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I'm back with another reflection from my recent mission trip to Greece and Turkey. This time, we're visiting Corinth--the place Paul lived and worked for 18 months. After visiting this beautiful location, I can see why he spent so much time here. The water is crystal clear. The mountains are gorgeous. And unlike many parts of Greece, there are actual trees and grass. Corinth is absolutely stunning, but Paul's time here wasn't all sunshine and slouvaki. While in Corinth, Paul faced opposition and was even beaten and arrested. While there, I saw the remains of the flogging post that Paul was tethered to in the central square. The image that presents in my mind is startling. In a place where the worship of gods and goddesses was the primary religion, preaching the gospel was certain to receive backlash--in more ways than one. Yet, Paul's time in Corinth was one of his most fruitful pilgrimages. The Corinthian church was born and thus, the teachings of 1st and 2nd Corinthians that we so often turn to today. But for the sake of this post, I want to share with you my own opposition and triumph in Corinth. This was only our second full day on our mission trip and little did we know, we'd be tasked with climbing a literal mountain. Did you know Greece is mountaneous? Well, I didn't. In the Grecian heat, little water, empty stomaches, and with ill-equipped tennis shoes, we began our trek. What began as a seemingly easy climb up some cobble-stone steps turned into a barely marked, rugged path that had me on my hands crawling up the mountain. Out of water, dry lips, constantly reapplying sunscreen--I could see the top (the destination) but was unsure which path to take to get there. Myself and three others were separated from the larger group. We feared getting lost. Maybe we were lost. As others considered turning back, I wondered what coming back down would be like. Maybe if we kept going, there would be a safer path back to the bottom? Thinking this the case, I put on some worship music and encouraged the rest of my little group to finish the climb after we received direction on which way to go. When you're lost, wait for the Lord to direct your steps rather than continuing down the wrong path. This experience of listening to worship music--without headphones, so that my group wouldn't lose me-while I ran, sometimes crawled, up the side of this mountain was emotional. The first song that came on my playlist was actually a song that I sang as part of my audition for our church choir. This moment made me feel that God was me, and it made me feel--like the day I joined the choir--that I was part of a team. As me and my group made it to the top, completing the task we were starting to think impossible, we became a team. Corinth was our bond-building day, and I'm so thankful it was early in the trip. But what I took from this day wasn't only the newly-formed bonds with my fellow missionaries. It was also the presence of Christ, and the joy of doing hard things. God was with us that day, as if there's a single day He isn't. He kept us strong and healthy as we climbed. He kept us from passing out from dehydration. He gave us the reward of finishing the race and making it back down the mountain safely. Unfortunately, we did have to go back down the way we came and it was not fun. But still, this day reminded me of three principles. Christ gives us the power to do hard things. If you're going through a storm or challenge, why stop and linger? Keep going. Nothing lost that desires to be found remains lost. God seeks us out and rejoins us to Him just like He rejoined us to our group at the top of the mountain. And then we had the best meal of our entire trip! Greek family style cooking: chicken slouvaki, moussaka, Greek salad, pita and tzatziki, homemade lemonade, and more. The next time you're faced with a challenge, remember that Christ gives you the power to do hard things. Choose to keep going rather than turn back. And if you feel lost, ask for help, for direction. God will guide you. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7

Hi from the Greek islands! For over a week now, I’ve been traveling with a church group through Greece and Turkey, retracing the steps of Paul and spreading the light of Christ along the way. Today, I’m taking a moment to pause from tours and sightseeing and share my reflections from this trip. This first post couldn’t be more fitting as it speaks to the importance of global connectivity among believers. I often question what purpose this blog serves. I know my readership isn’t massive, but I always tell myself if this blog helps just one person grow closer to God or discover God, then it’s worth it. I was reminded of the purpose of this blog in Turkey, where I was connected with a tour guide who converted to Christianity after marrying into a Christian family. Our guide explained, that given Turkey is a Muslim country, he’s experienced a degree of persecution for his choice to convert and he is unable to attend church or foster Christian community where he lives because there are no churches within proximity. The government controls what is allowed to be built and the government has not approved for a Christian church to be built in Kusadasi. To attend church and be among other believers, our guide must travel over 300 miles, which makes regular church attendance and in-person community impossible. His story reveals the reality of so many in countries where the national belief is not Christianity. They are not lost. They are disconnected. So, how do we foster global connectivity among believers as organizations and as individuals? Utilize the technology you have to stream your church services Share your testimony and Biblical reflections on social media Create a Facebook group for believers Start a blog like this one Do not fear a language barrier. The truth is, most people know English and if they do not, technology allows for translation. Your words matter, and you never know who they may reach. There are certain realities that never really affect us until they do. We hear of the devasting persecution of Christians, specifically in other countries. We know that freedom of religion is a blessing. But we don’t really understand how big of a blessing it is until we see what it looks like on the other side. Knowing is not the same as understanding. Even now, I don’t pretend to understand the struggles that believers in non-believing countries face. But I do have more perspective and empathy than I did a week ago. I hope you do too. Let this post be a reminder to count your blessings if you live in a country with religious freedom. Let this post be a call to utilize the freedom and technology you have to connect with other believers and help them connect to Christ. And if you are a believer searching for a community, I hope you feel like you’ve found one. You are part of the global Christian family. Resource: https://youtube.com/@wogm?si=n-AMIg56dgwgCqmS One last thing...you see the photo (first picture on the second row). This is a symbol carved into the marble grounds of ancient Ephesus, one of the many places that Paul visited and wrote the letter of Ephesians to. What do you think this symbol is? Our guide asked us and we were all encouraged to give different answers. I said a wagon wheel. Others said a game, a compass, a map. It was very easy for us to come up with interpretations of this symbol and that was the point. This symbol is called the Ichthys Wheel and it is one of the earliest symbols of Christianity. While we may know the earliest symbol as the fish, representing when Jesus multiplied the fish, this symbol swiftly followed. Ichthys is the Greek word for fish, the letters of which (IX0YE) ***imagine I have a Greek symbol keyboard*** are an acronym for "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior." Anyone who understood Greek would know the word for fish and could decipher the meaning of the symbol. By layering the letters on top of one another, the word becomes nearly unidentifiable and the symbol became a safe place for Christians to gather in plain sight. And when they were asked, what are you gathering about? What does this symbol mean? They could easily say it's a game, a map, a compass, or anything other than what it truly meant. This symbol was carved all over the grounds of Ephesus, and it was one of the most powerful things I saw that day. It is a reminder of a time when Christians were forced into hiding. And it wasn't the only reminder I saw while in Greece and Turkey. I visited catacombs in Milos where believers hid and were buried. Seeing these hiding places and hidden symbols and hearing the present day story of my tour guide made me realize--Christians hiding in plain sight is not necessarily a thing of the past. If you do not have to hide, be thankful. If you do, I am praying for you. For the believers who came before, I am inspired by you.

Hi friends! Today, I should be in Italy, sailing on a boat along the Amalfi Coast, swimming in the Mediterrean Sea. Instead, I am sitting in my sunroom after being forced to cancel the first part of my three-week European trip. No, today's post is not about the sorrow of missing the Amalfi Coast. But it is worth noting, I wouldn't be writing this post if my trip had gone according to plan. So, maybe this post and the one coming next was the plan? Maybe there's someone out there who really needs these words, and if so, I pray they find you. I've been carrying a lot lately. Honestly, I feel like I haven't had a moment to breathe this entire year, which is now nearly halfway over. Since the end of 2025, it's been one thing after the other. Some tragic. Some heavy. Some happy and amazing. But still...there has not been time to rest. In anticipation of this trip, I devoted myself to completing my first Christian non-fiction book before the end of May. In anticipation of an upcoming surgery, I've been pushing myself harder and harder in the gym--not only trying to reach my goal, but to make the most of the time I have to exercise, knowing it'll be months post-op before I'm back to my strong self. I've been pushing myself spiritually too with intentional Bible study, serving more at church, and even auditioning for the choir in the middle of grief. When tragedy struck, I had too many things on the calendar to slow down and process. The thing is, when one dominion falls, there's always another that follows. Grief is a dominion effect. It has a way of re-opening old wounds, reminding you of the things you lack, the things you wish had gone differently, and the people you miss. Grief can be overwhelming if not all-consuming. And yet, one of the more painful kinds of grief that often goes unnoticed is numbness. I've been keeping myself busy, not in avoidance, but because I've had to. But deep down, I've known, there's a lot beneath the surface I need to process. Yet, when a quiet moment would come, I struggled to put my feelings into words. I struggled to cry. A few tears would slip, but it was not the breaking and releasing I needed. Everything was still buried. Everything was still heavy. And I wonder if it was because I was so intent on remaining grateful despite heartache? It's as if I saw gratefulness and thankfulness as the only way to remain close and connected to God, and I feared that actually giving in to my emotions would mean losing my closeness to God. Instead, it was the suppression of emotions that actually made me feel disconnected. Going into my trip, I was still carrying baggage, and I don't mean the two overpacked suitcases and backpack weighing on my shoulders. My baggage made me eager to escape, even though I knew I'd be returning home to the same problems. But God had other plans. A flight delay. A missed connection. Finally, a cancelled flight. Through it all, God gave me one more chance to break through the numbness and begin the process of unloading. Most of all, He gave me the chance I needed to reconnect with Him. Numbness doesn't just translate to our earthly relationships. It can also affect our spiritual relationship with God. For weeks, I knew God could comfort me when no one else could. I knew reading His word, crying out to Him, and conversating through prayer would make me feel better. But I didn't have the energy. I didn't have the capacity to seek Him. While I knew He was still with me and within me, I felt disconnected. And in the disconnection, my sorrow, my overwhelm, my stress was ampilifed and resentment and anger resurfaced. I was no longer numb. I was broken, and fearful of returning to the same place I'd spent years. I was fearful of blaming God for the things in my life that didn't go according to my plan. I was fearful of pulling away from God and taking back the reigns of control regarding the things I'd already surrendered. I was fearful of committing intentional sin, despite knowing it would only be a coping mechanism. I was fearful of returning to Egypt. Fear of uncertainty and resentment towards God held me in bondage for so long, it hurts me when these old fears and feelings resurface, because it makes me feel like I haven't changed. It makes me feel like I'm still vulnerable to returning to my old ways and mindset. And the truth is, I am. We all are. But sorrow, fear, guilt, none of those emotions are ungodly or proof of failure. Paul confirms this in 2 Corinthians. "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication!" 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 Godly sorrow produces repentance, a diligence to remain obedient, anger towards sin or depleted desire to sin, a fear of wrongdoing, and a zealous desire to remain faithful and obedient despite sorrow. These feelings or fruits that sorrow can produce in us is vindication for our grief. Sorrow is a chance to prove our faithfulness in the face of what threatens our faith. Whether we sorrow over a mistake we've made, a sin we feel tempted to commit, or an unexpected tragedy, our sorrow can draw us closer to God if we let it. How we sorrow can be proof of our sanctification and further our sanctification process. Sorrow is not proof of God's absence or removal of divine favor. It's a part of the Christian life even the most faithful Christians endured, including Paul. Even Paul experienced travel trouble, and arrived at destinations with no rest only to face external conflict and internal fear. Had I actually been able to board a plane on Saturday, that probably would've been me in Italy. Maybe now, I can arrive at my next destination more rested and more at peace. But if not, I should not take delays or conflict as proof of failure or stepping outside of God's will, and neither should you. Sometimes it's just a part of the journey. My final message to you is simple. Sorrow is a part of life, but it does not have to define your life. No matter how long it takes, keep taking tiny steps toward God until you feel at peace again. As for me, I have to take the same advice. Right now, I feel okay. I got two good night's rest. I'm intentionally slowing down. And that has helped. But am I fully healed? Am I fully immune to sorrow or regret or fear or anger and resentment? No. Maybe the truth is, I never will be. Sanctification is a life-long process. Healing towards holiness is a life-long process. While we can have peace here on earth, the kind of ever-lasting peace I long for only exists in Heaven. And that is why we are called to keep the faith. Faith is not a trophy or medal we collect once, put on a shelf, and never have to fear losing. Our faith is constantly tested, and something we must actively grow and protect. As I embark on this next leg of my journey, or at least try to, I pray for safe travels and continued reconnection with God. God is the source of all comfort, peace, joy, hope, and love. I pray that when I return home I'm not returning to the same baggage. Rather, I pray I return free from the heaviness that has weighed me down for months. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Hi Word family! It's been a while since I've had a Biblical takeaway to share. Partly, because life has been crazy and I've been falling behind on my Bible study. And partly because I'm trying to avoid repetition. I'm currently studying Paul's letters and there are many repeated themes. But sometimes things are repeated for a reason. We can never receive too many reminders when it comes to Christian conduct. Life constantly tests us, stresses us. And in the middle of the frustration, we may slip. We may lose our temper. We may lack empathy. We may move selfishly. We may struggle to uplift those around us and love as Christ calls us to love. Today's post is a reminder to do just that. Throughout 1 Corinthians, Paul is addressing a group of believers who have given in to pride, self-righteousness, classism, idol worship, and sexual sin. To keep it brief, they had issues. Maybe that's why they got two letters? Paul seeks to remind the Corinthians of the truth of the gospel and to realign their hearts with Christ-like love. The two key principles Paul preaches is speech that edifies or uplifts and helps others mature in their faith, and a love that influences every action and squashes every quarrel. "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy...he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church." 1 Corinthians 14:1,3-4 "Let all things be done for edification." 1 Corinthians 14:26 At a time when God's people were more concerned with how many languages they could speak, and how elaborate of a performance of worship they could put on, Paul reminds them that none of their speech means anything if the person next to them cannot understand it. Understanding may be interpreted as literal understanding or spiritual understanding. Corinth was a merchant city where many spoke different languages. If one person spoke Greek and the other Italian, there would be a literal communication barrier and what was said could not draw the other closer to Christ. Likewise, if someone spoke in a way that sounded elegant but was not mentally or spiritually understood by their fellows, it did not edify. Perhaps this is another reason why Jesus spoke using parables. Parables use everyday events and familiar experiences to illustrate deeper meaning. Parables are more easily understood by the masses. Paul spends much time speaking about the need for interpreters, but the essential message that we can take with us today is... We are to use our speech to uplift fellow believers in their walk with Christ, and to draw unbelievers to Christ. It seems simple enough, but how would our speech change if we filtered everything through this qualifiation? What words would we hold back? What words would we say instead? What conversations would we seek out instead of avoiding? Would we be willing to put our pride aside to speak in a way the person next to us could comprehend? The wisdom to know what to say and the self-control to know what not to say comes only from the Holy Spirit, which is why Paul's first command is to pursue love. "Let all that you do be done with love." 1 Corinthians 16:14 I like to think of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Love for God is love and He is His Holy Spirit. When we operate with a heart posture that loves like Christ, we are slower to anger, and quicker to forgive. We show restraint in favor of unity. And we are humble enough to seek God's wisdom over perpetuating our own. When we seek God's wisdom, a new level of understanding is available to us and those with whom we speak. Our words are not our own. They are divine. They are prophesy. And they do edify. Through love of one another, and edification of one another, we come together as the singular body of Christ--a body of believers that is diverse and unified all at once. "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many." 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 As I end this post, I have to say, I am so thankful for the Christian community I am blessed to be a part of. I lived many years without a community, many years feeling like I'd never fit in with other believers, many years fearing judgment from my fellow Christians. But my community uplifts me when I'm low. Their sheer presence brings me joy and happiness. When I read verses like 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, I smile, because I feel that in my church. There is unity. There is diversity. We are one body of different people all serving different kingdom functions, and it's beautiful to witness. Having this perspective enlightens me as to why Paul was so concerned about division in the early churches. A unified church is a strong church, in which every member is uplifted, edified, and loved. Those members are effective in leading others to Christ. A divided church is a weak church that threatens the steadfastness, faithfulness, and hope of even those with the strongest faith. A divided church is an ineffective church. Wherever you are in the world, I hope you find your church home--your congregation of believers that helps you grow closer to Christ. And know that you are a part of the larger body of Christ. We are one in Spirit. You are not alone.

"She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands." Proverbs 31:13 Welcome to the third month of our becoming journey. In last month's Project 31 post, we learned that trust in the Lord is the essence of a Proverbs 31 woman. We unpacked our trust issues and focused on becoming more trustworthy in our interactions with others. This month, I'm excited to unpack another key trait of the virtuous woman presented in Proverbs 31--she who works willingly, diligently, humbly, and honorably. Proverbs 31 uses the following words to describe the action of the virtuous woman presented: She seeks (v13) She willingly works (v13) She brings (v4) She provides (v15) She considers (v16) She girds herself (v17) She strengthens herself (v17) She perceives (v18) She extends to the poor (v20) She makes and supplies (v24) By reflecting on Proverbs 31 and the example set by Ruth, who Scripture describes as a virtuous woman, we can learn how to approach our work with the same faithful hands and willing heart. Whether you're a woman in the workforce, a woman working to nurture your home and care for those inside it, a woman who works from passion rather than necessity, or a woman doing all three--the same principles apply. Whatever you do, do it honorably, diligently, humbly, and effectively. The Proverbs 31 Woman: Diligent & Wise The woman presented in Proverbs 31 is our example of faithful hands, a willing heart, and wise discernment. She embodies the characteristics of discipline, initiative, stewardship, intentional labor, and wisdom in her work. She reveals how a virtuous woman should approach providing for her family. "She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good...." Proverbs 31:13-18 Proverbs 31 describes a woman who not only willingly works to provide for her family, but is trusted to work to provide for her family. Her husband entrusts her to consider a field and buy it. She is discerning, is allowed to make decisions on behalf of her family, and has access to the funds necessary to make those decisions. While this may seem like a given in today's society, this would be uncommon at the time the Scripture was written--as uncommon as a virtuous wife. "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her..." Proverbs 31:10-11 While society has changed, women's rights have improved, and often it is the husband who is not trusted to make decisions on behalf of the family, we as women should still strive to be as rare as the virtuous women described in Scripture. We should pray for discernment as we make decisions. We should take pride in how we provide for our family--whether that is financial provision or nurturing provision such as cooking, cleaning, and clothing the ones under our care. We should gird ourselves with strength--spiritual and physical so that we can best perform our duties, even if our duty is only to ourself and the Lord. And the work from our hands should yield good fruit. We see in Proverbs 31 that "with her profits she plants a vineyard." A vineyard can be seen as a fruitful investment. It takes time for the grapes to ripen--the fruit to mature--but when it does, it can be harvested. The woman could then use the fruit from the vineyard for the satisfaction of her family, or it could be sold for financial gain. Whether for personal or professional use, she has made a wise investment that bore her family good fruit. The vineyard in Proverbs 31 represents: foresight, stewardship, patience, discipline, cultivation, and long-term fruitfulness These are all characteristics that we can embody today, with the counsel of the Holy Spirit, as we make wise investments on behalf of ourselves and our family that bear good fruit. Examples of Wise Investments & Good Fruit: Investing in Spiritual & Personal Growth A woman who spends time in God's word and in prayer will develop discernment, wisdom, peace, endurance, and spiritual maturity which are fruits themselves that will also equip her to produce good fruit in all areas of her life: in her professional work, in her personal relationships, and in her parenting. Accompanying spiritual growth with personal healing can be the best investment you ever make in yourself. While remaining rooted in Christ, a woman may also seek out counseling, mentorship, repentance, developing emotional maturity, breaking generational cycles, healing childhood wounds, and learning healthy love. This woman becomes the kind of stable, wise, virtuous rock of her family. Investing in Personal Stewardship Outside of our spiritual growth and personal healing, we as virtuous women should invest in our health and home. This may look like resting, nourishing our bodies with nutritious foods, moving and strengthening our bodies, like the Proverbs 31 woman, and caring for our home in a way that promotes warmth, safety, order, rest, and peace. When we do this, we become a more fruitful vessel for self and others. We enjoy the fruit of our discipline with long-life not riddled with health issues and physical pain. And we create an environment that nurtues others as well as ourselves. Investing in Family & Community When we become a virtuous woman, our very presence is the soil in which good fruit grows. We should be present in our relationships, in our friendships, seek out opportunties to mentor others, show hospitality, serve others, and build meaningful community. As we pour wisdom into our community, our community pours back into us. Investing in community allows us to cultivate good fruit in others and receive good fruit in return. If we are called to the role of mother, there is perhaps no greater ground to water with wisdom. As we raise our children to know the Lord and demonstrate the same spiritual wisdom we've cultivated, our children become our greatest fruit. But we must become the wise and virtuous woman first, before becoming the wise and virtuous wife, before becoming the wise and virtuous mother. Investing in Skills & Education To further develop ourselves so that we may serve those around us and provide for our family, we may invest in learning a trade or skill, pursuing education, developing creative gifts, growing a business, or learning wise financial stewardship. Investing in Wise Financial Stewardship Wise financial stewardship may include having a savings plan or investment strategy, hiring a financial advisor or accountant, having a retirement plan, paying off debt, and living within means while also planning for future abundance. As we steward our finances, it is important to not forget the less foruntate. The Proverbs 31 woman not only provides for her family, she also provides well for those she employs, and those who have nothing. "She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy." Proverbs 31:20 Scripture frequently reminds us to have a generous heart, and the Proverbs 31 woman demonstrates this. She is not only concerned with the matters of her family. She has faithful hands and a willing heart to serve everyone around her, including those who cannot return the gesture. Yet, her giving still cultivates good fruit--good fruit inside of her and good fruit around her as she uplifts others. Investing in Work that Serves Others A Proverbs 31 woman not only provides, she brings value--to her family and to those around her. In today's society, there are many jobs a woman of God could choose to take on. We do not all have to be ministers, missionaries, or even faith writers to embody the heart posture of a virtuous woman. A Proverbs 31 woman has a heart that willingly serves others, and we should pray for the Holy Spirit's help in embodying that heart posture in all that we do. As we serve others in our profession, just like in our charitable service and personal relationships, we cultivate good fruit inside and outside of us. Eternal Investments Ultimately, a Proverbs 31 woman invests in things that will outlive her. She invests in people, wisdom, faith, love, service, truth, legacy, and obedience to God. Ruth: An Example of Humility, Honor, & Quiet Faithfulness "And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman." Ruth 3:11 Ruth is recognized by Boaz as a virtuous woman because she: was a faithful friend to Naomi, refusing to abandon her after the death of her husband and two sons worked hard, humbly, and honestly to glean (she did not operate from laziness, entitlement, or flirt with the men watching the fields to provide for her) when Boaz showed her favor, she humbly thanked him and asked why (again, she didn't feel entitled to, but grateful for his help) Ultimately, Ruth gained a reputation of honesty and integrity and was rewarded by Boaz, who stepped up as her kinsman-redeemer, marrying her and offering both her and Naomi security. This story is beautiful on many levels, and it's often used to comfort women who long for marriage but are still waiting on their kindgom spouse. For the sake of this post though, I want the focus to be on Ruth's character not Boaz's redemption. If Ruth did not have the heart and hands of a virtuous woman, operating in faithfulness, humility, honesty, and integrity, the story would've gone very differently. Self-Assessment: Which of the following characteristics do you feel you demonstrate consistently? Which do you struggle with? faithfulness to God and spouse humility honesty integrity wise stewardship patience discipline cultivation of fruit diligence wisdom trustworthiness This month, pray specifically for the Lord's help in cultivating the qualities of a Proverbs 31 woman. No matter what profession or role you have or don't have, every woman works. The Proverbs 31 woman is not defined by her job title, but by the heart and hands she uses to accomplish her tasks. Do all things in love, faithfulness, and trustworthiness.

Today's post is rather unexpected but after some thought and prayer, I feel it's worth writing. As I continue reading 1 Corinthians, the topic of marriage is prevalent. Paul spends a lot of time preaching the goodness of remaining unmarried. "He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord--how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world--how he may please his wife...The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world--how she may please her husband," 1 Corinthians 7:32-34 "So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better...she is happier if she remains as she is..." 1 Corinthians 7:38 + 40 Who am I to deny Paul's words? As someone who has been married before, I can attest to the truth in his sentiment that remaining unmarried is better than being in an ungodly marriage that distracts you from the Lord. But the way this scripture reads depicts every marriage as a distraction from the Lord, and that I believe is a false interpretation of scripture. Again, I do believe there's truth in Paul's statement. Marriage has the potential to divide our attention, loyalty, and responsibilities. When you're married, you are responsible for your spouse and you share responsibilities with your spouse. You are loyal to your spouse and your spouse requires your attention. However, a person with a heart transformed by the Lord knows that this offering to your spouse is not in competition with the Lord, but is an act of love and service that the Lord equips us to complete. The love and service we give our spouse should reflect God's love for them and the heart for love and service He has given us. So, while marriage can be a distraction from the Lord, it doesn't have to be. With the right heart posture, marriage can be a way of demonstrating the character of Christ and enjoying the essence of union God so desires for us and designed us for. Consider the story of Adam and Eve. God created us physically and spiritually to desire connection. He hand-delivered Eve to Adam. He blessed their union. The union was never the problem. The problem arose when Eve's influence over Adam became stronger than God's influence. When the couple chose to disobey God, put Him second, that's when the union became a distraction, a competition with the Lord. But we don't have to follow their example. When you marry someone as rooted in Christ as you are-- equally yoked --you both share the same desire to please the Lord. You share a desire to remain obedient to the Lord and to serve the Lord. That marriage is a blessing, not a distraction. And while all marriages may be temporary, a thing of this world as Paul states, our desire for marriage is still good, still rooted in God. Because what does God desire more than union with us? As we embody His Spirit, and get to know His heart, we share the same desires as Him. We share a desire for union. In the context of 1 Corinthians, Paul was speaking to a group of believers who did not yet have the desire to please the Lord. They believed in Christ, but were not yet rooted in Him. They had fallen into rampant sexual sin and pagan worship. They allowed logic to override the spirit of wisdom. They argued that if Christ had fulfilled the law and they were no longer under it, then all things were lawful for them. They saw salvation in Christ as a chance to exercise their free will to do whatever they wanted. What we see here is a prime example of how the enemy exploits the word of God. Just because you can do all things, doesn't mean you should do all things. The Holy Spirit working inside of us grants us the wisdom to walk in righteousness and the desire to do so. The Corinthians had clearly not received the spiritual transformation necessary to walk in righteousness or steward a holy marriage. They were still living in the world. Sex was an act of self-gratification, not a ritual of oneness. They did not understand the concept of oneness for they were not yet one with God. So, when Paul addresses sexual purity and marriage here specificially, he was doing so in a way to guide them towards righteousness. Paul equated singleness with undivided, ultimate devotion to God, which should be their (and our) first priority. He offered marriage as an outlet for those who could not exercise self-control or sexual purity in singleness. He offered a practical solution to meet a practical problem. But a heart submitted to God does not need this lesson. A heart transformed by God can exercise both self-control and a desire for holy connection--a holy union that does not distract from God, but reflects God's design, intention, and love. As a woman desiring marriage, you could say I'm biased, that I'm reading this scripture in a way that gives me hope for marriage instead of shattering it. I won't deny my desire, but I will share how the Holy Spirit has healed my desire for and my perspective of marriage. I used to view marriage as the finish line. Since childhood, I equated my worth with being chosen by man. I let my relationship status or lack of determine my self-view. I used to carry the beliefs... "When I'm skinny enough..." "When I'm pretty enough..." "When I'm worthy enough..." "When I'm healed enough..." "When I'm good enough..." "When I'm submitted to God enough..." I believed that when I became enough , I would meet my husband. I viewed being married as the ultimate validation of my womanhood and worth. There was a time of seeking male validation, settling for unhealthy, toxic, breadcrumb relationships, and struggling with self-esteem. And even after surrendering to God, I still carried the belief that I wasn't good enough simply because God hadn't yet united me with my husband. I gauged the status of my life, my holiness, my readiness, my sanctification based on my marital status. But marriage was never the point. Being chosen by man was never the point. And all the time I spent thinking God was preparing me to be someone's wife, I think He was actually preparing me to be His. Because the actual point of this walk of faith is becoming the wife of Christ. So many good women, godly women are viewed with shame, pity, or suspicion when they aren't married. People wonder why we haven't been chosen. People question what's wrong with us, and yes, put pressure on us to control something that is outside of our control. Society teaches us that marriage is the ultimate status for a woman, and I bought into it. I questioned why I hadn't been chosen . I wondered what's wrong with me. But I am chosen. I am loved. I am pursued by Christ. I no longer equate being single with being unworthy. I no longer equate man's rejection with being unchosen. I know I am chosen, loved, and pursued by God. And I know the work He is doing in me is valuable and transformative, and that work could only be accomplished during this season of singleness. As I sit here, this is a perspective that I spent years missing. Had I known this sooner, had I truly been able to accept this sooner, I would've saved myself a lot of pain. Now, I sit in this very unique place where I still desire marriage and yet, not just any marriage. I desire a marriage that does not distract me from God or compete with the most important relationship in my life. And I do believe this is possible, but I also know it's rare. I think understanding that what I want is rare takes the sting off my singleness. It's no longer a sign of rejection, but a sign of protection. So, yes, I agree with Paul that being undistracted and completely devoted to the Lord is best. Our relationship with the Lord should be first and foremost; however, I disagree that marriage in essence is a distraction from the Lord. It is possible to have a marriage that does not compete with the Lord, rather honors Him. But this is only possible if we demonstrate faithfulness to the Lord in both singleness and in marriage. The Lord is the one who teaches us how to love and serve one another. He is our example, and our faithfulness to Him is the foundation for all other things.

Hello lovelies! It's been a minute since I've shared my takeaways from God's word, mainly because I've been busy reading it and reflecting on it in a different medium. But this morning, I began a study of 1 Corinthians and very quickly a topic of discussion emerged. Context 1st Corinthians is one of Paul's letters, and is written to the believers in Corinth, Greece. What I found fascinating in learning about Corinth is that it was the political captial of Greece as well as a major place of trade and business that connected travelers from the East and West. The geographic location of Corinth made it the hub for Mediterranean trade, which brought together people of different backgrounds and beliefs. While this can be a beautiful thing, it can also be a destructive thing for those whose faith is not yet strong. The believers in Corinth found themselves exposed to pagan worship (worship of Greek gods and goddesses) as well as worldly wisdom , often referred to by Paul as "the wisdom of men." Moral disagreements arose within the church and many believers fell into sin. This letter was written to remind the Corinthians of the truth, and that truth is what we'll unpack in the rest of this post. Scripture "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18 "Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." 1 Corinthians 1:20-21 In these first two verses, Paul reveals that the word of God will sound foolish to those who are of the world, those who do not believe in the wisdom of God, which is revealed to us through Christ Jesus who was sent for our redemption, who revealed the mystery of God, and who died for our salvation. The story of Jesus Christ is one that requires faith to believe in. All rules of logic would suggest the resurrection is impossible. But for those with the faith to believe in Him, all other wisdom will be revealed. Paul seeks to remind the believers of Corinth to not let logic or the wisdom of men persuade them away from what their faith has already revealed to them--the power and wisdom of God. "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." 1 Corinthians 2:2-5 Paul credits his ability to preach with the power of God. He humbles himself in contrast to the false teachers seeking to glorify themselves before the Corinthians. These false teachers, present througout the Bible and throughout history, claim to have special knowledge only attainable through them. This is one of the ways Satan seeks to steer believers off the straight and narrow path. If he can't get you to deny God, he will confuse you by getting you to follow a false god. Paul sets the example for believers to ground themselves in the truth of the crucifixion for it is the foundation of our faith. We believe not just that the Son of God came to dwell among mankind in the flesh, but that He died for our sins and through the washing of His blood--our ultimate sacrifice--we are made clean and blameless in the sight of the Father. The life of Jesus Christ provides wisdom, but the death of Jesus Christ provides salvation. "...we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory...God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God." 1 Corinthians 2:7, 10-12 This collection of verses reveals the purpose of the Holy Spirit who is present with us while our Lord and Savior is in Heaven. Paul implored a Greek philosophical belief that "like is known only by the like" to drive home the truth. He gives the example that only a man's spirit knows his innermost parts. Think of the person who knows you best, the person you've shared the most with. Even still, there are probably some things you've kept to yourself. You know yourself better than anyone--except God. Likewise, the only one who knows God's innermost being is the Spirit of God. God has given us His Spirit so that He may reveal Himself to us and we may know Him the way He knows us. Paul is reminding the Corinthians to live by the Spirit, to let the Holy Spirit be their teacher not the false teachers, and to let the God Most High be their God, not the false gods and goddesses prevalently worshipped in this region. Takeaway In the early days of the church, Paul often had to fight against false teachers and false wisdom by reminding believers of the truth of Jesus Christ which reveals both the power and wisdom of God. "For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 Today, we fight our battles against the influence of the world with the same truth or rather wisdom . It is a wisdom that comes only by faith in what seems foolish on the surface, but with eyes to see and ears to hear--given to us by the Holy Spirit--what is foolish becomes foundational. This particular point really hit home for me today, and is the reason I wanted to write this post. I have spent most of my life in a state of both ignorance and disregard for the word of God. For many years, I chose not to read my Bible, not to seek the word of God, because (1) I didn't want to feel convicted for my worldly ways, and (2) I didn't think it was still relevant. The little I did know felt foolish in today's society. It felt foolish to me to wait until marriage to have sex. It felt foolish to me to not test out living with a partner before marriage. Logic and fear whisper, "You don't know what you're getting into. You need to assess every aspect of this match before committing." This is not only rooted in fear, which we know does not come from God, but is also rooted in pride--the idea that we know better than God. When I held these beliefs, I was living my life in the driver's seat, clinging to control, taking on the responsibility to make all the decisions. I did not yet understand the importance or even the possibility of submitting my life to Christ. My ignorance stemmed from my childhood experiences which taught me to be self-reliant and independent and also the lack of a solid Biblical foundation. My early church experiences taught the importance of belief in Christ but not submission to Christ, but in the wise words of James , "even the demons believe and tremble." James 2:19 A heart and mind submitted to Christ reveals the foolishness of the worldly mindset. The logical beliefs I once held have given way to a spiritual wisdom I cannot turn my back on. This spiritual wisdom is what Paul seeks to remind the Corinthians of. When the world seeks to sway you, remember the truth and stand strong on the foundation of your faith. What worldly wisdom has God replaced in you with spiritual wisdom? How has submitting your heart and mind to Christ changed you? Leave a comment below and subscribe to be notified of new posts. 🤍 May God bless your steps this week.

"The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." Proverbs 31:11-12 Welcome to the second month of our becoming journey. In the first installment of Project 31, we combatted the lies of the enemy with Biblical truth and reclaimed what it means to be a woman of God by remembering our innate, God-given identity and worth. This month, our focus shifts and we begin to learn what living from our God-given identity actually looks like. One of our greatest roadblocks in our relationship with God is trust. In times of sorrow, we struggle to trust God's goodness and presence. In times of lack, we struggle to trust God's provision. In times of heartache, we struggle to trust God's love. And when others prove themselves untrustworthy, our trust issues can bleed into every other relationship, including our relationship with God. Our circumstances seek to shake our trust in the Lord, and when our trust in the Lord is shaken, so is everything else. We struggle to have hope. We struggle to remain faithful. We turn inward and feel the only option is to become self-reliant, independent, and strong. We turn away from our Father, like the Israelites who struggled to trust God to provide for them and protect them. And that action affects how we show up as a wife, friend, mother, employee, and daughter of the Most High God. Trust in the Lord is the essence of a Proverbs 31 woman. While Proverbs 31 refers to a wife and is used as inspiration for wives, this scripture is inspiration for godly womanhood regardless of marital status. Additionally, we, as the church, are the wife of Christ. There are lessons we can take from Proverbs 31 as we prepare to be joined together with Christ in Heaven. In this installment of Project 31, all women are called to rebuild their trust in the Lord and learn how to be a safe place for others to place their trust. This devotional series is for: women of any age women desiring to strengthen their trust in the Lord women desiring to become the woman God has called them to be unmarried yet preparing (wives in the waiting) women who are currently married divorced women hoping for a second chance mature women looking to reconnect with their purpose as women of God Learning to Trust the Lord When you think back on your childhood, it's easy to see that trust is not innate. It is learned. We learn to trust our caregivers when they consistently meet our needs. We learn to trust their advice when it consistently protects us from harm. This may be something as simple as "Don't touch the stove. It's hot. It'll burn you." Maybe we had to learn that lesson the hard way, but we learned it. And so, when the time comes to receive more detrimental words of wisdom such as "Don't drink and drive." "Don't get into a car with a stranger." We are more likely to receive those warnings, because trust has been built over time. Consistent trustworthy advice not only teaches us the lessons we need to learn, but reveals the teacher as trustworthy. We learn trust through consistent demonstration of trustworthiness. What's obvious in the examples given above is that trust is not something we do, we initiate, or we strive for. It's not a personality trait that some people have and some people don't. Nor is it a personal failure when we don't trust someone, as long as we aren't the person who says, "I don't trust anyone." Not everyone is worthy of our trust. Those who are reveal themselves as trustworthy, safe, loving, as someone who wants to protect us and guide us along the right path. And they do this consistently. God does this consistently. The Consistent Trustworthiness of God God's trustworthiness is revealed throughout scripture through His unchanging character, faithfulness to His word, fulfilled promises, and consistent presence across generations. God is unchanging, even when we disappoint or disobey Him. "For I the Lord do not change; therefore you...are not consumed." Malachi 3:6 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 1:17 "God is not human, that He should lie..." Numbers 23:19 Not only does scripture reveal God's character as unchanging and thus trustworthy, we see it first hand in the story of the Israelites. As Moses ascended Mt. Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments, he was gone a total of forty days. In this time, the Israelites--despite God having already proven Himself trustworthy--thought they had been abandoned by Him and thus created for themselves an idol to worship. (Exodus 32) God was angry and called them corrupt and stiffnecked. He wanted to turn away from them and choose a different people to be His. But He remembered His word, His promise, and He was faithful to be their God even when they were not faithful to be His people. God does not turn His back on us when we mess up. God does not abandon us even when we abandon Him. God is faithful to His word and fulfills His promises. "Not one of all the Lord's good promises...failed; every one was fulfilled." Joshua 21:45 "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud...so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:10-11 Throughout the Bible, we see God remain faithful to His word and fulfill His promises. The three examples that come to me immediately are when He promised Abraham and Sarah a son from Sarah's womb (despite their age and Sarah's barrenness), when He promised to bring the Israelites into the Promised Land, and when He promised us a Savior. Even in the face of the impossible, God's word is the authority. It is the truth. It is wisdom. And it will not fail. God's word not only promises, it protects. God not only proves Himself trustworthy in action, but in word. He seeks to teach us the ways of righteousness, the way to the abundant life. No matter what our relationships on earth have been like, no matter if we had loving and protective parents or not, God is our loving and protective Father. His word seeks to protect, to guide, and to teach. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be mutlipled, and years of life will be added to you." Proverbs 9:10-11 Knowledge and understanding of the word of God is key to long life. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10 (Jesus speaking) Knowledge and understanding of the word of God is key to the abundant life. God's presence is constant, no matter our circumstances or personal failures. "For the Lord is good...His faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:5 "His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23 "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3 "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 "For my father and mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in." Psalm 27:10 Even when our earthly relationships leave us wounded, hurting, and filled with mistrust, the Lord is trustworthy. He is faithful. He is loving. And He never abandons us. These truths should be the foundation we build our life on, the solid foundation we stand on when everything and everyone else around us feels shaky. When a woman of God has unshakable trust in the Lord, she is unstoppable. She is the wife who is a crown on her husband's head (Proverbs 12:4). She brings favor to those around her (Proverbs 18:22). She is rare and precious (Proverbs 31:10). Takeaways: God proves Himself as trustworthy time and time again. It is safe to place your trust in the Lord. We learn how to trust when others demonstrate consistent trustworthiness. When others fail us, God is our demonstration of consistent trustworthiness. As a loving Father, God seeks to teach us the ways of wisdom and righteousness. He seeks to teach us how to have an abundant life, and He seeks to guide us there through His Holy Spirit and His word. But what about when God doesn't feel trustworthy? While scripture reveals God as trustworthy, we can probably look to our own lives to see His trustworthiness and feel His presence. We can look back on that car accident that should've been worse. We can look back on that time of grief that should have consumed us. We can see the moments where divine intervention were at hand, when our loving Father protected us or when He whispered His advice softly. But what about the moments when we can't? What about the times we've felt God was absent? What about the moments when we didn't feel protected, when we didn't feel His goodness, when we felt disappointed? What about the moments when our trust in the Lord was broken? Rebuilding Trust In the Lord As someone who grew up in the church, but chose to step away from it after I graduated high school, I know that our ability to trust God is often influenced by how God is presented. When we aren't taught the love of God, when religion seeks to control, when we're given a picture of a Father who is constantly disappointed in us, waiting to punish us, or is impossible to please--of course, we feel unsafe. Of course, we struggle to trust. But it doesn't stop there. When our perception of God is tainted, so are our expectations of Him. When all we've ever known is the power and authority of God and not the love of God, we may expect Him to act on our behalf in very specific ways. We may expect Him to heal our sick loved one. We may expect Him to bring us out of financial debt. We may expect Him to unite us with our spouse or help us overcome infertility. When we focus on the power of God, we lose sight of the real gift of God, which is His presence. Putting your faith in God doesn't mean you're always going to get what you want. It doesn't mean a life without struggle. Putting your faith in God means even in the struggle, you are strong and stable because He is your strength. Putting your faith in God means you are never alone. Putting your faith in God means you are never without hope, because He can do impossible things. But even when those impossible things don't happen--divine healing, divine intervention--He is still good. He is still worthy of your praise and trust. He is still your loving Father. This perspective shift has been a long, hard-fought battle for me personally. After losing my dad to cancer, I felt let down by God. Then again, I'm not sure I ever expected Him to heal my dad. Throughout the 18 month battle, we would pray for healing, but I would often say: "He can, but will He?" I doubted God's goodness, not His power. The only part of me that believed He would is because I knew the kind of man my dad was. My dad was a God-fearing man who studied His Bible more than anyone I knew. He was an honorable man who never did drugs or drank. Aside from his cancer diagnosis, he was otherwise healthy. If anyone should survive this, it should've been him. If anyone deserved divine healing, it was him. But God chose to take him. In the years that followed, I could see God's hand in the situation. I could see the ways He was with me and my family, making sure we were okay. Even though He didn't save our rock, He became our rock. God's presence continued to follow me as I went through a divorce, years of hopelessness, searching for a true spouse--not the counterfeit I had--and continues today as I embrace my singleness and new struggles. His presence has never left me and somewhere in the midst of His presence, I learned who He really is. I let go of the false perception and I finally felt His love. I finally surrendered. And, just in time, as another tragic cancer diagnosis has struck my family. This is one I would not survive without God's presence. While we often look for the power, there is power in His presence. He is with us on our darkest days, and that means even on the darkest day there is light. Task: If you are struggling to place your trust in the Lord, I encourage you to look back and write down every time you've felt His presence. Search your memories. Can you find Him where you once felt He was absent? Write down the moments when you felt let down by God. Why did you feel that way? Was it God's character that disappointed you or your expectations of Him? Did you feel abandoned because you didn't get what you wanted? How is your perspective shifting as you learn that you are never abandoned by God? Like the spouse presented in Proverbs 31, He does us good all the days of our life. But His presence and His goodness don't always manifest exactly as we think it should. And we have to learn to be okay with that. We have to learn to trust Him in the darkness. Now our God is all-powerful. It is okay to expect the impossible of the Lord. The shift here doesn't come from limiting your expectations of Him, but in choosing to still love Him and learning to still feel loved by Him when your expectations aren't met. Rebuilding Inner Safety & Learning to Trust Yourself Bringing it back to Proverbs 31, perhaps you read the verses and admire the woman presented but don't feel she is attainable. You don't trust yourself to be her. You don't see yourself as virtuous. You may evaluate your past and question your trustworthiness. Or perhaps you're filtering your character through your relationships, but not every relationship brings out the best in us. In this moment, I want you to detach who you've been from who you are and I want you to detach who you are from the version of you that your current relationships draw out. Withdraw to the wilderness and let God reintroduce you to yourself. "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her." Hosea 2:14 Have you ever heard the phrase patience is a virtue? A virtue, by definition, is a high moral standard. To be virtuous means to have or show high moral standard. You may think of a virtue as a fruit of the Spirit. These fruits, virtues, qualities, signs of rightouesness are not cultivated or grown by us. They are grown and cultivated by the Holy Spirit. It is a process we submit to, not a process we lead. The process of becoming a Proverbs 31 woman, a virtuous woman, the woman God has called you to be is exactly the same. We don't strive. We surrender and submit to the work the Lord wants to do in us, the fruit He seeks to cultivate in us. Learning to trust yourself is not about you, for God is within you. "God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day." Psalm 46:5 Learning to trust yourself comes from trusting the God within you, recognizing He is there, and understanding that He is guiding you and trusting His guidance. You don't rebuild trust in yourself by looking inward--you rebuild it by anchoring upward. Trusting yourself grows as you learn to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit. I believe God communicates with us in different ways. How He communicates with me may not be how He communicates with you. For me, I often hear phrases in my head during times of prayer or journaling. I hear Him when I'm seeking Him. But I take the word back to Him for confirmation, because He is not the only one who whispers. One thing to note is, the voice of the Holy Spirit will not contradict the word of God. So, if something you hear doesn't align with scripture, it is not from God. Knowing the word of God enables you to more easily discern His voice. We were never meant to navigate this life alone or place our trust in ourselves. We were given a Helper in the Holy Spirit and He continues the process of sanctifying us after we've been saved. By the power of God's Holy Spirit, we demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit--the character of God. Through the Holy Spirit, we become trustworthy. Demonstrating Trustworthiness Just as the voice of the Holy Spirit will not contradict the word of God, a woman of God does not contradict the word of God. She places her trust in it and she lives her life according to it. A trustworthy woman exemplifies the example of trustworthiness God gives us in Himself through His word. A trustworthy woman... Anchors herself in the word of God Submits herself to the process of sanctification by the Holy Spirit Is consistent (unchanging, steady, reliable) Is honest and aligned with truth Is faithful and keeps her word (follows through, honors commitments, does what she said she'll do) Is self-controlled (does not react impulsively, is not ruled by feelings but grounded in truth, responds with wisdom) Is wise and discerning (seeks God's will, makes thoughtful decisions, God is the source of her wisdom) Is a safe refuge for those around her (does not create chaos in relationships, does not weaponize vulnerability, is a place of peace not unpredictability) Is humble and teachable (does not operate from pride) Bears the fruit of the Spirit because her heart is surrendered to the Holy Spirit A trustworthy woman is not self-made or self-taught. She is God-formed. Trust grows where consistency lives. Just as God is unchanging, a trustworthy woman becomes someone others can rely on--not because she is perfect, but because she is steady. A trustworthy woman does not bend truth to protect herself or harm others. She aligns with it because she is anchored in a God who never lies, a God who wishes her only good. Faithfulness is not convenience--it is a commitment. A trustworthy woman reflects a God who never breaks His word. Like God, she is faithful to her word and honors her commitments. A trustworthy woman is led by the Spirit. Her trustworthiness is not rooted in always knowing what to do, but in knowing where to go for wisdom. Just as God is a refuge for His people, a trustworthy woman becomes a place where others feel safe--not because she is perfect, but because she is anchored. Trustworthiness is not a performance or a skill--it is a fruit. "By their fruit you will recognize them..." Matthew 7:16 By her fruit, you will recognize her. Her husband will recognize her--both her earthly husband and her eternal husband, Christ Jesus. Monthly Intention: This month, I will rebuild or strengthen my trust in the Lord. I will submit to Him, and seek His help in becoming a trustworthy woman. Dig Deeper Journal Prompts: Where in my life am I most struggling to trust myself? Where in my life am I most struggling to trust the Lord? What thoughts or patterns do I demonstrate that might not align with God's word? When I feel anxious or uncertain, do I tend to react quickly or seek God first? What fruit is currently evident in my life--and what might that reveal about where I'm rooted and where I'm not? What past experience or choice do I need to forgive myself for and seek God's forgiveness for? How do I currently demonstrate trustworthiness? Are there instances in which I am untrustworthy? Is this pattern part of my overall character or attached to a specific relationship? How have my past experiences affected my ability to trust? Can I surrender my wound to God and let Him heal me? Has my perception of who God is hindered my ability to trust Him? How does it feel to know you don't have to do this alone? God is with you and He is leading you through your journey of becoming. Task: The purpose of this study is intentional becoming, so I ask you to choose four of the journal prompts listed above and reflect on one per week for the next month as part of your study. If you'd like, you can post your responses in the comments of this post. I pray this month's devotional on trust has inspired you and helped you, and I look forward to next month as we continue this journey together.

"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10 There are many narratives that circulate in Christian circles, in modern media, amongst regional groups and beyond about womanhood, femininity, and what it means to be a wife. But there is no greater narrative to buy into than the truth and God's word is the truth. In this first installment of Project 31, we will combat the lies of the enemy and reclaim what it means to be a woman of God by remembering our innate, God-given identity and worth. While Proverbs 31 refers to a wife and is used as inspiration for wives, this scripture is inspiration for godly living regardless of marital status. This devotional series is for: women of any age women desiring to strengthen their identity in Christ women desiring to become the woman God has called them to be unmarried yet preparing (wives in the waiting) women who are currently married divorced women hoping for a second chance widowed women looking to reconnect with themselves and God While many teachers focus on specific groups--singles, married people, etc.--my hope is to be inclusive, because there is meaning to be found on every page of the Bible for every season. Proverbs 31 is not just for those hoping for marriage or those who are married. Proverbs 31 is for any woman seeking to become a virtuous woman. And so, let's get started on this year-long journey of becoming the women God has called us to be. Regardless of man, we know we are the church and the church is the wife of Christ. Innate Identity & Worth From the beginning, the enemy's strategy has always been the same--to distort what God says. In the garden, the serpent attacked truth and planted doubt. He asked a question that made Eve doubt God's word. "Did God really say...?" Genesis 3:1 That same whisper echoes today, leaving many of us carrying the weight of a false identity shaped by shame, comparison, rejection, or culture. The Proverbs 31 woman is not a standard we must earn. It's not a badge that comes with a ring and a marriage certificate. She is a portrait of what a woman looks like when she lives from her God-given identity. The first step in becoming the woman God has called you to be is remembering who He says you already are. Our transformation begins not with striving, not with effort, not with checking things off a list. Rather, it begins with a deep breath and letting God's words about identity and worth sink deep into our souls. We Are Created With Purpose & Value "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27 Often times, women are seen as afterthoughts in the creation story, but we know that God is meticulous and purposeful. He did not forget about women when creating man nor did He create us to find our identity in our husband. Throughout scripture we see feminine metaphors used to describe God and Jesus. We reflect parts of the Father that our male counterparts cannot. While the most notable is our ability to create life, birthing children is not the only way we reflect God's feminine qualities. We reflect His emotions, empathy, compassion, nurturing qualities, wisdom, and discernment more so than men. And while many use Genesis 2:18 to belittle women and associate our value and purpose with how we serve men, there is nothing shameful or subservient about being a helper. Scripture frequently calls God a helper, portraying Him as a rescuer, protector, and shield. And finally, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as our helper sent to teach us more than His time allowed. Our ability to help is not limited to our husband or romantic counterpart. And how great a value is a helper? How strong of a purpose? We Are Fearfully & Wonderfully Made "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:13-14 We Are Children of God "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are." 1 John 3:1 Scripture says we are adopted by God, chosen to be His family. For anyone who has experience with adoption, fostering, or even co-parenting your step-children, your heart understands the love behind God's choice to choose us and call us His. He chooses us and loves us not because we're perfect children, but because He is that good. He chooses us on our worst day. We Are God's Masterpiece "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 This is a scripture that personally speaks to me as God continues to reveal the calling on my life. How amazing of an honor is it that God has trusted each of us with good deeds to complete? No matter what your job title or relationship status is, you have tasks the Lord has trusted you with. You have purpose and value. We Are Chosen "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession." 1 Peter 2:9 We Are Not Alone "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth." John 14:16-17 We Are Protected "He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler." Psalm 91:4 The truth of who we are and what we mean to God is our shield against the false identities Satan wants us to embrace. We Are Pursued “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?" Luke 15:4 Throughout scripture we see God's constant pursuit of humanity. He walked in the garden with Adam. After sin entered the world, He continued to manifest His presence in different ways--the burning bush, the fire and the cloud, etc. He sent His Son to dwell among us and ultimately, restore covenant between us. And He sent our Helper, the Holy Spirit, to serve as a direct connection between us and Him so that He can continue to speak to us and guide us in truth and wisdom even after He no longer walked among us in the flesh. How loved are we that we are pursued by the Almighty God? We Are Provided For "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 We Are Seen & Given Dominion "What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet..." Psalm 8:4-6 The New Testament expands our authority in Christ by giving us power over demons and evil spirits and the ability to heal the sick by the power of the Holy Spirit. It also expands our purpose by tasking us with leading others to Christ. But even before Jesus Christ and the gospel, man was given power and dominion over God's creation. How highly must God view us to place His work in our hands to steward? We Are Not Condemned "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:1 God never created us to be perfect. He created us to be His. He created us to have relationship with Him, to be His family, to be His helpers, to be His children, to be His vessels, to be the receivers of His love and goodness. And when Satan tried to steal us from Him, God brought us back home to Him by creating a path to redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. God Rejoices Over Us "The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 God Is Patient & Merciful Towards Us "Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23 We Are Loved "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 I could keep going and we'd spend the rest of our lives discovering God's unending, long-suffering love for us. And you know what, maybe that is the point of life? But for the sake of this post, the truth we must rest in is everything that God says we are, and everything He does for us, stems from His love for us. The essence of God's identity is love. Created in His image--yes, even us women--the essence of our God-given identity is love. We were created to receive love from God and others and reflect God's love towards others and ourselves. And what great worth is that that we are tasked with being God's vessel, God's mirror, His reflection in this broken world? This is why Satan does everything in his power to strip us of love--love for God, love for others, and even love for ourselves. A woman who reflects God's heart, His light, and His mercy--a Proverbs 31 woman--is a woman who walks in love. A reading from 1 Corinthians 13: If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13 speaks of love as one of three everlasting things that remain when everything else is stripped away. Words without love are meaningless. Faith without love is powerless. Work without love is fruitless. Love is our essence, and our essence is anchored in God regardless of our failures or short-comings. One of the greatest lies Satan tries to make us believe is that God no longer loves us, or perhaps that He never did. When we feel unloved or abandoned by God, we lose sight of our identity as God's child and chosen vessel, as an heir to the kingdom of Heaven. We lose sight of our worth. And when we are not filled by God's love, we cannot step into our purpose to reveal His love to others. Nor can we embody the characteristics of a virtuous woman as the greatest virtue is love. Today, I ask you to remember this truth. You are loved. God's love for you is patient, kind, compassionate, selfless, sacrificial, protective, trustworthy, long-suffering. God's love for you never fails. God's love for you outlasts every sin, every temptation, every short-coming, every tantrum, every tear. God's love birthed the universe and everything and everyone in it. His love is limitless. Remembering His love for you is key to reclaiming your innate identity and worth as a woman of God. The Bondage of Needing to Be Chosen I can personally attest to how Satan's distortion of identity--who God is and who He says I am--has led me to make choices that do not reflect my value as a child of God. I spent many years seeking love and validation from unreliable sources. I felt unseen, unloved, and disgarded because of an unmet longing for relationship. So, when romantic interest presented, I jumped rather than discerned. When we do not understand that we are already loved and chosen--when we do not feel God's love for us--we cannot rest in our identity or worth as His. We seek others to tell us how much we're worth and we seek to prove ourselves to men by whatever means necessary. We are held in bondage by our need to be chosen, but God says, we already are. The Proverbs 31 woman is a wise woman, and wisdom comes from resting in God's truth. That truth includes the truth of who we are to Him and what value we have here on earth. The Misunderstood Woman of Proverbs 31 Proverbs 31 presents a woman or wife almost as a checklist. This is not so different from how the fruit of the spirit is presented in Galatians 5. She... does her husband good works with her hands rises early to ensure meals are prepared and her household is tended to is a prudent businesswoman is strong (spiritually and physically) is generous ensures her family is clothed represents her husband well speaks with wisdom and kindness is not idle raises her children well fears the Lord But just as we cannot strive to embody the fruit of the spirit by our own strength and effort, we cannot strive to become a Proverbs 31 woman without the Holy Spirit. "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it..." Psalm 127:1 We must surrender to the Holy Spirit and be filled with God's Spirit of Love in order to embody the characteristics of a virtuous woman. Everything she does, she does out of love not obligation. Her love for her husband and children is a reflection of God's love for all mankind. He loves because He is love, not because He is obligated. Intentional Becoming "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10 Did you know that rubies are the most expensive gemstone, more than diamonds? God says a virtuous woman is worth more than the most expensive treasure. He is waiting for His greatest treasure. He is waiting for His virtuous wife. "An excellent wife is the crown of her husband..." Proverbs 12:4 The Lord is waiting for His crown. This journey of becoming is about allowing Him to refine us into the treasure He created us to be. It is about becoming the wife of Christ who has been cleansed with the washing of His word and is made holy and blameless in His sight. "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." Ephesians 5:25-27 Call to Action: This month, as we begin our journey of becoming, I ask you to invite God into your heart, your healing, and your process. Even if you already have, intentionally pray to Him yet again to ask Him to fill you with His Spirit, heal you from the inside out, and refine you into the woman He has called you to be. Becoming her is not something we do, but something He does inside us. Our surrender to God and sanctification through His Holy Spirit is a daily process. In my own journey, I've had to re-surrender many times and I will do it again as I embark on this journey with you. Monthly Intention: To rest in the love of God and reclaim my identity as His beloved daughter. Dig Deeper Journal Prompts: A woman who does not believe she is loved by God will struggle to rest in her identity. She will strive for worth rather than live from it. In what ways have you been striving for worth? In what ways have you been striving for love? When you think about God’s love for you, what emotions rise up—peace, doubt, resistance, gratitude? What lies about your identity or worth have you believed about yourself as a woman? If you truly believed your worth was “far above rubies,” how might your thoughts about yourself change? Are there areas of your life where you struggle to believe God loves you fully? What would change in your daily life if you truly believed God delights in you? When we struggle to feel loved, how does that impact the way we treat others? How might resting in God’s love change the way you show love to people in your life? Who in your life might need to experience God’s love through you this month? Task: The purpose of this study is intentional becoming, so I ask you to choose four of the journal prompts listed above and reflect on one per week for the next month as part of your study. If you'd like, you can post your responses in the comments of this post. A Letter to Sisters In Specific Seasons In the introduction, I expressed how this study can benefit many different groups of women. When you view the wife presented in Proverbs 31 as not just a man's counterpart but the wife God hopes to present to Himself, the scripture takes on a new meaning and does apply to us all. But right now, I want to write a few words to sisters in specific seasons. To the happily single: Proverbs 31 presents a woman who loves and cares for the people around her. She is a trustworthy confidant. She does good deeds. She works to maintain her independence and be able to give generously. The concept of care and provision shows up in the scripture as cooking and sowing, but you don't have to be a good cook or seamstress to be a Proverbs 31 woman. This is just imagery to reflect the heart of a woman who is wise, thoughtful, resourceful, kind, and caring. And you can be all of these things without ever marrying a man. You can be all of these things as a divorcee or widow. The title of wife does not make a virtuous woman, but a virtuous woman makes a valuable, precious wife--even if only the wife of Christ. To the wives in the waiting: I write this not just to those engaged but those who hope to be. I consider myself a wife in the waiting. When you desire marriage, you cannot help but take on a slightly more focused lens when reading scripture, especially a scripture like Proverbs 31. We begin to imagine what these qualities look like in action. Many women may read Proverbs 31 and think the key to being a good wife is waking up early and making breakfast for her husband, sending Him to work with a lunchbox straight from the Crockpot, and spending her day busy tending to the needs of others. This type of application leads to burnout. And the truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to marriage. God is preparing a specific marriage for you and your marriage will require specific things of you. The key to being the best wife you can is love. Do all things out of love, not obligation. And that is where being filled by God's love comes in. We cannot give what we do not have. So, be filled first before you pour out, lest you risk emptiness. Just as God will replenish your wells of love, so too should your husband. Choose a man who is willing to love and serve as equally, if not greater, than you. To the currently married: How beautiful is it that you have the blessing of marriage, the title of wife, and you are seeking to steward it well? I do not have many additional words for you, because I believe the majority of this post speaks to your season. Love over obligation. In my early twenties, I was briefly married. It was not a godly marriage. We both self-described as Christians but neither of us were seeking the Lord. Speaking for myself, this is because I had a false understanding of who God was. I write about that a lot in my other blog posts. Because I did not know God or feel His love for me, I was not equipped to love my husband the way a wife should and yet, I held myself to Biblical standard. I held myself to a standard I could never meet on my own. God is the one who teaches us how to love. God is the one who empowers us to love and serve. If there is an area where you find it hard to love your husband or serve him or submit to him, bring that area to God and ask for the equipping to be the wife He has called you to be. And yes, discuss it with your husband too. Marriage takes two people to steward well. It's not all on you, but it can start with you. Closing I hope you enjoyed this first installment of Project 31. I know I did, and I'm excited to sit down and reflect even deeper on how I can embrace my identity and reflect God's love more intentionally this month. Next month, we'll tackle a new theme rooted in Proverbs 31--trust and vulnerability. Ooof, as a woman who has struggled with trust, I can only imagine the message that is forthcoming.

I am so excited to announce this new project. After deciding to take a hiatus from writing fiction, there were two specific projects that I feel God placed on my heart. The first, Wilderness: The Journey from Bondage to An Inheritance of Endless Love, I've been working on quietly behind-the-scenes. This is a full-length Christian non-fiction book I want to keep close to my heart until it is finished. The second, is Project 31: A Year of Becoming A Proverbs 31 Woman. This project originated as a book idea, and I hope to expand it into a full-length book one day. But, for now, Project 31 is a devotional series which will feature one devotional essay each month for a year centered on a specific theme rooted in Proverbs 31. Each essay will include scripture reflections related to the Proverbs 31 theme, journal prompts for the reader, a monthly goal for intentional living, and a prayer for intentional becoming. The idea for this series was a combination of divine inspiration and my desire to make the most of my 31st year. Turning 30 was huge for me, as was the year that followed. I want my 31st year to be just as transformative, and every transformation begins with intention. The journey to becoming a Proverbs 31 woman--the woman God has called me to be--is one I hope to partake in and lead others on. Here is a closer look at the monthly themes grounded in Proverbs 31 I hope will inspire a year of intentional living and intentional becoming for me and all who join me. Month 1: Worth & Identity Month 2: Trust & Vulnerability Month 3: Work, Purpose, & Calling Month 4: Discipline & Daily Rhythm Month 5: Provision & Stewardship Month 6: Strength & Dignity Month 7: Compassion & Service Month 8: Home, Peace, & Environment Month 9: Wisdom & Discernment Month 10: Faithfulness In The Waiting Month 11: Joy & Delight Month 12: Legacy & Becoming This journey begins March 2026, but you can join the journey at any point and go back and read the previously published content.

If you can't tell by now, I like to write and reflect. I can remember last March, as I turned thirty, journaling my intentions not just for the year, but for the decade. After a chaotic, heartbreaking decade of lost years, I wanted thirty to be a fresh start for me, and today, I want to reflect on how it was just that. March 9th, 2025: The sentiment that keeps echoing through my mind is, "It's already done. You're just walking into it." I wrote in my journal that God had already made a place for me and a way for me. There was nothing for me to fear. All I had to do was answer the calling, and respond to the nudge in my soul. I wrote this as I prepared to take my first solo trip. I'd been filled with anxiety for weeks, but I knew that this trip would be good for me. I knew that it was time for me to overcome my fear and anxiety in order to receive good things. This is a truth I've held close throughout the year. Good things are on the other side of fear and anxiety. I began my thirties with the mentality that it was time for me to step out of my comfort zone. I wrote, "Tomorrow is a beginning. I'm walking into a new life, a new mindset. Tomorrow could lay the first of a foundation for a life that may be built over many years--even a decade. "It's already done." There's no use worrying about it, fighting against it or fighting myself. Whatever happens, it's going to be okay." When I tell you that my thirtieth year of life has been the most transformative year, I am not exaggerating. I spent the first week of my thirties in Fort Walton Beach, Florida--the place I feel most connected to my dad and the happiest memories from my childhood. This place, this trip , felt like a bridge between my past and my present. It was a time for me to feel connected to the girl I once was before stepping fully into the woman God had called me to be. I journaled every morning on my balcony while enjoying the morning sun and the sounds of crashing waves. I focused on daily gratitude, the lessons of my twenties, restoring my self-worth. I contemplated what God had in store for me--marriage, kids, career shifts. And what unfolded over the following 365 days continued to lay the foundation for the life I've always dreamed of, the foundation that began with that first step of choosing something good even when it scared me. Every pivotal moment in my life has begun with a single step, a single moment of overcoming fear or complacency. I didn't enter this year with a plan, but with an intention. To be honest, I think I forgot what that intention even was as the days passed. But it embedded itself in my soul, so that now when I look back at the choices I made over this year, I can see I was living in the intention to answer the call, follow the nudge, and overcome fear. Thirty was the year that I began solo-traveling, that my relationship with God reached a new level, that I found my church home, that I finally learned to trust and surrender my life to God, that I decided to repent from my secret sin and pursue purity, that I reinstated holy boundaries in dating, that I relinquished my pen to God and let Him write through me, that I began serving at church, that I found community, that I discovered a love outside of romantic relationship, that I found more peace in my singleness, that I finally learned to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, that I finally recognized the spiritual attacks on my life, that God revealed His heart to me, that I learned to love God and myself. It was the year I was re-baptized. It was the year I became a better friend and sister, a better woman overall. It was the year I became an aunt to the most perfect angel to ever live. It was the year my heart was opened to a love I never knew myself capable of. It was the year I became my Father's daughter. Thirty laid the foundation for a life filled with friendship, fellowship, service, community, Christ, love, peace, happiness, and fulfillment. I give all the credit to God. He was the one who nudged me in the right direction, who placed specific callings on my heart, and had softened my heart in the year prior to be receptive to His voice. He was the one who orchestrated meetings that led me closer to Him and others who've become an important part of my transformation. He was the one who led me to my church home and has given me this community and opportunity to serve that is so rewarding. He did it all. "It's already done. You're just walking into it." I'm excited to see what else the Lord is leading me to. When I look back and see the changes that've occurred in my life over the past year, three-and-a-half years, seven years...I know that time does not limit transformation. I expect great things to happen before the end of this year, before I turn thirty-two. But for now, I'd like to set an intention for thirty-one. Lord, I ask that you continue working in me this year. Continue drawing me closer to you, equipping me to embody your Spirit and to love and help others. Continue leading me to abundance, Lord, because I know you want good things for me. I will continue to choose good things over fear, and I will continue to be a good thing and do good things for others. Equip me to be a good thing. March 28, 2025: Something I'm learning is the importance of the temporary, the fleeting. Perhaps this is most easily depicted in my trip to Florida. It was temporary and that made me cherish it more. It was beautiful and for a moment, it was perfect. Life will be filled with fleeting, beautiful moments: relationships, trips, unique experiences. They will make up the tapestry of my life. Maybe that's the shift I've been needing. I've always wanted a forever . But maybe I'm meant to live many lives like the characters I write? Maybe I'm supposed to accept, like April, in the book I'm writing, that temporary can be beautiful. And it's better to be known than never discovered. I just hope, like her, I will one day meet the man who is willing to give me the rest of his days. I'm writing this as I enter my final week as a thirty-year-old, and I still desire a forever . My heart still longs for marriage and for a family of my own. I think the longing is greater than it's ever been, because God has shown me that I don't have to be afraid of love when He has taught both people how to love. I don't have to be afraid of a marriage that God ordains. But for the first time in my life, I'm resting in God's love. I understand that no man can love me like Him. No man can be my Savior. No man can be my peace. No man can give me what God gives me. This is a freeing feeling. Thirty was the year I let go of the idol of romantic love and learned to rest in God's love. I'm also learning how to find beauty in the temporary, because we ourselves are temporary. There will come a day when each of us passes away and the world will forget our names. So I value each moment. I value each friendship, each moment of romance, each moment of depth, each chance I get to meet a new soul and hear their story. I value each second with my nephew, whose life appears more fleeting than most. Thirty was the year my hope in God and the abundant life He promises was restored, but it was not without heartbreak. My life has revealed a pattern of hope and heartbreak coinciding. Seven-and-a-half years ago, my dad passed and I got married to the man I thought would love me forever. My wedding dress actually arrived on the very day of my dad's passing. Three-and-a-half years ago, I was physically at rock-bottom, but I made a choice that began a journey of reclaiming my body, my health, and becoming better than ever before. Two years ago, a relationship I thought would last brought me to the one ever-lasting relationship, and I began my journey through God's word. This year, I received the greatest blessings of my life--a restored relationship with God and the gift of being an aunt. When my nephew was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive, stage 4 cancer at only six months old, everything threatened to unravel. But God has equipped me with endurance. And I know that no matter what tragedy I face this year--at thirty-one--a blessing will swiftly follow, because God is a good Father who binds up our wounds and heals our broken hearts. Even in the face of your greatest heartbreak, there are still good things to come. That statement actually makes me want to share one final memory from my thirtieth year. It was New Year's Eve and, because it was on a Wedneday, there was a service at my church. I don't normally attend in person on Wednesday nights, but this night I decided to, because I needed to. I needed to get out of my house and be surrounded by God's presence. I needed to be filled with the peace of the Holy Spirit in the wake of my nephew's diagnosis. That night, when I walked in, I spotted a friend--the same friend who God used to inspire me to attend Word of God in the first place. I was so thankful to see him, to not have to be alone given all the emotions I was having. That night, the pastor said: "Look to your neighbor and tell them life is about to get good for you ." Given everything that was going on and still is, I needed to hear that. I needed to claim it, and I do. 2026, I proclaim, life is about to get good.

Today's post is inspired by a few key scriptures from the gospel of Luke, and will serve as both a message and an introduction to my upcoming book, Wilderness: The Place Between Bondage and Promise . "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness...Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them." Luke 11:39 + 44 As we know, Jesus often speaks in parables. In this address to the Pharisees, Jesus employs the tactic by comparing them to the very dishes they seek to clean before eating. The Pharisees adhered to strict cleanliness rituals, especially around consumption of food and drink. If they ate on an unclean plate or with unclean hands, then the idea is the uncleanliness would travel inside them. They viewed righteousness and cleanliness as based on the adherence to specific rules and rituals, which was the very thing Jesus came to free us from. They rejected the need for an inner transformation. They rejected Jesus and His teachings. Jesus, in response, said they were already unclean on the inside, already dead--they just didn't realize it yet. "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, "I will return to my house from which I came." And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first." Luke 11:24-26 Throughout the gospel of Luke, we see Jesus cast out many demons. And yes, demons still exist today. They are Satan's instruments of destruction, and they seek to reside in the human heart. They seek a vessel, a home. Without one, they are forced to return to the abyss. We see this in Luke 8:31-33 "And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned." When your heart is not filled with the Holy Spirit, it does not matter how holy you look on the outside (the house that is swept and put in order), you are empty, and emptiness will be filled by something. But why seven spirits more wicked than he? Because when we think we're healed, when we think we're holy, when we think we're untouchable, we are all the more vulnerable to attack. Without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are like addicts returning to our vice, thinking we'll be alright. But, more often than not, re-exposure to darkness leaves us worse off than before. "...blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" Luke 11:28 They key to inner transformation, to make your heart a home for the Holy Spirit rather than wickedness, is God's word. Read it. Meditate on it. Study it. Ask God to reveal His truths to you. This is part of the reason Jesus speaks in parables. Not everyone who hears the word of God will truly understand it. It is written and spoken in such a way that your heart must be primed to receive the truth. This is why no matter how many sermons the Pharisees heard, they did not accept Christ. "The lamp of your body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness." Luke 11:34-35 We, as believers, know that there is an internal battle of the spirit and the flesh that is persistent. We strengthen our spirit by reading God's word, but as we strengthen our spirit, it's also important not to feed our flesh. Now, I've written about this before or perhaps just spoken on it. There are misunderstandings when it comes to the flesh and what it means to deny our flesh. We as humans are not innately corrupt, but we are easily corruptible. God seeks to restore us to the glory we were created to exemplify. We were created to be His children, to have dominion over the earth, to exemplify His goodness here on earth, to love Him, be loved by Him, and to love others like He loves us. We were and are His greatest creation. Sin entering the world has not changed God's intention for man, His love for man, or man's purpose. When we deny our flesh, it's not about denying our humanity, our good, God-given desires. It's not about punishing ourselves and never doing anything we want. That's where this teaching goes off the rails. Denying the flesh is about denying the darkness inside us, denying the spirits seeking to tempt us, denying the lies Satan tries to sell us as truth. We do this in two ways. One, rooting ourselves in God's word and surrending to His will/ His Holy Spirit. Two, starving darkness, which means avoiding temptation. In Luke 11:34-35, we see that our hearts aren't the only thing we need to guard. We also must guard our eyes. Wilderness: The Place Between Bondage and Promise The idea for this book, my first Christian non-fiction book, came to me while writing for this very blog. I truly feel that God revealed the title to me and the purpose of this book, which is ultimately to encourage others in their wilderness season: the time between being saved and being fulfilled by Christ. Like the Israelites, our time in the wilderness is a time when we are tested, when we do not yet know God, when we face a ton of uncertainty, discomfort, and discouragement. It's a season where God seeks to undo the wounds from our past, the bondage Satan had us shackled in, and restore us to the abundance He created us to walk in. But when we don't realize this, when we don't see the wilderness as a necessary process of restoration and redemption, we may give up in our struggle and return to bondage, like the Israelites sought to. I am so excited to share this book with you, which also includes pieces of my testimony. I can't give you a pub date. I'm letting God lead my writing, my timeline, and my pathway to publication. What I can say is, the wilderness is essential. The inner transformation is essential. This week, I pray you make your heart a home for the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that defeats all other spirits and restore us to the beings that God created us to be.