Do you ever look at your faith and wonder? Wonder if it would be strong if you didn’t “live a pretty little life.” Wonder if it will survive the really hard times. Wonder if it is wrongly based on the assumption that your life, as a Christian, will only get better, it certainly can’t get worse.

I guess it goes without saying that I do. I struggle with this. A lot.

Because my faith has not truly been tested. Sure, my life hasn’t been perfect. I have been through terrible break-ups. I have been betrayed by some of my best friends. I have had to bury three grandparents, two dogs, and several friends. I have been sick. And at thirty years old, I have to sit and wait for biopsy results knowing that my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was thirty-one.

I have experienced loss. I have experienced fear. I have felt alone.

But I look at the trials and tribulations of others. And I remember that I have no idea. (more…)

Last Thursday, Thomas Nelson hosted LifeWork 2.0, a Social Media tutorial created by Spence Smith and Randy Elrod. All in all, there were about 30 attendees from Thomas Nelson and 20 folks from all around the United States. I love Randy and Spence’s energy. Their passion about this stuff is contagious! And I have caught the bug.

It was really fun. And informative. Here were my top 5 takeaways: (more…)

I think relationships between sisters are always complicated.

My Sister Marcie and I (and Baby Kate with the cheeks)

They are like taking the already complicated friendships between women and putting them on steroids. Because you are innately alike, but also innately different. Because you have to share the time and attention of your parents, and sharing doesn’t always come naturally. And because you are dependent on one another, forever linked by DNA.

So, as sisters, when your relationship is bad, it’s horrid. And in turn, when it’s good, it’s great.

At least that has been my personal experience. There are five years and six grades between me and my sister Marcie. To say that while growing we had our differences would be an understatement. (more…)

This morning at Crosspoint, we sang “Healer” by Hillsong United.

Here are the lyrics:

You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease
I trust in you
I believe You’re my Healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You’re my Potion
I believer You’re more than enough for me
Jesus You’re all I need
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands

And this morning as I worshiped I really tried to focus on the words. When I sang “Nothing is impossible for You,” I stopped for a moment and wondered. (more…)

I go through each day not acknowledging that THESE are the moments that make up my life, RIGHT NOW. These moments, not tomorrow, and not yesterday either. I wake up each day not actively, intentionally, writing the story of my life.

I approach things like I am waiting for my life to begin. Waiting until I have met a man. Waiting until I have kids. Waiting until I have lost fifteen lbs. Waiting until I am a success professionally. Waiting until the summer is over and I am not out-of-town all the time. Waiting until I have reconciled with an old friend. Waiting until 5 o’clock. Waiting until everything is in order. (more…)

Today I had to go to the dentist to get a cavity filled. Not to be all dramatic about it BUT, I have DREADED this appointment all day (actually make that all week.)

As long as I can remember, I have had this “intense dislike” (my mom told my I should avoid use of the word “hate”) of dentists. It is not that I don’t like them as people. I know several who are fine people. It is that I have no appreciation for their chosen profession.

The following is embarrassing, but unfortunately true. (more…)

This summer has been A COMPLETE WHIRLWIND. I have been traveling non-stop and loving every minute of it. But I am worn out. And my life and my house are in disarray.  (Seriously can’t remember the last time I changed my sheets. I think it was sometime last week but I’m not quite sure.)

With all this traveling, another thing that has been neglected is my blog. So this is a quick play-by-play with some of my favorite photos, of course. (more…)

Or maybe I just know what I want? Or maybe I have no idea what I want? Or maybe I am content with where I am right now? Or maybe I am seriously afraid of change or of just putting myself out there? But in my defense, I have no fear meeting new people, confessing my deep dark secrets on my blog, or sharing what I think about the latest loser on the Bachlorette on Twitter. It just doesn’t make sense.

Oh, I just realized I haven’t given you a clue of what I am talking about. Well, here it is…

(more…)

The story of this young girl fighting a brain tumor really touched me. Would you take a few minutes and pray for this family?

Kate McRae is a 5 year old Phoenix girl who is fighting a brain tumor. This is a video of her parents taken the day before her surgery. Please pass this video on, post it on your blog, Twitter the link to your community, put a Pray for Kate deal on your Facebook, pass it along to any prayer chains and let’s ask God to heal this little soul.

You can get more info and updates:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate
http://twitter.com/aaronmcrae

I recently read somewhere that, “you are what you tweet.” Although this may not be exactly true, I do think that Twittering has the power to shape people’s perceptions of you DRAMATICALLY.

For instance, if someone’s tweets are constantly whines and complaints, I start to think they are negative. I start to change the way that I interact with them, in person and online.

And the reverse is true too. I feel myself drawn to friends on Twitter who are constantly encouraging and educating. I enjoy interacting with these tweeps. I am happy to pass along (RT) their tweets.

And I consciously think…I want to be more like those people. (more…)