Welcome to day 18 of STAND OUT: 7 traits of a counter cultural life. You can find every post in this series indexed here. We begin each week with an opportunity pray and reflect on the Word. This week's Sunday meditation is based on Philippians 2:7. Lord, as I prepare my heart and mind for the week ahead, will You empty me? Pour out all the fears and doubts and selfishness and pride in this oh-so-human heart. Drain me dry of all the cares of this world, the worries and doubts and fears ... [Read More]
HOW we serve
Welcome to day 17 of STAND OUT: 7 traits of a counter cultural life. You can find an index of every post in this series here. Sometimes when I'm writing about a topic, it's from the overflow of what God has taught me and a desire to share those lessons with others. But sometimes, I find myself writing from my need. Today is the latter. Y'all, the three Underwoods are exhausted. The past six weeks have been nothing but hard. We've dealt with grief at the loss of beloved family members, sorrow ... [Read More]
Why We Serve
Welcome to day 16 of STAND OUT: 7 traits of a counter cultural life. You can find an index of every post in this series here. Y'all, I love a good cupcake. It's hard for me to pass by a cupcake store when I'm out and about. There's something special about having my own fully decorated little cake. My favorite cupcake of all time is the wedding cake cupcake at Gigi's. It is beautiful and smells incredible and, oh my word, it tastes amazing. There is only one problem with this little piece of ... [Read More]
Service: the best gift
Welcome to day 15 of STAND OUT: 7 traits of a counter cultural life. You can find an index of every post in this series here. Last night I was teaching from the first eight verses of John 12. It's the account of Mary of Bethany pouring the perfume on Jesus' feet. Verse 3 says, The house was filled with fragrance of the perfume. I shared with my class that we find the idea of a pleasing aroma to God woven into Scripture from Genesis through Revelation. One of the important truths I wanted to ... [Read More]
Giving Generously of Yourself
Welcome to day 14 of STAND OUT: 7 traits of a counter cultural life. You can find an index of every post in this series here. Today we're wrapping up our conversation about generosity in a counter cultural life. Our world is greedy. We know that, we see it every day. But I think it can be easy for us to miss the ways we are greedy, the areas of our lives where we are the hoarders. We can be very stingy with our resources like time and money. But hopefully, you've seen through the past two posts ... [Read More]
Giving Generously of Your Resources
Welcome to day 13 of STAND OUT: 7 traits of a counter cultural life. You can find an index of every post here. Generous: (of a person) showing a readiness to give more of something, as money or time, than is strictly necessary or expected; showing kindness toward others; (of a thing) larger or more plentiful than is usual or necessary. Earlier this year, a friend handed me an envelope. She smiled and said, "I just want you to have this." She gave me a hug and walked away. As I peeked into ... [Read More]
