As a firstborn myself, there are some recurring themes in the life of Jacob that don’t sit well with me. Birth order seems to come packaged with sets of unique traits; traits that would be invaluable when looking for the one who would be the...
Just go kill it. These words from Matt’s sermon have not stopped ringing in my ears, “If there is a dream that is separating you from God, just go kill it.”...
Having an older brother was always great, except on Christmas day. We would be opening presents, tossing shiny wrapping paper everywhere, and looking for devices we could steal batteries out of to use in our new gifts....
One of the things I see clearly in the biblical narrative of Jacob’s life is how God never gave up on Jacob and the plan he had for Jacob’s life. It gives me comfort because I know he brings that same faithfulness and patience to...
What an interesting idea reconciliation is—to willingly forgive, restore, and make right a relationship that has gone wrong. I do not believe it is a natural human instinct....
I secretly hope my neighbors aren’t watching as I back out of my driveway. I would say that I’m better now, but I used to fear that the front end of my car was going to hit the side of my husband’s truck....
While student teaching last spring in a fourth-grade classroom, I got a front row seat to a lot of girl drama. After a while, I noticed that one particular girl was always in the middle of it....
All my life I have been analytical. By definition, that means I study and evaluate just about everything. I seek to use logic and reasoning to answer the question that’s always on my mind: “Why?” ...
Recently, my dad had a falling out with a long-time friend. He’s not entirely sure what caused it, but he suspects that a comment he made one morning over breakfast hurt his friend’s feelings. Dad tried for several weeks to get in touch with his...
We’ve all been there at some point or another. New job, new church, new school, new neighborhood—what we know and what is familiar and safe is coming to a close and the horizon holds a shiny new idea for us to grab ahold of....
The desire for control is a creepy thing. It creeps up on us all the time in ways that we don’t even know. It creeps up in our thoughts and in our hearts, affecting our words, actions, and decisions....
Genesis 27—where we see Rebekah manipulate circumstances to get Esau’s blessing for Jacob—sounds eerily familiar. Isn’t it the struggle that all mothers have to take matters into their own hands and make things happen for their kids? And not just mothers. I think it’s the...
This has been a summer of weddings for me. In this season of life, it feels like there are more weekends with weddings than not. Amidst all the festivities, there is one wedding tradition I always avoid: the bouquet toss....
Talk about taking advantage of summertime! Our 24Seven leaders at the Pelham Campus blew it out of the water with a Life Skills lunch for our 7th-8th grade students. We had 22 students sign up and come to this daytime event, held separate from our...
“O praise the name of the Lord our God. O praise His name forevermore. For endless days, we will sing Your praise. Oh Lord, oh Lord our God.” One of the ways that I sense God’s presence the most is through songs of worship. ...
Summer is finally here. For students, it means freedom. No more class. No more homework, and no more responsibilities. For those of us out of school, it means going through the same routines, but the only difference is now it’s hot....
Kurt Arens’ life is a story of the Lord’s redemptive power to change our hearts and teach us His ways. He grew up knowing there was a God, but his faith was not fostered by his family as neither parent attended church. It was common...
They move towards the building, some running, holding bags or purses over their head, some quickly walking with umbrellas pulling against the wind. They splash through puddles, not noticing, as their shoes are already soaked through. The rain comes in sheets, and they don’t care...
Like so many of us, Kathy Scully was raised in a home that often succumbed to tension, dysfunction, and brokenness. Her parents’ actions communicated a confusing message that she was both the very best thing and the very worst thing....
With several campuses, it can be easy to miss out on stories of how God is moving and working within the local church. Read below as Chuck and Ashley Moore, community group leaders from our Pelham campus, tell the story of the Jump Start furniture...
Last week, a twenty-two year-long season of my life came to a screeching halt in the ten seconds it took me to walk across a stage, shake a hand, and receive a piece of paper declaring that I’m finished with school forever. Up until that...
Peace. It seems to be a word often thrown around yet rarely sought after or attained. What is peace anyway?...
When I was young, I was the “peacemaker” among my friends. It was a constant obsession of mine to make sure I was at peace with everyone and everyone with each other. I hated for there to be any conflict or for anyone to be...
That Saturday was one of those days where I questioned everything. It was an introvert day I needed, but the scary kind where I didn’t want to be alone and also didn’t want to be with anyone....
When I was in third grade, I played softball for one year. I’m not sure why I wanted to play, but my team did not win a single game—so I decided softball wasn’t worth it and I quit. I decided if I wasn’t winning, it...