
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How Do You See Yourself Through Heaven’s Eyes?
In The Prince of Egypt, there’s this big musical number titled “Through Heaven’s Eyes”. The entire point of the song is that unless we are looking at our lives through God’s eyes (or Heaven’s eyes), we won’t be able to find the greater purpose that our lives hold in the tapestry of God’s plans. This led me to ask myself: What would my self-worth be like if I actually saw my life through God’s eyes? These past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on my friendships, especially the way I view my friendships. As I talked with my mom and processed some frustrations, I realized that most of my disappointments have…
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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…
