Uncompromised

  Start Here: Letting the Word Dwell Deeply in Real Life This morning I was meditating on Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” There’s so much beauty in that verse. It’s poetic, rich, full of community and worship and grace. And yet, when I read it, part of me also whispered, “Lord, I want this… but some days it feels so far from my reality.” Let’s be honest. We’re living in a time of constant noise and busyness. There’s always something to do, something to respond to. A constant moment of stopping and checking, “Am I forgetting anything?” Even when we want to sit down with the Word, our phones buzz, our minds wander, and our to-do lists scream louder than the pages in front of us. I’m not an anxious person, but I can be impatient. I like things to move, even if it’s slowly, I want to see growth, progress, directi...

As Mother’s Day approaches, many families are preparing to gather—sharing meals, laughing with loved ones, and honoring the women who’ve shaped their lives. Mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers. What a gift it is to see generations together. Truly, it’s a beautiful blessing from the Lord. But I also know this day can feel more like a wound than a celebration. Maybe you’re grieving a mother you lost—recently or long ago. I lost mine not too long ago. She passed just a week before Mother’s Day, and tomorrow marks two years. I’ll be honest: it still hurts. Some days catch me off guard. Grief doesn’t follow a tidy schedule. Maybe you’re mourning a child you never got to hold, or recovering from a miscarriage in silence. I’ve been there too. After a heartbreaking miscarriage, I truly wondered if I’d ever become a mother. Maybe your relationship with your children is broken, and you don’t know how to fix it. Maybe you’re single and longing for a family. Maybe you’re battling infertility...

When You Feel Like You're Not Enough Wow, it’s been exactly two months since my last post! Things have been pretty busy around here, but I’m excited to finally share an update with you all. I don’t know about you, but some days I feel like I’m constantly playing catch-up—with laundry, with relationships, and yep—studies too. It’s like no matter how early I wake up or how much I cross off the to-do list, there’s still this lingering weight. The house is never quiet long enough to think, the inbox keeps filling up, and I forget (again) to defrost the meat for dinner. And then by mid-afternoon, I start to hear that subtle whisper: You’re not doing enough.  Maybe you’ve heard it too. Lately, I’ve been unpacking and trying to make our new house feel like home. It’s been nonstop—boxes, tasks, and a scary health moment in between. Some days, I walk into the kitchen or living room and think, Okay, we’re getting somewhere. But then I step into our bedroom—and the boxes are still there. Hone...

I’m supposed to be non-stop packing, but here I am. As I pack, listening to music, this song came on, and I just had to share my heart. "Faithful Still" by KingsPorch —I’ve loved this song since last year, so it’s been with me for a while. Every time I hear it, my heart is reminded of what I already know but sometimes forget: God is faithful. He has never failed, and He never will. How often do we find ourselves wondering, Will God really come through this time? Maybe it’s an unanswered prayer, a painful loss, or a season of waiting that feels like it will never end. Our hearts know He is faithful, yet our circumstances whisper otherwise. But here’s the truth: God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our feelings or circumstances—it is anchored in His unchanging character. When we face trials, it can feel like we’re standing in front of an immovable mountain. Maybe it’s a health crisis, financial hardship, or a broken relationship that seems beyond repair. But Jesus tells us: ...

Isn’t it absolutely awe-inspiring that while people often look at our outward appearance—our flaws, failures, or even the messiness of our lives—God sees our hearts? He doesn’t judge us by what the world values, but instead, He looks deeper, beyond the surface, and sees us for who we truly are. 1 Samuel 16:7 says: “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.’” This truth has been on my heart all week as I’ve talked with a few friends who are going through incredibly difficult seasons. They’ve been misjudged, hurt by others, or weighed down by the feeling that no one sees or truly understands them. It reminded me of times in my own life when I felt unseen or unfairly judged. Sometimes it’s hard to face situations like gossip, lies, or backstabbing, but these actions often reflect the condition of the person’s heart. Matthew 12:34...

Fruit grows in the valleys Earlier today, a friend shared a post with a quote attributed to Billy Graham:  “Mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys.”  The words immediately intrigued me, making me pause to meditate on their meaning. Out of curiosity, I decided to fact-check whether Billy Graham actually said this. It turns out, he did! This quote is featured in  Quotes from Billy Graham: A Legacy of Faith  and has been referenced by his grandson, Will Graham, in a devotional on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's website. This discovery made me reflect deeply on the profound truth captured in the quote. As I turned to Scripture, it became clear how much this idea resonates with biblical teachings. - Mountaintops: A Glimpse of God’s Glory Moses on Mount Sinai received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19-20), a pivotal moment for Israel’s relationship with God. Elijah on Mount Carmel witnessed God’s power as fire consumed the a...

El Roi: The God Who Sees Me  Life feels heavy sometimes, doesn’t it? Disappointment, grief, betrayal—they press down on us, making it hard to take the next step. Some of the deepest wounds come from those we trust most. People we cherished and believed in can turn against us, creating false narratives that feel impossible to untangle. And yet, I know I’m not alone in this. These past few weeks, my heart has carried much. They’re the kind of burdens I used to share with my mom. We’d pray together, and she always had a timely word from the Lord—a verse to meditate on, a prayer to lift me up. But she’s not here anymore, and oh, how I miss her. She knew me well. She knew my husband well. She knew our hearts and loved us deeply. That kind of love is rare, and I don’t take it for granted. While the world looks at the exterior, God looks at the heart. “Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). He is always seeking hear...

Can We Talk About This? Why is it that believers can sometimes be so harsh with one another? Have you noticed that when a believer makes a mistake, it often feels like a little gang of “perfect” people comes after them with vengeance? This self-righteous response reveals a heart issue. Instead of being quick to extend grace, we become fixated on the faults of others while ignoring our own. Yet Scripture reminds us: “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:9-10). Many unchurched people I’ve spoken with have shared stories of being hurt or disappointed—often by fellow Christians. That pain is real, and I don’t dismiss it. At the same time, we know our ultimate hope isn’t in people but in Christ alone. You’ve probably seen the phrase, “If you left the church because of people, you were never there for Jesus.” While there’s some truth ...

Seeking God for Who He Is, Not Just What He Can Give Us As believers, we often fall into a mindset of seeking God primarily when we need something. Our prayers can turn into lists of requests, our worship clouded with thoughts of our own needs, and our quiet time with God shifts into problem-solving sessions. But what if we shifted our hearts to seek God for who He is, rather than simply for what He can do? Scripture points us toward a relationship with God based on reverence, awe, and love, independent of our desires or circumstances. In the book of Psalms, David expresses a deep yearning for God, not just in times of need but in all circumstances. In Psalm 27:4, he writes, “I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking Him in His temple” (CSB). David’s longing was simply to be near God, to experience His presence, to dwell with Him. His heart’s desire was centered on G...

UPDATE II: Sale is back! It's only $29! UPDATE: The sale is over for now 😔 I hope you were able to snag it! $29 was such a steal! I’ll be sure to share again when I find more beautiful Bibles. Stay tuned! 📖✨ Hey ladies! I don’t usually write about Amazon deals, but I just couldn’t not share this one! The ESV Scripture Journal: New Testament Set, featuring stunning watercolor artwork by Ruth Chou Simons, is currently on sale for 72% off. If you love visual art like I do, this is a must-have—gorgeous art meets the beautiful Word of God in such a unique and inspiring way. Now, if you know me, you know I’m very frugal and rarely purchase things at full price. That’s why I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share this amazing deal with you! I truly love the Word of God, and there’s something so peaceful about reading a beautiful Bible with my favorite coffee mug in hand (yes, the mug makes a difference!). It sets the perfect ambiance for diving into Scripture. Whether it’s in the qu...