Your Obedience Matters More Than Your Emotions

Frankly, though, I think the Church often puts too much pressure on believers to feel certain things—like to feel happy or excited about reading the Bible, praying, going to church, etc. I think this pressure can be more harmful than helpful, causing believers to focus too much on emotions and not enough on obedience. But based on what I've read in God's Word over the years, I've come to this conclusion: Our obedience matters more than our emotions.

Is Church Hurt a Real Thing?

A couple years ago, I noticed a trend in the Christian book market. All of a sudden, it felt like there were lots of books about church hurt. I’m thankful I haven’t had any traumatizing experiences at church, but I did begin to wonder if church hurt is more common than I thought. Church hurt definitely is a real thing, and that's why I wrote this post.

1 Thing Every Christian College Student Needs to Know

I attended a small Christian college in Tennessee, and my experience there was positive overall. The college’s aim of preparing students to make a difference in the world was admirable. I realize not every Christian goes to a Christian college though—and that’s okay! No matter where you choose to attend college, there’s one thing you need to know that will shape your college experience—and the rest of your life.

3 Things That Actually Matter in Your Search for a New Church

As I recently wrote in an open letter to single girls regarding the "church search," there are factors that do matter and factors that don’t matter. Things like worship style, preaching style, sermon topics, seating or décor arrangements, and service times can fluctuate significantly in a short period of time. But the three things that shouldn’t fluctuate—and should be the key factors in your search for a new church—are included below.

Dear Single Girl, Find a Church That Fits You (and Get Involved)

I know that being single can make you feel like you’re living on an island sometimes—like there’s no one who really “gets” you except for your cat and your Spotify playlist. You have to push yourself to do any social activities because all you really want to do is stay at home. But constantly staying at home is a really lonely existence—especially for a single girl. That’s why it’s so important to find a church that fits you and to get involved in it.

3 Things That Could Change Your Life in 2023

We’re several weeks into 2023, and you’ve probably been completely bombarded with content about making (and keeping) your goals for this year. I know it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of the things you have to do to supposedly make this the best year ever. Friends, I’m not promising that these three things will make 2023 the best year ever. But it’s very possible that they'll positively impact your life, especially your relationship with God.

3 Characteristics of Meaningful Conversations

Perhaps I’m not very fond of surface-level conversations because, as an introvert, I appreciate connecting with friends on a deep level—like one-on-one meetings at cute coffee shops and after-church conversations that last until the pastor turns out the lights in the sanctuary. Although big gatherings can be intimidating to me, small gatherings are my happy place. I enjoy getting to know people better by asking good questions and by giving good answers to their questions. Here are a few characteristics that I believe are essential for having meaningful conversations.

Interview with Dr. Zeb Balentine

For this post, you're going to learn a lot from professor, author, and worship leader Dr. Zeb Balentine. I met him a few years ago and had the privilege of serving on a church worship team under his leadership. If you have any interest in worship, teaching, writing, or publishing, then keep reading!