If you are anything like me, you might need that extra cup of coffee today since we all lost that hour of sleep yesterday morning (except for our friends in Arizona and Hawaii). The yearly ritual of setting our clocks an hour ahead on the second Sunday of March can get our body a bit out of sync for a few days. Yet, the extra hour of sunshine in the evenings is always a welcome guest on our back porches. Since I find myself yawning and thinking of a nap on the days right after I have “Sprung forward,” it reminds me of how crucial … [Read more...]
Do You Have Time to Read This?
Fact: Young adults lead very busy lives! Between work, relationships, family, and hobbies there seems to be very little time to spare for young adults these days. And let’s be honest, those of us who are young adult ministry leaders don’t always just sit around waiting for the next phone call or appointment to pop up on our calendars. The reality of life today is that things are simply busy! How can we as young adult ministry leaders bring a sense of calmness or peace to our lives in a culture that seems to value busy? Here are … [Read more...]
Peace for the Journey
Sheep get a bad rap. They tend to be followers. If one jumped off a bridge, there’s a good chance the others would too. Without the shepherd, the sheep are helpless. Sheep know the sound of their shepherd calling, and they respond because they are dependent on the shepherd to give them guidance and keep them safe. They have a devotion to their shepherd. When the shepherd calls, they respond. David, the author of much of the Book of Psalms, was a shepherd. He knew the intimate relationship he had with his sheep. He knew they … [Read more...]
3 Ways To Help Young Adults Manage Time Wisely
Time. No matter where you live, the language you speak, or your occupation, we all have a set number of hours everyday to use at our discretion. And that’s where the problem arises: The discretion for how we utilize our time is in our hands. I continually hear friends, acquaintances, and complete strangers indicate that they “never have enough time.” To be honest, I've said those exact words myself recently. With all of life's responsibilities, people are stressed out, exhausted, and constantly on the go, trying to make use of … [Read more...]
Are You Overcommitted?
Ever felt like you just don't have enough time to give to the things and people in your life who demand it? I find myself at this place of tension often. Being an extrovert, I love spending face-to-face time with people. Nothing brings more joy to my life than just being with the people. Because of this, I usually end up juggling multiple commitments that can be quite draining, sometimes leaving me wondering if I've offered anything good of myself to others. So what is the remedy for being overcommitted? Here are 3 ways to … [Read more...]
Is It Time To Be Still?
My life is so busy. Yours too, right? Busy seems to be the cadence of our world, and I often hear proclamations from others (and from myself) on just how very busy we are; how there is always something more to do. For me, unfortunately, this busyness routine I've embraced over the years has generally transformed me into a person with the inability to rest easily or slow down, even when I should. It usually takes a vacation: a complete separation from "normal" life in order to be able to lay aside my ever growing to-do list. I'm … [Read more...]
8 Simple Ways to Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices
The lifestyle choices you make now will affect the rest of your life. It takes patience and consistency to experience lasting change. Here are ways to make positive choices in important areas of your life. 1. START WITH PRAYER Center your mind on Jesus for a few minutes every morning. Turn over to Him the things that burden you. Seek wisdom and to know Him more deeply. Ask for the strength of the Holy Spirit to guide you through the rest of the day. 2. CREATE A SCHEDULE Post college and young adulthood is the season where … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Avoid Mental Overload
With demanding schedules, intense workloads, and the desire to succeed in all areas, it’s easy to get bogged down with responsibilities and even make an idol out of achievement. With that in mind, what things in your life (“good” things) are preventing or hindering you from pressing into God's presence? As I reflected on this question, I found several hindrances (also known as idols) that were holding me back from complete abandonment to the Lord, and they simply weren’t necessary. Perhaps you have some of those too. It's … [Read more...]