There was a strange rule in my graduate counseling program: don’t pass the tissues. It’s not surprising, but a lot of crying happens in counseling programs. I remember the first time one of my professors gestured to a fresh box of Kleenex in the center of the room and instructed us not to touch it—unless […]

This article is part of the Preach the Gospel to Yourself Series. We know that phrases like “preach the gospel to yourself” are used so frequently in Christian circles that they can become Christian gobbly gook. You kind of get what it means, but don’t know how to actually do it. This series offers specific […]

What emotions should a growing Christian display? As followers of Christ, how should we feel? What comes to mind? #blessed #thankful #faithoverfear #loved #accepted  Sometimes, these hashtags and feelings ring true for us. But they can also express what we as Christians think we should feel while our hearts tell a different story. In several […]

“I don’t believe in bad days.” I remember saying these words aloud for the first time to my college roommate. Her face twisted into some kind of annoyed disbelief, and I stifled a giggle. I hadn’t realized that I held this conviction until the words flew out of my mouth. I said this after she […]

Church can feel like an add-on to our weeks. We’ve already invested so much time in going to Tuesday morning moms’ group, writing in our journals and following our inductive studies, listening to podcasts and sermons in the car, humming worship music while scrubbing dishes, and teaching our children the classic Bible stories during family […]