Student of the Word

Lately, I've been learning about the ancient and long lost art of living in the present moment. What do I mean by the present moment? Let me explain with an exercise. Disclaimer: you may look like a dork. Embrace it. In the moment as you read this, I want you to look up from your computer. Look around. What is surrounding you? Maybe you're at home in your kitchen by yourself, at your work desk surrounded by busy co-workers and ringing telephones, or in a library surrounded by students attempting to study (as I am supposed to be right now). If there's a window near by, look outside, see the beauty of the natural world with trees, flowers, sunlight, and blue skies (unless it's raining, then watch the rain fall and listen as it hits the ground outside or the roof above you.) Just take it all in for one minute. Go. Ok, now take a few seconds to look down at your hands, see how unique the patterns are, from the creases and folds, to the unique prints on your fingers. Now...

In the fast-paced age of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and blogs (like this one), human beings are transmitting and receiving a seemingly infinite amount of information in a way that no era has never witnessed. I'm too lazy to look up statistics, but if you're reading this, I'm sure you have also observed the mass-digitization of our social interactions in which, I believe, we have sacrificed quality for quantity. Now, I'm not here to rant or make you feel guilty about using social media and technology. Please remember that while reading this post. I just want to provide a few thoughts on the topic you might find interesting and hopefully freeing. I recently broke open a fortune cookie from Panda Express (one of the greatest places on earth). On the side without the lucky numbers, one small sentence read, "Speak less of your plans, you'll get more of them done." I was taken back by the simple yet profound words from inside my sugary cookie. This idea is ...

I moved into a new house this year that's like a two minute walk from the northeast end of campus. (Please don't stalk me.) I love living here because it's super close to my classes and I have some great roommates. I have the smallest room in the house, but my favorite part about it is that it has these really cool windows. Every day they fill my room with natural light. In the morning, I love to stare out at the trees in our backyard as the sun comes up. It's a beautiful sight that makes me break out into glorious singing! God's Word is a lot like a window. Windows give us a clear view of something beyond them. They are lenses through which we can see something outside ourselves, and a way for someone outside to see in. (unless it's one of those one-way viewing windows) The Bible is a window that allows us to gaze into the heart of God. It's a summary of the things that are important to Him. It contains an incredible story of redeeming broken people and ...

So, I am the kind of person who likes to have everything planned out. I mean everything. I even put "Eat Breakfast" on my Google calender. I take pleasure in setting goals. I cling to my schedule and to-do lists. This summer, I was all over the place. After spring semester, I spent a few weeks back home. It was hard at first living without my normal routine. It always takes awhile to figure out what to do with all that summer free time. Next thing I knew I was setting out for a mission trip! I was in Oklahoma for a few days for training, drove down to Texas for more training, then on to Panama. There, I got to see God do great things on the mission field. Just when I was getting used to the work we were doing down there, the trip ended and my team had to head back to the states. A few days after getting home, I was back up in Gainesville taking summer classes!  This summer was filled with many different circumstances. Two weeks ago, my mom and I took a road trip up to...

One of my favorite go-to verses recently has been Galatians 6:4. "Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct." When I'm not paying attention to the "here and now" of my own work that God has laid out for me, the only other option I can think of is to start focusing on other peoples' work. I begin comparing myself to others. Here is a silly example, but hopefully it makes my point. As a Christian, when I see someone who frequently posts bible verses on Facebook, sometimes I'm tempted to compare my spiritual walk with whoever is doing that and feel inferior to them. I don't know if anyone else thinks that way sometimes, but it happens whenever I'm not paying attention to God and the work He has for me. Instead of being encouraged by their well-intention post, I feel guilty for not p...

"We have lived in fear, and our fear has betrayed us." This is a line from one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands, the Oh Hellos, called "I Have Made Mistakes". Today, I want to talk about fear. In the past, I've been afraid to take risks, so I tried to avoid things I thought I couldn't be good at. I've been afraid to get hurt, so I never climbed too many trees, or tried to backflip off a trampoline! In middle school, I was afraid of not fitting in or being cool. In high school, I was afraid of AP Calculus. I know! I'm scared to even say the word. Calculus!!! Going off of that, I have to take Calc 2 in the Fall! Please keep me in your prayers. In recent months, I have struggled with fear of people's perception of me, even to a level of social anxiety.  Also, I've feared the thought of dating relationships. In fact, I've never actually had a girlfriend. I admit it! I am honestly content in being single. ...