Glen, my father-in-law, has to be the most "frugal" person I know. He's always looking for ways to skirt the system, especially regarding the one checked bag rule that most airlines have in place…

Some people make works of art with paper and pen or a brush and a canvas. Others turn a lump of clay into something truly remarkable. But then, there is Erik Varszegi. You can find his art form in most kid's playrooms - Legos.

Self-denial isn't resigning oneself to a life of misery and drudgery. The opposite is true. Dying to ourselves and living for Christ is where absolute joy, security, and purpose reside. But, to rest in this state entails work and intention on our part…

Very few films define my childhood more than The Karate Kid. I was seven years old when the big-screen introduced me to Daniel Russo, Mr. Miyagi, and the villainous Johnny Lawrence. Being teased and bullied as a kid myself, I couldn't wait to see the Cobra Kai crew get their comeuppance…

Have you ever watched a gardener tend to their plants? They don't just plant seeds and walk away. They water, prune, and nurture their garden daily. Our faith in God requires similar attention and care. Jesus often used agricultural metaphors to explain spiritual truths. He spoke of seeds, soil, vines, and fruit. These images remind us that faith, like a plant, needs cultivation to grow and thrive. But what does this look like in our daily lives?

I’m not a fan of driving in general, but I despise traveling back to my hometown. As much as I adore my extended family, I do everything in my power to avoid getting behind the wheel and jumping on I-95…

A little light makes a big difference to its surroundings. I recently learned this lesson the hard way…

While you read this devotional, don't mind me. I'll be crying in the corner, realizing I only have a year until my oldest daughter heads off to college…

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.

Understanding is a beautiful and powerful thing. It's more than just gaining information or facts - it's a means of transformation. When we truly understand something, it has the power to shape and change us from the inside out. Too often, we approach truth and wisdom with an attitude of control. We want to contain it, define it, and ensure that others comply with our understanding of it. We create systems and structures to hold truth captive, rather than allowing it to take root in our lives.

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…