Nikao (verb)/nik-ah'-o/ (Greek) To conquer, triumph, overcome, to be victorious
In my house, I identify myself as an efficient, supersonic dishwasher. But, with this speed comes little nicks and dings on my fingers from various cooking utensils. One of my most memorable gashes came in the form of a vegetable peeler. As I washed it rapidly (too rapidly), I peeled off part of my thumb.…
Think of a place you’re most comfortable in – past or present. Maybe it’s a relative’s home, a best friend’s bedroom, a favorite teacher’s classroom, a sunny beach. For me, reminiscing about my childhood home makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. The harmony created within these walls was a solid rock throughout my ever-changing…
The unprecedented access we have to the wisdom of others on YouTube, Netflix, social media, in books, etc. proves bittersweet. On one hand, these outlets provide encouragement, wisdom and advice. On the contrary, these sources can easily take the place of our own personal knowledge and revelation of the Bible, which comes from reading it…
There are over 7.5 billion people in the world. There is one you. There is a call on your life that only you can answer. Seasonless areas are waiting for your matchless flavor (Matthew 5:13). Gloomy places are waiting for your vibrant light (Matthew 5:14-15). Musty spaces are waiting for your sweet fragrance (2 Corinthians…
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed writing – journal entries, short stories, poems, etc. For the younger me, it was easy to attach words to the worlds I created in my head because there was no pressure. Now, as I’m working towards a writing career, I’m consistently overthinking and repeatedly riddled…
As I watched Freedom Writers (again) this past weekend, parts of the movie struck me differently this time around. In particular, there is a scene where the students successfully raise enough money to bring Miep Gies to speak to their class – the woman who secretly housed Anne Frank and her family during the holocaust.…
What an Easter Sunday! Even though it was celebrated unusually in the midst of social distancing, I hope it was still a beautiful day to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection – a fundamental, guiding premise of our beliefs, and the greatest act of love ever committed. “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the…
To love deeply, to love sacrificially, to love with every implication of 1 Corinthians 13 is a heavy responsibility. “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom…
I know it’s silly, but as I read Paul’s timely wisdom in parts of the New Testament, for a few moments, I wonder why he couldn’t just stay on earth for a few hundred more years. He did a tremendous job convincing the inconvincible of the Gospel, strengthening the church, conveying his thoughts with clarity,…
People Pleasing – Sigh. It can become quite overwhelming to complete a task list while simultaneously pleasing everyone and maintaining a level head (I’ve tried it). Being tugged in many different ways, without consulting God first will prove unsuccessful every time. “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or…
