When you look at the world around you, what word would you use to describe it? When you look at your life right now, what word would you use to describe it? Is peace the word that comes to mind first in either of those scenarios?

Have you ever stopped to think about the person or people who have had the biggest impact on your faith? What was it about them that inspired you so much? How did knowing them change your life or your faith for the better? Have you ever told them?

We live in a world that is constantly encouraging us to accumulate more things. More things equals higher status and more significance. We are told to look out for number one and keep striving to get the newer, better version of whatever it is that we are after. How do we fight for humility in a world that is constantly fighting for us to focus on increasing our own status?

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like it would be in everyone’s best interest if you just went back to bed and pretended the world didn’t exist? Days where you are just tired and irritable or sad and depressed? Those are the days when you struggle to remember what happiness feels like. And joy? Well on those days, joy seems like a made-up fairy tale character.