Have you ever felt like an outsider because of your faith? Maybe people judge you, or even avoid you, because you are a Christian. Sometimes, it feels like having faith is a burden—especially when you're striving to act the right way in the midst of temptations and distractions. It's hard when others misunderstand you, and [...]

At a young age, I was afraid of God. I grew up being taught that God is perfect and would be angry at me when I commit a sin or break His commandments. I had learned that God, in His anger toward me when I sin, would punish me. And it's true that, in Scripture, [...]

When life starts to get crazy, sometimes we dart between one task and the next. When you get toward the end of the school year and there is a lot you need to accomplish, or when you're at work and your shift is about to be done but you haven't finished everything you need to, [...]

If you've been dating someone for a while and you really like them, you may start asking yourself, “Is this love? How do I know?” The Bible has tons to say about loves of all kinds, including romantic, friendship, and familial. The Bible also says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). Jesus demonstrated God's [...]

What does it mean when Jesus called Himself the vine? He gave His disciples this picture on the night before He went to the cross, saying, “I am the vine; you are the branches” (John 15:5). Jesus as the vine is a great metaphor for our relationship to our Savior. Jesus being our vine means [...]

God knows why things are happening the way they are in our lives and in this world. We can look at everything going on around us and wonder how it's all going to make sense in the end. We can see bad things taking place and wonder if God might be surprised or if those [...]

To be in the shadow of God is everything. This world is a scary place; there are so many rules, expectations, and dangers waiting for us around every bend. It's more than scary—it's paralyzing. Like a deer in oncoming headlights, instead of escaping to safety, we might freeze and feel the full impact of the [...]

I like to feed hummingbirds. As I was researching how to feed them well, I found that many websites say to watch for stragglers at the end of the warm season. This year, we've had a couple stragglers. It's November when I write this, and I am still putting out food and it's still disappearing. [...]

God created the changing seasons Colored leaves, sunny skies So much autumn beauty I look at it and wonder, “how small am I?” But God sees me in the beauty I'm not too small for Him He created each unique leaf And in me, a light that will not dim God knows what is best [...]

I'm in my forties, and one thing I wish I'd known when I was a teenager is that it really is true when people say God loves us just as we are. We don't have to earn His approval. In the book of Isaiah, God was speaking to the Israelites, but He is also speaking [...]