The multimillion-dollar franchise starlet said it.

"I want to wake up every single day and be the best version of me.  There is no room for fear.  Zero" (Shailene Woodley).

She's not alone in this desire to live life well, though.
Others join her and add some feelings particularly pointed at Christians.

Below many of the highly popular Christian YouTube worship videos, one can find comment after comment and argument after argument where believers and non-believers discuss anything from God's realness to Christians' hypocritical lifestyle.

You know, I've noticed something in some of these discussions, and I'm starting to think that maybe these atheists and nonbelievers have gotten something very right.

The questioning of why Christians get so caught up in their doctrinal arguments that they stop impacting people for Jesus - 
The emphasis on living like each day is to be enjoyed -
The view that we can do good and help other humans -
The choosing to just live and not get so caught up inside yourself that you're immobilized - 
These thoughts are often underlying or plain to see in the YouTube comments.

Atheists and non-believers are frustrated by Christians so caught up in denominational doctrinal disputes and churchy politics that they forget Jesus lived His life among the people.
They're baffled at why Christians - who claim to have such hope - do not enjoy the days that they call "gifts" from God.
They're angry at Christians who do not use their talents and abilities for the sake of those who are here on earth.

Maybe Christians should be frustrated, baffled, and angry at these very things, too.

Jesus came to earth to serve people (Matt. 20:28).
We've been given the hope of salvation that's an anchor for our souls, and this same Savior came to give us life, life to the full (Heb. 6:19; Jn. 10:10).
We're told to go into the world and to love others.

Why are we not rooted in in this hope and reaching the people as we live each day in our purpose - a purpose that brings freedom?

 "I want to wake up every single day and be the best version of me.  There is no room for fear.  Zero" (Shailene Woodley).

Shouldn't we Christians be able to have this desire in a way that no one else can?

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear" (1 John 4:18a).

We can wake up and desire to be the very best versions of ourselves - versions being transformed into the image of Christ?

As we are being transformed, we can further be rooted in the promises of God.

He'll give us rest (Matt. 11:28).  He supplies all our needs (Phil. 4:19).  His grace is sufficient for us (2 Cor. 12:9).  He'll give us more strength (Isa. 40:29).

We can be the best versions of ourselves when we obey Him who gives such promises and when we live by faith:

"... Fear God and keep his commandments.  For this is the whole duty of man" (Ecc. 12:13).

"I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).

We are enabled to be the best "us" we can be when we realize that Jesus is all we ever need.

This is freedom.

We can do all this because we have no reason to fear.
We've been given a man to trust.
We've been told to love.

It's now our choice to respond.

It's my prayer that the negative Christian stereotype can be reversed. 
It's my prayer that Christians would be known as some of the most raw and vulnerable people around who are so consumed with caring for others that they may even forget about themselves in the best sort of way.

May we learn to trust that Christ is enough, and we can live free in the promises of God.
May we learn to love God so much that our actions are full of love to others.
May we learn to laugh every day because this hope is what gives us a basis for living, and anything that comes in this living is ultimately in His control; we can have joy even despite the pain and create happiness by loving what He's given us even more.

May we never cease to love the moments that take our breath away as our whole lives seem to breathe out the message of salvation.

May we learn to live.

It's my personal opinion that everybody could use a little more worship music in their life...

With this end in mind, I'd like to share with you a list of some really stellar worship music that you really should give a listen.

I have more exciting news to share!

A few months ago, I stumbled upon a great website aimed towards teens.  At the site, topics such as Bible, entertainment, teen life, and youth groups are addressed in a very practical way.  I encourage you to check out the site - Fervr - by clicking here!

I have been graced to be a part of the fantastic work God is doing through this site!  God never ceases to amaze me; his plan is so wonderful and powerful, and it is my prayer that each of us would be brave to follow where He is leading.  He is so faithful!


If you would like to see the articles, check out the following links:

If you're looking for thoughts about spending time with God, try this article by clicking here!

If you're struggling with wanting someone else's life, check out these tips by clicking here!

If suffering is getting you down, click here; that article might help!


... and don't forget to step out in faith where God is calling you - there is nothing like following Him!!

In this season of giving, there is truly a gift that keep on giving: suffering.

It’s a gift that nobody wants, but that everybody receives at some point in their life.

Jesus Himself didn’t have a suffering-free existence: “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, even till the point of death” (Matt 26:38).

And He told us point blank that we, too, will have trouble in this world (John 16:33).


Suffering can come in many different ways, and oftentimes we can never fully perceive the weight of suffering someone else is carrying.

However, our Savior knows what it’s like to bear the weight of suffering. He voluntarily took the pain for us; in doing so, he gave us healing, too: “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Pet 2:24).

With that in mind, here's four things to remember when life gets tough.

1. Suffering leads to maturity
The Word of God word gives us a counter-cultural perspective on suffering and shows us how we should deal with trouble.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4).

Our culture thrives on messages of what we need to do to finally “make it” – to have a complete life, complete happiness, or complete joy – which is always right around the corner.

When things get better, when you work this out, when the next big break comes…

But the Bible has a polar opposite message: it’s in suffering that we are working hard towards completeness.

Maybe what we should focus on is not the suffering we’re experiencing but what the suffering is doing in us – making us mature, complete, and not lacking in anything as James tells us.

Next time suffering is getting you down, stop and remember the end goal: this suffering needs to work its course so that you may be continually maturing.

2. There can be joy in suffering (Wait, what?)
Usually, the greater the suffering, the greater our negative attitudes can get. Here again, the Bible is counter-cultural. James tells us of the attitude that we should have when the going gets rough: joy – and not only just joy – but pure joy.

Why should we have this joy? It's because our faith is being grown and tested through suffering; perseverance is displayed only when we have trouble to persevere through; maturity is being formed in us.

Though we may not be happy with the pain we’re experiencing, we can be joyful in what it’s producing in us. Ultimately, though, we have joy centered in something greater than ourselves: We’ve been granted access to God; we can delight in our savior when nothing else seems delightful (Isaiah 61:10).

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19a).

3. Jesus is with you
Life may look pretty bleak during suffering. How can there be any hope? The author of Hebrews tells us what can be our anchor when life is a storm of suffering: our hope in the grace from Jesus.

We can cling to this hope that will not change: in the end (eternally speaking), it’s all going to be okay because our destiny rests with the Lord and Jesus’ saving grace. If He has our eternity covered, then we can be sure He is also walking with us in the meantime.

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).

4. You can get equipped
What tool can we use when suffering is getting us down? Peter stresses the importance of preparing our minds. Suffering is going to come and temptation to doubt God or to fall in to sin will likely come with it.

We are not left unequipped, however, and should prepare our minds with God’s promises: He’s our strong tower (Prov 18:10); He’s going to supply our needs (Phil 4:19); He’s grace is sufficient in all our weakness (2 Cor 12:19). Truth has power. Equipped with God’s promises, we can extinguish the flaming darts of the enemy and praise Jesus during it.

Remember this...
Next time you face suffering, remember this:

• You have an end goal in all of this: completeness
• You get to choose your attitude; why not choose joy because we have Jesus no matter how bleak things look?
• You’re anchored: hope in Jesus keeps you grounded even when you feel that you’re drowning in a sea of suffering.
• You can get equipped: prepare your mind by taking up God’s promises so that you can praise God even when it’s hard.