The other day I was scrolling through the documents in my “Writing” folder, when I stumbled upon this piece I wrote back in 2020. Sometimes God uses words I’ve previously written to speak to my current situation, and I just have to laugh at how spot on he is. This was one of those moments for me. It filled me with peace, and eased the ache in my heart so…
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Do This the Next Time You’re Depressed
Read moreDisclaimer: I am not a certified health professional. I have never formally been diagnosed with depression or anxiety. This post contains information based on my own experiences and what has helped me. If you are suicidal or need to speak with someone, the following list contains professional resources on how to get help. Hotlines National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Substance Abuse and Mental Health…
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God Answers Prayers
Read moreI’ve come to learn when God answers prayers, they tend to look different than what I was picturing. As I rattle off my prayers to God like I’m going over a shopping list (do not recommend this method btw), I project my hopes and dreams in a glitter-tinted glow, imagining the desired outcome down to the minute details that have nothing to do with anything at all, like my hair,…
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Wildflowers
Read moreThis summer I went on a hike with my mom up at Shrine Pass. My mom wanted to see the high-alpine wildflowers that show off their beautiful colors this time each year. This hike held significance for several reasons. It was the first time doing a hike with any real elevation gain in almost two years. An injury – and chronic pain – has prevented me from hiking, which is…
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Faith the Size of a Popcorn Kernel
Read moreOne thing I really love about Jesus is that he requires us to have very little faith in order for him to work in our lives. Okay, some might say that’s heresy, but it’s true. Having faith can be really hard. It’s always easier to follow the world’s standards, to take matters into our own hands, to just do what everyone else is doing. As humans, we are messy and…
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Living Proof: How My Dating Disasters Taught Me About God’s Love
Read moreThere’s an expression coined by my pastor that I love: the faith journey is about progression, not perfection. This is a mantra I repeat to myself on a daily basis. I used to compare myself a lot to other Christians because I didn’t feel like I was doing it right. I didn’t feel like I was good enough. But over the past couple of years since deep-diving into my faith,…
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How to Embrace “The Mary Season”
Read moreIn the last couple of years, I’ve realized that life has its seasons – not just climatically but personally. Some seasons I’ve been a goal-setter, a hustler, a manifestor; going for my dreams and bringing them to life. Other seasons – like the one that I’m currently in – it’s less about getting to the destination as it is about the journey. It’s about doing less and being more present.…
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It’s Hard Being a Christian Sometimes
Read moreYou know what most Christians won’t tell you? Sometimes it’s really fucking hard to follow Jesus. In the spirit of honesty, I’m going to tell you that I’m seriously feeling fed up. Fed up with myself and fed up with God. Before I was really active in my faith, I thought that being a Christian meant following a bunch of dumb rules. And if you know me, you know that…
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A Simply Honest Post
Read moreAlright, guys. I have taken some time off from the blog, and during that time I’ve done a lot of work internally. And what I feel I need to share with you the most, is just an honest update. The truth is… I have been struggling. Like I said in my last post, grief hit me hard over the holidays and it was like the grief was a gateway for…
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How to Use Logic When You’re Driven by Your Heart
Read moreCan I be honest here? I’ve never been a very logical person. My emotions have always run deep, like a well, and the water I draw from the well is the energy that drives my decisions. I’m very attuned to how I feel, and I act based on those feelings. My emotions drive my reactions, decisions, and actions in most of my life, ranging from the minute decisions like what…
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7 Effective Steps to Pursuing & Living Out Your Calling
Read moreIn my first post related to “your calling,” I wrote about the distractions that may be keeping you from it. Getting the vision is one thing. Overcoming the distractions is another. Actually going for it is something else entirely. This week, I’m going to cover 4 practical steps to pursue your calling and go over 3 tips that will help you get there. Hold Your Plans Loosely – Focus on…
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5 Powerful Ways to Navigate & Overcome a Dark Season
Read moreI’ve never been professionally diagnosed with depression or anxiety, but I have certainly experienced depression-like symptoms and a whole truckload of anxiety in my lifetime. Addressing mental health is more important than ever before and it’s no secret as to why. The world has changed so drastically in the last twenty – or even ten – years alone, and these changes have fundamentally altered us as a species. Through all…
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7 Distractions That are Keeping You from Your Calling
Read moreIt starts out as a whisper, a nudge inside your soul. A random idea that comes to you through an experience, a song, a person; and when you really start thinking about it, it isn’t so random at all. You pray on it, you meditate, you journal about it. The more time you spend looking at this idea, this nudge, the more you start noticing signs from God that no,…
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Taking the Roundabout Way
Read more“This is why you brought me here, Lord,” I thought as I stood awestruck on a trail in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. The forest was abundant with neon green foliage, moss crawled over every rock and fallen tree trunk, the air was slightly humid from the nearby ocean. I watched the tops of the ancient giants sway in a soft breeze, marveling at the circumference of the trunks –…
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Mount Shasta – It’s the People Who Make It Magical
Read moreMount Shasta was one of the first stops on my trip and it was here where I really started to connect with other people. My first day in the small but spiritually imbued town led me to Shastice Park, in an attempt to beat the ridiculous 101-degree weather. I was camped out under a tree marveling at the sheer size and beauty of the mountain when another nomad started…