I offer this poetic pause as a means to make sense out of what all is transpiring among us. My prayer has been not to be numb during this time. Sit with me for a second as I search these words.

Consider with me what is the role of rest in combatting a relentless world that craves our constant attention. Though firm in my faith during this time, I don't want to be in a place where I don't feel. To be out of touch is to be lost. When we lose sensitivity, we lose compassion for those who may be feeling far and beyond what we ourselves are experiencing. It's important to know what slows you down and this piece captures, for me, the conversations that have helped me navigate this post-election period within my community.

Peace and please be still, even if for a moment before your next move.

What are we to do on a day with such great anticipation and anxiety? In what folks are describing as one of the most consequential presidential elections ever, how can we rise above the worry and consider what we fix our eyes on with greater care? When we Watch the Throne and turn our attention towards Jesus, we begin to bear witness to a higher power.

Have you heard the good news?

Jesus has risen. This in fact is good news worth celebrating, it’s amazing. But some of us may not see the good news as good if in fact we remain blinded by our brokenness.

In this episode I talk through the power of personal encounters and what it takes to not only see beyond, but believe what we’ve heard.

Have you ever wanted something so bad, you couldn’t wait? Better yet, have you gotten something so quick you couldn’t handle it? 

Waiting exposes and enlightens us. The wait, is an invitation into “deeper resonance with reality“ - John Mark Comer. We suffer today from diminished patience, a startling sense of restlessness, and a stifling sense of urgency. Though we must reclaim and embrace the untapped power of patience if we are to ascend to our aspired heights.

In this episode, I share 7 key lessons I've learned from waiting.

Living Out Loud is a commitment to a life of constant confession. People can see our walk but they don’t know what goes into our walk. When we Live Out Loud, we invite people into our process. In learning to Living Out Loud we strive to tap into the great tool of our testimony. We should wonder: 

-       How can we love more honestly?

-       How can we discern between the brutal honesty of our bad decisions and when God is speaking to us?

Have you ever applied and weren't accepted? Did you dream of a different outcome ?

Often times the desired product comes with somewhat of a daunting process, though the pursuit is what produces the fruit. Substance comes from maturation - development over multiple seasons. Whether it's the bravery amassed or the perspective collected, progress is gained through the process.

This episode closes with a poem: Prayer for a Punctuated Praise which I hope you'll find to be as helpful and corrective, to your posture, as I've found it to be for me.

It’s the things we love most that can seem the hardest to part from. But why would we ever want to let go of something we love?

From an early age I caught a glimpse into the power of fasting and foregoing even my most favored and flavorful snacks. As a result I learned that in life, there are many elements of our experience which ultimately if not discerned, can distract and decay the fulfillment of our destiny.

What if you had a better answer when temptation arises? How much would our perspectives shift, if we learned how to be led to and through the wilderness. In this episode I’ll talk through how to leverage fasting, as a means to fortify ourselves, in the face of trials and coming triumph.

It is true, that even the rough and tough times, have been purposed parts of God’s design. Are You Still Holding on to Your Integrity is a sobering suspicion. This message insists on inquiring, can our integrity stand stronger and longer than our inconvenience? As we consider the substance of the resources we have leaned upon in life’s seasons of instability, we may realize opportunities for a deeper reliance on God.

In our listening and through our writing, what was not, becomes.

In order to gain new vision we must be mindful of how we tell the tale of our past and present moment. New vision is vital because it allows us to tear apart the traps that have kept us caged. The beginning of the new year is a time when we're both open and eager for more. Through your listen I hope that you are encouraged that God has a personal promise reserved for you, awaiting your resolution.

It has dawned on me how easily we can lose sight of the very reason for this Christmas season. As we huddle, holler, gather & gift each other we must remain ever mindful of the basis of our blessings and celebration. This episode is a reflection on the gifts we have been given through Christ, considering the question Howard Thurman once posed, What Do You Want, Really? It is my hope that we can more honestly proclaim the good news that a light has dawned.