Perfect. It’s a word I’ve had spit at me enough times that even typing it causes me to cringe. Perfect is the enemy of righteousness. Perfect divides. Perfect gives a false sense of superiority. It places one on a pedestal that is steep and tippy, and another in a pit that is full of condemnation and separation. Perfect keeps wonderful people from being real and open and honest. Perfect implies that you could be enough, but you just aren’t. Perfect insists you could do it all, if only you were better.

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Dear Girl: my Sister, Friend, Mother, Myself, Stranger, Daughter,

I don’t get you.

I don’t understand how you can look at yourself and not find all that is good and glorious about you. I don’t know why you continually accept less than you deserve and take on more guilt than you’re due. I don’t know why you can’t hold your head high all the time, even when you haven’t showered. I don’t get why you don’t go after those secret desires in your heart, why you are so afraid of failure.  Continue Reading…

I had a very unique opportunity about this time of year, 4 years ago. This was when I was living down in Mexico, with Lee Anne, who helps facilitate the running of the orphanage and church down there. Little did I know, she is also the Missions Director for Instituto Canzion, some Christian music schools that are all over the world. As their Missions Director, or “La Tia” (the Aunt) as they like to call her, she gets to take part in their Xtreme Weeks, and that year, I got to come along. Continue Reading…

If you pay attention to my twitter/facebook/ that link up there saying Missions, you know that I’m passionate about Missions. I started going on trips the summer before 9th grade. Once I went, I couldn’t stop. I had to take a year off, but then once Junior year came around, and I met those kids in Mexico, well, I haven’t been able to stop. I never thought of myself as a missionary, but that’s what I’ve appeared to become. And it’s not something that requires speaking with an interpreter, or putting on skits, or building houses. Being a missionary is simply this: Give Love. I’m a missionary, and the thing is, I think you are too. In fact, I know you are.  Continue Reading…

I have inappropriate reactions. Beyond laughing when someone gets hurt, though, let’s be honest, is hilarious. And unfortunately, I’m the type whose face cannot hide what I’m thinking, not even a little bit. If you want to know if I think you’re an idiot, all you have to do is talk, and watch my face. I recently found out that when I get really worked up, which isn’t all that often, my neck turns a deep shade of red that mirrors a tomato. But that’s not what I want to talk to you, though it is part of it. I’m talking about the kind reactions that are most definitely not “Christ like.” Continue Reading…

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

  If you went to any Sunday School worth its weight in graham crackers, you know this verse. It’s one we’ve had pounded into our heads since a young age, and for those of you who didn’t grow up with Bible Races and Memory Verse Tests, it’s one of the first verses I believe they make you learn. It’s just so core to our beliefs. Trusting in God is just something you have to do. But I don’t think we really get it.

I think that unfortunately, we think that trusting in God is something like this:

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My mother would probably describe me as a lazy person. She would be wrong, but it’s easy to see why she would think so.  Continue Reading…