Honoring the Life We Are Given

Today, I want to express my gratitude to God for the grace He has shown to my brother. I have been so blessed in this life — raised by two loving parents in a home filled with brothers and sisters. We may have argued often, but ultimately, we loved each other deeply.

Growing up in a tight-knit family is never something to take for granted; it’s a blessing I have come to appreciate even more as I’ve grown older. I am truly thankful for the favor God showed me by allowing me to be surrounded by what I like to call “built-in best friends.”

I write this post today in dedication to my brother. Over the years, he has fought hard to overcome many adversities — some of his own making, others placed on him without choice. Now, we find ourselves at a crossroads. One path leads to destruction, the other to salvation.

With the recent celebrations of Passover and Easter still fresh in my mind, I find myself reflecting deeply on a powerful scripture:

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”
1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

This verse reminds us that Jesus’ death was not only for our forgiveness but also a call to live righteously in response. Jesus — perfect and without sin — endured a cruel death, becoming sin for our sake, so that we might live and be made whole.

Think about that: a God so great that He sacrificed His only Son so we could be saved.

Knowing this, how can we live our lives in a way that constantly honors His sacrifice? He died for us — not so that we would live selfish, prideful lives — but so that we would live for Him, with righteousness and gratitude.

Hence, I pray that my brother might be filled with His Holy Spirit and be reborn and built anew — a body and mind strengthened by the Lord, so that he may resist temptation and live out the life of a righteous man. A man who remembers the great sacrifice God made for our good.

Today, I encourage you to ask yourself:
“Am I truly living the life that Jesus died for me to have?”

Strengthening my Faith

Find one to two verses to study and share. As I searched for what verse to study and share, I thought about how faith cannot exist without trust. “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” ~ Psalm 56:3–4

This verse is a beautiful reminder that trust doesn’t mean fear never comes—it means we know where to turn when it does. That shift—from fear to trust—is where God meets us.

Reflecting on this verse, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” This shows us something important: faith and fear can exist at the same time. You don’t have to be fearless to trust God. Trust is a decision, not a feeling. You bring your fear to Him and say, “Even here, I will trust You.”

“in God I trust and am not afraid.” Why?
Because praise leads to peace. Trust changes perspective. Remember, God is bigger than the fear. Sometimes you have to speak what you’re choosing to believe, even before you feel it. Trust becomes a spiritual muscle—it grows the more we use it.

“What can mere mortals do to me?” What others say or do might hurt, but they can’t undo God’s plan for your life.

Psalm 56:3–4 teaches us that fear is real, but God is greater.
When fear shows up, so does the opportunity to grow deeper in trust. And when we remember His Word, speak praise, and declare our trust, fear loses its power.

“What am I afraid of right now, and what would it look like to put my trust in God in this area?”

What has God already promised me in His Word?

What truth can I hold onto when fear rises again?

How might God be growing my faith through this?

Why I’m Here: Anchored in Faith

Faith has been the foundation of my life for as long as I can remember.
I was raised to love God and grew up in the church, surrounded by people who modeled what it meant to live a life anchored in Him. Some of my earliest memories are of Sunday mornings spent in pews, being an active member of our youth group, and singing hymns. Over the course of my teenage years, my big brother would pick me up each morning so we could attend early morning mass before dropping me off at school. Wednesdays always meant catechism. It was just part of life — week after week, showing up, learning, and growing in my faith without even realizing how much it was taking root in me. At home, faith was just as alive; especially with my mother. Then there was my big sister. Every night before bed, she would lay beside me and teach me how to pray — patiently saying each prayer with me, night after night, until it became a part of who I was. Together, they each left fingerprints on my faith, shaping it in ways I’m still grateful for today.

Over the years, my relationship with God has grown and stretched, just like I have. There have been seasons when I felt so close to Him, and others when the noise of life made it harder to hear His voice. But no matter the season, my faith — the steady, quiet confidence that God is who He says He is — has always been there, anchoring me.

Recently, I have felt a strong, unmistakable calling to share my faith with others. Not because I have everything figured out. Not because I have all the answers. But because sharing strengthens my faith. Every time I talk about what God has done in my life — every time I lift His name higher — my own heart is reminded of His goodness, His faithfulness, and His love.

That’s why I’m starting Anchored in Faith.
Because life is unpredictable.
Storms come. Waves rise. Winds change.
But when we are anchored in Christ, we are steady — not because of our own strength, but because of His.

I don’t know exactly where this journey will lead, but I believe that God does. My hope is that this space becomes a place of encouragement — a place where we can be honest about our struggles, celebrate the victories, and hold onto hope together. I believe that faith grows stronger when it’s shared, and I am excited to see how God will move through this space.

One of my favorite verses speaks so perfectly to this truth:

Thank you for being here.
I can’t wait to grow together — anchored, steady, and full of hope.