Why I Don’t Like Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time is a TV show that was popular several years ago but faded into obscurity. Even though people don’t talk about it much anymore, I decided to try to it—and I was hooked on it for a week or two. I watched episode after episode, making solid progress in the first season. I really wanted to like it, but I couldn’t get past the immorality.

Why I Like (and Don’t Like) A Week Away

I’m a sucker for Disney’s High School Musical series, which is probably why I like A Week Away so much. Yes, the plots and settings and characters are different, but the vibes are the same. Even though I wouldn’t call A Week Away a cinematic masterpiece, it’s definitely worth watching—especially if you’re a fellow fan of the High School Musical series.

1 Thing I Struggle to Remember While Waiting for Marriage

Okay, so there are actually many things I struggle to remember while waiting for marriage, but this is one of the biggest. I’ve written other other posts about marriage and how it points to the marriage celebration of Christ and the Church (as described in Revelation). An earthly marriage between a fallen man and woman is a foretaste of what’s to come—but it’s only a foretaste.

3 Fun Ways to Celebrate Your 21st Birthday (That Don’t Involve Alcohol)

I’m aware that the Bible permits us to drink alcohol and that Jesus drank alcohol, so I’m not saying it’s sinful. I’m simply saying it’s important to evaluate your why. If you want to drink alcohol on your 21st birthday because you want to conform to the culture and/or impress your friends and/or get drunk, I encourage you to choose one of these fun alternatives.

1 Thing to Remember When a Friendship Ends

I was 13 years old when my friend Alexis* moved away. Losing her was really hard because I’d grown up with her. We’d attended the same church and the same homeschool groups, and we’d even played soccer on the same team. But Alexis isn’t the only friend I’ve lost in my life. Many of my friends have been “friends for a season.” Even though it’s not fun when a friendship ends, it’s not unusual.

To the Girl Who Regrets Breaking Up with Her Boyfriend

I’m going to be honest with you: I’ve never gone through a breakup, so I don’t know how much it hurts or how long it takes to feel better. But if you’ve broken up with your boyfriend and you regret it, my heart goes out to you. And my hope is that this post will encourage you to keep moving forward instead of turning back.

Another New Bible Study Plan!

Last year, I shared a post about a Bible study plan I wrote for YouVersion (which you can find on my Freebies page). But I actually wrote another Bible study plan for YouVersion, and it's now available to access (and it's free)! This plan—entitled This Is Not Your Home: A 3-Day Devotional on 2 Peter 3—is designed to help believers have hope in the present, knowing their future home isn't in this broken world.

Is It Wrong to Chase Your Dreams?

If you’ve ever seen the movie Tangled, you can probably recall the amusing song “I’ve Got a Dream” that Rapunzel and several other characters sing about their personal aspirations. The song’s message is simple: Everyone has a dream, and every dream is special no matter how unconventional or unrealistic it is. It’s not unusual to hear or read similar messages from Christians. But even though many Christians emphasize the importance of having (and chasing) their dreams, God’s Word doesn’t.