Standing Strong

My family and I have visited many churches over the years, so we have seen how several different denominations hold their services. Some of these churches have either been all for the prosperity gospel, or very much against it - that we should live as poor people like Jesus did.  In one particular church that we had been attending for quite some time, my family and I witnessed several situations that were very concerning to us. In the youth group, I remember everyone going around the room, saying what they were "believing" for. But the things they were believing for - every one of them was material possessions. When it got to my turn, I just kinda blurted out that I was believing for a piano. It was honestly the first thing I could think of at the moment, and I didn't want to look stupid in front of all these teens. Well, when you're afraid you're going to look stupid, oftentimes people pick up on that and decide to dig.  "Do you have a verse you...

Dear College Students, I know you are probably stressed out with homework, tests, and papers (and probably wondering why you are reading this blog post in the first place when you have so much to do). But I know you are more than likely also thinking about your future. You may be thinking about your future career. You may be thinking about how to land the perfect job that fits your major. You may be dreaming that one day, you will make a name for yourself in your job. Because after all, college is all about receiving that education to get that high-end 9-5, right? It's all about what you do to make yourself successful...right? ....What if we have it all wrong? For the longest time, I thought I had to have the same job that was in my field. I was convinced that I couldn't do anything else with my life. I thought I would be in sin if I decided to go another path. But then I realized...what if God wanted me to go down another path? What if instead...

The room was dead silent. We all looked at our professor, who had tears in his eyes. "I beg you," he said, looking at each one of us, "Don't be half-in. Either get all the way in, or get out."  I will always remember that day. You see, that man was my Christian Ministries professor in college about two years ago, and he commanded us to make a decision. Either we loved God and wanted to obey Him, or we didn't. We either needed to serve God or just forget the whole thing. We shouldn't be in-between serving Him and then not serving Him. I thought that day would change me. It kept me inspired for a while, but then I fell back into the same old routine: Half-heartedly loving God. What I mean by half-heartedly loving God is this: sometimes praying, but usually only when I needed something. Worshipping, but only when I felt like it. Reading the Bible, but only when I was going through a rough time and needed encouragement.  I'm so...