What if God parented like we do? June 9, 2025 Let’s be real: if God parented like we sometimes do — distracted, reactive, or just running the same script for every situation — we’d be in trouble. But thankfully, He doesn’t.   God parents us moment by moment. He’s not relying on a rigid formula. He’s present — paying attention to who we are, what we’re going through, and how best to guide us through it. Sometimes that means a gentle reminder. Other times, it’s consequences laced with compassion. But it’s always grace — not grace that enables bad behavior, but grace that shows up as undeserved attention, support, or assistance right when we need it most… and let’s be honest, sometimes painfully.   And that’s what being a Spirit-led parent looks like. We don’t parent from a one-size-fits-all playbook. We parent with presence, led by the Holy Spirit, so we can know when to comfort, when to correct, and when to just be ...READ POST

Temptation’s Coming — Do You Have an Exit Strategy? June 2, 2025 Let’s be honest — temptation can feel like an onslaught of exhausting and unstoppable attacks. And too many of us treat it like we’re supposed to overcome just by “trying harder”. Some of us have even been told, “just don’t do it”. What’s worse, depending upon the culture and people we are around, some of us have socially acceptable sins that are encouraged and applauded. But you weren’t designed to be victorious by yourself. You were designed to be more than a conqueror with community AND the Holy Spirit.   Here are some steps to help you create real, practical victory in your life:   1. Know What You’re Up Against (A Real Enemy) You have to first be honest. What kind of temptations are most common for you? (1 Corinthians 10.13). Identify the patterns and triggers (Proverbs 7.6-27). Is it a person, place, or time of day? Are you just tired or stressed out? ...READ POST

Wait… I Have to Repent for That? May 26, 2025 When most of us hear the word repentance, we imagine some big dramatic apology — tears, guilt, dramatic music swelling in the background. But sometimes, repentance looks a lot more like this super hypothetical situation: You’re in the kitchen, and your spouse (or loved one) comes into the kitchen at the same time, and you happen to step on their foot. You weren’t mad, it wasn’t on purpose, and you barely noticed. But then they look at you and ask if you will apologize.   Not because you were evil.   Not because you meant harm.   But because you did something that caused pain, albeit unintentionally.   That’s the heart of repentance in the Kingdom of God. It’s not just for the willful rebellion and deep betrayals (though it’s good for those, too). It’s also for when our words, decisions, or ignorance have hurt someone — or grieved God — even when that wasn’t our aim.   David prays ...READ POST

Talk to God like He’s real… cause He is. May 19, 2025 I used to have a friend who would wait for you to get done saying something, just so he could tell you what was already on his mind. His words would always come off feeling empty, pre-planned, and impersonal.   Do you have anyone in your life who only talks at you instead of with you?   Prayer gets frustrating when we do that with God. And yet, many of us wonder why our prayer life feels flat, like we’re leaving voicemails with God and hoping for a callback.   Here’s a wild idea: what if prayer is supposed to be a messy conversation?   That means asking questions — real ones — and even changing the question if it’s not getting an answer. Not because God’s dodging you or not understanding you, but because maybe it’s you who is learning to think and talk the way God does — the way He designed you to.   For example, instead ...READ POST

Prayer Isn’t a Vending Machine. It’s a Marriage. May 12, 2025 A lot of us treat prayer like that vending machine. We come with our selections, pay with the right “sacrifice” — good behavior, emotional sincerity, long enough prayers — and expect the desired outcome. And when it doesn’t happen? We get frustrated… maybe even shake the machine a bit.   But prayer isn’t transactional. It’s relational. Just like marriage, the real work actually begins after you say, “I do”. A healthy marriage is learning how to communicate with each other. And prayer is no different.   Your relationship with God deepens over time. You grow in your ability to hear Him, to trust His tone, to speak His language. Prayer isn’t just talking at God — it’s listening, waiting, and learning what matters most to Him.   Prayer isn’t like a vending machine and getting something — it’s a relationship where you get to know someone. Saying “I do” to Jesus is just the beginning. Real ...READ POST

Was That God… or Just a Bad Burrito? May 5, 2025 Wouldn’t it be easier if God always sounded like James Earl Jones with a thunderclap and a choir of angels behind Him? But more often than not, His voice sounds strangely familiar — like your own thoughts, but wiser, gentler, and usually with better timing… and maybe a bit of sarcasm if you’re wired that way.   Here’s the wild part: you were designed to hear Him. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice” (John 10:27). We start off hearing Him as children (usually referred to as our “conscience” — but then the noise of responsibility, life, and overthinking starts turning His volume down.   So how do we know it’s God speaking and not just last night’s spicy takeout?   Here are three ways to discern:   1. Is it consistent with His character and Scripture? The Holy Spirit won’t contradict Himself. If it sounds like grace, truth, and love — even when convicting — you’re probably on ...READ POST

Reading the Bible is like eating kale… April 28, 2025 Reading the Bible can feel a bit like eating kale: You know it’s good for you, it’s packed with nutrients… but if you don’t prepare it the right way for you, you’ll avoid eating it.   I like how Lacey makes kale chips in the oven — they are delicious and filling. Like kale, Scripture isn’t a one-recipe deal. Whether you sauté it, blend it, or drown it in ranch (spiritually speaking), there are several ways to take it that can fit your life and personality.   Here are three solid, Spirit-led options to help Scripture become a consistent part of your life — not just a you have to choke down because it’s healthy:   1. Eye Reading – Pick a Translation That Speaks to You “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119.105   Some people love the precise, word-for-word approach of the NASB (https://www.bible.com/bible/100/JHN.1.NASB1995) or ESV (https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.1.ESV) ...READ POST

The Most Boringly Powerful Christian Answer To Your Problem April 21, 2025 You know what almost never trends on social media? Faithfulness.   It’s not flashy. It doesn’t look like a miracle. It’s not the highlight reel you want to post. But when it comes to following Jesus, the most powerful, transformative tool in your spiritual arsenal might just be this: showing up again tomorrow.   No magic prayer fixes everything overnight. There’s no Bible verse, worship song, or Bible study that zaps away every struggle in a single sitting. Most of the Christian life isn’t a highlight — it’s a habit. A holy, gritty, non-glamorous habit of just showing up.   Here’s how to keep going when everything in you wants a shortcut:   1. Keep Your Eyes on Jesus “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…” (Hebrews 12.1–2) Don’t let your progress, your pain, or your lack of results be your measure. Let Him be your focus.   2. Show Up, Even ...READ POST

You don’t appreciate breathing… until you can’t April 14, 2025 Most of you know I have cystic fibrosis, a genetic, terminal disease that results in an overproduction of thick, sticky mucus. This mucus affects most of my body’s organs and systems, including the lungs. As a result, I spend anywhere from 2-4 hours a day doing respiratory treatments that help clear my lungs and prevent infection. When I am exhausted, I usually skip one of these therapies. In the first few hours, I feel fine. However, by hour 12 after not doing a treatment, my chest is heavy, my energy is drained, and I am short of breath. You see, my therapies are not just for when symptoms flare up — they are to prevent them from flaring up in the first place.   Our daily times of solitude with Jesus work the same way. We might feel okay in the moment, but without that regular, daily “spiritual therapy” — praise & ...READ POST

Feel Under Attack? Here’s How to Win. April 7, 2025 A few months ago, I learned a painful lesson in tool selection. I was using a multi-tool saw with a flat-head screwdriver as a pry-bar (because that seemed like a creative and “outside-the-box” thinking I am generally good at). Something was stuck in a hole I had drilled, and I figured I could just quickly wedge it out. I was very, very wrong.   Problem one: The multi-tool saw didn’t have a locking mechanism, which meant it folded shut under any amount of misapplied pressure.   Problem two: The serrated blade was extremely sharp (which is usually a good thing when you’re actually attempting to cut something). So, when I applied pressure the saw snapped closed — past (read: “through”) the tip of my finger — I realized two things very quickly: I was using the wrong tool and the tip of my finger (including nail) had been quickly and cleanly sheared off (except ...READ POST