Christina Speaks

  I have something to confess. As I was sitting in church yesterday morning, I looked around to see who was there. My eyes stopped on someone who I then proceeded to judge. It wasn’t the first time. I immediately caught myself and asked God to forgive me. I asked Him to help me love and see them the way He does, and without judgment. I don’t know their heart. I don’t know their past. I don’t know their struggles. I can’t assume they think or believe the way their spouse does. It doesn’t matter. It’s not my business, and if I really, truly cared, I would ask to spend time with them. Learn more about them. Develop a relationship with them.  But I’ve wasted thought time and energy, judging them. Why does what they think or believe bother me so much? What does their walk with God have to do with me? Nothing. Why am I wasting energy on what I think their thoughts might be? I’ve been on the receiving end of some undesirable comments from them, but still, I don’t have the whole story. There i

Yesterday marked the first anniversary of George Floyd’s death. I’ve shared before, that the weeks following his death, were some of the most emotionally exhausting days of my life. I was tired in a way I had never experienced before. It felt as if the fight, pain, hard work, and grief of my ancestors were all channeled into my soul at once. I know others felt the same. However, I didn’t have to fight. I didn’t have to sweat. I didn’t have to die. I felt sadness and gratitude at the same time. Sadness because another black man died at the hands of someone who should have protected him. Gratitude because I believed that his death would open the eyes of many hearts. And it did. For the first time, friends were calling, texting, and messaging, asking me how I felt- how Mr. Floyd’s death affected me. They wanted to know about my experience as a black woman. They expressed sorrow for never noticing the pain or discomfort behind my eyes. I, of course, was quick to forgive because. . . I had

  I’ve been missing you. I’ve been locked away for hours upon hours trying to finish editing my book, and I’ve been experiencing all kinds of feelings over the last few weeks. In the last couple of weeks, I have been overwhelmed by the need for prayer. I believe in prayer. I believe it makes a difference. What tends to help me when I feel I am in need of prayer is 1.) to ask for it and 2.) prayer for others.  There is something about praying for others that lifts my own burdens. So that’s what I want to do today. I have been so sad over things people I love are going through. I have a dear friend who is in the fight of her life against cancer. Another dear friend was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers. Others are struggling with mental illness. Will you please pray for them along with me? Also, please pray that I can finish my editing process by the end of this month. I have been discouraged by how long it is taking me. Please pray that God gives me all the words He wants me to shar

For four days last week, I was blessed to spend some time in the gorgeous state of Washington. Each day I found myself in awe as I looked out the back door of the house friends and I stayed in, and gazed (I really, truly GAZED) upon the mighty Mount Rainier.  I grew up in California, so mountains are not new to me, but I had never seen a mountain so beautiful and majestic. I was almost in tears every time I laid my eyes on it. The God who made that mountain made me and you I couldn’t help but think that God gave us that mountain as a gift. Yeah, I know mountains serve a purpose as an important part of the ecosystem, but He didn’t have to make them that beautiful. He did that part for us. While I was there, I took dozens of pictures, trying to capture what I was seeing with my eyes, but no picture could equal my vision. You will just have to believe me when I tell you, it was ten times better than what you see in my picture. The same goes for the way God sees us. We will never be able t