Let’s have a Real Conversation About Catholic Teaching, Mary, Jesus’ Siblings, Tradition, Purgatory, Saints, and the Reformation. OK, so I’ve been thinking … A lot, actually. And since this is my little corner of the internet, I figured I’d just sit down and invite you into my brain for a minute (or many minutes 😅). This is not polished theology. This is not “I have it all figured out.” This is me, Bible open, tabs open, heart open; trying to understand what’s true. I’m not

What is prayer? Understanding the word and the practice made me completely change the way I pray, as well as the way I view prayer. If you ask ten different people what “prayer” means, you’ll likely hear ten different answers. Some think of it as asking God for help. Others picture a quiet moment of reflection. And many people — even Christians — aren’t always sure how to define it. So let’s begin with the simplest starting point, the dictionary. According to the Merriam-Webs

“I Came to Bring Fire . . .” - Luke 12:49–53 Recently, I was listening to the daily readings on one of my Bible apps when a passage I’ve read/heard countless times suddenly jumped out at me. It stopped me in my tracks, as if I were hearing Jesus’ words for the first time. “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give p

Why I’m Vegan — And How I Found Peace With It Biblically People often ask me why I’m vegan, and the truth is simple and deeply personal: I’m vegan because I love animals SO MUCH, and because I care deeply about the planet we are leaving behind for future generations. Animals have been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve raised them, rescued them, cared for them, and cried over them. I’ve seen their intelligence, their fears, their emotions, and the wa

As a cradle Catholic who converted to being a Protestant more than 20 years ago, and who is now Catholic-curious again — attending Mass for the past three months — I’ve found myself diving deep into topics that never sat well with me before and even contributed to my conversion out of Catholicism in the first place. But something surprised me when I returned to Mass as an adult: I don’t actually remember most of Catholic terminology from childhood. Words are being used that f

Fasting is one of the most misunderstood practices in modern Christianity. To some, it sounds ancient or extreme and to others, it’s something their church mentions at the start of the year and then forgets about. But throughout Scripture, fasting was never about performance — it was about presence. It was how God’s people humbled themselves, sought His guidance, and made space for His voice when life felt too heavy or unclear. In Scripture, fasting means abstaining from food

I recently learned something about the word “meek” that absolutely delighted me — and it instantly became one of my(many) favorite discoveries in Scripture. As someone who lives on a farm and has always had a deep, lifelong love for horses, this connection struck my heart in a really special way. When Jesus said: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” — Matthew 5:5 …the Greek word behind “meek” — praus — was often used to describe a trained warhorse. Not a

Every October, the same question resurfaces among believers: "Should Christians celebrate Halloween?" But that question leads to others: If we reject Halloween for its pagan roots, what about Christmas and Easter, which also have pre-Christian connections? And if those are off limits, should we go even further and reconsider birthdays, which also trace back to pagan customs? This isn’t about argument; it’s about reflection. For those who love the rhythms of the year and want

Annulments: What They Are, Where They Come From, and How God Sees Them Recently, I came across a post by a Catholic woman I follow online. She was sharing her beliefs about how the Catholic Church does not affirm same-sex marriage, and she did so respectfully and calmly — yet the comment section erupted. People began calling her judgmental, hypocritical, and unloving. Many pointed out that she herself was divorced and remarried, as if that somehow disqualified her from speaki

Is There Really a God? This is one of the most important questions a person can ask. For some, belief in God feels natural — almost instinctive. For others, it’s a struggle, especially in a world that often elevates science, reason, and self above faith. Yet the Bible assures us that God has made His existence clear: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been ma

Judgment is one of those topics that sparks a lot of questions. We’ve all heard the verse “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1), but what does that really mean? Does it apply to how we treat unbelievers? What about fellow believers? The Bible actually makes an important distinction here, and looking at it more closely helps us live with both truth and grace. Paul was clear in 1 Corinthians 5:12–13: “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the chur

Hey friend, If you’ve stumbled across this post, maybe you’re curious, convicted, or just plain confused about what sexual purity really means in today’s world. You’re not alone. This is one of those topics people tend to whisper about—or avoid altogether—because it stirs up so many emotions: shame, regret, rebellion, longing, even confusion. And trust me, I get it. I understand the temptation and the struggle—especially in today’s world, where it seems like everyone is doing

Few verses are quoted more often — or more gently misused — than this one: “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 It’s one of those verses that seems to bring instant calm — printed on mugs, wall art, and journals, often beside images of mountains, still waters, or sunrise skies. And while it’s a beautiful reminder to trust in God, it’s also one of the most misunderstood verses in Scripture. Let’s look at what this verse actually means — in its original context, in

Why Does This Matter? Within Christianity, few subjects stir as much curiosity—or confusion—as the paranormal. Some believers recount unexplained experiences and point to Scripture’s clear acknowledgment of a spiritual realm. Others, wary of superstition, caution that much of what is called supernatural today may have natural or psychological explanations. Amid these differing views, one central question arises: What does the Bible actually teach? The Bible is neither skeptic

I recently enrolled in Biblical Hebrew school, and it feels like stepping into an entirely new world—one that’s both ancient and alive. I’ve always been fascinated by the original languages of the Bible—Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic—and how each layer of meaning brings the text to life in ways that translations sometimes can’t fully capture. Over the years, I’ve spent time diving into different biblical words, exploring what they truly mean within their historical and cultural c

One of the most quoted lines in the Gospels comes from Jesus’ teaching on faith and the mustard seed. Though often used to encourage those who feel their faith is small, this just shows that the passage is frequently misunderstood. A closer look at the original language and cultural imagery reveals that Jesus’ words point not to the size of faith, but to its substance — a faith that grows, spreads, and transforms everything around it. “If you have faith as a mustard seed.” —

I’ve been diving deep into one of the biggest questions in history: why didn’t most Jews in Jesus’ day accept Him as the Messiah? And maybe more importantly, does Scripture itself back up the Jewish expectation of a conquering king, or the Christian belief in a Messiah who first suffers and later reigns? I want to be clear: this is not a post of judgment, superiority, or debate. I deeply love and respect my Jewish friends — some of the dearest people in my life are Jewish, an

What Is Lectio Divina? Let’s start with how to say it properly: Lectio Divina is pronounced LEK-tsee-oh dee-VEE-nah. It’s Latin for “divine reading”—a sacred, intentional way of reading Scripture slowly and prayerfully to encounter God Himself through His Word. Origins: Lectio divina, which means “divine reading” in Latin, is an ancient Christian practice of prayerfully reading and meditating on Scripture to deepen one’s relationship with God. It first developed in the early

My curiosity about the practice of veiling was first sparked while attending Catholic Mass with my dad. As I sat there, I noticed several women wearing beautiful lace or fabric coverings on their heads. It made me wonder — why do they do that? Was it a matter of Scripture, or simply tradition? Was it something rooted in biblical teaching, or a cultural expression that developed over time? The more I thought about it, the more I realized how little I actually knew about veilin

Law, Grace, and the Heart of Jesus Recently, there has been much debate over how the Bible speaks about homosexuality and gender. Some quote “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18) to affirm and include those in the LGBTQ+ community. Others point to passages in Leviticus that describe same-sex activity as sin and even prescribe death as a penalty. These verses are real, but how do we understand them today, in light of Jesus and the New Testament? And what about que