The Greatness of His Power

1 Comment / June 23, 2026

Imagine you are a tiny, insignificant ant. One of thousands in a specific colony of ants. Just a few yards from you on all sides are other colonies, totaling millions of ants.

As you look up one day, you see a large shadow. It is the shadow of a human being, gigantic and awesome in its size. Capable of squishing you and dozens of your friends in a single footstep.

Now imagine the audacity (and silliness) of you stamping your six feet in indignation at this human being when he doesn’t do what you want him to do. Imagine the audacity (and silliness) of demanding something specific from this human being as one single ant in the midst of millions of ants.

It’s a silly, ridiculous scene, impossible to fathom.

And yet…

Aren’t we doing the same thing, when we shake our fists at God and demand our own ways?

As we contemplate the analogy, we can recognize that our situation is quite different in two very critical ways…

—we have an AWESOME God who actually cares about us personally. This is ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!

—the difference between ants and people would be as nothing when compared to the infinite difference between people and God.

One of the things I love in the *Prayer Journal I created recently is the last section, where there are Bible passages to pray for my family. This morning, I reached the passage from Ephesians 1, which reads—

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:15-23)

As I was praying through this passage this morning, I had to think about “the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe”.

If God chooses not to work in the way we want, it’s not because He can’t.

Rather, it’s because He can see what we can’t see.

We are like that ant, on the ground, with a very small, short-sighted view of the world around us.

Our perspectives are skewed by our sin, our environments, our pasts, our fleshly desires, and, yes, our human limitations.

We cannot begin to understand the fullness of God’s love or the intricacies of God’s plans. It’s impossible because He is so great and we are so small.

There are some amazing things to consider as we reflect on our likeness to the ant.

First, as mentioned above, the fact that we have a God that cares for His own redeemed children to such a personal extent is simply amazing. I never cease to be in awe over this.

Second, when I consider the arrogance I must have when I get angry or sulky at God for not giving me my way, I am ashamed.

Third, when I consider the worry and anxiety that can sometimes overwhelm me and then remember that I am personally cared for by this wonderful and loving Heavenly Father, I am stymied. Why would I be worried or anxious, when Almighty God is looking out for me?

This passage from Ephesians, chapter 1, not only gives us wonderful things to pray for our families and others that we love, but it serves as a powerful reminder that our loving God has all power to do anything for us.

If He chooses not to, it is because He knows what we don’t know. It is because He sees the pasts, presents, and futures of ALL people in the minutest detail. He sees that what might seem beneficial to us will hurt someone else. Or that the future will be changed irreversibly and terribly should we get our heart’s desire at this very moment.

Just as a person can see so much more than an ant, God can see infinitely more than a person.

I think that sometimes, in our efforts to define Jesus as our friend, we forget how great He really is. In the normalcy of our culture’s self-absorption, we forget that God doesn’t exist to serve me and my wants but I exist to serve Him.

Just some things I was thinking about this morning…

*I published a prayer journal earlier this year. If you are interesting in checking it out, you can find it at this link.

A Merry Heart

2 Comments / June 15, 2026

Finding joy in the midst of life’s trials or even in the midst of all that is happening in this darkening world can be challenging. We are constantly barraged with negative news stories. We are daily facing things we never thought we’d have to face. We wish things were different in so many ways. It can be so much to process…

And yet, in scripture we read that a merry heart is good for us—like medicine.

The depression/anxiety connection to bad health is so interesting, but yet makes so much sense when one considers this verse in Proverbs—

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:
but a broken spirit drieth the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)

A merry heart will be like medicine to us in this dark, troublesome world. A broken, hopeless spirit will make things so much worse.

As I was struggling to find joy this morning, this verse reminded me that joy is a choice. We don’t just automatically have a “merry heart”. Well, perhaps some people do.

But for those of you, who like me, tend to over-analyze and think a lot about a lot of things, it’s easy to fall into the broken spirit category. Whether it’s about this world, about our own sin, about things going on in our own little worlds—a broken spirit comes more naturally to some of us than others.

But choosing to have a merry heart will not only be like medicine to our souls, it will also be like medicine to our relationships. It will always be the best choice.

We may not be able to choose our circumstances. We may not be able to go back to the “way things were”. We can’t change this world’s direction. But we can change our own hearts and minds. We can choose to have a merry heart.

Not a naive “merry” that is unaware of the seriousness of trials and happenings. But a “merry” that is based on the truth of scripture, despite the trials and happenings. We understand that we serve a sovereign God who knows exactly what is happening in all areas of this world—down to the tiniest corners of our hearts. We not only serve Him but He has saved us from eternal death.

Our choice to have a merry heart is not based on fairy tales and lies, but on this truth: My God loves me and has saved me for all eternity. And nothing can take that away.

Do you, like me, so easily lose sight of this truth in the midst of all that is happening in life? Do you, like me, sometimes struggle to have a merry heart as you live day-to-day?

I hope this verse encourages someone today as it encouraged me.

The Weight of Our Words

Leave a Comment / June 10, 2026

There are those who would say we should never speak (or write) negatively about someone. That this is the essence of gossip.

But we know that cannot be true because of 3 John, where John writes in his letter to Gaius about a man by the name of Diotrephenes. John does not mince words: This man likes pre-eminence among his church family; he speaks with malicious words; he is a bad influence on others, seeking to lead them in a wrong direction.

The Holy Spirit would never direct John to gossip, so we know what he has written here cannot be defined as gossip. Clearly, there is a time and a place to speak negatively about others.

John was simply stating a fact and issuing a warning about this dangerous man. This is not sinful. In fact, we see this happening in scripture more than just here. Both Jesus and Paul speak hard, unpleasant truths about others (Matthew 23; 2 Timothy 4).

So if speaking negative words is not sinful, in and of itself, what makes gossip…gossip?

It is clearly the motivation behind the words.

The sin of gossip stems from a malicious heart or a nosey mind that relishes in hearing juicy tidbits about others. The gossiper wants to be “in the know” and they love nothing more than hearing updates about people—particularly negative updates—that they can then pass along to others.

So how did we end up believing that all negative words about others equal gossip? Well, let me give you the answer in a nutshell.

In 1952, a false teacher by the name of Norman Vincent Peale wrote a book called “The Power of Positive Thinking”. With this book, he planted the seed of this belief: “Positive words are good. Negative words are bad.” This philosophy was warmly received by many and the seed of this heretical teaching grew and grew, until it has tentacles in almost every church.

Never speak negative words. Only speak positive words.

Even solid churches, where they revere the Word of God, seem to think it is sinful to speak negative words—even if it is for their very important calling to warn and protect their flocks.

This is when we must stop and think. Are we following the Bible or are we following a manmade philosophy?

As believers, we get our guide for life from God’s Word. It is important that we evaluate everything by its grid. What does the Bible have to say about our words?

In scripture, we find that there is a time and a place to warn. There is a time and a place to speak the truth about someone—even if it’s not “positive” or uplifting. This is clearly not wrong.

So when is it wrong? It’s wrong when our motives are impure. It’s wrong when we are speaking to bring glory and attention to ourselves. It’s wrong when we relish the shocked responses of our audience. And it’s wrong when we speak (or write) without edification to our hearers (It is not to warn or for any other beneficial reason).

I think we all struggle with gossip at some level. I know I do. I praise God I am not who I was, but I know I am still not who I should be.

We live in a world that relishes gossip. For some, it’s as natural as breathing, and spending time with someone like this can draw us into this sin before we even realize it.

Oh, to grow in this area of recognizing the sin and being the person that shuts it down.

I read a delightful page in a fiction book just recently about this very thing. Two women were talking and as the one offered a tidbit of gossip, the other one simply said this: “Why, I don’t believe I need to know that”. She said it kindly and lovingly but the intention was clear: I am not going to gossip about this person.

I want to be like her. It’s not easy, is it? It’s not easy to be the one that shuts down gossip.

We also live in a world that loves bigger and better. And this includes the stories that swirl all around us every day—in the office, at church, and especially on social media. The bigger the story the better. People, in general, have a thirst for bigger and better. This leads to a lot of exaggeration and a lot of lies.

So it’s not just about speaking the truth. Turning from gossip is also about carefully discerning what we hear, as well. There are a lot of lies and half-truths told about people to make a story “bigger and better”. Not everything we hear is true.

Having been the victim of ugly gossip and lies at one point in my life, I can tell you how grateful I was for the one person who actually came to me personally and asked for the truth. May we be that kind of person.

So how do we show we are different in this area of words?

We stand out as believers by not joining the gossip swirling around us. We stand out by simply speaking the truth, as it is. We stand out as believers by seeking the real truth, rather than just believing what we hear. We show we are different by the love and grace we offer to others, no matter what we hear about them. And, yes, we show we are different by lovingly warning others of false teachers and dangerous spiritual counselors, while never being defined by just this aspect.

In other words, we should never be known only for our negative words. But we should also not be known as someone who only speaks positive words. Both are necessary for spiritual good health.

John gives such a wonderful, well-rounded example for us to follow, doesn’t he? In the scriptures that he has written (through the Holy Spirit) we find that, while he does warn of those who bring spiritual danger, his books are not defined by these warnings. He also exhorts, loves, and rejoices in those to whom he is writing.

Occasional and well-timed “negative words” about others are not wrong, but may our lives never be defined by only these. May we seek to be like John, willing to speak both positive and negative words, always discerning carefully as we choose what to say and when to say it.

And may we examine our hearts for the sin of gossip and ask the Lord to help us to stay far from this troublesome sin that causes so much heartache and damage.

Our words hold so much weight. We can make a difference with them—both through our positive words and our negative words. But this will only happen when we keep our hearts free of impure motives.

Praying for a pure heart is probably a prayer we should all pray as we seek to live for the Lord.

When Trust Becomes Dangerous

6 Comments / May 28, 2026

As a rule, most of us are pretty trusting. We want to believe the best about people and systems. Whether it be about our own families, our government, our workplace, or whatever. We want to believe the best.

And there is nothing innately wrong with this unless…we refuse to see the truth that is obvious in front of us. Unless we turn a blind eye to a painful truth.

That’s when this bright outlook and happy trusting will lead us down a very dangerous path.

One of these systems that most of us want to trust is this new “AI” (artificial intelligence) world we are living in. I tend to avoid it, but just googling for an answer on the internet puts you right in the middle of it. So unless we are completely off the internet, it cannot be avoided.

And so we need to understand the dangers that surround this world. We need to be aware, particularly if we want to use the system.

A year or two ago, when AI was just starting to be implemented, my mother googled a Bible question. When the answer came up, it was clearly a wrong answer, according to scripture. So AI isn’t always right. I put that knowledge in the back of my mind for later.

A few weeks ago, I went on to do my weekly hymn post on Facebook. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get my regular hymn website to come up. Google refused to show it. Even if I put in the exact web address. I decided to go to a different search engine and there it was.

This has happened every week since. Google will not bring up a reputable website. For reasons unknown to me, the site that I regularly visited to get hymn lyrics was blacklisted by google.

So now I have learned that google (and all AI systems) will give me the information they want me to have. The information is filtered, censored, and biased.

AI can be wrong. And it most certainly is censored.

This should be enough to make any believer nervous.

It is not that we can’t use google. Or that it’s sinful to use AI. That would be totally impractical for most people. But we do need to realize that, at its very heart, it cannot be trusted 100%.

Most of you have probably heard of AI “friends” encouraging people to commit suicide. This is an extreme case of wrong (and deadly) counsel from a machine.

But it’s important to note that these machines are not just occasionally giving wrong counsel, they are designed to give imperfect, incomplete information—the information that its designers want to be given. We must keep this in mind as we navigate this strange new world.

However we choose to navigate this “tech revolution”—to use it or to not use it—won’t stop it. Most importantly, we need to understand that it is a dangerous, imperfect system. We cannot just accept its answers and counsel at face value. It should never replace the Bible and godly people in our lives.

I doubt many of you reading this would be making such a substitution but so many people are these days. Do we realize this?

I feel like I am becoming my Grandma, who struggled with all the changes (many of them wicked) that came about during her years. The changes we’ve seen if we are over the age of 50 have been substantial.

Just 25 years ago, cell phones were not smart phones; the internet was not our only resource for information; people read books and newspapers and magazines; there was no social media.

We older people know what it was like to parent without the phone calling our names. We know what it was like to work without being accessible 24/7. We knew the work it took to really search for an answer and to be okay if we didn’t find it.

I know I am sounding old as I write these things. But, old or not, I am thankful I got to live in a world without cellphones and AI. I really am.

But having come from a vastly different world can make us naive to this one if we aren’t careful. So we need to be aware. And we need to understand the danger.

Yes, you can ignore all the changes and choose not to use it, but it is pretty much guaranteed that your children and grandchildren will not make the same choice as you are. Know the truth so you can have knowledgeable conversations that bring wisdom to this topic.

Life is unpredictable and none of us could have predicted where this world would be at this point in time. Thankfully, God knows. And everything that is happening goes along perfectly with what we know is coming upon this world at some point in time, according to the book of Revelation in the Bible.

There’s only one thing in the world in which we can trust 100%. And that’s the Holy Bible. All other things that come our way must be tested by it—including AI.

May we keep our eyes and ears open and, while we certainly want to have a positive outlook on life, may we not “trust” our way onto a dangerous path that will harm ourselves or our families.

When There is a Fork in the Road

1 Comment / May 21, 2026

A dedicated Hindu has found Christ, the only One who can free Him from the bonds of sin and death. Upon his turning to Christ, he has become aware that the Hindu idols he has worshipped in the past represent all that is opposite of Christ. His spiritual eyes are opened and he sees them for what they are—evil and demonic.

As he and his converted relatives seek to rid their home of these idols, gathering them for a fire in their backyard, there is quite a stir among their Hindu relatives and neighbors. As this family that God providentially saved out of such wretched manmade religion sought to please the God who led them from all-encompassing darkness into His marvelous light (I Peter 2:9), they encountered much hatred and opposition.

The young man says the following as he describes this particular time in his life:

“At first neighbors and relatives steadfastly refused to accept the forgiveness God offers through Christ. I understood exactly how they felt. Nothing could persuade them until truth meant more to them than tradition.”

Let’s read that again—

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

I was struck profoundly and immediately upon reading this sentence with how relevant this sentence is to us all! How tempting is it to place TRADITION over TRUTH? None of us is immune from this temptation.

This is not just a temptation to those who are in foreign false religions, such as Hinduism or Buddhism. This is why so many stay in “Christian” religions and churches that are clearly far from true, biblical Christianity. It is generally why Catholics who claim to be born again stay Catholic. It is why people stay in “worship” services that have become mockeries of all that is sacred. It is why legalists stay in their legalistic churches that add works to salvation. It is why those who profess Christ continue going to churches that ignore and neglect the Bible.

Tradition and familiarity are painfully difficult to leave.

They are. There is no question about it.

This profound insight was a great reminder to me that we can never let tradition or familiarity be our driving factor when making any decision, particularly decisions about our spiritual health.

We must instead be guided by TRUTH. The truth we find in God’s Word alone.

The young Hindu from the story above (true story) sought TRUTH over his tradition. The cost was great, but the reward was so much greater.

There is nothing wrong with tradition or familiarity. These things can be quite good and helpful and sometimes they travel in a parallel path with truth.

But when there is a fork in the road and we are forced to choose tradition or truth, may we be sure to follow hard after TRUTH. For that is the only thing that will lead us towards Christ and eternal life.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘑𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘥; 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦. (John 8:31-32)

The Muddy Waters of American Christianity

Leave a Comment / May 13, 2026

I am thankful to live in America. I really am. The blessings here are countless. If you are a traveler or a reader, you, too, know just how blessed we are here in this country. There is a reason so many want to come here.

But there are a few downsides to this country, as well. Perhaps the most important being the muddy, undefined Christianity that is found here.

I have been thinking about that some over the past years but it was made so much clearer to me when I recently read the testimony of a Hindu from a foreign land.

What does new life with Christ look like in America? It’s a quick prayer and then, for so many, a return back to the sin and worldliness that was characterizing their lives before a prayer. No change, no freedom, no victory, no love. Instead, there is a wrong assumption regarding God’s grace and this keeps them imprisoned in sin and worldliness.

Contrast this to this line from the testimony of a former Hindu:

I had begun to understand that being “born again” really involved—through Christ’s death and resurrection for me—the death of my old self and the resurrection of a new person.

No option for both to exist together. The old man has died and a new man is alive (Colossians 3).

It’s not about just a sentence prayer spoken to Almighty God. If the words spoken yield no transformation from an old man to a new man then it’s just a sentence.

Living among heathens or pagans, the difference in the believer vs those around them is like night and day. The new believer in a heathen land recognizes that the two religious systems are diametrically opposed to one another. It’s very obvious.

Here in muddy, religious America that is harder to see. Everyone loves Christ. Everyone points to Jesus. Everyone claims He is their Savior.

Well, not everyone, of course. But, rather strangely, it has become the “popular” thing to do.

And this muddies the waters considerably. Jesus tells us to expect to be hated by the world. He says that the world will persecute us. (John 15:18-20)

The temptation is to believe that America is just different. Yes, Christians are persecuted in other lands, but not here. This is a wonderful Christian nation.

I think it’s important we ask ourselves if that’s really true. Is the Christianity represented here in America what we read about in the Bible?

Does the Bible teach that we can continue on in our sin, claiming God’s grace over it all? Does the Bible teach that living a sinful lifestyle without any conviction represents genuine faith? Does the Bible teach that we can love the world and partake of all of its philosophies, entertainment, styles, pastimes, etc. in our new lives?

And if it does teach this, is the Christianity of America actually genuine Christianity?

Look, I am not judging individuals here. We can never do that. There are too many factors, too many unique journeys. We can’t know and that’s not our place.

What I want to do today is to encourage you to step back and look at the movement of Christianity as a whole here in this country (if you live here) or wherever you live. Does it represent biblical Christianity?

Or is it a comfortable Christianity that allows for our fleshly desires and cares more about feelings and emotions than about what God’s Word says?

The Hindu that was miraculously saved removed the false gods and idols from his house immediately. He realized right away that this was something he had to do.

What about our false gods before Christ? Do we remove them from their place when we come to Christ? Do we even think about it when we get saved? Do we even think about it after we are saved? The idols that are so “accepted” in these muddy religious waters… things like sports, popularity, careers, family, money, etc.

I know I am preaching to the choir. Most of you reading this are not unfamiliar with this dynamic as I’ve talked about it often. But this testimony of the Hindu really made it much clearer than it’s been to me for a long time.

The real Jesus Christ makes a different in lives or He doesn’t. And we can’t have it both ways.

If Jesus makes a difference then those that are genuinely saved will be different; Christ’s power will transform them from their old self to their new self—slowly or quickly matters not—there will be a change.

And if Jesus doesn’t make a difference and people just go on to live in the chains of sin and the prison of worldliness, then what good even is Christianity and of what value the Bible?

It is so very easy to find ourselves going down downstream with the crowd. It’s takes no thought. And it doesn’t invite criticism.

However, as believers, we are called to swim upstream. We are called to live by the truth of God’s Word and to examine every single thing through its lens.

Just because someone uses the names of God and Jesus does not mean they are genuine. Just because our favorite athlete points to the sky and gives credit to God does not mean he is saved. Just because an author or preacher says something that sounds biblical does not mean they are biblical.

Let’s keep our eyes open and pray for discernment as we navigate these muddy American Christian waters.

Bank Adventures

Leave a Comment / May 4, 2026

A few months ago, I went to the bank to try to figure out why a deposit wasn’t showing on my statement. I had called and talked to someone but she, after sending the statements away to the “appropriate department”, had insisted rather condescendingly that all was well with my account. I was sure that it wasn’t.

I decided to head over to the local branch and talk to someone in person. This is not our main bank and I don’t go there very often. This means they naturally do not know me there.

As I tried to explain the problem to the bank teller, she eyed me indifferently. She wasn’t mean but she also wasn’t nice. I felt a bit frustrated at her apathy, although I did try very hard to stay kind and keep my voice neutral.

She finally turned to her computer and said, “what’s your last name?”

When I said my last name, her face brightened and her whole demeanor changed. Oh, yes, I see those checks come in and I process them, she said and, quite unexpectedly, she became much more interested in what was going on with my account.

I don’t know this woman and, to my knowledge, she doesn’t know me. But, for whatever reason, my last name triggered a response.

Despite the change in her attitude, she didn’t really help me.

A few days later, never really receiving any answers from the women at my local branch, I called the branch in the next town. The young man who answered the phone was cheerful and kind before I even spoke a word. He took down my information and within 24 hours had answered where my disappearing deposit had gone (to the wrong account).

A few weeks later, I went into my regular bank. We have personal and business accounts there and had a very good relationship with the former manager of the branch. (Disappointingly, the current manager is very disinterested in her customers but that’s irrelevant here.)

On this particular day the teller didn’t know me and she was stammering, saying she needed my ID to finish my transaction. I was surprised because I was making a large deposit into my account (and I was not withdrawing a cent) so I was kindly trying to understand why.

The former bank manager, who works from several branches in a certain department, just happened to be there in a next door office with the door open. I could see him listening to what was going on and soon he came out and told her that I am who I say I am and she didn’t need my ID to process the deposit.

There is just something about being known, isn’t there?

As I reflect on my experiences at the two different banks, I realized I ran into five very different types of people.

First, woman #1 that I called at Bank #1. Ostensibly, she acted like she cared but obviously she a) had no idea what she was doing (claimed to send it away but could never have actually done that, as it was a simple mistake to find) and b) didn’t really care, as her condescension in telling me that all was well was clearly not care.

Some people can pretend to be nice but, in the end, show their true colors of self-interest and lack of compassion.

Second, woman #2 from Bank #1. This woman was cold and apathetic until she heard my name. For some unknown reason this filled her with interest to help me. When I was unknown to her, she was totally disinterested. And she never did help me.

This woman is a great example of the biased person that James talks about in his second chapter (verses 1-8). She changed her demeanor and her behavior based on who the person was rather than treating all people the same.

Third, man #1 at Bank #1, different branch. This young man answered my call with a pleasant and kind voice. He listened to my problem, acknowledged my concern, and promised to get back to me. And he did so in a timely manner. He also actually found the issue.

He was a great example of customer service. And of how we should live life—with kindness, concern, and follow-through of promises.

Fourth, woman #1 at Bank #2. This woman was kind but lacking in knowledge of who I was. It wasn’t her fault and she was just doing what she was supposed to be doing.

She was a good example of an employee, showing kindness and following the bank rules. Many people do not have that level of integrity anymore.

Fifth, and finally, man #1 at Bank #2. This former manager unselfishly stepped in to a situation when he could have just ignored us for his own selfish agenda.

This man was busy working on his own thing and he wouldn’t have had to take the time to help. But his kindness of heart and friendly demeanor put us both at ease and saved us both some extra work.

So why even share this?

Well, here’s why. We all have an opportunity to talk to people every single day. We have an opportunity to face problems and solve them.

Oh, most of us do not work at a bank. But we work, volunteer, or serve somewhere. And, if we live with someone else, we have these opportunities at home every single day.

How do we treat the people around us? How do we help them solve their problems?

Are we filled with a lot of complaining and frustration and unkind words? Or do we choose joy and kindness and unselfishness when someone reaches out for help?

I’ll be the first to confess that if you were a little mouse in my house watching when my husband comes in asking for help while I’m busy doing something, you would notice that I would not be a model responder. Oh, if I don’t have my own agenda at the time, I can be quite kind and helpful. But if I am in the middle of something… well, I am still working on that.

Today, when the unexpected crops up, let’s try to be kind and pleasant. Let’s conduct ourselves with integrity. Let’s be without bias, having a good attitude and a joyful spirit, no matter who the Lord puts in our path. And let’s be proactive in helping others, rather than selfishly saying to ourselves that it’s “not our problem”. Most importantly, let’s bring the love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy for others that Jesus has shown us.

We won’t do this perfectly, of course, but let’s keep trying. And in so doing, we will be like Jesus, showing a skeptical world that Christ absolutely does makes a difference.

Staying in Our Story

Leave a Comment / April 21, 2026

The other day I heard the phrase “stay in your story” and I’ve been reflecting on it ever since.

The phrase was said in reference to a persecuted Christian who spent years in prison and, as a very old man, was able to see his son actually serve as chaplain in that very same prison. Only God, right?

But only by “staying in his story” was he able to see the miraculous way God would work.

Obviously, there are times we must escape our stories. There are lots of reasons we must choose to leave a particular aspect of our story—heretical teaching, abuse, the future for our families, etc.

But, let’s put those very valid reasons aside for a moment and think on the ways we leave/change our stories every single day by walking away from people or situations. How often do we just escape our problems rather than facing them and learning from them?

This phrase has had me thinking about how much easier it is to walk away from a person or a situation than to stay in the thick of it and figure it out.

My husband and I will sometimes watch House Hunters International and, occasionally, there will be a couple who walks away from family and friends to go live on an island somewhere.

Sometimes that looks like a good option, right? Just leave. People are messy. Relationships are hard. Situations are sticky.

I am not implying that it is wrong for a couple to do this. I am sure some have really good reasons. But can I be honest? There are times when escaping to an island looks quite appealing to me and it isn’t for good reasons at all. I’m sure you have felt the same way at times.

Many times we find ourselves in situations we simply can’t escape and we can find ourselves “chomping at the bit” for a nonexistent escape route.

We live in a culture that tells us to run. If someone is “toxic” run. If you don’t have personal peace, run. If you aren’t happy, just…run.

If your spouse isn’t making you happy, run to someone else. If your church doesn’t do something the way that you like, just leave. If someone is annoying, just ignore them. If your friend hurt you, just avoid them.

Run away, leave, ignore, avoid…

But, yet, in doing these things, we don’t leave any room for God to work.

When we choose to stay in our story and have faith that God will work all things for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28) we leave room for God to work in amazing ways.

But, oh, that’s so much harder to live out than it is to type. And, in reflecting back on my life, I will readily admit that I have probably left people and situations that I shouldn’t have. And when I am in a situation I can’t escape, I can become grumpy and anxious. Oh, I have so far to go when I examine my heart regarding this particular subject!

Do you, like me, find yourself laying the same unsolvable puzzle or frustrating situation at the foot of the cross over and over again?

Sometimes—maybe even oftentimes—the way God changes a situation is by changing us. The verse that comes after the very popular Romans 8:28 is Romans 8:29, where we read that God’s purpose is to conform us into the image of His Son.

Frustrating people don’t generally become “un-frustrating” (only by God’s work in their lives is that even possible); Frustrating situations don’t generally disappear overnight.

But…

God will use these people and situations to work in our hearts. Puzzling, unfixable situations and frustrating, difficult people can teach us so much. We learn how to love unconditionally. We learn how to forgive. We learn how to offer undeserved grace to others. These situations release our grip from this world. They teach us to stop trusting in our own strength and help us understand how much we need God. Walking through these valleys will often cause us to evaluate what is important to us and…perhaps…show us what has become an idol in our life without us even realizing it.

When we stop making our comfort and happiness our idol and, instead, surrender our will to God’s and then turn to Him in prayer, seeking His will in His Word as we travel our dark valleys…well, this is when God will work in our own hearts and minds to conform us into His Son’s image.

I don’t know what you are facing today. I only know what I am facing today. May we both consider the value of “staying in our story” before we choose to run away.

Familiar Dirt

Leave a Comment / April 9, 2026

I shared the following on my Facebook page at the beginning of this week and I thought my email readers might appreciate it, as well. Hope it’s encouraging to you!

This past Sunday, as we all know, was Resurrection Sunday and my husband and I had to drive separately as we had to be at church at two different times.

In our church, we can purchase flowers to help brighten the sanctuary for this particular morning and so, after the service, I grabbed one the color of the sunset and took it to my car for the drive home.

I didn’t worry too much about situating it perfectly as I only had a five minute ride that had only one turn. I could hold on to it for that turn. All went very well until…

There was a second turn I hadn’t really thought about…the turn into my house. I am not sure what happened. Perhaps I grew distracted thinking about my day. Or I just had forgotten the tulip was there. But as I turned into my house, the tulip went flying, and made a royal mess on my recently swept car floor.

I was so annoyed.

But I took a picture. Because it seemed like there must be a lesson here (always, right?!)

My mind went to my sin, in this instance. We are so careful with a besetting sin. We pay attention, we work with the Holy Spirit, through prayer and scripture, to rid our lives of that sin.

And then…

Life throws us a curve ball. Or we allow ourselves to be too busy. Or whatever the reason…we start functioning on “autopilot”. We don’t pay as close attention.

And, plop! Just like that tulip slipped on to the floor and spilled dirt everywhere, we slip and find ourselves in a familiar pile of dirt. It can be very discouraging.

While a vacuum cleaned all that dirt in my car right up, a vacuum is absolutely useless in cleaning up our sinful messes. Thankfully, we have something far greater to cleanse our lives from the messes we make. We have a faithful God who forgives!

I John 1:9 puts it like this—

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When we make a mess (which is almost every day, right?), we have a Savior who not only forgives and cleanses us from all unrighteousness, but who gives us a brand new fresh start each morning (Lamentations 3:22-24).

Praise the Lord for His amazing grace and abundant mercy! Today is a brand new day.

May we redeem the time, confess our sins, and use the gift of each day to seek the Lord in all our ways.

Here Lies a Man…

Leave a Comment / March 30, 2026

Yesterday, My Sunday School teacher (also my father-in-law) shared this epitaph that someone had found on a tombstone:

Here lies a man who went out of this world without knowing why he came into it.

Is that not one of the saddest things you ever heard? To never know purpose? To flounder and to wander through this world, always asking the question “why am I here?”

I don’t believe he is the only person who died not knowing why they were born. And even those who find some semblance of purpose through their jobs, their manmade religions, their families, or charity work still feel empty if they take a moment to actually examine their hearts and be honest with themselves.

This is because we all have only one true purpose and that is to worship, glorify, and obey the One True God in the way He demands, according to His Word, the Holy Bible.

There is rebellion in a man’s heart that keeps him from having a natural desire to do this. And so he searches in all kinds of places, hoping to fill that desire to worship with inferior, temporal things.

It’s only when we bow our knee to Jesus Christ and turn to Him alone as our Savior from sin and death, that we can even begin to understand our true purpose in this world. Jesus is not just one way. He is the only way to be right with God (John 14:6).

We can choose to bow our knee to Jesus Christ now and acknowledge Him as Lord….or we will be forced to do this later. It’s our choice. God leaves it up to us. For now.

Paul puts it like this—

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)

Believing this—that Jesus is our Savior and Lord and our only way to be right with God—is life-changing.

I came across these verses yesterday (also from Philippians) and found myself meditating on them and what they mean for me (and for you) today, in this current time we find ourselves living in.

Here’s what Paul writes—

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:7-14).

Paul tells us to follow him as he follows Christ (I Corinthians 11:1). His example has been providentially given to us by God. If this is true, then what can we learn or be looking to attain for our own lives, based on this passage from Philippians?

First: All things are considered loss when compared to Christ. Counted as garbage, even. While these verses are nice to read, they are very difficult verses to actually live out. God has been revealing some idols in my life over the course of the last few months. Things that have taken too high of a priority in my life. While it can be painful, I am so thankful that God is opening my eyes to this.

Second: Christ alone is my righteousness. We stand before God clothed in Christ’s righteousness. There is nothing good in us and we can do nothing to make ourselves right with God (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:10) Any good works we do for the Lord should be because we love Him, and not because we need to do them to attain salvation or because we think He will be mad at us if we don’t do them. We can get a little mixed up with our motivation for good works, can’t we? Even those of us who know and believe this truth with our whole hearts.

Third: We must stop looking behind us and press toward the mark. One of Satan’s biggest tricks is to get us focusing on all we’ve done wrong in the past. Or to imprison us in our disappointments, our grudges, our unmet expectations of yesteryear. Again, easy to read and be inspired by these verses, but much more difficult to actually live out.

As we approach Resurrection Sunday and take time to reflect on what Christ has done for us, may we also reflect on the change His victory at the cross has wrought in our own lives.

May we remember our true purpose and turn from those temporal things that call to us, demanding our allegiance. May we turn back yet again with bowed knee and surrendered heart to the One who loves us most.

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