Author: Kirstyn Mayden

Day 1: Where Advent BeganReading: Genesis 3:13-15 Advent, the season where we celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ, doesn’t start in the New Testament but in Genesis. It’s here where we learn of our need for the Messiah. At the fall of man, everything changes, and we are no longer close to God. However, as Adam… Read more

As I pulled a bright green apple out of the refrigerator for my daughter, I noticed that it was cool to the touch and looked like an appetizing snack. But when I cut into the apple, I saw it was rotten with brown spots on the inside. As beautiful as it was on the outside,… Read more

Everything in life seems to run out on us. We use up gas in our car and need to go to the gas station. We use up energy throughout the day and need to sleep at night. We use up calories and need to eat more food. When we’re running empty, there are usually clear… Read more

We can believe and know that where there is praise to God, there is God’s presence. He inhabits the praises of His people. When I attended my friend Kim Cash Tate’s conference a few years ago, I was a little late. As I walked through the hotel hallways, navigating my way to the ballroom, I… Read more

When we trust God to lead our way and delight in Him, we don’t have to be overcome with confusion, but instead live free in knowing each of our steps is purposely established by God Himself. As we seek His direction, He will make all things clear. When we are overwhelmed with challenges, it can… Read more

Before Christ, we followed the pattern of this world. We were called children of wrath because even if we wanted to choose life, we couldn’t because we were slaves to sin. There was no hope for the freedom to choose life. Until Ephesians 2:4, where two words changed everything: BUT GOD. It reads: “But God,… Read more

In an internet-connected world, we have 24-hour access to the lives of those around us at the tip of our fingers. That also means we face constant temptation to compare ourselves to others and feel defeated if we don’t live up to current standards, or prideful if we start to think more highly of ourselves… Read more

We often find ourselves overly occupied with what others think of us and in turn, modify our behavior and actions to get people to think about us or respond to us in a positive light. This however means all our actions are ruled by others thoughts of us and not God so we can satisfy… Read more

As Christians, we are free from sin and death, but we still run the risk of living an unfruitful and wasted life if we only avoid sin, but don’t pursue God. We can waste our abundant life by focusing on things that don’t matter and by distracting ourselves with lesser things. Not necessarily sinful things,… Read more

Freedom is defined as “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint” by the Oxford language dictionary. We see this definition has two parts: one: I can do what I want, and two: I have no restraints or hindrance preventing me from doing what I want. This… Read more