August 5 The Lord has been revealing within me lately a discontentment for my surroundings. Every day I brush past the wonders he’s created, and familiarity dulls my senses. I compare the humid air, dense brush, and shallow Missouri hills around me to the raging waterfalls of the East or the towering Rockies out West. … Continue reading Cultivating Eyes for Wonder

July 29 If you’ve ever heard of Sovereign Grace Music, you’re more than likely already familiar with the worship song All I Have Is Christ. Written by Jordan Kauflin in 2008, it paints a beautiful picture of the Gospel and our response to it with this simple, profound chorus: Hallelujah! All I have is Christ. Hallelujah! … Continue reading The Work Behind “All I Have Is Christ”

Dear Young Writer, God has instilled within me a passion to write and a passion to learn about writing. My mind often feels like a sponge, seeking to grow saturated with words of wisdom from writers far more skilled than me. Chances are likely you’re the same way. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to … Continue reading Dear Young Writer, Don’t Wait for Inspiration (And Other Advice from Authors)

July 22 My friend and fellow writer, Grace Maples, asked me to write a guest post for her blog this past week. The theme of her current series is Living Intentionally in Light of Eternity. I chose a topic to write on that has been massively significant in my life lately: Quiet Time The culmination … Continue reading A Guest Post on Quiet Time

July 15 Today’s snippet is for my fellow Christian girls. (Sorry, guys.) If you’re not familiar already, I want to introduce you to two of my favorite YouTubers. Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird are sisters, lifelong friends, and the founders of GirlDefined Ministries. After watching a handful of their absolutely fun, practical, and profound videos, … Continue reading The Christian Girl’s Guide to Starting a Ministry

Sitting through a recent funeral, my thoughts about eternity were spun into motion. Ms. Sue was a neighbor and friend who spent her last days on a nursing home bed. It was my neighborhood newspaper that led my siblings and I to her front door every other Friday. And over five years of front porch … Continue reading Part Three: We Have Assurance of Eternity

July 8   Two mornings ago I opened my Bible to see the words of Ezekiel swimming on a blurry page. Not again. I rubbed fists over my tired eyes to clear up the page only a little. Frustrated that I had set my alarm, scooted out of bed, and poured coffee only to open … Continue reading Blurry Eyes, Blurry Heart

July 1 This past week I started reading one of the books that had been sitting on my shelf for too long: The Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot. Two chapters in, I can already tell this is going to be an unforgettable read. Not only is Elisabeth a fabulous writer, but the biography … Continue reading A Teenager Devoted to Christ

I thought it was a party. Maybe a holiday celebration. And in a way, it was. The grinning girls and cheering women in the photo were commemorating an event with festive rejoicing. But it was all wrong. I let the New York Times paper drop in crinkles to my lap, my eyes straying back to … Continue reading Part Two: We Rejoice Differently

June 24 My Summer Break Reads So Far While not all my preplanned summer break projects have seen success yet, my resolution to read more is one of the better ones. Today I’m going to share the books I’ve enjoyed reading since school ended, as well as those waiting to be pulled off my shelf. … Continue reading My Summer Break Reads So Far