My husband can’t be trusted with Snapchat.

Here are 12 reasons I made him delete his…

I’m not known for being optimistic, but when I chose our wedding reception location I was banking on the fact that rain wouldn’t be in the forecast.

Optimism has never worked well for me.

It didn’t just rain…it poured.

And the rain didn’t come alone. It brought a tornado warning as well.

From the time I was a young girl, my faith was something I took seriously. I loved learning about this incredible God of the Bible that loved me in my sin, so much so He sent His own son to take my place in death. I loved reading that He is alive and that He works everything for my good and His glory. And I loved the realization that the pages of Scripture I read were God-breathed and alive, applicable to my day-to-day life. I believed all of it.

Or so I thought.

Then freshman year of college happened. And along with the regular ups and downs that come with freshman year, it was the most stressful year my family had ever experienced.

“Jesus first, others second, and yourself last.”

It was a dictum ingrained in my mind growing up in church. If I’m a Christian then others’ needs should always precede my own, right?

Heck, the Bible makes it clear. Look at what Paul says in Philippians:
“In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)

It seemed as plain as day to me. How could anyone argue that you can follow God and put yourself above others? It’s an oxymoron.

But about a year ago, someone did argue it to me.

The challenger wasn’t a non-Christian either… it was my Bible study leader, friend, and mentor – easily one of the most giving, loving, and servant-hearted people I’ve ever met.

That caught my attention.

26 intelligent thoughts from an unfortunate 26 year old….

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