Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ. It’s Jesus’ birthday. The fact that we GET gifts on His birthday is a testimony to God’s grace and generosity. This year consider reducing the volume of gifts you give to three purposeful and intentional gifts. Maybe this year you could try and give Jesus three gifts too!

My husband and I have almost always attended a large church but have been able to find our people and make it feel like home. Our first church home was Oasis LA which at the time had an average service size of about 6000. Then we moved abroad and attended Hillsong in London which had […]

My friends today might find this shocking but I wasn’t a great friend before I met my husband, Alex. I was socially awkward, distant, and aloof. I struggled with building strong lasting friendships. Let’s put it to you this way I was only a bridesmaid in one wedding and that was for my sister. (Obligatory […]

Some of the greatest periods of spiritual growth came out of seasons where I engaged with a Christian mentor. I first found a Christian mentor when I was serving in youth ministry. The types of behaviors and circumstances that my girls were dealing with was beyond my experience. I needed to find someone who could […]

People ask me regularly what I do for exercise. My typical response is, “I do lots of things including weights, hiking, running, and yoga.” The response is usually a confused defeated look. As though I were hiding the magical routine that keeps me in shape. The real reason I stay physically fit is because I […]

If you are anything like me you are learning a lot about the opinions and preferences of your friends during these unprecedented times. The war is raging about whether you should wear a mask, observe strict quarantine, attend a protest, or whether you should use the #blacklivesmatter to support your black friends. Do you agree […]

Life presents us with many paths. It can be challenging which direction to go when the options available seem similar. I have often been asked the question, “Would you be interested?” From starting a small group, joining a mission trip, or moving to another country this question is often followed by excitement or uncertainty. When […]

People that know me now would find it hard to believe that I used to have the nickname, “Worry Wart.” My fourth-grade teacher was the first person to speak it out loud that I worried about everything. I distinctly remember her saying, “Stop being such a worry-wart. You are doing great.” I was only 10 […]

Have you ever prayed for something really big only to have it never happen? Have you ever prayed for a miracle? I want to clarify a few things before we dare ourselves to pray for miracles. A miracle according to Oxford is “a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific […]

One of life’s greatest lessons I continue to apply is that my attitude affects my experience. How I am able to choose how I think has a direct correlation to a happy fulfilled life. I was a dyed-in-the-wool skeptic when it came to the idea that if I just think happy thoughts I’ll find happiness. […]