Jul 11, 2017 | Dating & Marriage
It was a passing comment as she walked out the door. “I can usually tell when my priorities are out of whack,” She said, grabbing her purse from the coat rack. “I start seeing marriage as an escape from my reality, and that’s when I start wanting it too much.”
Her words rang in my ears for hours afterward. That’s it. That’s the problem.
It’s a problem I’m all too familiar with – I did the same thing when I was single. When work and school and life got stressful, I’d daydream about the day I’d be married – the day a man would “pick up the slack” and help me bear this burden. Though I’d never label myself a damsel in distress, that’s exactly what I acted like under pressure. Outwardly, I was capable; but inwardly, I was searching for a human rescuer from my circumstances.
Jul 10, 2017 | Christian Life & Theology
Do you ever feel like an inadequate Christian? You don’t read enough, pray enough, or serve enough in the kingdom of God. I recently heard from a reader in response to the Overcomer’s E-Course. She said she often feels like a “less-than” Christian; like she never does enough in her walk with God.
I sense she’s not alone. Our spiritual enemy works daily to integrate his lies into our lives. One of those lies comes wrapped in a shroud of faith and good works: the lie that being a believer is a one-time decision, and that the rest of life is up to us.
Jul 5, 2017 | Motherhood
Here’s what you have to look forward to, the article said.
No sleep. Dark circles. Post-baby bodies and clothes that don’t fit. Tantrums and messes and no more vacations. Thankless hours, endless “whys”, painful play dates, a struggling marriage.
But be happy! the article says. Parenthood is worth it.
Jul 3, 2017 | Dating & Marriage
The division between single and married remains a difficult barrier in the modern church. Though both sides are well-intended, many married couples act as if they don’t recall the difficulties of singleness. In turn, singles feel as if married people are only interested in the status of their love lives – and little else.
Jun 27, 2017 | Dating & Marriage
I decided to save my first kiss for my wedding day long before I started dating. Some will applaud this decision. Others will scoff and roll their eyes. Others will pity me for being a product of my conservative Christian upbringing.
My conviction was shaped through many years of attending weddings my dad, a pastor, was officiating. Some couples had saved their first kiss, some had not. Some weddings deeply moved me in their Christ-centered simplicity. The pure, strong love I saw some couples share in Christ made a deep impression on me.
Jun 26, 2017 | Productivity
Many of my readers are currently living at home; some are still in high school, others are home temporarily while on summer break, and others have returned home periodically to search for career opportunities. While living with your parents is a huge blessing, it also poses a real productivity problem – especially if you’ve already lived on your own.
Jun 20, 2017 | Dating & Marriage
Nobody wants to end up in the friend zone – at least not when they like the person who friend zoned them! Though this happens to guys and girls alike, being put in the friend zone when you’re hoping for more is – well, disappointing. When it keeps on happening, you might wonder what’s putting you in the friend zone at all.
Jun 19, 2017 | Sexuality, Singleness
I wore this today because I’m insecure.
I looked in the mirror and the mirror told me lies. But I believe it, because it’s all I’ve ever known.
You’re not enough. You’re not attractive. You’re unloveable.
I wore this today because I want attention.
I looked in a magazine and the magazine lied. But I believe it, because it says I can be confident.
Show off your body. Make them look. Make them jealous.
Jun 13, 2017 | Christian Life & Theology
In my 5-day Overcomer’s Email Course, I never fail to get a response on Day Three’s email: laziness. “Oh man, this is my struggle,” the emails pour in. “It’s so hard to motivate myself to do what I need to do each day!” Laziness is no stranger to us. Even the most productive people have sneaky ways to be lazy if they let themselves; little distractions and insignificant tasks they use to procrastinate what really matters. But we don’t talk much about laziness in the church because – much like gossip or physical boundaries – we don’t see it as a spiritual problem.
Jun 12, 2017 | Christian Life & Theology
As a young “Christian”, my walk with God was little more than trying to follow rules. Trying to overcome temptation was an uphill battle against an ever-prefailing human self. I spent my Bible study trying to memorize the “lists” of Christian character qualities in the New Testament – then attempted to implement those virtues on my own strength. It’s no surprise I failed to overcome temptation – my walk with God wasn’t much to speak of, since God wasn’t very much part of it at all!
