In Exodus 23:30, God tells the Israelites, “Little by little I will drive them [Israel’s enemies] out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.” Slow growth is a good thing. If something grows too fast, it may actually be detrimental. If Israel took out all their enemies at once with ease and took possession of the Promised Land, would they ever have had to exercise faith and rely on God? They would have become proud and boastful, taking the credit for subduing their enemies and capturing the land. They would have never grown or matured, nor would their faith be living and real. They…

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of The One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” – 1 Peter 2:9 Her clothes were filthy. It was clear she’d been living on the streets for quite some time. Disheveled, leaving a trail of foul stench, she made her way through the church doors, empty-handed. Bright, warm lights of chandeliers against old brick walls glowed as a beacon on that rainy night in Baltimore. The close-knit neighborhood had never seen this particular woman, and of all nights for her to show up…

The dream I had nearly a year ago came to the forefront of my mind. In it, the Lord handed me a stone and with His fingers, wrote a new name on my forehead. There was no mirror so I couldn’t read it. Only He knew the name. At the meeting behind the church, I held a pebble and smoothed in around in my palm. “On this rock I will build My church,” Jesus said to Peter. I zoned out, the discussion muffled by my own thoughts and memories. I remembered all the stones I threw in the river with a prayer written on them, as a means of symbolically…