Training

On the first day of 2008, I joined thousands more Americans by adding “Lose weight/Get fit” to the top of my New Year’s resolution list once again—something I’ve done every year since I graduated high school.

But this year, I have determined to actually accomplish my goals (again, something I say every year). I have, however, done something new this time around that I haven’t added to my workout regimen in the past few years. I got myself a personal trainer.

I’ve never been very athletic, only participating in dance until I went to college. So I figured it would be a good idea to work out WITH someone who knows what they’re doing—someone that would push me and show me how to work the areas I’d like to improve. But the fact is, I didn’t expect then what I’ve now gotten myself into now.

My personal trainer has been kicking my tail. I wake up sore. I go to bed aching all over. I feel like I’m consistently starving myself. And I’ve nearly drowned myself a few times by drinking so much water. But somehow I...

They Get It

Growing up as the kid of a pastor was hard. I didn’t realize it at the time, but looking back I see why I walked away from my relationship with God and rebelled during my senior year in high school (and a couple of years beyond).

I lived constantly under the “eagle eye” of a condemning, judgmental church. I grew tired of church member’s criticism and complaints. It seemed I couldn’t do anything right.

But it wasn’t just me they were after. Anyone else who stepped through the church doors that didn’t fit their man-made mold of the perfect Christian wasn’t accepted into the “club.” Only perfect people were allowed.

From that point on, I decided that I didn’t want to be that kind of Christian.

Since those experientially formative years, God has grown me in leaps and bounds. I’ve been as judgmental as they come on occasions, but he’s strategically placed some people in my life that I have been able to learn from —people who get it—along the way that have showed me how to be a genuine Christ-follower.

These are...

New Commitment

As a single girl, I’ve lived by myself, making my independent way in the world, for the last five years since I graduated from college.

I recently decided I needed to leave my spinster-in-the-making ways behind and start a fresh adventure. So I moved in with two other girls into a comfortable three-bedroom house.

In my excitement, I didn’t realize that this would cause me to do some serious self-evaluation of how I had been living the past few years. My move gave me a whole new understanding of the verse: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).

It’s true. I’ve added a brand-new New Year’s resolution to my list. This isn’t something I chose to include; I was forced before I had the option to back out.

I’ve been made to sacrifice my privacy, and share my possessions and my time with my new roommates. I’ve had to be more considerate and mindful of their feelings, time, and stuff. I’ve actually had to stop thinking about myself and put them first.

It’s funny how God puts you in situations where you...

Christmas is for Everyone

I pride myself on not associating with anything outdated and cheesy. Instead, I work hard to be a complete knower, faithful follower, and participant in all things cool. (I’m sure I’m way off the mark more than half of the time.)

But when it comes to Christmas, those rules go flying out the window. I love Christmas—the lights, the songs, the holiday parties, spending time with my family—and even the ugly Christmas sweaters.

More than anything, I love celebrating Jesus during this time.

This year, my brother brought his girlfriend along for our trip to Grandma’s house. This generally would have been an exciting introduction into our family. But this girl is Jewish, and doesn’t celebrate Jesus, His birth, or anything pertaining to this holiday.

I’ve been so sheltered and surrounded my entire life by a family—parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc—that completely embrace what this season means and who love Jesus deeply. I forget there are people in America that don’t believe in what this time of...