spiritual growth

  • Faith, Fear & Feeding the Wrong Wolf

    ByAllen Reding

    Life throws fear and faith into the same jungle, and they fight for control. When I feel overwhelmed, I think of my drained laptop battery—trying to run on fear alone leaves us weak. God’s words are like plugging back into better power; they don’t get rid of the battering, but they help you keep going. It’s a simple choice, but not always an easy one. The News: US returns to 1,000 coronavirus deaths in a day and officials warn pandemic will only get worse (CNN) God: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the … Read more

  • The Challenge of Not Being Foolish

    ByAllen Reding

    I am a person who likes a good challenge. Sometimes the challenges are serious and difficult like finishing college later in life, but other times they are more trivial like trying to find something at Walmart. Admitting to myself that I can’t figure diabetes out is tough, but to avoid asking for help with something so serious is arrogant and just plain foolhardy. In waking up to the changes I needed to make, the first thing I needed to do was to level with my doctor. There’s no point in relying on an expert for advice and then hobbling that … Read more

  • Faithful in Small Things

    ByAllen Reding

    His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness. Matthew 25:21  When Students Do Nothing One of the most vivid frustrations of teaching—something that still sticks with me even after retiring—was seeing perfectly capable students just sitting there, doing nothing. I’m not talking about the ones glued to their phones, deep in conversation, or sneaking in an extra nap. No, the ones I remember most are those who just occupied space, filling the room without really being … Read more

  • Standing Strong in the Chaos

    ByAllen Reding

    God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. Psalm 46:1-2   Four years ago, I stepped back into my school building alongside my fellow teachers, returning for the first time since we’d left for spring break in March 2020. COVID-19 was still in full force, and our return was marked by uncertainty, anxiety, and a sense that everything could change at a moment’s notice. Reflecting on those days now, I’m struck by how profoundly that season reshaped not … Read more