The Ever-Learning Disciple

I love that my friends and family are concerned and interested in my life. But it seems like every Sunday morning or Holiday family event, the question comes up: "Are you seeing anyone?" Obsessing over marriage has been a huge struggle in my life. The longer I was single, the longer my list of things that are wrong with me became. I am in my twenties; this is the time of my life that prince charming comes to slay the dragon, battle the beast, and rescue me. So, where is he? Is he lost at sea? Did I choose the wrong coffee shop the day I was supposed to meet him? Why is everyone telling me they are sorry when I respond to their question?... Sorry? Sorry for what? I live in the south, I get that. Most people in my family were married as teenagers. My sister is two years older than me, yet six years ahead of me. But that just isn't the way my life went. And I am tired of apologizing for it or feeling as if I did something wrong along the way. I came to know Christ (fo...

I wish I could say that I love people. If only I could have an enduring, constant love for people-- a love that survives in me regardless of capricious circumstances. But to put it simply, I don't. I feel hurt easily by the piercing words of people. I am quick to gain a bitter heart, and even quicker to suspend my relationships with those that I have lost a sense of love towards. What's worse, is that I continually count myself blameless. I attribute wrongness and sinfulness to my neighbors, abandoning the idea that I may have my own transgressions to resolve. Mark chapter 7 speaks about the traits that defile us. "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things, come from within and they defile a person." As I read this passage, I mistakenly began pardoning myself from most (all) of them: Evil tho...