Marriage Matters
Today we are bombarded with messages that are anti marriage. You can do this alone. You deserve it. You can raise a child alone. Just follow your heart. You deserve to be happy. There is a belief going around that God has the perfect person out there for you and you must have picked the wrong one or not found him/her yet because you are not happy. The job says your marriage and family need to take a back seat until this project is done. But then there is another project and another. But when your family falls apart [...]
Through Our Doubts and Fears
Have you ever felt guilty about doubting the Lord? Maybe you’ve gone through a traumatic experience and are struggling to see his goodness. Maybe your prayers have seemed to continually go unanswered, so you do not feel his nearness. Life can be incredibly difficult at times. In fact, according to I Peter 4:12, Christ followers should not be surprised by the trials we go through. We live in a fallen world. A world that is against Christ and, as his followers, against us. We are not meant to live a life completely clear of struggles. However, that does not [...]
A Psalm For The Times
We find ourselves in a situation that many of us probably feel ill-equipped for. The world in which we were raised molded us to survive in a specific environment, an environment that helped protect and safe-guard us from most threats. There have been few times in the past 50 years that Americans were actually confronted with a truth that humans all throughout history have had to accept: We are not in control. Experiencing this fact is a freighting thing to us. We’ve always been able to rely on resources and affluence to escape calamity. Think about the wars, fires, [...]
If Fast Food Restaurants Were Spiritual Gifts
I firmly believe that you can tell a lot about a person by their favorite fast food choice. For example, if their chosen poison is Subway, they want to be healthy but choose the Italian herbs and cheese bread each time, so they’re probably the type of person who’s only halfway committed to things. McDonalds? They know what they like, and they are unwavering in their conviction. Papa Johns? They think they’re better than everyone. Well, I believe this theory also bleeds over into the spiritual side of things. I think that each fast food chain almost perfectly reflects [...]
Toward A Place Where Roots Are Deepening
I’m thankful for all the seasons, but spring is hard to beat. From the Red Bud Trees (Cercis Canadensis for those of you keeping score at home) that blossom in the median of Kingwood Drive, to the Oak and Ash that seem to burst with lush verdancy almost overnight, spring reminds me of the life we have in Christ more than any other season. And since we reside in the “Livable Forest,” it’s hard to miss the spiritual parallels between what The Gardener does in and around the soil of a tree, and how He tends to the soil [...]
Thoughts in Solitude
I have recently added American Theologian and Trappist Monk Thomas Merton’s, Thoughts in Solitude, to my morning readings. Thomas Merton, has been influential in my spiritual growth and his works continue to guide and lead people all over the world. It has been over 50 years since his death and his words are just as relevant today as they were when he wrote them. Earlier this week, I was reading through Thoughts in Solitude and came across a passage that reflected on the insecurities of this world and the risks we face when we decide to have the courage [...]
Loneliness – Party of… Many
For those of you who know me, you know I am a HUGE advocate of community. I believe we were designed for relationships. And there is nothing I love more than bringing people (who really have no business being friends) together and doing life as a ragtag family in big ways. This is why I love potlucks (I’m a good ole Southern Baptist girl). I love bringing people together over a table full of food because it gives us the opportunity to encourage and inspire one another to be who God called us to be. I love (and dread [...]
From the Ground Up
In September 2019, I began one of the most challenging tasks that I have been given since starting full time ministry in 2015. After three years of being the High School Associate at Woodridge and then a year of being the Operations Associate, our pastor, Jeremy Evans, asked me if I wanted to take on the challenge of starting up a new Young Adult Ministry. I jumped at the chance, because as a young adult in the area I knew it was a needed ministry because there is not much out here for people at this stage of life. [...]
Breaking the Barriers
On February 7th Woodridge hosted Night to Shine (NTS), sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. NTS is a prom for individuals with special needs centered around God’s love for all people. What makes NTS unique is that it is run by volunteers from all over, not just church members. We had teens and adults from Humble, Kingwood, Atascocita, and even as far as Conroe to help. Volunteers came from local auto companies, charity organizations, and even therapists came out to dance and karaoke the night away! God tells us to love like Him and to share the good news [...]