Real estate, the terrible two’s, and God’s peace amidst it all

Rachel Guerrero 4 min read
toddler playing water

My two year old wants to be in control. Whether he says “No, please”, “stop it”, “go away”, or “mine”, he wants what he wants NOW. Patience is not his virtue. We try to give him choices, but when those options do not give him the outcome he wants, he throws a fit.  He throws his food on the floor, lays on the ground, or tries to hit something. This unfiltered desire for control is comical when we are talking about a two year old because we know it is silly for kids to cry and get angry when they cannot  ___ (eat off the floor, color on the table, fill-in-the-blank). Similarly, I long for and search for control in any way I can find it and get upset when things are out of my control. If you are anything like me, we want things our way and quickly. I […]

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Our Limitedness and His Limitlessness

Bailey Lenzen 4 min read
praying

In response to a friend’s recent question about for others, I shared something that I do not always remember myself: Part of being on mission means accepting the invitation to pray and intercede for others (1 Thessalonians 5:9, Ephesians 6:19).  “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.”   Colossians 4:3 I both want to share in others’ burdens by thinking about how they might be feeling, but also turn these burdens over to the Lord (Psalm 55:22, Galatians 6:2). We catch glimpses of the early church doing this regularly (Acts 12:12, 20:36). These prayers are also an opportunity to gain humility as we pray prayers often ones no one even knows about. This could lead us to a different question, “Does it really matter that I pray for […]

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Why God Requires Our Vulnerability

Bailey Lenzen 4 min read

Anyone who knows me knows that I am always armed with a Brene Brown quote. While she is accepted by a wider secular audience, in many ways her research on shame and vulnerability has many inextricable links to how God created us. Our brains are wired by emotion and the capacity to make connections with others. He asks us to see every person with compassion because He sees us this way (Exodus 34:6). In high school, I went to this megachurch in Fort Worth. One day the pastor was preaching on Matthew 9:36-37: When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” He tied these verses to this main message: “Lord, help me to see what You see and feel what You feel […]

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We Get to Pray

Rachel Marissa 2 min read

I’m having this experience on repeat; where I feel completely helpless for the people I love. There’s nothing I can say or do to take away the many painful experiences in their lives. I can’t guarantee what God will do specifically in regards to their redemption stories moving forward.

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Praying with Intention

Eileen Drake 4 min read

I once heard someone say that she prayed for her college roommate every day for two years for her roommate to know the Lord. And God heard her prayer! Her roommate came to know Jesus. I have always remembered this person’s dedication, commitment and persistence in praying for her roommate. An extraordinary aspect of our relationship with God is that we get to commune with Him through prayer. We get to talk to Him directly. What’s even more remarkable is that He listens to our prayers! Psalm 145:18 (NKJV) “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.”

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When God Says No

Kathryn Pesyna 6 min read

I’m upset.  I’m straight up sobbing, lying on the floor, kicking and screaming, full-blown toddler tantrum upset.  I asked God for something.  I asked Him for a miracle.  I prayed for something that I couldn’t believe wasn’t according to His plan (1 John 5:14).  I asked Him for something that I knew I could use to bring Him glory.  And he said no.

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