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…
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…
It goes without saying that life experiences shape us. As the world around us changes and uncertainty hangs everywhere, some lessons, some trials, some tribulations we just have to suffer through, and learn along the way. Whether this health pandemic is a season of trial or a season of triumph, what a time to silence…
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…
Being a Christian does not involve feeling God’s overwhelming presence every moment of our lives. It doesn’t involve dreaming dreams of future events every night. And it certainly doesn’t involve achieving perfection in this present life. Because our Christian journey is not about what we feel or what we see, we must spend time daily…
If you read this blog often enough, you know I’m anxious about, well, a lot. And now add to this list all the implications that come with a coronavirus pandemic. Because my life is dotted by irrational fears, I must combat these anxieties each day. At first, I try to put the brakes on these…
