Category: Faith & Spirituality

  • Be Grateful

    Be Grateful

    There are plenty of scriptures that emphasize gratitude as part of a Christian’s lifestyle. But I shouldn’t really need a scripture to tell me to be grateful. Out of the blue, the song “Be Grateful” by Walter Hawkins was in my head in the shower one morning. It was a staple in our family when…

  • My Experience with Church Hurt, Part 4

    My Experience with Church Hurt, Part 4

    This is the final part of my series on church hurt. In the first three posts, I shared experiences that reshaped how I view community, leadership, and trust within the church. This last post isn’t about the wound — it’s about the healing. It’s about what I’ve learned, what I’ve released, and how God has…

  • My Experience with Church Hurt, Part 3

    My Experience with Church Hurt, Part 3

    Hurt…Again When we found our new church in 2016, I thought the hard part was over. I was hopeful—maybe even a little naive. I wanted this to be the place where healing turned into belonging. But healing isn’t always linear, and community can be both beautiful and complicated. A New Church, A New Hope I…

  • My Experience with Church Hurt, Part 2

    My Experience with Church Hurt, Part 2

    In Part 1 of this series, I shared how I grew up in church. I also discussed how I poured myself into ministry. Eventually, I reached a breaking point. It left me burned out and disillusioned. Walking away was both freeing and unsettling. I didn’t know who I was outside of constant church involvement. Part…

  • My Experience with Church Hurt, Part 1

    My Experience with Church Hurt, Part 1

    **I want to approach this gingerly. I realize some people have suffered severe abuse and are now dealing with the resulting trauma and crisis of faith. It’s important to note that I am only speaking from my own experience. I fully acknowledge and respect that each person’s experience of church hurt is unique and valid.**…

  • Am I Carnal?

    Am I Carnal?

    Recently during a message at church, the scripture reference was 1 Corinthians 3. “However, brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as to spiritual people, but [only] as to [a]worldly people [dominated by human nature], mere infants [in the new life] in Christ! 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food; for you were not yet able to…

  • Waiting

    Waiting

    For so many years, I took pause as I heard Isaiah 40:31 expounded upon. The speaker would always tie the word wait into meaning to serve, like a waiter in a restaurant. I’m not fond of that representation of wait. Not because I don’t want to serve but because it says to me that I…

  • Guard Your Heart

    Guard Your Heart

    Now, you know how it goes. You write or talk about something and sometimes, the principles you’ve spoken about are tested. This is one of those times when I was tested. I won’t go into much detail about my daily job. However, I will say that it is a position with admin rights to a…