Hey, Jesus, we need to talk. I have to tell you about someone we both know. She tries to follow you, but she tends to gossip. She doesn't make up lies or say cruel things, but she shares information she has heard about other people. She indulges in conversations based on rumors. Sometimes, she tells [...]

The book of the Bible called Song of Songs is confusing. It uses all kinds of metaphors and imagery that make no sense to us twenty-first-century readers. And, to make it more confusing, scholars have argued about how we should read Song of Songs for centuries. Is it a love song between husband and wife? [...]

"You're not good enough and nothing is ever going to change that." The words rang through his head over and over again. "Forget trying out for the team." He turned and dashed out of the school. The things others say about us can stick with us and cause us to have doubts about our abilities— [...]

God is our help. How amazing is that? The Bible tells us so many times that we can rely on God. If we've put our trust in Jesus, we can know that He is always with us (Matthew 28:20). In Deuteronomy 31:6 and then again in Hebrews 13:5-6, we are told that God will never [...]

My absolute favorite story in the Old Testament is about these three Israelites, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were taken as prisoners to Babylon when they were teenagers, and how God was with them every step of the way. King Nebuchadnezzar built a humungous gold statue of himself and declared that everyone in his kingdom [...]

In high school, I wanted to be like my friend Alyssa. Alyssa has a passion for loving others. She's outgoing and good at making friends. I admire how she and her family often travel to serve communities that are struggling. I've been out of high school for seven years now, and I wish I'd known [...]

From naan in India to tortillas in Mexico to baguettes in France, bread has been a staple food for thousands of years all around the world. Bread plays a central role in the food of almost every culture, and it's even an important part of the Bible. In the Old Testament, God's chosen people, the [...]

Blustery winds ferociously blew the trees. Sitting on the train, waiting for it to leave the station, I was mesmerized as bending branches were pulled by the wind. Powerless, they could not resist or move in any other direction. They had no choice but to bow with the wind, helpless. Sometimes our lives can feel [...]

"This is madness,” I sigh, trudging uphill through the snow, my face burning, the rucksack dragging me down. I'd hoped that going to Aunt Alana's cabin would be a retreat from the worries churning inside, but regrets still plague my thoughts. “Maya,” a melodic voice cries out my name. “Hello?” I call. No one's there. [...]

I didn't use to think about God very often. But did you know that God is with us throughout our day, even if we're not thinking about Him? When I was in high school, I really struggled with what people thought of me. Did people even want me around? As I read through the Scriptures, [...]