Where God's Word Meets Our Mess
Although I consider this an Easter-themed post, I’m going to focus on a conversation Jesus had after He died and rose again. His disciples encountered Him at the Sea of Tiberias, and He performed a miracle, providing an abundant catch of fish for them. After Jesus ate breakfast with them, He had a conversation with Peter—a conversation from which we can glean a very important lesson as we prepare for Easter.
The two friends talked…and talked…and talked. It quickly became clear that they were obsessed with exercise. I couldn’t help but feel depressed as they described their workouts and their sore muscles. I secretly wanted to ask them, “Do your entire lives revolve around exercise?” Obviously, I held my tongue. It wasn’t my place to ask them that question. And frankly, I could ask my high school self the same one.
I’m grateful God gave me a Christian family and the opportunity to learn in Christian settings. I’m also grateful He provided the Christian ministry position that I have now. Still, I believe He placed me in a secular company for a reason, and frankly, I should've represented Him better during my time there. If you work in a similar setting and desire to make a difference, here are two ways to shine the light of Christ.
In February, Boundless—the singles’ ministry run by Focus on the Family—stopped producing new content. I’ve enjoyed articles, blog posts, and podcast episodes from Boundless for years. Plus, I’ve written articles for Boundless and appeared on Boundless’ podcast. So when I first learned about Focus on the Family’s decision to (essentially) close Boundless, I was discouraged. But I was especially discouraged about the reason Focus on the Family made this decision.
Apprehension wasn’t my only reaction though. Seeing James again also brought other emotions—like sadness and anger—to the surface. I thought I’d forgiven him for hurting me. But that night, I realized maybe I hadn’t—at least not completely.
Although I don’t know very much about Ben Rector or his music, I’m familiar with his song “Brand New.” Yes, I realize this song is about a decade old, but I think the lyrics are worth analyzing. Truth be told, it's not simply a lighthearted song about feeling young and falling in love.
Even if you're not currently recovering from an eating disorder, I hope this conversation encourages you and reminds you that singleness can prepare you for dating and marriage. It's an opportunity to examine your own priorities and to determine what priorities you want your future husband to have so that—together—you can honor God in your marriage. You can listen to my conversation with Chrissy here.
I didn’t write this post because every single Hallmark movie is amazing. Rather, I wrote this post because—in general—non-Hallmark movies in the “romantic” category are trashy. I realize that’s a hot take, but I genuinely want to help you grow in your faith—and movies that don’t honor God won't help you grow. So if you’re looking for alternatives this Valentine’s Day, I have a few to share with you.
Deep down, I know I’m not truly behind my friends and acquaintances who have husbands and children. I realize God’s plan for me is perfect, just as His plans for them are perfect. But I still feel behind. This feeling—and the way we choose to handle it—is the focus of this post. We’re going to explore the God-honoring way to handle it by diving into an Old Testament story.
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 