A Rebel No More

  Hello friends, and happy Sunday! As I was doing some wedding planning and figuring out details, it hit me—we are only 19 days away from our big day! Even though we were legally married this past February, I can’t help but feel the weight of stress, worry, and anxiety creeping in. Of course, I’m filled with excitement and joy as I look forward to the celebration, but if I’m being honest, I sometimes feel completely lost. It’s been hard to stand on solid ground and remain in faith. But here’s the truth: this isn’t our wedding—it’s God’s. I don’t know if the Holy Spirit nudged me to write this blog as a way to calm my own heart, or if someone else out there needs this reminder too. Stress and anxiety don’t come from the Father—they come from the enemy. In Galatians 5:22 we’re told: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness.” Notice stress and anxiety aren’t listed there. That’s because they’re not from God—they’re distracti...

  If you’re one of my closest friends, the fact that I’ve wanted to start a podcast won’t shock you at all. You’ve probably already heard me dream out loud about it more times than you can count! But here’s the exciting news—it’s officially happening ! A podcast is in the works, and I’ll be sharing more details soon. Just know this: it will be faith-filled and focused on what it looks like to walk in obedience to God as a wife, a mother, and a friend. The other day, while browsing online (which we all know can lead to everything from recipes we’ll never make to Amazon carts we shouldn’t fill), I came across a story about Tim Allen. He recently shared that he forgave the man who killed his father. Wow. Can you imagine the freedom and peace that must have brought him? Forgiveness is a choice—and one that loosens the grip of bitterness and hurt. Now, let’s be honest: forgiveness is not easy. It doesn’t mean saying what happened was okay or pretending it didn’t hurt. Forgiveness is not...

  I was talking with a friend on the phone the other day, and we both admitted something: reading the Bible can be challenging at times. And honestly? I kind of love that about it. The Bible has this beautiful way of pushing against my flesh while drawing me closer to God’s heart. The more I surrender my stubborn self (and yes, I’ve got plenty to surrender), the more my spirit aligns with Him. If you know anything about me, you know my testimony is one of rebellion. I don’t always get it right. But maybe that’s why I crave being in the Word so much. I’ll have the Bible app playing in my ear or worship music running in the background. It helps keep my mind on God instead of getting tangled in the world’s mess—or my own. And trust me, that’s a full-time job! One example I shared with my friend was about Jesus’ command to love our neighbor. Now, let’s clear something up: when Scripture says neighbor, it’s not just talking about the nice family next door who drops off cookies at Christ...

  It’s been a while since I last posted a blog. To be honest, I don’t always want to write these. Sharing my thoughts here feels vulnerable, and I don’t like opening myself up to criticism or discomfort. But I’ve realized I can’t keep thinking that way. My fear of being uncomfortable has actually been standing in the way of my obedience to God. So, I’m going to do my best to stop dragging my feet and simply do as He asks. For those who know me well, you know I can be a little stubborn. If someone told me to do something, one of two things would usually happen: either I’d listen (which wasn’t often), or I’d go out of my way not to do it—just because they told me to. Yep, that’s me! I haven’t shared my full testimony yet, and one day I will—either by writing it out or recording it. I’m still deciding. My story isn’t one of addiction or prison—it’s one of rebellion. But that’s a post for another day. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been quiet. Watching. Listening. Reflecting—not onl...