As a young woman, I transitioned from awkward and geeky to what some men considered attractive without noticing the transition myself. Ungrounded in my faith and uninstructed about my conduct, I naively pursued friendships with men without a second thought about whether those men could have had feelings for me. It took advice from a man to open my eyes to (more…)
Prayer and Anointing: Bringing My Chronic Insomnia to Christ
Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.—James 5:14
A pastor ushered me into a conference room where I found a group of faithful men huddled in prayer. The Holy Spirit had a palpable presence in that room (more…)
Doing My Civic Duty
It was my first time ever having to come in for jury duty. I saw him almost immediately. He was a large man dressed in a yellow plaid shirt. His collar stood upright against the back of his neck, and his arms crossed angrily across his chest. He avoided eye contact. He just sat spring-loaded with impatience.
Finally, 2 1/2 hours after (more…)
My Anxiety Dream: I Fail College
As a college student, I took 18 hours every semester, maintained a 3.57 GPA in a highly competitive degree program and graduated a semester early. I’m not telling you this to brag but to give you some context for what I’m about to share.
Lately I’ve been struggling with multiple stresses, one of which is the loss of a major writing contract (more…)
Lord, We Have Sinned: A Plea for Revival
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14
We Have Failed as the Church
Lord, I come before You today on behalf of Your church. Though You intended us to (more…)