Christian habits, like all habits, take effort and time to establish. We must practice them consistently to grow and step into the fullness of what God has for us here on earth. It’s all about choosing His way - God’s way in all we do.

You've undoubtedly heard about the importance of a morning routine, but does it work? I can honestly say that my morning routine and habits changed my life drastically for the better. I have more energy, am more productive throughout my day, and feel… happier.

Every successful person has this one thing in common – they own the first part of their day. That means they schedule their mornings so that it primes them for productivity. Simply put, one successful day built on another soon creates your desired life.

Successful people are intentional people. Very rarely do individuals stumble and fall into success. They had to become focused on what mattered and build the habits to accomplish their goals. Success doesn't happen accidentally; it is planned with strategic steps to create the path for that success.

When a habit is established, it can help us be successful in whatever area of life we need. It’s about doing the little things that will pave the way for big success. 

We had to go there – we can’t discuss love without talking about the hard stuff, like loving those who are most challenging to love. The Bible calls them your enemies, but they are people who have hurt you, come against you, stolen from you, etc. This isn’t Christianity 101 here. Pull on your big boy or girl britches, and let’s do this!

John 3:16 shows us the first act of love. God so LOVED the world that He GAVE. The act of giving is an act of love if it’s done in the right way. God gave us His very best and His first, Jesus, His only begotten son. The giving action of love is echoed throughout the scriptures.

Have you ever wondered who God is? Maybe you have an idea, but does that image you have in your head match who He truly is? Many times we view God through our own filter of experiences which gives a construed perception of who we think He is. Perhaps your image of God is from movies, books, or from who others say He is. It can be difficult to view God as a loving Father if what you have experienced from your earthly father is a stark contrast. If you have had an estranged relationship with your dad, it may feel awkward or unsafe to trust God.

Did you know that you have a calling? You might not be called to be a pastor or evangelist, but God calls us all to reconciliation. What does that mean? It means that once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have an obligation to tell others about Him. We're not supposed to be closet Christians.

I’m the kind of person who enjoys a map. I like to be shown the best way to do something – especially from someone who has been there and done that! The cool thing about God (well there are a lot of cool things) is that He knows the very best way for YOU to accomplish YOUR destiny. He is a detailed God and will get very specific on how you should accomplish the plan He has for you.

As we are learning how to set our goals, it’s imperative that we do Hebrews 12:1 first. It says to lay aside every weight and sin. So, let’s discuss the weights first. I have labeled myself a recovering perfectionist because it’s a part of my personality that I have to constantly fight with. However, perfectionism can be a huge weight on us since, (news flash), perfection is a mirage never to be attained!

Do you know where you’re going? Like, really have a vision and plan for your life? If you’re like most people, you wake up, reach for your phone, and start aimlessly scrolling through social media, looking at the news, and checking your little red notifications. Before you have had a chance to collect your thoughts or thank God for a new day, you have become reactionary to whatever pulls at your attention.

We go through the motions of life trying to strive and attain it – whatever it is. We don’t realize the impact our life has on others right in the here and now. People often buy the lie that what they do and who they are doesn’t matter. If that is you, I want to help you rewrite that script in your mind.

At times, joy can seem like an elusive emotion just beyond our reach. It's something we are trying to achieve through entertainment or other outside sources. However, joy comes from having a relationship with Jesus and abiding in Him, as Jesus points out in John 15.

However, what if I told you that true joy (the joy that comes from God), isn’t circumstantial at all? I don’t know about you, but that puts a smile on my face! I don’t have to feel the weight of my busy schedule and list of to-dos. The stuff we so often complain about doesn’t have to bring us down.

There are so many opportunities to be patient, aren’t there? From the first moment in your day, patience will be summoned to help you be kind to others and even yourself. Unfortunately, your day doesn’t always wait for you to have that coffee and Jesus time first. However, I want to talk about four specific times when patience is most important to have.

Why should we be concerned about building our “patience muscle?” Isn’t it sometimes easier to ask for forgiveness than to react correctly the first time? The truth is patience is something that we not only give but we hope to receive from others.

The human experience can be summed up in the phrase, “hurry up and wait.” Life is moving at lightning speed. However, there are times of waiting that feel like they drag on forever - especially when dealing with others. Many times we suffer from someone else’s wrongdoing, and it’s hard to wait it out. Galatians refers to this as “longsuffering.”

Raise your hand if you could use more patience in your life! What if we told you that you already have all the patience you need? You might think that’s impossible, but let me explain.

Do you like to be scared? Do you get a thrill from watching scary movies or reading a thriller? Some may argue that fear as part of entertainment is harmless and fun – it doesn’t have any bearing on actual fear. But is that true? Do our bodies and minds categorize entertainment vs. actual fear? Fear is engrained in the fabric of our lives from the nightly news to TV shows and movies. Unfortunately, it is also rampant in our minds taking the form of anxiety, panic attacks, and depression.