We hear plenty about "fairy tale endings," but no one really mentions the "fairy tale middle." If you think about it, though, that's the part we love the most -- the part where the heroine really becomes who she is meant to be. It's where Snow White meets and builds friendships with the Seven Dwarfs...

I don't know about where you live, but here in Virginia it's been a long winter. Some weeks, it's seemed like this season will never end. 

But driving to church today and seeing the trees whose bare branches have started to show little hints of something new, I realized that -- even with the coldest ...

Anxiety and possibility are closely related. Both use the imagination, and both can be identified by one question: 

What if...?

The difference between anxiety and possibility, then, is what the What if question is combined with.

What if + fear = anxiety (what if the stove catches on fire)
What if + hat...

When you're attempting something new or stretching outside of your comfort zone, it's really easy to put off doing it... because you just don't feel like it. Your brain is trying to keep you safe and comfy, and it has a lifetime of practice doing it.

I've learned a good response for those thoughts te...

If you feel called to "something bigger" but can't see how you could ever possibly go for it, maybe it's not possible for you right now. 

But it's not hopeless, either. 

Do we look at an infant -- unable to crawl, scoot, or even lift her own head -- and think, "Well, shoot. This one's hopeless. She'll...

Don't get me wrong, I love a sunrise however I can get it. But I've noticed that when there are some clouds in the sky, the colors are even more vibrant and beautiful (obviously not when the sky is covered in clouds, but you know what I mean). There's plenty of science behind the "why," (like here, ...

Not even close. There are a lot of ways to make a loaf of bread, and "good enough" goes a long way -- especially when Jesus's miracles are at play. Trust in His ability to perfect, and willingly contribute your imperfect offering. Glorious experiences lie ahead.

Sometimes when things feel final it's because they actually are. But more often than not, life continues. Not as we pictured or hoped, but it does continue. And we get to choose what we do from that point forward. 

When we're inclined to see a situation as ending with a period, what if we try adding ...

You answer to the highest judge, who loves you infinitely and delights in your growth. This judge has given you gifts and talents to share that will lift others. Hiding them out of fear of mortal opinions may win you temporary acceptance, but at the price of feeling like you're slowly disappearing (...

Sometimes commandments and covenants seem like orders that we have to obey, with long lists of things to remember and just try not to mess up (but mistakes inevitably happen), and we feel like we're constantly falling short.

But what if these commandments and covenants are actually invitations? 

Let'...