I have given the idea of an elevator pitch a lot of thought lately — a short, but powerful, pitch that captures the heart of the Message in five minutes or less. But how do you summarize 66 books into five minutes or less? I guess I would start with John 3:16.

It was during one of the most recent pretend conversations that I caught myself hashing out, I experienced a sobering realization enter my mind. As soon as I silently said something inside my head, I realized that what I just thought about a particular person and situation, not only sounded selfish, but was actually also unkind. At that moment, I wondered what these words truly were revealing about my heart?

Recently, at my internship, a lot of people have told me that they see that I could be a team lead and recommended that I apply for a full-time internship with this church. This terrified me – mostly insecurity on my part.... So many doubts went into my head about me not being fit enough to lead, not being able to communicate that well, and wondering if I could handle that much pressure and responsibility. 

I am reborn, made new, so why do I still struggle? Why am I still battling the same issues I faced before? This question has been echoing in my mind all night as I lay here, wrestling with my sinful thoughts.

Many of us are waiting for the day that we don’t have any more storms — emotional ones, financial ones, medical ones, weather ones, etc. But this reminds us that storms are a part of the experience here on Earth. They will keep on coming. The ending of storms is not the source of hope.

Have you ever experienced hurt or loss because someone was not there? I know I have experienced it – from both sides. The one side that fails to act when I should have, and the other that feels the pain and damage when a person is not acting on your behalf.