"Renew," I thought in January as I mediated on what word I would focus on this next year. "That is the word."  Little did I know. "Faithful," I thought in January as I prayed over what characteristic of God I would pay special attention to this year.  Little did I know. "The Lord is an everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men s...

I'm afraid of being busy. I get anxious when I don't think I will be able to get everything done that needs to get done. I feel overwhelmed when I look at a color-coated planner with a rainbow of words across every inch of space. Perhaps you are afraid of being busy, too. Perhaps the demands of life seek to wash over you. Perhaps you, too, struggle with enjoying God's work for you today instead of just anticipating the weekend. If so, I have some encouragement for you today. This past semester has been, in a word, busy. I had four...

"It was when I finally felt content in my singleness that I found the perfect someone. The timing couldn't have been more perfect." "Once I stopped looking, it just happened." "Be happy and content with where you are. The rest will come." I've been told these things by well-meaning people before, and the theory behind these thoughts has always confused me. For, although they sound sweet and solid, underneath this logic is a huge monster of discontentment mascaraing as contentment. What these kinds of thoughts are saying is that feeling...

Life isn't perfect. We know that. We live every day in the imperfection. yet sometimes we still think that somewhere, somehow, life can be perfect. If we only had that job, boyfriend, or trip. If we only felt rested, beautiful, or successful. If only. I hate to break it to you, but there is no perfection in "if onlys." As many of you know, I spent the Fall 2017 semester in Disney World as an intern. It was wonderful, but not perfect. I cried a lot. I spent too much money. I struggled with making friends. However, upon returning home...

2018, what a year! I'm not sure what 2018 held for you. Maybe you experienced new adventures. Perhaps you were met with unforeseen sorrows. 2018 could be leaving you with a hopeful expectation for 2019 or an uphill battle. During the transition into  new year, this season of reflection and resolution, I have one reminder for you: Don't forget about today. Don't get so caught up figuring out yesterday and planning out tomorrow that you let today pass you by. Jesus, when instructing us how to pray, guided us neither into a prayer to p...

It's a well-known fact that the middle is the least exciting part of anything. The middle of a movie is filled with small setbacks leading to the exciting part, the end. The middle of a 14-page essay feels like the worst. The middle of the backseat of a van for 12 hours is actually the worst. Yet here we are, in the middle. In the middle where we end up watching Parks and Rec instead of praying. In the middle where we wake up already looking forward to taking a nap. In the middle where the days take forever to pass by yet are gone in th...

I'm convinced that Walt Disney World is at its finest during the holiday season (which starts in August for Disney). Whereas it is magical at all times, the holidays add a bit of extra sparkle (quite literally) to the memories made in the parks and resorts.  I interned at Walt Disney World last fall (see my posts about the beginning, my role, and my reflections) and made it my mission to emerge myself in all of the festive activities. It was the best time of my life. Sometimes I cry thinking about it.  In addition to experiencing t...