Writing
“fake it ‘til you become it”: BRAVE
What do you think of when someone mentions brave people?
Firefighters?
A knight in shining armor?
Yourself??
Lately I’ve been realizing that we don’t have to wear a uniform to be brave. There are plenty of daily tasks that we each face that require bravery. Recently, I have begun to see just how much fear is in my life.
I’ll admit it: I am scared of everything.
Defining GRACE: A Journey Towards Neurotheology
Grace. It’s my middle name. It’s something I frequently lack as I walk down the street. It’s the elegant quality that I crave as a dancer. It’s that sweet melody woven throughout Christian theology. The Oxford English Dictionary (n.d.) defines grace as “the free and unmerited favor of God.” I have grown up hearing that mercy is God not giving us what we deserve, and grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve. Coming to college, I quickly learned that grace is much more involved than that. Grace is not just God saving humanity from a life of sin, but also a way of living as Christians (Jacobsen & Sawatsky, 2007). I am certainly not a perfect, gracious Christian, but I can maintain hope for the future because God’s grace is sufficient for me.
Understanding Jesus
Okay, I know that sounds a bit far fetched. But, my faith has flourished over the last four years. Coming to college really forced me to step outside my comfort zone and adopt my own faith rather than clinging to that of my parents. About a year ago, as I was going through my headache battle, I realized that with each trial I walk through, I learn a little bit more about God and myself as framed by the fruits of the Spirit. So let’s take a look!
Understanding Relationships
Relationships. They’re crucial to humanity. Relationships bring us some of the greatest joys in life. How wonderful to be able to share in successes, triumphs, and glee! But then again, relationships can also cause of some of the deepest pains in life. Confusion, heartache, and stressful rumination leave us feeling lost and discouraged.
Looking Backwards: 2015-2011
Spring 2015 has been a time of reflection, and lots of it! As I conclude my undergraduate time at Messiah and prepare for life beyond, I have spent many hours pondering the last four years of my life. I can’t say that I imagined myself being in my present position.
Children’s Bible Fellowship of New York
This spring break I was privileged to spend four days serving with Children’s Bible Fellowship of New York. This is a wonderful ministry that seeks to spread Jesus’ love to everyone. Over our four days there, we got to experience a little bit of everything CBF does.
Enough: God, Suffering, and Christianity
One sign of the fallen world we live in is sin and the resultant suffering that accompanies brokenness. Suffering can vary from physical ailments to emotional or spiritual afflictions to compassion for others walking through trial; until Jesus’ second coming, we will inevitably face suffering of all kinds. However, we find hope and courage in the life of Jesus Christ, and that is enough to endure.