• Relationships

    The Secret To Dating

    [Monthly Columnist – Hannah Stovall] – Do you know the secret to dating? The whispering was the hardest part. Hushed treasures. Quiet gold. I’d walk down the hallway of that small-town Texas high school, watching those girls—you know, those girls—toss their perfectly highlighted curls in laughter, and I ached to be in on the joke. I’ll admit. I love a good secret. And as my sweet and honest friend said just a few days ago—as we sat on our couch on a Friday night, sipping hot chocolate and telling jokes (because we’re hilarious and awesome): “Someone didn’t fill us in on the secret.” Seven years later–that’s still the perfect description.…

  • Faith,  Relationships

    On Dating: Should Men Pursue Women First?

    [Guest Post by Marc Fisher] – Recently, I heard a panel on dating & relationships that tackled many interesting questions–should men pursue women? It was extra special because my wife Renee was one of the panel speakers. I felt encouraged afterwards because it gave some real challenges to put into practice in my own life–but what stood out the most was a single question. A question asked often in Christian circles, but often merely glanced over, Should men pursue women–first? I think we miss something that can radically alter our relationships if we don’t stop to ponder this question in more depth. We need to ask why does the question…

  • Relationships

    To Date Or Not To Date

    [Monthly Columnist – Rebekah Snyder] – To Date Or Not To Date – That Is The Question “I wasn’t allowed to date until I was sixteen,” I explained. “And how did that make you feel?” No, this wasn’t a therapy session, though the question may have sounded that way. It was asked by the mother of one of my middle school students whom, I’m assuming, was trying to establish some boundaries for her daughter and wondered how they would play out in her daughter’s mind. No one had ever asked me that question before. I never asked it myself. How did I feel about the no-dating rule. I’m sure it…

  • Relationships

    On Dating: You Complete Me

    [Guest Post by Casey Tygrett] – Should a couple say the words “you complete me” to each other? And I’m not talking about Tom Cruise and Renée Zellweger in the movie Jerry McGuire. Before you begin dating, start with the understanding that who you are in Christ. You are one in whom Christ dwells. You are promised life and life to the full. You are hidden with Christ in God. Once these promises and realities are deeply hooked into your heart and mind, freedom in relationships flows naturally out. Heartbreak still happens–and emotions and connections still have deep impact on followers of Jesus because we’re people built for relationship. However,…

  • Faith,  Relationships

    On Dating: You Don't Need A Boyfriend To Make You Happy

    [Guest Post by Julie] You don’t need a boyfriend (relationship) to make you happy. Or do you? I never thought I’d still be single at 29 years old. I remember at 17 having my life mapped out–when I’d have a boyfriend, get engaged, married, have children, and inevitably live happily ever after. Needless to say, life hasn’t gone as planned.  25 came and went and here I am four years later navigating through ‘what might have been’ with more fear and uncertainty than I’d care to admit.  I’m single with no boyfriend in sight. It’s even harder being single when a majority of the people around me are married. It seems like every day Facebook statuses…

  • Relationships

    10 Tips Surviving Singleness

    10 Tips :: Surviving Singleness Through The Holiday Season. Before I met my husband, December was the most depressing month of the year for me. That’s why I’ve decided to host this series. If that weren’t enough–I decided to bravely share what surviving singleness really looks like. I’ve never shared these before. They’re pieces of me. Pieces from my journal from the month before I met my husband. Although I was “content” I was more lonely than ever. Here goes nothing! “Having a really hard time waiting. Lord, I’m really struggling. Nobody to hide behind. No crushes. [No] internet crap. Like I am done. No more chasing boys. I can…

  • Health & Body

    10 Tips to Celebrate Without Gaining Weight!

    [Guest Post by Marcia Ramsland] – 10 Tips to Celebrate Without Gaining Weight! 1. Drink a Large Glass of Water Before Facing any Food Temptation. Water not only fills you up, but reminds you of your goal to eat with purpose at social events. 2. Get a Reality Check. Most holiday cookies, candies, and other treats are at least 150 calories per ounce. That’s more than a full tablespoon of butter. If you eat 10 morsels, you could gain a half pound of fat at one party! 3. Practice the Ten-Minute Delay Rule. Every time you have an urge to eat one more goodie, make yourself wait ten minutes. If…

  • Health & Body

    I Love My Real Smile

    [Guest Post by Emily Maynard] – This is my real smile. This is what I look like when I’m laughing, before I cover my mouth with my hands, before I wipe away the mascara inevitably melting onto my cheeks. This is what my friends and family see every time I come alive around them, when I laugh at one of my own jokes or snort over their funny stories. This is what I look like when I get excited about a puppy or a gluten-free cupcake or a gorgeous pair of shoes or a fresh idea burning in my heart. This is what I look like when I’m happy. This…

  • Health & Body

    I Love My Post Baby Body

    [Monthly Columnist – Jaimie Bowman] – I’ll be honest–I’m not sure how to love my post baby body. It started in the 6th grade–didn’t it for most of us? I was in P.E. class, bending over for our warm-up, when the muffled laughter came from behind me and then grew louder and louder. I turned around and asked what was so funny.  Three girls looked at each other, then back and me, and said, “It’s just that….your butt…it’s as big as Mrs. Rowan’s!”  Mrs. Rowan was our P.E. teacher–I was 12.   I stuffed that experience way back in the deep dark corner of my soul, hoping to never remember it…

  • Health & Body

    I Love My Body – Quitter

    [Guest Post by Aurora Vilchis] – I quit. I have no intention on returning and I won’t even care if you call me a quitter. You know why? I quit the club. The club of self hatred, self loathing and self focus. You’ve been there, a bunch of gals get together and suddenly it becomes one big hate feast; one hates her thighs, another her ears, something too big, not tight enough, too small. I thought that I had to join in because I’m a girl. But then it hit me. The light bulb turned on. It is true that they say we will do anything to be healthy except…