I listened to a slightly-too-convicting podcast last night (ahem). It was the By Faith podcast with host Christine Hoover and guest Callie Nixon. Callie shared about her struggles with lust, masturbation, and porn, which was a struggle that lasted for years. The most interesting, beautiful part of the podcast was Callie's observation that it was Jesus’ kindness—not His anger or His punishment or His "holding out" on her—that allowed her not to have a boyfriend while she was in the midst of her struggles with personal sexual sin.
Come into the Real
I have two definitions for love. The first one states, “Love is zealously, selflessly, and unconditionally desiring and pursuing someone’s best.” This is my stated belief. The definition that I actually believe about love is this: a happy feeling that's always wrong and never appropriate. The best that can come from it is to pray that God will eventually deliver you from all desires and circumstances associated with it. This results in the best possible outcome in the situation: relief from the "not right."
When the Groom Doesn’t Show Up at Your Wedding
When I woke up this morning, I realized that I'd had a devastating, awful nightmare. No, I wasn’t kidnapped. My family wasn’t eaten by monsters. My home didn’t burn down. Rather, the groom didn’t show up at my wedding.
3 Reasons You Should Read Song of Solomon
Yes, it’s possible that Song is Solomon is simply an allegory (with fictional characters) that demonstrates God’s love for believers. However, it's normally interpreted as an historically accurate event between Solomon and an actual Shulammite woman. Here are just a few reasons you should read it for yourself.
The Real Reason I’m Still Single
I didn’t think that life would turn out this way. I thought that I was a fun, pretty, and sweet Christian girl. So why is this happening to me? Why am I still single?
Don’t Let a Guy Define Your Worth
Sometimes, I just want to walk up to him and ask him the question. I mean, what would he say? I’d love to know how he’d answer if I asked him, "So why don't you like me?"
You’re Not Crazy for Wanting a Boyfriend
The reason my heart hurt was because it seemed like the commenters could only express their feelings in the comments section under my article. Was that the only “safe” place for them to share how they truly felt about guys and relationships? My story of longing and loneliness was their story, too.
Why You’re Looking for Jesus in Your Boyfriend
Somehow, I still have a hardcore crush on Sean. I stare at him from across the cafeteria at meals. I look up his picture in the college directory when I’m feeling lonely. I imagine us having this amazing relationship that would make you crazy jealous. But it’s all fake. It’s all in my head.
The 3 Greatest Fears of Inexperienced Daters
Honestly, there are lots of reasons why I’m scared about dating. I’m unsure what we’ll talk about, when we’ll discuss physical boundaries, how we’ll share hopes and dreams about the future, etc. Maybe, if you’re a completely inexperienced dater like me, you can relate to these three fears.