Deny Yourself: Why True Freedom Isn’t Found in Fixing Yourself
We live in a world constantly telling us to look inward for healing and freedom.So we do.We reflect.We process.We journal.We read all the self-help books.
Katelyn Joyner is a wife of nearly five years, mama, and homemaker who finds beauty in the simple, sacred moments of everyday life. She enjoys writing as a way to process motherhood and faith, and she loves encouraging women to walk closely with Jesus in the middle of dishes, diaper changes, and coffee breaks. Most days, you’ll find her with a journal in one hand and a mug of coffee in the other, seeking joy in the ordinary.
12 Jul 2025 08:00
We live in a world constantly telling us to look inward for healing and freedom.So we do.We reflect.We process.We journal.We read all the self-help books.
7 Jun 2025 08:00
“If I am spending time with God every day, I will not miss what He has for me.”That sentence stopped me in my tracks. It felt like the Holy Spirit was whispering peace into a restless part of my heart.There’s a quiet, nagging fear that creeps in sometimes. A fear of missing out. A fear that I’m behind. That I’ve missed my moment. That I’ve somehow overlooked something important God wanted me to do.But that fear? It’s not from God. Fear is 100% from the enemy, and we have to actively resist him (see James 4:7).Scripture tells us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
Alison Ruffin is a wife, business professional, and devoted follower of Christ. She’s a lifelong creative writer with a passion for English literature, poetry, and classical philosophy. She brings a thoughtful, analytical lens to the Christian faith, desiring to delve beneath the surface of Scripture in search of its timeless truths and deeper meaning. In her spare time, you’ll find her hanging out with her family and pets, studying various subjects, or unwinding with a good book or video game.
28 Jun 2025 08:00
In the opening chapter of Genesis, God brings order out of chaos, and with that order comes light, life, and purpose. It is a sweeping, cosmic vision — heavens stretched out, waters separated, boundaries drawn, and all manner of living things spoken into being. But as we step into Genesis 2, our birds-eye perspective zooms in. We move from galaxies to gardens, from the thunderous voice of the Creator booming through the cosmos, to the quiet stillness of a beautiful garden called Eden. It is here, in this tranquil sanctuary, that we meet ourselves.
14 Jun 2025 08:00
Anxiety is a raging storm within — an inner chaos, restlessness, and unease that refuses to be quieted. In a world that feels increasingly empty and disordered, many of us are wandering in darkness searching for peace, stability, and order amidst the chaos. What if the very first pages ofScripture held eternal truths for our anxious hearts?The opening chapters of the Book of Genesis are more than the Biblical account of creation; they are our first glimpse into the mind and heart of the eternal God who designed, formed, and ordered it all. Genesis forms and shapes the foundation of our knowledge of God’s character and His way ofworking in and through His creation. When we read, “In the beginning, God created…” (Gen 1:1) we’re introduced to a God who brings light into darkness, form to formlessness, and design to disarray. Over and over, He speaks order, beauty, and purpose into everything He has created.This series will explore the first four chapters of Genesis and ponder what they reveal about God, about mankind, and about the sources of and solutions for our anxieties. We’ll reflect on God’s ordering power, not just in the universe, but in the deepest depths of our minds and hearts.Through creation, calling, brokenness, and grace, we’ll learn to trust and lean on a God who still brings order out of chaos and who invites us to do the same, even in the face of uncertainty, turmoil, and fear.