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Being a Single Christian During a Pandemic

Categories #Jesus1 Comment on Being a Single Christian During a Pandemic

I feel ya- it is something you don’t want to relate to during a pandemic.

For me, being single has come & gone, & come & gone, &&& so on..

When it comes, it feels like it will be forever.
Why God? When God?

God is there something wrong with me ? Do I need to grow more in a certain way? Am I not worthy of a marriage? Will this imaginary relationship that can glorify you AND bring me comfort ever come?

Friends- you are worthy. 🤍You are good enough. There is nothing wrong with you. You are loved. You may need to grow, or you may NOT need to grow! Who knows.

I don’t know the why for me- but I know the reason I am here on this 🌎earth is not to be someone’s person – but to share the gospel with others. To love people well & show them Christ.

If the Lord allows me to glorify Him / share the gospel with others – WHILE in a marriage well that would be amazing too!

It is okay to have a desire for a relationship! I tell God I want one ALL the time! BUT with remembering…

God’s timing is good &
He is the ultimate comforter.

Now, I get it…

God can not pick you up & buy you flowers. God can not take you on dates. God can not physically give you the hug you may need at the end of each day.

But let me tell you –

Man can not fulfill your heart🤍 with endless, perfect love. Man can not make you perfect & whole. Man can not carry you through all your trails. Man can not be your savior & cover all your sins.

No human can fulfill the relationship you need on your own with God. If you are a Christian, the Lord should be your #1 relationship.

When my mind tends to wonder from this hopeful attitude of truth & into the 🖤darker places…

I remind myself:

The Lord is faithful.
He will carry me.
He will lead me.

& He will lead you too if you let Him.

Here is to the renewing of our minds
from:
God when will he or she come ??
to —>
How can I serve you today, Lord?

Friends, you are not alone.
We all out here.
The Lord is faithful.

If you have any question, leave a comment or DM me on Instagram: tori_churchill

X O X O

– D O L L

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How to Read the Bible

Categories #JesusLeave a Comment on How to Read the Bible

The Bible is an enormous book filled with history, details, and THE ultimate love story.

The most read book in the world can be a daunting book to approach!

So here 3 easy tips to get you started.

Tip #1: Make a reading schedule on the 1st of each month

This will make it easier to actually pick up your bible everyday & read it because you already know what you are going to read for everyday of the month. A month is a great time commitment to set because it is not too long, yet long enough to form a habit.

I would suggest to pick a short book of the bible, for instance: Ephesians, Philippians, Galatians, James. All of these books of the bible are literally a few chapters (aka a couple pages!) You can do this.

Philippians is four chapters. I would read one chapter a day, and then once you finish chapter 4, begin at chapter 1 again. By the end of the month you’ll have read Philippians around 7 times!

This may seem repetitive but I promise these short chapters are filled with such depth that you’ll want to read it a few times over to understand them.

This puts the same scripture in your mind during your weeks. It is helpful because when someone needs encouragement, or when someone asks you what God has been teaching you – you are going to be ready with that scripture you have been reading over and over again.

You will, “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15.

1 Peter, another short book of the bible 😉 (only 5 chapters my friends).

Many devotionals out there will point you to different scripture everyday. Which is totally fine when trying to focus on one topic! BUT – if you are trying to learn scripture from scratch, picking one book a month can really help!

Tip #2: While reading scripture ask – What does this say about God ?

This question helps you define & begin to understand who God truly is. It answers what characteristics God holds, and how you should view the Lord based off of truth.

For instance, after reading the below scripture, try & ask yourself the question.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you – Philippians 4:8-9

What does this say about God ?

It says God gives us things to learn and put into practice. He is a teacher. It also says God is a “God of peace.” He holds peace & restfulness. He is someone that can calm you if you go to Him.

By asking this question you know more about God by defining what you have learned straight from the truth of scripture itself!

Tip #3: While reading scripture ask – What does this say about you?

Lastly, ask yourself: What does this scripture say about me?

This will help you understand who you are as a loved daughter or son of the King, chosen, holy, redeemed. These are just a few words I know describe me from reading scripture.

With the scripture mentioned above we learn about ourselves what God wants us to think about. He wants our minds to dwell on truth, nobility, rightness, purity, and things that are lovely, admirable, excellent, & praiseworthy!

Asking yourself what scripture says about you is helpful for defining yourself by what Jesus has said and not the world.

Setting a schedule each month & asking yourself what the scripture says about GOD & what it says about YOU are my easiest tips for how to read the bible!

If you want to hear more on this –>

I have a 5 minute IGTV on my Instagram about this topic!

Go check it out –> tori_churchill

You can ask a question here, or ask on my IGTV, or DM me on Insta!

X O X O

Hurt by Church

Categories #JesusLeave a Comment on Hurt by Church

Have you ever been hurt by your church before ?

Alto Vista Chapel (Aruba)

In church have you ever. . .

Ever had girls, boys, women, men, leaders leave you out?

Ever had someone put you down right after you had enough courage to share your ugly story?

Ever had people treat you different because your family does not attend church every Sunday?

Ever had the church treat you with kindness you can tell is fake?

Ever been left behind from learning, teaching, leading just because you are a girl? Because you are different?

Ever been shamed or punished because of a family members choice?

Ever go to church over and over and never had a one-on-one conversation where someone told you, you are loved by The Redeemer who is Jesus Christ?

Well I have too.

Almost all of the above or at least someone I know –this has all happened.

Without going into too much detail I want to get the point across to you that I have been hurt by the church.

When I shared with a minister about one of the instances in my past that happened within the church, she sent me away from the church and from teaching. She probably thought that was truly the best thing to do, but she also left me alone. Didn’t encourage me, didn’t check in on me, didn’t show me the love of Christ. Regardless of her intentions. I was hurt.

Trust me, oh how I have been hurt by the church.

At first, I was astonished

Lord, how can this be? How can the church be a place of ulgy? A place of hurt?

As I got older I began to talk to more & more people, from all walks of life. Old, young, black, mixed, guy, girl, smart, successful. Then I realized. Maybe it wasn’t my situation that someone was hurt by, but something else by the church had hurt them.

Something from a church experience had put a bad taste in their mouth about Jesus.

Many of these people have continued on in their faith, but a lot have not.

As I kept going to church
the Lord eventually told me:

“Daughter, I am not the church”

If you have been hurt by the church & think you have been hurt by Jesus, remember that the church IS NOT PERFECT. And the church is not Jesus.

You are not alone in being hurt by the church my dear sister or brother. You are not alone. Do not let that hurt, that scar, that story be the end of your story with church. With Jesus.

Jesus is not any of those things you have been hurt by.

Jesus is love.
Jesus is kindness.
Jesus is inclusion.
Jesus will not let you sit alone.
Jesus will invite you.
Jesus will tell you, you are certainly worthy.
Jesus will forgive you.
Jesus will lift you up.

To place the expectations of perfect, holy Jesus on people, leaders, or even ministers in church is too high an expectation to place on any person. Only Jesus is Lord and has the power to save you. Only Jesus is perfect.

Moving Forward

I went back & talked to that minster one day & she apologized. At the end of the day, no one is perfect. For me to ask of her to have been perfect in that situation just because she is a minster is not fair.

If I had let those situations and people deter me from going to church, deter me from Jesus, I would not know the Love Jesus has for me.

Yes, church is supposed to be the place where people are like Jesus. But that is not always going to happen. We live in a broken world with broken people. But why not go to church and be the person you expected to be there?

Another thing to remember is that the “church” is simply believers. It is not a building. It is the gathering of believers. My sister is my church. My best friend(s) are my church. My co workers who know Christ are my church. My in-laws are my church. My mother is my church. Those people you come across that love the Lord, those people are your church.

If your church is hurting you, obviously go to a different church. But remember, nobody’s perfect.

You are not alone.
The church cannot be Jesus for you.
Jesus is perfect & no one else.