A Cellist in the Tuba Section

When I was in the third grade, I started taking cello lessons at school. The first few weeks, we used wooden sticks as bows and a toilet paper tube to represent the bridge of the instrument. This was necessary to learn how to hold things before actually getting the instrument (and also because you don't hand little kids expensive instruments with absolutely no knowledge of how to not break it). And the thing that I most remember from this toilet paper roll period in my life was my parents' willingness to watch me practice with this little toilet paper tube. I couldn't even make noise, and they sat with me as I practiced and made progress. After I (finally) got my actual instrument to play, they still were willing to sit and listen to me practice. (My mom wanted me to practice more because I was a little lazy in my practicing, but that's another story.) My point is that my parents were excited to see the new things I learned, even before the things I did were perfect...

Hebrews 2:18  For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. These passages are discussing Jesus: God in the form of a human. God, out of His great love for us, chose to come to earth as a human to save us, and since Jesus walked in human form, He understands what it feels like to face temptation (Matthew 4:1-11), to lose a loved one (John 11:1-44), to be betrayed (John 13:21-30). Jesus relates to the experiences you are going through because He experienced similar things. So, when you feel as though there is absolutely no one who understands, remind yourself that you can always run to Jesus, and He will always understand. An...

I want to do a video on what men and women want in a godly spouse, so please fill out the appropriate form below and I (and a special guest) will read and discuss some of the responses in a future video. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/D7C2KCM -->survey for what men want in a godly woman https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DD98L2P -->survey for what women want in a godly man

Hello friends, If you're struggling with feeling incomplete in your season of singleness, I want to share with you a different way of thinking. So often, we think of our lives as a puzzle, where God will reveal how all the pieces fit together someday when we get to Heaven. While this is a good comparison in some respects, it can make us feel useless in a season where we wait for the piece that represents our husband. I have good news. Your wait is not a puzzle. Instead, I would encourage you to think about it like salt and pepper shakers. Both of them go together, they're a set. However, they both are complete objects on their own. You will find your pepper shaker if that's God's plan for your life, but do not use your lack of a pepper shaker stop you from doing your job. A salt shaker without a pepper shaker is still perfectly good for seasoning my french fries. So don't give up. Keep working on your ministry, and your pepper shaker will come when the timing...

Sometimes, when someone is bullying you or spreading rumors about you, it can be our first response to want to fight back or gossip about them behind their backs. (I personally struggle a lot with gossip so this lesson is just as much for me as anyone else who might read this.) However, God calls us to react differently. If we are living as Christ followers, we should be marked by our love for others-even those who treat us poorly. No, not even those who treat us poorly--especially them. That's the thing that makes us unique, in that we love when everyone would seem to say that we don't have to love anymore. This is a supernatural thing that God helps us to accomplish. Below are some Bible verses about dealing with difficult people. Memorize these now so that the next time you have to deal with someone difficult, the Spirit can remind you how to react. Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.  (ESV) Romans 12:18-21  If possible, so far as it...

John 11: 20-27 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, " Your brother will rise again ." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, " I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet he shall live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? " She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." (ESV) In this second story of Mary and Martha that I selected for our study, the focus is on Martha. (For more on Mary in this scenario, read the verses after 27). The reason that Martha's actions here are important is ...