Walking with Jesus

. Missy’s story: "Missy" is a Senior at a small, rural High School. She's an avarage student, has 'friends' she isn't very close to, and works as much as she can to help with the bills at home. She'd like to be more involved at school, doesn't have the time to because of work. There's a guy she has a relationship with, but he isn't really her boyfriend. He's her older brother's friend, whose away at college, and he only treats her like they're dating when no one else is around. This makes her feel a little used and not good enough, but she puts up with it because they're 'in love'. Her older brother resents their relationship and doesn't talk to her very much anymore. Her younger brother follows his lead and is mean to her, even though he doesn't know why. Missy's dad works out of town for extended periods of time and still isn't able to pay the bills. He takes out his feelings of inadequacy mostly on Mi...

. In a world of voices and opportunities, it can hard to discern the source of many of the ideas floating through our heads. Is this plan from my flesh? Is this nudging from the Holy Spirit? Is this desire from the enemy?! The possibilities can be paralyzing. How do I determine who wants me to step out? . Q: How do we know when it's God asking us to do something? A: It’s impossible! God does not call us to do things we can accomplish in our own strength. What would the point of that be, anyway? We already know what we should and shouldn’t do through His Word and our conscience. Rather, God calls us to do what we cannot do. He calls us to shout down walls. He calls us to defy kings. He calls us to walk on water, to feed the hungry, and to speak in languages we don’t know. He calls us to heal the sick with a word. He calls us to raise the dead. He calls us to tithe, to pray, and to love each other. . God calls us to work in the world as a witness to the world, and yet no...

Spring makes things feel new. The grass is shorn. People have come out of hiding. Short showers dust the parking lot with shoebox car-prints and the day is bright even though you can't see the sun. It's inspiring. I joke with Olivia that I'm solar powered, but I really believe it's true. I've never lived anywhere with a real winter, but my visits have left me with numb fingers, cold toes, and a sense of gloom. I'm sure it's just adjustment, so perhaps we will get real winters someday. For now, I need the sun and I'm glad for Spring. It reminds me of Easter, of life over death, and of hope. There are so many things I still don't know, so many I've yet to experience. They are still out there, waiting to be discovered. It's growth, learning, clensing, and the renewal of conviction for life. Gone now, the hibernation of my spirit. Rise now, lion of Brigham. :-) On second thought, maybe I would like real seasons?