One thing I often struggle with is being too worried about what other people think about me. In fact, as I think over just my past 24 hours, I can think of several times I was stressing (not too seriously, but it was on my mind nonetheless) about what other people might be thinking about…
Category: Christian Living
Seeing Obedience in a Whole New Light
The word obedience doesn’t immediately fill me with happy, joyful thoughts. What about you? When I think about being obedient, for some reason I seem to automatically think about situations when I need to submit to another person even if I don’t want to. The dictionary definition of obedience doesn’t help make the word seem…
Practical Ways to Block Out the World’s Distractions
My parents don’t watch much TV, but when they do, they enjoy the entertainment value of commercials right alongside whatever it is they’re viewing. If we’re ever watching TV together, usually a sporting event of some kind, they let me know when one of the commercials they like comes on. And I usually am unable…
The Power of Starting and Finishing Each Day Strong
What are some times when it’s really important to start strong and finish strong? The first thing that comes to my mind is an athletic competition. Whether it’s a game, a race, a match or a meet, strong starts and finishes are crucial. If you don’t start well, you might find yourself in a hole…
10 Ways to Take an Easy Step Toward God
Have you ever faced a seemingly insurmountable task? …something that just felt impossible? Maybe it was something that was going to require a considerable amount of time and energy, and simply thinking about the enormity of the job ahead stopped you from getting started. Sometimes thinking about the perceived size of a looming task or…
How to be The One Who Makes a Difference
There’s always one. Right? There’s always that one coworker who’s difficult to get along with, that one person who leaves frustrating comments on your social media posts, that one family member who gives you grief about a certain topic, or that one friend who stubbornly insists on doing things her way. There’s always one! For…
A Reflection on the Leadership of Your Life
Who or what leads your life? When you make decisions, what is your underlying motive? A leader is such a difference maker. Whether it’s the leader of your family, your workplace, your church, your Bible study group, or maybe even your friend group. The leader carries incredible influence and power. At the school where I…
How to Bring the Fun to Your Faith Life
Living a life in relationship with God is not just about following rules. I wonder if one misconception people might have about Christianity is that it’s always serious—keeping up with certain dos and don’ts, trying not to make God mad. The Bible showcases lots of different celebrations. As disciples of Jesus today, we can look…
Helpful Hints and Reminders About Asking God for Help
What does it take for you to ask for help? If I let my pride and my desire to be self-sufficient take charge, I will sometimes wait too long before asking for help. For example, when I was trying to finish and turn in my student data tracker last quarter after we finished a testing…
Five Faith Traditions to Think About Starting
Five Faith Traditions to Think About Starting Traditions. I absolutely LOVE them! Traditions with family members, friends, students… I love them all. One particular group of people that I love has several traditions that we love continuing through the years. We carve pumpkins together each October, we decorate Christmas cookies together each December, we go…