Planning Less in the New Year
Christian Life Rachel Espazien Christian Life Rachel Espazien

Planning Less in the New Year

I am a planner. A big one. Planning makes me feel responsible, prepared, and productive. And yet, as the new year begins, I find myself questioning, not whether planning is good—but whether I plan too much.

We live in a culture that celebrates hurry. Busy is worn like a badge of honor. Calendars are full. Rest is postponed. Stillness is uncomfortable. Silence is awkward. If we are not producing, posting, responding, or achieving, we feel behind.

But Scripture tells a very different story!

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Beholding the Beauty of Christmas
Christian Life Rachel Espazien Christian Life Rachel Espazien

Beholding the Beauty of Christmas

How do we not get wrapped up in the materialistic side of December? How do we let go of all that is not perfect and just be grateful? How do we rejoice in the often cold and bleak season of winter?

We do this by seeing Jesus in the season. Giving him the credit for the beauty and the good things and leaning into Him in the hard and stressful parts of the ending year. We remember the amazing gift that we have in Jesus and the hope that His birth brings to the world. Fixing our eyes on Him we choose to let go of the temptation to stress over all the temporary things that don’t matter eternally.

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The Married Missionary (overcoming the lie that single service is more Holy)
Christian Life Rachel Espazien Christian Life Rachel Espazien

The Married Missionary (overcoming the lie that single service is more Holy)

Naturally, when God started to work on my heart and stoke a desire in me to go on to the mission field, I wrestled with the idea of singleness. As that fiery 16 year old about to leave home, I made my choice, because in my mind it was an either or situation.

Marriage or mission field? I chose the mission field. Marriage was no longer on my radar.

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