The holidays often bring challenging conversations and situations. Sometimes holiness demands that we speak, other times it invites us to be silent. In all circumstances, though, we are called to love.

I'm a sinner. I don't always love God as strongly as I could or as directly as I should. Ash Wednesday reminds me that it is only through God that I have life; He gave it to me. God forgives. He loves. And He gives this sinner a second chance. Put simply: my God kicks ash.

There are 2 main things I've learned about following the Holy Spirit: It will never be easy. It will never be boring.

You can usually tell by the look on someone's face if they woke up counting their problems or their blessings.

What did all the saints have in common? They feared sin more than even physical death.

Sometimes holiness demands that we speak up, but oftentimes it calls us to shut up.

Everything we have - every blessing, every talent - is a gift from our Father. The only thing that's all ours is our sin.