Confession: This past month I have been extremely discontent. And the worst part is, I didn’t even realize I was discontent until I was knee-deep in the quick sand of envy and longing, trapped, unable to move. I felt like I was suffocating. I was unable to let go of my discontentment and move on with my life- to do the things God called me to do. I felt unworthy to encourage others to be content, when I myself was struggling. Finally,… Read more »
It seems like just yesterday my childhood best friend and I were dressing up for our pretend weddings. These weddings always took place during her younger siblings’ nap time. We would quietly slip upstairs, and then get ready to say “I do.” We would take turns being the bride and the groom was always my friend’s giant stuffed animal dog who we pretended was the man of our dreams. The other one of us would be the minister, proudly pronouncing… Read more »
Discontentment is an easy trap to fall into. We see someone who has something we don’t have, and we think that thing is pretty cool. We begin to admire that thing. Wonder what it would be like if we had it. We wonder why we don’t have it. Wonder how we could get it. BOOM. We’ve fallen into discontentment. It can happen with anything. When we’re little, it happens with our friends’ toys. Maybe they had a trampoline, or a… Read more »
So Valentine’s Day was last month, in case you were unaware ;) And the day before Valentine’s day I spontaneously decided that I wanted to decorate my apartment for Valentine’s and surprise my roommates. So I made a quick Walmart run. And oh my goodness, let me tell you that Walmart on Valentine’s Eve is one of the cheeriest places ever. There were roses lined up and down the isles and red heart shaped balloons in the air. *Sighs.* The… Read more »
“I surrender all. I surrender all. All to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.” I’ve grown up hearing that hymn. I’ve also heard numerous sermons over the years which ask the question, “Do you really surrender all? Or do you only surrender most?” And the preachers challenge us to only sing those words if we really mean them. Being the literalist that I am, after hearing those sermons I would typically just hum. “Hmm hmm hmm hm hmmm. Hmm… Read more »
The following is a guest post by Rachel of Chasing Chels It seems as though Valentine’s Day has always resonated as an anticipated holiday for couples and a depressing one for singles. I’ll be the first to admit that nope, it’s not much fun to spend Valentine’s Day alone. “But hey,” everyone consoles you, “God’s just saving you for the right person.” They give you the sympathetic smile, the familiar head tilt, the comforting eyes. The statement is most certainly… Read more »
A few weeks ago, a cheerful third grade girl plopped down by me on the pew before church started. I smiled. During the summer, this girl would often ask her parents if she could sit by me during church, and I’d missed visiting with her every Sunday. We chit chatted for a while, and I asked her how school was going and how her Thanksgiving break was. Then the topic of Christmas came up and she said she was really… Read more »
It’s so hard! It’s so stinkin’ hard! It’s so hard not to become jealous when you see someone else who has something you want. It’s so hard to be genuinely happy for them. So hard to smile when you’re heart is aching. Currently, in this phase of my life, it’s hard for me to be happy when I see cute couples who are dating. It’s hard for me to see strangers who are smiling, holding hands and walking to class… Read more »
Contently single. Isn’t that some sort of oxymoron, like jumbo shrimp or a deafening silence? The two concepts just can’t fit together…. one can’t possibly be content and single. It seems to me that every girl taught from a very young age that happily ever after only happens when the princess and the prince find each other, have true love’s kiss, and get married. After all, doesn’t every girl dream of her handsome prince from the time she can tie her shoes?… Read more »
So often I rush the future. For instance, when I was in middle school, Facebook was the new big thing. Everyone of my friends were getting an account and they constantly chattered about it at school. I wasn’t allowed to have a Facebook. I begged and begged and begged my mom to relent, but she wouldn’t budge. The thirteen year old me could not understand why everyone else was allowed to have a Facebook, and I wasn’t. If I could… Read more »
