If her teen years were an ocean, then Gia felt “adrift.” Years before our paths met and God wove the strands of our lives together, my friend Gia wrestled hard against her sin. “Right as I was getting into my teen years was when I realized how depraved my sin nature actually was,” she said. … Continue reading Living Intentionally as a Young Person: Gia Mesz
March 3 I turned eighteen last week. I don’t feel necessarily older, even though I can vote now. My birthday morning was a wintry one—20 degrees and icy. Just another hint that this world isn’t my perfect home. I read a liturgy on Thursday morning from one of my favorite books, Every Moment Holy by … Continue reading A Birthday Liturgy
February 24 When the word dominion appears in Scripture (or anywhere), I immediately think of dictatorship. Dominion rings the familiar bell of domination. And that sounds tyrannical. But when God lifted Adam from dust and took Eve from his side, the dominion he handed them was beautiful. It was a pure and perfectly just dominion … Continue reading Dominion Doesn’t Have to be Bad
I know some ultra-creative people. My friend Ashley can paint stunning landscapes. Gia can craft imaginative stories. Natalie can sketch heart-warming portraits. And that’s only a glimpse. The world is oozing with creativity. Painters, poets, potters and pianists have embellished life since its beginning. They’ve blended colors and forged rhymes and morphed melodies into beauty. … Continue reading We Were Created to Create
February 17 Instead of piling their gold together for a calf to worship, the Israelites willingly gave rings, brooches, earrings, and armlets toward the Lord’s Tabernacle in Exodus 35. It was a group effort. Men of artistry crafted the gold into instruments. Women of skill spun blue, purple, and scarlet yarns into curtains. Every contributor … Continue reading How Are You Using Your Talents?
February 10 Things that make me happy… a sliver of moon over a mellow sunrise; fog below Bible time, quiet making more coffee stirring orange juice morning drive alone old highway 50 singing “this good day” while i drive cresting that hill i love trying to watch the road and the horizon at once friendly … Continue reading This Good Day
I’m passionate about being outdoors, but it hasn’t always been that way. My enjoyment of nature once stopped at planting tomatoes and camping in the backyard. I walked through God’s creation with my eyes closed, and I missed out. But things changed when I slowed my pace. I braced the cold to watch the sunrise. … Continue reading 3 Things I’ve Learned from Spending Time in Nature
February 3 I’ve had spring fever since November. I do love snow and Christmas and skating on my grandpa’s pond. But I also can’t wait for spring sunshine and planting garden seeds. A passage in 1 Corinthians reminded me last week that Christians are called to tend a garden year-round. A spiritual garden. Like the … Continue reading Gardening in God’s Kingdom
January 27 Reading about Joseph in Genesis this past week challenged me. It reminded me that in every situation, God's name can be made known. Here are just a handful of instances in Joseph's life (both bad and good) where he turned eyes away from himself and instead pointed to God: When tempted to sin … Continue reading Everything Can Point to God
This article was first published on The Rebelution blog, where you can read it in its entirety. It’s usually easy to live as a set-apart Christian teen on Sunday morning. We’re quick to conquer the church checklist: Wake up. Read Scripture. Go to church. Read more Scripture. Listen to a sermon. Talk to Christian friends … Continue reading Don’t Leave Your Christianity at Church
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