Advice from Above

The holiday season is officially among us! Christmas decorations are hung at shopping centers. Holiday drinks are out at coffee shops. Christmas music can be heard on every station. The countdown to Christmas has begun. I pray these statements bring joy and excitement, not fear or anxiety of everything you must complete before the big day, or how you’re going to provide Christmas for your family this year. The holidays aren’t always easy for everyone for many different reasons. They can bring pain to the surface we maybe didn’t know was there. This will be the fourth year celebrating Christmas with my parents being divorced and the holidays still bring up new challenges every year. These are just a couple tips that I have personally found that truly help keep the peace, both in my heart and in my home during the holiday season. 1.    Remember the reason for the season The reason for Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. There is hope, love, peace, and promise f

“Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” Peter said to

“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened t

“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and w

           Edward Estlin Cummings, or better known as E.E. Cummings, was a 20th-century artist most known for his innovations in style and structure to his poetry. [1] His father was a pastor and professor so from a very early age, Cummings and his sister, Elizabeth, were taught to love the Lord. [2] Through biblical allusions, and having God as a central idea to his poems to begin with, readers can see this love and knowledge about God and His word, come throughout Cumming’s poetry as it continues to spread the message of the gospel.             In poems such as “if there are any heaven my mother will (all by herself) have,” “i am a little church (no great cathedral),” “i thank You God for this most amazing,” and “when god decided to invent,” all have Christ, or a direct aspect about Christ, as the central idea to the poem. Something that is worth noting about the style of Cumming’s poetry is the use of capitalization. He doesn’t follow the typical capitalization rules especially

Setting New Year’s Resolutions are great! Better yourself is great! Doing it on your own strength? Not so great. Depending on God and leaning into what he has for you is the only way to have lasting change in your life . God wants to see you fulfill the desires of your heart and be the best version of yourself. Let’s break down some steps when it comes to setting goals for the New Year. 1.      Trust yourself. Setting goals in the New Year can be intimidating but you must believe in yourself to move forward in reaching your goals. Know that you have forfeited more potential than the devil will ever steal . 2.      Trust what God is calling you towards in the New Year and this season of your life. The whole year is ahead of you with unlocked potential and opportunities. Trust that still small voice and what He is calling you towards. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths