Life comes at us quickly. We move at such a fast pace that we rarely spend any time taking care of ourselves. As long as nothing is majorly wrong, we ignore the condition of our hearts. We often assume we are okay until we are not…

Have you ever felt like your emotions were on a rollercoaster, swooping and diving with every passing thought or circumstance? It's a common experience, one that can leave us feeling dizzy and disoriented. In these moments, it's crucial to remember that everything we feel isn't necessarily true. Our emotions, while valuable indicators of our inner world, often remain untethered. They float freely, responding to both reality and imagination with equal intensity. Without a secure foundation, these feelings can lead us astray, convincing us of falsehoods that feel all too real.

Without even knowing it, many of us keep places of our hearts off-limits to not only God but those around us….

I'm a sucker for inspirational sports movies, especially ones centered on the underdog. Rudy, Friday Night Lights, Hoosiers, Miracle, Remember The Titans, Field of Dreams…the list goes on and on. If any of these films happen to be playing, cancel all my plans for the day…

During His earthly ministry, Jesus repeatedly preached a clear message that we Christians often overlook: heaven is here! We often think of heaven as a faraway place in the clouds that we cannot live in until the day our hearts stop beating. However, Jesus preached that heaven is not simply a city in the sky—heaven is a state of being that we can experience today. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t want us to wait until our dying breath to encounter the joy of heaven. Because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, we can participate in the kingdom of heaven right here, right now. 

If you've ever wondered what resides at the bottom of a cruise ship, I can, unfortunately, tell you: an infirmary. On the final day of a vacation with friends, I wasn't feeling well, so I decided to go back to my cabin and rest. Unfortunately, I didn't make it that far and passed out in an elevator (or so I have been told, as I don't recall much of that day)….

These well-known words are from the prophet Isaiah. The entire chapter is all about the greatness of God. Isaiah wanted the people to look at the world around them as a reminder that everything on this earth will wither. There is no object or person on this earth, now or ever, that will be able to outdo time. But God and his word will stand forever…

When I take the time to pray for others, I often get overwhelmed. As soon as I whisper, “Dear Heavenly Father…” my anxious mind starts firing off names and causes I “need” to pray over, all in rapid succession. I feel a crushing pressure to make time to pray for everyone I know who is struggling. More than that, I want to pray for those I don’t know—for any person facing injustice, poverty, abuse, loss, or illness. I want to pray for the Church, for our nation, for nonbelievers, for my own healing and growth… the list goes on and on. (It should be noted that my desire to pray for these things is often compromised by my easily-exhaustible patience, short attention span, and self-centeredness… but I digress.) 

In our fast-paced, results-driven world, we often try to categorize and control every aspect of our lives. We create mental boxes for how we think things should work, including our faith. But God's Kingdom doesn't always fit neatly into our preconceived notions.Think about how we approach our daily tasks. We press a button, and we expect an immediate, predictable result. However, the Kingdom of God operates differently. It's not a vending machine where we input the right combination and receive instant blessings. Instead, it's more like a garden where seeds are planted, and growth happens in ways we can't always see or understand.

A simple carpenter wouldn't be the person you'd expect to change the course of human history. Yet, no one has had a more significant impact on shaping this world and culture than Jesus Christ…

Florence. Matthew. Floyd. Dorian. Fran. For those of us who live on the coast of North Carolina, we know the devastation these powerful hurricanes caused - homes destroyed, lives lost, businesses flooded. Even as a twenty-year transplant to Wilmington, I still get a bit anxious when a strong storm rolls in, mainly due to the massive Sweet Gum tree that towers over the side of my house….

Being short, scrawny, and sarcastic made me an easy target for bullies in high school. My mouth attempted to write checks my petite frame couldn't cash. Sometimes I went looking for trouble; more often than not, trouble found me…

7th grade picture day had finally arrived. I picked out my outfit the night before and even showered, which like most teenage boys, was a rare occurrence. I was ready to stun the ladies with my rugged handsomeness or, at the very least, my peach fuzz mustache…

Each of us is in the process of becoming—growing into the unique person God designed us to be. This journey isn’t something we embark on alone; it’s marked by encounters—with others, with ourselves, and most importantly, with God. Many of us wrestle with questions of faith. These questions can lead us in one of two directions: down a path of hardened skepticism, where doubt builds walls, or toward a journey of curious exploration, where questions open doors to deeper understanding. The beauty of faith is that it can withstand scrutiny and even grow stronger through honest inquiry.

The Bible contains hard truths and commands that go against our natural tendencies: forgive our enemies, don't worry about tomorrow, and control our tongue. We desire security and stability, yet, in Scripture, God urges us to walk by faith…

Growing up, I said my prayers (and ate my vitamins) not to get closer to God, but because I was a Hulkamaniac. Like most kids raised in the late '80s, my idol was the wrestling icon, Hulk Hogan. Much to my younger brother's chagrin, my dream growing up was to follow in Hulk's footsteps and become a professional wrestler.

Lately, my faith in the Lord has been… paradoxical. My confidence in Him has been simultaneously resolute and non-existent. I believe that my God has the ability to walk on water and calm storms by speaking a single word. I believe that my Heavenly Father is a miracle worker, a great healer, and a victorious king. I believe that He’s defeated the power of death and darkness for all eternity. I believe in a God that possesses boundless strength and ultimate authority over all things. I believe these truths. I strive daily to build my life and identity around these Truths. 

God establishes my steps - this implies a sovereign planning and a secure ground upon which to walk. The stability of our walk rests in our willingness to delight, worship, and trust…

To reflect God's heart, we must know God's heart, and the Bible helps us see His heart, character, and ways. The Bible is a collection of writings demonstrating God's love, pursuit, and promise of redemption. God-breathed and sovereignly preserved, it reveals to us who God is and what He has to say, ultimately pointing us to Jesus Christ as the most apparent revelation of God. 

In Christian circles today, we often measure the strength and vitality of one’s faith based on how regularly they engage in spiritual disciplines. We think a “good Christian” is simply one who reads their Bible every day, attends church weekly, prays before every meal, and regularly participates in a small group. However, we don’t just evaluate the faith of others using this “rubric.” We tend to define the quality of our own faith by how well we check off boxes on a religious to-do list, too.