Blog
The Past Packs A Punch
What would you do if you met yourself from the past? This is a fun ice-breaker type of question. Every time it's asked, I have the same answer. What would I do if I met teenage Alli? Oh, I'd give her a good sock to the jaw. I'd fight my past self. We'd pull each...
The Most Believable Lie (it’s not what you think!) – Guest Article from Thirzah!
You Don’t Belong Here Attached to nearly every insecurity, embarrassment, or disappointment I’ve ever experienced in my life is a whisper that says, “You don’t belong here.” The whisper usually starts in my head but travels downward, pressing down on my lungs till I...
Why God Doesn’t Just Love You
God's love is pretty hard to wrap my mind around. It's so big--so vast--that I have a hard time picturing it sometimes. I grew up in the church. I remember a moment when I was a kid, probably about four or five, when I first met Jesus and accepted him into my life. My...
Is God Pleased With You?
I am desperate for other people's approval. It's just the truth. Everyone's got a struggle, right? The moment I think I've solved this problem—that I've finally surrendered this in my life—I discover a new facet of it that I'd never considered before and have to...
Do Your Tears Make You A Liar?
I don't know about you, but I really hate crying. That feeling when your throat closes up, your eyes well with tears, and no matter what you do, you can't stop your lip from quivering. The pressure builds, and it feels like the whole world is looking at you,...
Why You Aren’t Smart Enough To Even Try
Growing up, I didn't think I was very bright. I remember, as a teenager, lying awake in bed at night thinking I wasn't very bright. I suffered from insomnia and an overwhelming amount of anxiety. So there I was, fifteen years old, lying awake in bed. It was well past...
Who is Guarding Your Heart?
Guard your heart. That's something we're told a lot, isn't it? I remember being a teenager and being told in a class that I had to guard my heart. That the world was wicked and that man was cruel, so I'd better guard my heart and make sure not to get too attached to...
Is Your Prayer an Excuse in Disguise?
God can be a little spicy sometimes, can't he? One of my favorite parts of the bible is when we can see the attitude and the sass of the past. It makes the people we read about in the bible so human to me. Like when Elijah confronts the prophets of Baal and accuses...
Why Can’t I hear From God – Part Four
Sometimes, no matter how we try and strive, we just can't figure out what God is saying to us. I've had hundreds, if not thousands, of moments where I'll try to listen—really, truly try...but it's just quiet. The past month of October, we've talked about how there...