I remember my first day of 6th grade at Trask Middle School here in Wilmington, NC. I was late for my first class, I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going, and my biggest fear was being embarrassed in front of all my friends because I didn’t know how to use the combination lock on my locker…

One can have all the answers, yet still not be free. "Going deeper" is dangerous waters when one finds themselves drowning in the shallow end of faith not lived out…

Growing up, one of my favorite games to play was Hide and Seek. It started when I was a toddler attempting to hide from dad. As he would begin to count, I'd giggle and try to find a place to hide, typically ending up underneath a blanket, inside a closet, or behind a sofa (with my feet hanging out)…

I want to grow in the ability to be fully present in each moment I experience. Whoever is with me, or whatever I am involved in, I want to be completely focused. The pursuit of this skill is challenging because of the worries of another reality: namely, tomorrow…

When we let comfort and convenience overpower our willingness to step into the unknown, we choose to sit on the sidelines. If our eyes focus solely on whether our tiny, individual kingdom is comfortable, we will miss out on opportunities to be used by God. There is an incredible cost associated with making this decision…

I once saw a funny meme running in conjunction with a Miss America pageant. It was the scene where Oprah is giving away free cars, you know the one, “You get a car, you get a car, you get a car…,” but instead of giving away cars Oprah was giving away world peace, “world peace for you, world peace for you, world peace for you…” 

When we quit trusting God cares, provides for us, and loves us unconditionally, we quit obeying. And when we dig in our heels, we stop believing that God has a grander purpose for the struggles we face. We don't tend to drift due to theological reasons or holes in our belief system…

It’s human nature to crave consistency. We wish life would have a rhythm and flow and not be interrupted by unforeseen events. We crave to know what lies ahead of us so we can adapt and be ready to respond. Yet, in my 27 years of life, the one consistent thing I have found is inconsistency…

I, like so many of us, have struggled over these last few months of quarantine. Living as an immunocompromised person in this season has been eye-opening. There are so many opinions, tensions, and conflicts that the world is just begging us to step into right now. It’s challenging to know what the right thing to do is. It is even, at times, overwhelming…

The Bible is filled with hard truths and commands that go against our natural tendencies. We are told to forgive our enemies, not worry about tomorrow, and control our tongue. We desire security and stability yet, in Scripture we are commanded to walk by faith…

Rhetorical questions have their advantages, but my experiences with them doesn’t feel good. When I would break something in the house growing up, and of course my parents knew, they would still come to me and ask, “I wonder who broke that?” It seemed like a test to see if I would tell the truth and own up to my mistake. But, when used correctly, rhetorical questions can help us wrestle with important questions…

I was in a yoga class a couple of months ago. Before we started, I was telling the lady next to me that I enjoyed the exercise, but as a Christian, I don’t subscribe to the new-age beliefs that the teacher shares during class…

When was the first time you disregarded your parent’s advice? I clearly remember mine; it involved an appetizing plate of steaming hot fries. I was only four years old so when I was told not to touch them, I scoffed and dove right in. Sure enough, I snatched my hand back and began to cry at the pain coming from the burn…

Kids are naturally curious, which means they ask a lot of questions, and I mean, A LOT. When my two girls were toddlers, I regularly found myself on the other end of their constant, never-ending barrage of questions. Some were funny, others were random, and then some halted me in my tracks with their profoundness…

Nehemiah was frustrated at what he had to witness - one of the most toxic attributes that humanity can practice: oppression. Unfortunately, this unsightly trait is ingrained in us due to the brokenness our sin created. We show partiality every single day with our sports teams, political parties, the Scriptures we follow and obey, and the most unfortunate of all, with humanity…

On my way to an appointment, the heavens opened up, and a torrential downpour ensued. Gripping the steering wheel in utter fear, I attempted to navigate my way through the monsoon. As the rain came down in sheets, I flipped on my windshield wipers in hopes of achieving at least some visibility…

When we see the challenging issues of the world, the solutions to the problems seem obvious. People who are hungry need food. Families without a home need a roof over their heads. Racism could be solved by all of us becoming color blind. If only the “haves” would be more compassionate to the “have nots,” then all that is wrong with the world would be instantly fixed…

You don't need to trust anyone if you think you have everything under control. But, here's the thing about control - it's an illusion at best. The only predictable thing about living in this world is its unpredictability…

Living in exile within a foreign country, Nehemiah received the devastating news that his homeland was in disrepair. Hearing that the walls of Jerusalem were broken broke Nehemiah's heart, but he didn't ignore the pain or try to fix the problem…

One of my favorite parts of this life is our ability to be in a relationship with others. Being designed for relationships is not just a spiritual thing; it is part of our humanity. Even the scientific world encourages us to partake in relationships because of the vast benefits it can have in our lives…