Faithful Writers

Photo by Dingzeyu Li on Unsplash I used to chase the next thing like it was my job. Actually, it was my job. One international teaching contract after another.One new country, new curriculum, new goal. One more training, one more leadership role, one more shiny thing to add to the CV. I told myself I was doing it for the growth. For the cultural exposure. For the calling. And in many ways, I was. I’ve always been curious about people, about places, about what God might do in unfamiliar soil. But if I’m honest? I was also chasing numbers. Contract amounts. End-of-year bonuses. Goals I could cross off like spiritual gold stars. Productivity Became a Proxy for Purpose The modern world is fluent in hustle. And so was I. I was the kind of teacher who couldn’t just teach. I had to lead a workshop about it. Attend every PD. Start a new project. Write a curriculum. Post about it, reflect on it, optimize it. All for the sake of “making the most” of my season. But somewhere between the planning meetings and the PowerPoints, I stopped hearing myself think. Worse, I stopped hearing God. Because hustle, even in the name of service, can get so loud that it drowns out holy whispers. The War in Sudan Was My Wake-Up Call I was just about to complete another teaching contract in Khartoum. I was already planning my next move. Thinking about which school, which country, which salary bracket. And then the war began. April 15, 2023 Suddenly, the plans I was building on certainty collapsed into grief, fear, and forced stillness. Friends were displaced. Routines evaporated. My future became a question mark. And for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t busy. I was broken. But in that painful silence, something shifted. I realized I had been building my faith on momentum more than intimacy. I had been serving, running, producing, while quietly drifting from the very God who called me. The war didn’t just disrupt my career. It interrupted my self-reliance. Sometimes Burnout Is a Message, Not a Moral Failing For the longest time, I thought needing rest meant I wasn’t strong enough. That if I had just planned better, prayed harder, managed my time more righteously, I wouldn’t feel this way. But Scripture doesn’t shame the weary. Jesus withdrew often. God built a whole day into the week just so we wouldn’t forget: you are not a machine. “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”— Matthew 11:28 Rest isn’t a reward for the productive. It’s a gift for the human. And sometimes, God allows us to run out of our own strength so we can return to His. I’m Learning to Measure My Life Differently These days, I’m trying to slow down. Not to quit dreaming or growing, but to grow on purpose . To say yes from a place of peace, not pressure. I still teach. I still write. I still set goals. But I’ve stopped confusing constant motion with meaning. I’m building a deeper, quieter kind of faith now. The kind that doesn’t panic in stillness. The kind that finds God in pauses, not just in plans. Maybe You Needed This Reminder Too If you’ve been chasing the next thing, feeling like you’re falling behind, wondering why you’re exhausted even though you’re “doing everything right”, this is for you. You don’t need to earn rest. You don’t have to outperform your exhaustion. Your worth isn’t in your output. Sometimes burnout is God’s way of saying, “Child, I miss you when you’re like this. Come sit with Me awhile.” And in my case? He used a war to get my attention. Now I’m finally listening. © The Blooming Educator Whiteboards and Crossfire A Teacher’s Lessons on Fear, Fragility, and Faith Inside a Sudanese Classroom at War

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” — Psalm 119:105 Photo by Emmanuel Phaeton on Unsplash I grew up as a conservative, evangelical fundamentalist. When I read the verse or heard it from the pulpit, I thought it meant: Read your Bible. It’s the inherent, infallible Words from the mouth of God. And, in reality, the belief was intended to reinforce the notion that the preacher’s dogmas (called doctrines) represented God's word and will on the matter. But here’s the thing : this verse isn’t about the leatherbound book we were holding in our hands. In Psalm 119:105, King David was honoring a reality about something much bigger, deeper, older, and more alive than that. Not Ink on a Page, But Voice in the Dark The Hebrew word translated as “word” here is dābār (דָבָר). And boy, does it carry some weight. It doesn’t just mean a written sentence. It’s not “Bible” in the way we think of the Bible today. When Psalm 119 was written, the Scriptures were still being formed. There was no complete canon. No table of contents. Not even a New Testament. Dābār means “spoken word, utterance, message, command, or promise.” It’s what is said , not just what is written . Dābār is a revelation. A promise. A direction. God’s heartbeat. Think of it like this: If you’re walking a dark trail and someone hands you a flashlight, you’re not going to stop and analyze the flashlight’s owner’s manual. You’re going to use the light to take a step. That’s what the psalmist is getting at. God’s word isn’t just an instruction manual — it’s a presence that leads . What “Word” Really Meant Back Then To the original audience, “God’s word” would have meant everything from: The spoken commands of God The laws and promises passed down The stories and songs of His faithfulness The whispers of God’s voice in prayer and dreams It’s not limited to a scroll or a chapter-and-verse reference. It’s not confined to ancient ink. Does It Breathe? Today, we often ask: is the Bible literal or metaphorical? Is it fact or fiction? But maybe the better question is: does it breathe? When we read Scripture just to win arguments or prove our side, it becomes a dead thing. But when we read it like we’re sitting in a quiet room with a loving Presence just waiting to whisper through the pages — that’s when Scripture becomes alive again. It becomes more than words . It becomes something that lives inside you. Jesus Is the Word, Too Let’s fast-forward to the New Testament. John 1:1 says: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus is called the Word (Logos in Greek). Which means the fullness of God’s message isn’t even a scroll — it’s a person . So when you read, “Your word is a lamp to my feet,” it could just as easily be understood to mean: Jesus is the one lighting my path. The Spirit’s whisper is showing me the next step. God’s presence is what keeps me from tripping over the rocks in the dark. Guidance, Not Control Let’s be real. Sometimes we want the Bible to be a GPS. Turn left in 400 feet. Forgive your ex. Reconcile by Thursday. But more often, it works like a lantern in the fog. It gives us enough light to take the next step , not the whole map. Brian Zahnd says: “God didn’t give us a road map. God gave us a traveling companion.” The Word of God is that companion. What This Means for You So when you open Psalm 119:105 now, read it with bigger eyes: Yes, read your Bible. But more than that, listen for God’s voice behind the words. Trust that God’s light shows up in more ways than just print. Know that you’re not walking alone. The same God who spoke stars into being still speaks into your dark places . Because the lamp isn’t a book. It’s a Presence. Not Just a Verse. A Lifeline. Psalm 119:105 isn’t decor or a particular doctrine. It’s survival. It’s what we cling to when we can’t see past the pain or fear or confusion. God’s word — spoken, written, whispered, felt — lights the next inch. And that’s enough. Richard Rohr puts it this way: “God comes to us disguised as our life.” So the path you’re on? The doubts you carry? The moment you need direction? God is speaking there. Right in the middle of it. Not just through chapter and verse, but through the flickering light of His nearness. Final Thought: Let the Word Be Bigger Let God’s word be bigger than the Bible , not instead of it, but beyond it . Let it be the whisper in the silence. The friend with wise words. The story that heals you. The nudge you can’t explain. The Jesus you meet when you least expect it. Because His word is more than pages. It’s the lamp that shows us how to take just one more step. And that, my friend, is enough light for the path. © Gary L Ellis

Neil Allen is from Wisconsin and a proud father of two daughters and grandfather of four, whom he deeply adores and loves spending time with. Saved on December 28, 1979, he has since devoted his life to glorifying the Lord, sharing God’s message wherever he can, and serving others with a willing heart. A lifelong farmer who cherished working the land, he also finds joy in volunteering in many different ways. Having walked through many trials, he places his full trust in the Lord and is known as a prayer warrior. New to writing, he now feels called to share how God has worked through his life and faithfully walked beside him.

I am a 19-year-old Christian student at DePauw University, majoring in communications. In the past, I wrote about New Age spirituality, but after an encounter with Jesus during a breaking point in my life, I gave my life to Him. He took away the depression and gave me a purpose in life. I now focus on Christian-based writing to spread the word of God to as many people as I can.  I became a Christian in the winter of 2025, and now I am incredibly passionate about planting seeds to both nonbelievers and believers. Through this, I've learned that God has blessed me with the gift of working with multimedia, including writing, photography, and podcasting. I also have my own website where I publish my works. I want to help others see His reckless love and His incredible power. He saved me. He can do the same for you.  Sienna Krieg www.siennakrieg.com

Where there’s a will, there’s a destiny. Photo by Nikolas Noonan on Unsplash Have you been to a wedding lately? The officiant asks the bride and groom to make a vow to each other and God. They are asked something like “Will you love, honor, and cherish…” And their response is usually “I will.” On the wedding day, their will is strong. However, years later, if one of them violates their covenant, it is usually because their will has become weak, diluted, or distracted. How does that happen? What is the human will? Can we control it? When my children became toddlers, I read books on “strong-willed children”. I’m glad I did because they became magnificent adults and excellent parents themselves. I never squelched their will. But learned how to channel it in the right direction. And to teach them to do the same. In my limited understanding, I believe the human will is the God-given capacity to choose . It’s the seat of decision-making, where we exercise our ability to say yes or no, to obey or resist, to surrender or rebel. It’s what makes us morally responsible before God. He gave us a will so that love and obedience could be genuine, not robotic. God doesn’t force obedience — He invites it. The will is where we answer that invitation. When someone commits a horrific act, many people seek answers. And the usual response is, “Because God gave man free will.” Choices have consequences. And “ the butterfly effect ” causes ripples with far-reaching collateral ramifications. How is your will these days? Strong? Tired? In neutral, waiting for someone or something to put it back into drive? We can’t surrender our will. We must engage it. “Choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Our will is where the real battle takes place. It’s not just about feelings or thoughts, it’s about deciding. We must “will” to obey God. We must “will” to renounce the ways of this present world. When the Lord shows us what could be or what should be, the question isn’t, “What will God do?” The question is, “What will we do?” “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life…” Deut 30:19 Just like Isaiah, when he heard the Lord ask, “Whom shall I send?”, the response must come from a willing heart: “Here am I. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8) . In the old paradigm, there were heroes, villains, and spectators. Most of us were spectators. However, in this changing and chaotic world, that is not the case. God is demanding that we choose. No better Bible story exemplifies that point than Elijah versus the prophets of Baal. “And Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ And the people did not answer him a word.” 1 Kings 18:21 By not deciding, they were, in effect, making a decision. By not answering a word, they were speaking volumes. The chosen people of a mighty God had been reduced to being spectators. That might have been OK in 867 BC. But not today as we close this present age and usher in the redemptive age of the Messiah. We Must Choose a Side. We Must Get in the Game. We Must Set Our Will Like Steel. We Must Stand Under an Unseen Chuppah and Recommit Our Will to God. Is God laying big decisions in front of you? If so, don’t rush. Think back. What did you do when you became aware of your divine destiny, when the truth first broke through your darkness? Remember how easy it was to trust Him back then? That was the Spirit of God at work in you. “You were running well,” Paul says in Galatians 5:7. Go back and remember that first love (Revelation 2:4) . The same God who stirred your heart then is stirring it now, inviting you again to say yes, to be loyal, to recommit. Every temptation and every crossroads comes down to a battle in the will. It’s where we either bow to God or don’t. Obeying God isn’t something we drift into. It’s a deliberate, conscious choice of will. Everything else in life waits until that choice is made. And when it comes, we shouldn’t poll the crowd, seek a sign of confirmation, or make sure our circle of influence is “OK with it.” As we continue to walk with God, fewer people will understand the steps we’re taking. That’s where the strain comes in. It’s lonely sometimes. But it’s holy ground. We don’t need to figure out where God is taking us. That’s His job. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105) . It’s not a spotlight showing the whole road. He may not tell us the destination. Do you remember what He did with Abram? But He will reveal more of Himself. That’s the only explanation He owes us: His presence. So, today, right now, speak it out loud: “I will be loyal. I will not be moved. I will persist. I will obey.” Say it to God. Say it in prayer, in tears, in faith, in repentance. Open a new door to greatness. It’s been there the whole time, waiting for you. Make the way to your destiny straight. Clear any mental obstacles. Ponder what God is saying to you today. Then move. Go! Take action! “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed” (Psalm 57:7). The moment we choose loyalty to God, to His plans, to His people, to His nation, we stand as a witness. It’s not just to the world, but against our selfish tendencies. We are drawing a line in the sand. We have learned to choose the good and refuse the evil. (Isaiah 7:15) We have set solid, unchangeable boundaries for ourselves. No more wavering. No more hypocrisy. No more sitting in neutral, idling, burning holy gas, and going nowhere. Spiritual maturity occurs when the human will aligns with God’s will. That doesn’t happen by accident. It takes daily surrender and discipline. It’s hard. But everything memorable and lasting is hard. Be tough. Will yourself to be loyal. And give honor to those who choose loyalty also. God’s people are called to strengthen, teach, sharpen, and lift one another for His glory. That’s how our Kingdom grows strong. Thank you for reading this. You might also like: Are There Mexican Angels? Where Have You Pitched Your Tent? The Real Difference Between Christians and Jews. You are here for a time such as this. God believes in you more than you believe in yourself. “Chazak, chazak, venitchazek!” ( Look it up, Christians ) -Issachar © I.M. Koen

Stephanie M. is a Christian writer and devoted mother whose work blends heartfelt reflection with Biblical truth. Her writing tackles real-life struggles—sin, faith, storms, and the challenges of motherhood—always pointing readers toward hope and redemption in Christ. With a style that is both conversational and deeply thoughtful, she weaves Scripture, personal experience, and honest observation to illuminate the spiritual and emotional battles her readers face. Through her essays, Stephanie invites readers into a space of reflection, encouragement, and practical wisdom. Stephanie M.

Please read Part I to enjoy this essay! Our first part shows how we can be able to unleash a creative power with our words so that we are able to bless with our words (others, ourselves), provided our words are aligned with our hearts, and in our hearts we follow Christ’s will and commandments. But there is a flip side to the creative power of our words. Gemini 2.5 flash Words unleashing the power of hell? “ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell .” (James 3:5–6) The destructive power unleashed by our words doesn’t come from our mind or personality or our own heart, but could originate directly from a place called “hell.” This claim makes Biblical faith radically different from any worldview based on modern post-Christian esoterism / New Age style wishful thinking. The latter would identify spiritual creative power behind our words, but since the concepts of heaven or hell are absent, this power is, per se, neither good nor evil. It can be seen as coming solely from man or from some divine energy. But for people genuinely coming from a worldview shaped by traditional animism (ancient religions without a Western-friendly rebranding for the post-Christian era), in my experience, there will be no taboos to mention the existence of an evil power (as above referred to as hell). Power of word in an animist worldview (hey! we all originally come from here) I remember when I was a first-year student in the university in France, one Christian friend shared his testimony. He was coming from a French island called La Réunion near Madagascar (Africa) and had become a Christian very recently. As far as his religious background is concerned, He was raised in a nominally Catholic family that kept practicing animism. From a young age, He learned how to cast different spells on people and could get paid in exchange for cursing someone’s rival or enemy. The highest spell He could cast on someone was a very specific spell, and that spell was… a deadly spell. People would effectively die shortly after. He was once asked to use that particular spell against someone. But that person did not die and didn’t seem even affected at all by the spell. That made him curious, and He finally asked the person He cursed about the reason behind. The person told him He was a Christian, and took him to an evangelical church.“I decided to be on the winner’s side, on Christ’s side” as to why He renounced witchcraft and became a Christian. That story, among many other first-hand stories, convinced me that our words can have deep spiritual dimensions; they can be aligned either with serving the advancement of the reign of God (good, heaven…) or the reign of Satan (evil, hell…). Over the years, I have befriended many Africans who were raised with an animist religion, and the reason that they turned to Christianity was that kind of deep experience that the name of Jesus was stronger than the different names they were accustomed to use as part of their animist practices. They were also very outspoken about the fact that their words could be opening the door to evil powers (and not some neutral divine force). Side remark: I can’t remember anyone claiming they chose Christianity over animism because it was morally or culturally superior. Power of words in our Western materialistic environment Because of our Western upbringing, we may not be casting spells and using magic formulas, but still, we will have to cope with the consequences of our words and the spiritual power we are unleashing on ourselves or others through them. No need to believe in the power of words, we can be the most materialistic person, it will work the same. Even as a Christian myself, growing up in a kind of de facto materialistic environment where everything had to be explained by rational logic, it took me like the first 25 years of my life to realize that there could be a correlation between the words I speak or are spoken by others. And the events unfolding and the following 25 years to start proactively using the power of words in my life, as James wrote about the power of our tongue, and I am still learning. “ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ” James 3:3–4 The last instance I can remember happened a few months ago, when an administrative clerk asked me to wire some money to pay for a registration fee and handed me the bank account number and told me sarcastically to get the bank account number right. I genuinely smiled at the idea of getting it wrong, since I had been working in a bank for a few years and had performed so many complex bank operations. But guess what: I swapped digits in the lengthy number (Europe here: 24 numbers for European IBAN). Somehow, I had known it was not just some joking comment but true sarcasm, I could like feel the weight of it, but I trusted my professional background so much. I should have prayed instead. Do you pray when you meet these sarcastic, malevolent/ill-intended people in your everyday life? From neighbors to colleagues, or worse case scenarios, your own family members? It does not require them to be aware that their misplaced words are de facto “curses” nor for you to be aware of them. The “curses” could still impact your real life. A major topic of the Psalms and Proverbs is to ask God to deliver us from the evil words of the wicked ones, or even from a (former) close friend, and to punish them. Jesus takes us further and challenges us to actively forgive and bless those who cursed us. May God bless this administrative clerk abundantly. What is true at an individual level also works at a collective one: cultures and communities can experience destruction whenever evil tongue prospers. “ Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.” Proverb 11:11 This connection between words and destruction has been extensively demonstrated for instance in genocide studies: for instance months before the genocide of Tutsis happened in 1994, a specific radio program had been launched (“Radio Collines”) among the Hutus (the majority tribe) which started to depict Tutsis (the minority tribe) as insects to be crushed etc. The radio’s staff was later condemned for crimes of genocide. I don’t want to open the Pandora box about the currently ongoing ethnic cleansing operations, but the same correlations between destructive words and actual mass killings are currently being investigated by the International Court of Justice, either in Ukraine invasion or Gaza. To add further complexity: Not all cursing is morally wrong (!!!???). Even Jesus cursed a fig tree! (join us for Part III). © Caliméro77

Life has given this writer plenty of lemonade, sometimes deeply sweet, sometimes stubbornly sour. Through it all, she breathes in hope, and when she writes, she exhales a deeper, more present way of living than she ever imagined possible. Though life has not always been kind she remains determined to make the most of every moment. Her stories reflect a lifetime of creativity, resilience, and the joyous grit she has discovered through Christ. Freshly Squeezed Chronicles

Sierra is a recent Graphic Design and Interactive Media graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. During her time at Stout, she came to Christ and is now following Him wholeheartedly. Sierra has always had a passion for anything creative, especially when it comes to writing and photography. She is hoping that her creative outlets can make an impact on others and bring them closer to God. When she’s not doing something creative, you can find her reading, spending time with friends (and her cat), or exploring God’s creation. Sierra Loew

Hi, I’m a teacher-turned-writer currently based in Baku, Azerbaijan. I’ve spent the last 10+ years teaching the IB PYP and Cambridge Primary curricula across continents, but my real specialty? Helping kids feel seen, safe, and wildly curious—even in classrooms where the schedule is tighter than a suitcase before summer break. Here, I write for two kinds of grown-ups: 👉 Teachers, who are tired of the buzzwords and just want heart-centered, practical ways to reach their students without burning out. 👉 Parents, who are trying to raise grounded, emotionally intelligent kids without turning into full-time chauffeurs, Google scholars, or amateur educational philosophers. My work is rooted in faith, reflection, and a firm belief that learning should feel like belonging. You’ll find a mix of honest storytelling, no-fluff guides, and educator humor—the kind that sneaks up on you like a third grader with a deep question about the universe. Expect: Jargon-free insights on learning, identity, and emotional resilience. Real talk about what kids are actually learning behind the worksheets. IB PYP and Cambridge-inspired tools for home and school. Gentle, doable strategies for screen-free learning and SEL. Essays on curiosity, burnout, spiritual growth, and leading with presence plus metaphors. Whether you're leading a classroom, navigating a bedtime meltdown, or still Googling what “inquiry-based learning” means, you belong here. Let’s raise whole humans. Helping teachers and children bloom — wherever they are planted and making learning feel like belonging. The Blooming Educator