The Courtroom of Heaven

When I was seventeen, I had to appear in court for the first time after a terrible car accident. As a lifelong rule-follower, I was so nervous that when the judge called me forward, I blurted out “Your Highness” instead of “Your Honor.”

For years, that moment summed up how I imagined standing before God. I pictured the heavenly courtroom through the lens of guilt, shame, and the fear of doing something wrong before a holy Judge. But a few years ago, while reading Romans 8, the Lord gave me a different picture.

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Love Outruns

There’s a passage of Scripture in John 20 that always makes me laugh. It’s when Mary goes to tell Simon Peter and John that the stone on the tomb had been removed, and verses 3-4 say, “So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.”

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An Open (Honest) Letter to Christian Girls

If you are a Christian girl or woman who is struggling—or has struggled—with guilt, shame, identity, or addiction, then this letter was written specifically for you. I believe that testimonies break chains. Scripture says we defeat the enemy by the blood of the lamb and the power of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). So, I pray that my testimony can be an encouragement and a blessing. If nothing else, know that regardless of the nature of your struggle, you are not alone and shame is a chain that doesn’t belong on your shoulders.

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You Can’t Win Them All

I have always hated the saying, “You can’t win them all.”

In the interest of transparency, I admit that I am a recovering people-pleaser. I hate the idea of offending or upsetting anyone. I sometimes lay awake at night wondering if I could have phrased something better or if I should have handled a situation differently. Years after a negative confrontation, I can still feel my ears heat up when I think about it.

All this to say, I very badly want to win them all. I want everyone to like me, even though I know that’s not a realistic expectation, especially when I share my personal thoughts on a public platform. That’s just the life of a blogger. Continue reading “You Can’t Win Them All”