God spoke and everything changed

I peeked out the window and everything was pure white. Snow in Dallas is uncommon. This much snow in Dallas is . . . wait for it . . . unprecedented! 

(For those who read my blog each week, that was intended to be a joke!) 

Yep, there is that word again.

I am still a California girl at heart. I like it to snow, and then I like the snow to melt off that same afternoon. This long, cold stretch of snow isn’t just unprecedented; it’s unwelcome. 

My friend in Houston had a Facebook post about choosing not to “coddle” his outdoor plants by spreading blankets on them. Another friend, who lives in Casper, Wyoming, is probably reading those words, rolling her eyes and laughing. Today’s Dallas weather is her definition of a spring day. 

The good news is that a week from now we should see much warmer weather. After all, this is still Texas, and the cold will disappear. Our weather is unpredictable—and a great analogy for God’s voice in our lives: there are moments we expect to hear from him and other times his voice is a surprise. 

Either way, when God chooses to speak, we should be quick to listen. 

“AND GOD SAID”  

“And God said let there be light, and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). Those are familiar words, but they are also incredibly profound. God spoke this world into existence. He said “let there be” light, darkness, oceans, plants, animals, and people. God spoke and everything changed, except him.  

God spoke the world into existence and has continued to speak into his creation. Take a moment to consider the fact that the same voice that created our entire world is the same voice that speaks to your soul. 

When we consider the full power of his voice, what keeps us from hanging on his every word? 

WHAT HAS GOD SPOKEN TO YOU RECENTLY? 

Do you know what God recently said to you? 

I can ask that question of every Christian because God is in constant communication through his Holy Spirit. Is that why you are reading these words right now? You are God’s child. Never doubt his desire to guide you in his good ways. 

Frederick William Faber, a British theologian and hymn writer, said, “There is hardly ever a complete silence in our soul. God is whispering to us well-nigh incessantly. Whenever the sounds of the world die out in the soul, or sink low, then we hear these whisperings of God. He is always whispering to us, only we do not always hear because of the noise, hurry and distraction which life causes as it rushes on.” 

God has spoken his word and his will to you. Has the noise and distraction of this culture or even this crazy weather caused you to doubt or ignore his voice? 

The same voice that created the world speaks to you “well-nigh incessantly.” 

We have to learn to listen devotedly. 

JESUS SPOKE WITH GOD’S VOICE 

Paul was talking about Jesus when he wrote, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:15–17). 

The voice of Jesus is the same voice that created all things. When we hear Jesus speak in Scripture, in our hearts and souls, and through our dreams and prayers, we are hearing the same voice that will one day call us home to heaven.  

If we learn to listen to the voice of Jesus in our lives today, his voice will be easy to recognize on the day Jesus returns. His should be the voice of a good friend, our counselor, our guide, and, most importantly, it is the voice of someone we love. 

WHAT CHANGES WILL GOD SPEAK INTO YOUR LIFE? 

I’m wrapped in warm clothes and fur-lined boots, and I’m watching it snow. It is unprecedented cold today, but it won’t be long before this outfit gets packed up and put away. This is Dallas, Texas. The sun will soon melt the snow, the snow will water the earth, and the bluebonnets will blanket the roadways. 

God didn’t have to create seasons, but he did. Do you ever wonder why? 

I think our changing world has always existed to remind us of our unchanging God. The apostle Peter was quoting from Isaiah when he wrote, “‘The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.’ And this word is the good news that was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:24–25). 

Throughout our lives, God will speak changes he wants us to make. He will guide us to see things in a new way or follow a new path. If we know God’s word, we should expect change. But, we can also expect his unchanging voice to guide us as we listen.  

The world has seen a lot of change since God spoke it into existence. It’s comforting to realize that God is still the same. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). 

GOD SPEAKS UNCHANGING TRUTH TO OUR CHANGING LIVES 

Frederick Faber said that God spoke “well-nigh incessantly” and that we could hear that voice if we don’t allow the noise and distraction of this life to drown out God’s word to us. So why is it that so many people in our world today don’t even consider the voice of the One who spoke all things into existence? 

Frederick Faber had that answer as well. He wrote, “There are no disappointments to those whose wills are buried in the will of God.” It will be difficult to hear God’s voice unless we are ready to follow his will. It will be difficult to hear God speak through his word unless we are convinced that his word is truth. And it will be difficult for God to interrupt our plans if he is not Lord of our choices. 

God’s will is not hidden, but it is often ignored. 

God’s will is spoken, but it is often heard as a suggestion rather than a command. 

Remember, God speaks. 

But God speaks to servants who listen. 

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, EVERYTHING CHANGES 

We have been plagued with power outages and freezing temperatures. Those plagues follow the changes that occurred because of a virus. I am so ready for spring! 

Everything changes, and it always will, but not God. The voice that created the world continues to speak. His voice is knowable and his truth is unchanging. His voice offers consistent truth, offered in different ways, at different times, to different generations—until one day, this world changes one last time. 

One snowstorm will be our last. 

One day his voice will call us home. 

That day will be unprecedented for us but completely consistent with the truth of God’s word. 

From now until then, the goal of every day is to listen for him to speak, ready to walk with his direction. 

When God speaks, everything changes—except him.  

2021: A parable of hope

Note from Janet

For those of you who have completed the first half of the Foundations of Faith Bible Study, I hope you will join us for the second half of the study. 

The first lecture (Abraham & Sarah – Lesson 12) is now available to view on the website. 

Each lesson will focus on a person/persons from the Bible who demonstrated faithful obedience to God and will offer insight on how we, too, can live in faithful obedience to Him. 

If you haven’t yet registered for the Bible study, now would be a perfect time to join us.

A man was sick and didn’t know if he would get well. He had lived a long life, a prosperous and influential life, but knew that his accomplishments couldn’t provide what he needed most. Healing couldn’t be purchased or acquired by hard work. Healing was a gift and a blessing. 

The man lay on his bed, appreciating the fact he could still breathe. He was grateful for those who came and went, trying to help him live. He spent his time thinking because thinking was all he was capable of. 

His thoughts naturally turned to the One who had given him life. The One who could give him more. He wanted more. He had lived his life always wanting more. 

He pondered all that he would do if he could only get well. He also pondered all he would fix, if he only could. He wished for second chances knowing there was really no such thing. All choices have consequences that live on in the people affected. 

“Why, Lord? Why do I always want more? Will I always want more? What is enough? I’ll try to do more for you, Lord, if you will just give me the chance. I know I can do better.” 

The man listened to the beeping sound that indicated he was still alive. Each beep was another moment he could have been doing something else. 

“Why, Lord? Why am I here? Why is this happening?” 

Beep. Beep. Beep. 

“Are you there, Lord? Is this my time? Are you coming for me now? Am I ready?” 

Beep. Beep. Beep. 

“Whatever you are going to do, Lord, will you just do it? I’m tired of waiting. I just want to know.” 

Beep. Beep. Beep. 

“Lord, I don’t care anymore. Whatever! I don’t even know what to think. I’m weary in well-doing.” 

Beep. Beep. “Don’t be.” 

“What? What do you mean ‘Don’t be?’” 

“When you get well . . . you can look it up.” 

“I will, Lord. Thank you so much.” 

The man did get better. As soon as he could, he found the verse, then the passage, then the wisdom he knew had been God’s gift to him during his long wait. 

Hope was the gift and blessing. Healing was simply an answered prayer. 

GALATIANS 6:9 WAS MY ANSWER 

Most of us get “thought-filled” at the beginning of a new year. That’s probably especially true this year. 2020 was a year that provided all of us extra time to think. The parable above isn’t anyone’s story. It’s everyone’s story. I don’t know how it is yours, but God would like the chance to tell you. 

Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” That part of the parable above is my personal story. 

Years ago, I was at a particularly low time in my own life when I prayed, “Whatever, Lord!” I was feeling like so much of what I had worked for was just a “vapor” that had blown away. It was comforting to remember that was how King Solomon felt too. 

I was praying to God one morning. Actually, I was whining to God. I poured out a bunch of thoughts, fears, concerns, and frustrations, and I finally told the Lord, “I’m just weary in well-doing!” 

Almost instantly, I heard my next thought: “Don’t be.” 

I remember laughing out loud! My answer from God was so like God: simple, complex, and always biblical truth. 

I heard him that day and knew it was time to move ahead. 

This blog post is one result of that prayer time. 

GALATIANS 6:1–10 IS OUR WISDOM 

Before you read the passage below, stop and pray. 

Ask God to speak to you as you read. 

There are words in the passage below that apply to your new year. God won’t tell me what he wants to say to you. I will provide his word; God will give you his direction from it. 

Pay attention to the verses you need to reread or that seem to be directed to your heart. We call Scripture “God’s word” because it is God’s voice. 

Paul closed his letter to the church in Galatia saying: 

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.  For each will have to bear his own load. 

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:1–10) 

YOUR PARABLE OF HOPE FOR A NEW YEAR 

2020 authored a lot of thoughts in everyone. 

What did God tell you last year? 

What did God just tell you as you read his word? 

Hope is a powerful comfort while we wait for a chance to get well, get vaccinated, and get on with better days. 

I like to think about watching the news and not hearing about the “numbers” for the day. I like to think about going to a baseball game and joining the crowd who jumps to their feet, cheering loudly after a home run. I especially like to think about hugging my family and friends without a thought of reservation. 

We will do all of those things. If we stay well, we will be well. We have a lot to hope for in 2021. 

But, the real gift and blessing of 2021 will not be a vaccine. 

We should spend the rest of our lives knowing that hope is the blessing we have already received. 

“The one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good” (Galatians 6:8–9). 

The hope of a vaccine is real. The hope of eternal life has always been real for those who have asked for and received God’s salvation through Christ. Let’s not grow weary waiting for hope we already have. Live in, through, and because of God’s hope. 

We are already blessed! 

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). 

May your 2021 be filled with God’s hope.

Paul’s Recipe for Daily Bread

What are you doing for Mother’s Day this year? 

We sure can’t crowd the restaurants this Sunday, so I have a bread recipe that might come in handy. Unfortunately, a new batch has to be prepared each day, but it is worth the effort. You only have to “taste and see” to know it is good.  

Not everyone bakes, however. So, you might want to make enough to share. 

There are a lot of hungry people out there 

Brandon Hicks’ mom is probably not going to feel like celebrating Mother’s Day this Sunday. 

Her son is sitting in an Austin jail, charged with a felony. He shoved a park ranger in the lake after the ranger issued him a warning to “distance” himself from his friends.  

The news is showing a lot of these stories lately. 

I remember the news clip of the woman grabbing toilet paper from another woman’s shopping cart. (Granted, the woman had filled two carts with toilet paper, leaving none for anyone else.) My guess is that neither of the shoppers was pleased to see the cell phone video of their argument on the news that evening. 

Then there was the video of the woman with her mask hanging off one ear, screaming in someone else’s face because they weren’t “distancing.” I’m sure her friends and family didn’t miss the irony when they saw that viral video. 

Some people are out of patience and causing problems. But most people are still continuing to make good choices. When the park ranger was shoved in the water, there were a lot of people who came to his aid. Brandon Hicks was quickly identified and arrested, and the ranger’s rescuers returned to their lives and their happy day at the lake. 

Everyone could use a little bread these days 

I can’t imagine I would ever shove a park ranger in the lake. I can’t imagine that I would choose to do a lot of the things I see people doing. 

But, I can imagine and, in fact, remember times I have run out of patience with someone and made a dumb choice. You probably can remember some of those times in your life as well.  

The virus is probably going to slow down, but it isn’t going to be gone until a vaccine is approved and supplied to the masses. A friend’s wife teaches school, and she was told to prepare to teach in the fall but to keep all her “homeschool” computer apps current. The district is assuming they will need to close the schools and resume the learn-at-home structure for a period of time this fall. 

People are looking for peace in the news, but it isn’t there. Luckily, we have a recipe in Scripture. 

If you want peace, ask Paul for his recipe 

The apostle Paul wrote great instructions for people seeking peace. He said, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12). 

Paul’s words are a recipe for peace, which could be called our “daily bread.” 

Paul’s recipe for daily bread 

1. Mix one part joyful hope. 

Christians can find the patience to wait for things to improve because we know that we always have the hope of eternal life with Jesus. We have the assurance of this hope through his Holy Spirit, and we have the godly priorities that our hope of heaven provides. 

We can find joyful hope in our faith, even if we can’t find it in the news. 

2. Stir in one part patience. 

There are very few of us who have endured tribulation like Paul endured, yet he could write, “Be patient in tribulation.”  

People today are running out of patience because we want certain things that aren’t on the shelf. We want to see family, but not just on our phones and computer screens. We want to take a trip, but to where? We want to go to the grocery store, for Pete’s sake, without feeling like the plague could be resting on the bananas we pick up.  

Paul might raise his eyebrows at our “tribulation,” but he would tell us what he told those early Christians: Just be patient. Things will get better one day, and God has promised us things will be better every day, one day. 

3. Continually add prayer.

Paul’s final ingredient is prayer. Not just a prayer to begin and end our day, but days that are filled with prayer. How do we live in constant prayer?  

We can learn to “hang out with” Jesus. 

Realize that the Son of God wants to hang out with you! 

We can talk to him all day; ask him stuff all day; ask him for stuff all day. Ask Jesus to tell you things, guide your path, encourage your thoughts, and help you fight off Satan’s suggestions. Hanging out with Jesus is like having a friend, counselor, and companion—who is always present and always perfect. 

Prayer allows us to spend time with Jesus, at any time we choose. What an amazing gift! 

Daily bread, like manna, is only good for a day 

The Israelites escaped Egypt and crossed the desert, but God took care of them along the way. Each morning they gathered manna, but just enough for the day. If they gathered more than they needed, the leftovers just spoiled and became worthless. 

That lesson has become a lesson to every one of God’s children since that time. Daily bread, manna, is all we need for today, but it won’t be good for tomorrow.  

In Paul’s recipe, the ingredients for this bread of peace are hope, patience, and constant prayer. Paul would ask us to allow God to provide the ingredients and the measurements, mix them up, and then serve them at the right times during our day.  

Jesus taught us to pray

Take a minute and remember each word of the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9–13). The first thing Jesus told us to ask for was “our daily bread.”   

We need it, and so do a lot of other people. I hope someone will give Brandon Hicks a slice. He needs it and may not know how to find it. 

Is there a Brandon Hicks in your life? 

People are getting tired and need spiritual strength for these days. The Apostle Paul would tell us to start baking and enjoy the results. 

And . . . 

To all the moms out there: May you have a blessed and happy Mother’s Day. And keep baking for them until they start making daily bread for themselves. 

Reminder: Send your Christmas memories/stories to [email protected]. I’m looking forward to reading them! 

Nerves of Steel

One of the positives of limiting our schedules and staying inside is the chance to read the books we have stacked in a corner. 

I just finished Nerves of Steel by Tammie Jo Shults, the captain of Southwest Flight 1380. The lessons she provides are a word of hope to all of us during this pandemic crisis.

Our families, friends, and those around us are watching to see how our faith impacts our actions. 

We could all use nerves of steel for the next few weeks. 

Who is Tammie Jo Shults? 

There weren’t very many female pilots in the US Navy back in the 1980s, but Tammie Jo Shults was one of them. Her book provides an interesting look at her opportunities and her obstacles. Any woman who attempts to break social barriers has to be willing to suffer some hits, and Tammie Jo wanted to be a Navy pilot. Her story is composed of accomplishments and challenges. 

She became one of the first women to fly fighter jets for the Navy. She chose to endure prejudice, persecution, and hardships for the sake of her goals. Her faith kept her moving forward even when it would have been easier to quit. 

She credits her parents, her mentors, her friends, her husband, and, most importantly, her Lord for giving her the encouragement and strength she needed to pursue her goals. 

After retiring from the Navy, she was hired by Southwest Airlines and earned the opportunity to captain their aircrafts. That is what she was doing on April 17, 2018, when she piloted her Boeing 737 from LaGuardia and headed for Dallas. 

About twenty minutes into Flight 1380, one of the plane’s engines failed, the cockpit filled with smoke, and Tammie Jo Shults had to make a series of critical decisions. 

Instincts for any crisis 

Smoke filled the cockpit, and it was difficult to see the instruments. Tammie Jo said it felt like the plane had been T-boned by a Mack truck. At first, she thought another plane might have hit them. Quickly, she found the gauge that told her the left engine was dead. 

Just as quickly, the air pressure plummeted. A sharp pain pierced her ears. The roar was deafening. The plane began to vibrate violently. 

In all her years of training and flying, she had never experienced anything like that. 

But she had come close to disaster before. 

Her book describes the next moments 

The prologue records the brief moments that made all the difference. Tammie Jo wrote, 

Amid the confusion, I have a forced moment of solitude. I cannot see, I cannot hear, and I cannot breathe. I am isolated in one of life’s brief pauses, and adrenaline compresses my thoughts into an instant. This isn’t the first time I’ve flown without all the information I need. It isn’t the first time I’ve come close to disaster. My thoughts are distilled to their simplest form: bad news/good news. The bad news? With this fierce, abusive shuddering, I’m not sure everything we need to stay in flight will remain attached to the aircraft. This might be the day I meet my Maker face-to-face. The good news? We’re still flying. So it’s time to get to work. 

Tammie Jo knew salvation in Christ and had worked to have a strong walk with him as her strength. She instinctively turned to that strength in her moment of crisis. 

Later, when they listened to the cockpit tapes, she was surprised to hear her voice saying, “Heavenly Father.” 

She had instinctively prayed to the One she knew could help. 

Three lessons for a crisis 

The reason the book is titled Nerves of Steel is that a passenger on the flight used those words to describe the character of Tammie Jo’s words over the intercom, before she was able to land the disabled plane. She was calm. She gave them the information they needed and her voice quieted the chaos. 

She was asked to write the book so she could tell her story and help others understand how she was able to handle her terrifying circumstances. 

Tammie Jo gives three reasons she was able to function during that flight. 

Habits 

She writes, “Habits—good and bad—become instincts under pressure. In other words, the choices we make every day become our reflex on bad days.” 

She goes on to say that one of her lifelong habits was to turn to God for help when things were difficult. The peace that followed her prayer provided her a stillness that steadied her thoughts. 

Hope 

She writes, “I’ve come to realize since the events of Flight 1380 that hope may not change our circumstances, but it always changes us.” 

When Tammie Jo knew she was heading the plane toward an airport in Philadelphia, she told the entire plane, “We are landing in Philly.” She didn’t know they could land safely, but that hope caused everyone to find a place of peace and calm. 

Hope didn’t change their circumstances, but it changed them. 

Heroism 

Tammie Jo writes, “A true hero is someone who takes the time to see and makes the effort to act on behalf of someone else. In a word, they care.” 

She wanted everyone to realize that there were a lot of heroes on the plane that day. Her copilot, the flight crew, and several passengers had been extraordinarily brave and helpful both during and after the terrifying moments. 

What are your instincts for this crisis? 

All of us who watch the news know our nation, our world, is in a time of crisis. What are your instincts right now? 

How are the habits you have developed through your entire life carrying you now? 

I want to choose faith over fear. 

Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” 

I’m glad the government, the scientists, the doctors, and those who do research are hard at work right now. But, I trust it will be the Lord who guides them to the cure. He already has the answers. 

Will you pray with me that all those who want to help will cry out to God for that help? 

Will you share hope with those around you? 

Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” 

We all have an amazing opportunity to be a voice of calm amid the chaos. Does that describe your voice today? 

Will you be considered a hero when these days have passed? 

Tammie Jo Shults commented that she found it interesting that in most of her television interviews people didn’t want to talk about her skills as a pilot during those terrifying moments. They wanted to talk about the moments after she landed the plane. 

She had walked the aisles of the plane, helping people get what they needed, speaking to them kindly, showing interest in each passenger. That’s what people remembered. That is what made Tammie Jo Shults a hero. 

What will people remember about you after these days of crises? 

You can determine that answer now by your choices. 

Will you be someone’s hero in the days ahead? 

You know people who will be losing a lot of their hourly pay. 

You know people who will get sick. 

You know people who will be upset, scared, angry, and self-centered. 

Will you notice them—and help? 

You know Jesus wants to be their hero—through you. 

This crisis is an opportunity. 

Will you ask Jesus for the “nerves of steel” that you will need for these next weeks? 

He wants to answer that prayer. 

How Do We Receive and Perceive God’s Promises?

Sometimes it seems like Scripture makes promises we can’t count on. 

I’ve had a lot of conversations over the years with disappointed Christians. I’ve actually been a disappointed Christian at times. (It’s easy to think that when you are a full-time “paid” Christian that there should be a few added promise-perks. There aren’t.) 

But, most of the time, our disappointment can be overcome with a better understanding of those promises.

Bible promises that aren’t 

One example: Proverbs aren’t promises; they are statements of general wisdom. 

A good example of that is Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” 

That Proverb can’t be a promise because it would mean that your child didn’t have free will choices. What Solomon was really saying was, “Raise your child now with a biblical knowledge of right and wrong, and chances are good that he or she will make biblical choices as an adult too.” The general wisdom: it’s wise to raise kids with godly values, morals, and behaviors if you want them to be godly adults. 

Another example: psalms are usually words of praise for what God is able to do or has done in the past rather than what God has promised to do every time. 

A new look at a familiar promise 

I wanted to correct another “promise” that a lot of people think is a personal truth for their lives. 

I was reading my son’s First15 devotional last Saturday and had a few new thoughts about a familiar verse. I often quote Jeremiah 29:11, but Craig wisely used verse 11 through 14 for his devotional. I was reminded that verse 11, on its own, doesn’t really tell the whole truth and might set us up to misunderstand the promise. 

Jeremiah preached, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (29:11). This is a great thought about God’s intentions for his people. But, all of us know that disappointment and evil can happen in our lives. Several of my readers are dealing with financial loss resulting from a devastating tornado that came through Dallas. How, then, are Jeremiah’s words a promise to them? 

What did Jeremiah mean when he preached that message? Can we think of Jeremiah 29:11 as a promise for our lives and the lives of other Christians? 

Yes and no. Understanding the promise in verse 11 requires a little more information. 

What was the original promise? 

Jeremiah preached this message to the Jewish people who had already been captured and enslaved by the Babylonian empire. They or their parents had been marched from Jerusalem to Babylon. It would have taken about two weeks for them to get there, and it is doubtful that they were provided much food or water along the way. Many of those people died. 

Verse 11 wouldn’t have been a promise for them. 

By the time Jeremiah wrote chapter 29, it is likely that he was preaching, almost entirely, to the children of the people who had been captured. God had already told the Israelites that they would be in exile for seventy years. The average life span was about thirty years during this time and probably less for people who were slaves. 

In other words, Jeremiah’s words wouldn’t have seemed like much of a promise to the people he preached them to. But they were. 

The rest of the passage provides the truth of the promise. 

What does the passage tell you about the promise? 

Jeremiah 29:10–14 says, “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.’” 

What did God promise? 

  1. The Jewish people would be captives for seventy years. For most of the people, the promise was hope for their children and grandchildren, not themselves.
  2. God always had a plan and has a plan. God knew the nation would be taken captive, and he knew he would restore the nation.
  3. God would bring the Jewish people back to their land, restore their fortunes, and gather them back. The promise was their return to Israel, but it would never be entirely the same place or the same prosperity God had originally provided them. It would be Israel, but a different Israel.
  4. The actual promise was a restored relationship with God. “Then you will call upon me, and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.” God’s promise for welfare and hope was the promised blessing of a restored relationship with himself.

And, the earthly blessings promised were almost entirely for their descendants, the Israelites who hadn’t even been born yet. 

What does 29:11 mean to Christians today? 

After this blog post, how many of your Christian plaques, pictures, dish towels, and coffee mugs will look a little less promising than they did before? 

Don’t worry though. His word is always true and always relevant. 

Jeremiah 29:11 doesn’t promise us that we will be rich and free from evil. God would never make that promise to people who live on planet earth, surrounded by people who have free wills and the freedom to use them. 

Someone can steal your riches, and people are capable of evil. The prophet did promise that God will always have a plan to restore our relationship with him and provide us with his blessings. We misunderstand his promise and often feel disappointed when we define what those blessings should be. 

There is more to say, but I will say it in next week’s blog post. For now, stand on the promises of God’s word, knowing that the promise can’t be understood except in its context—and, most of the time, won’t fit on a coffee mug! 

Then again, if you could get the whole truth in a few words, those of us who blog about and teach the Bible might be out of a job. 

One of my favorite promises is found in 1 Corinthians 2:9: “But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.’” 

One day, Christians will go to heaven and realize that our best promises were unimaginable to us on earth. 

In other words, our greatest blessings are yet to come. 

And that is God’s promise.

Midland: A people, more than a place

My husband was asked to be the interim preacher for First Baptist Midland in 1988. I remember the first weekend I decided to go with him. 

Ryan was two and Craig was three months old. I packed clothes, diapers, bottles, toys, the portable crib, and plenty of snacks for the six-hour road trip to West Texas. After we passed Fort Worth, the landscape flattened into an unending panorama of dirt and mesquite bushes. Abilene came and went, and then the big question became, “How many miles until the next Dairy Queen?” 

Six hours later, in the middle of the almost-nothingness of West Texas, a city skyline arose on the horizon. I use that term loosely. I grew up in the Los Angeles area. For the most part, one city just ran into the next with no gap in between. 

Let’s just say West Texas was a new experience for me. 

I remember distinctly saying, “Why would anyone want to live here?” 

About eight months later, the moving van, filled with our household furniture and “stuff,” pulled up to our new home—in Midland, Texas. 

It’s the people, more than the place 

It’s a long story, but I chose to travel to Midland with Jim almost every weekend of his interim time there. The boys were great travelers, and the six-hour trip was actually pretty good time together. (With a few exceptions, of course!) 

So, every weekend we made the six-hour trip on Friday afternoon and returned late Sunday night. 

Why would we pack a toddler and a baby into the car like that? To summarize: we fell in love with the people of First Baptist Church in Midland, Texas. They quickly became friends. The city quickly became familiar. And, a year later, Jim became the pastor of FBC, and Midland became our home. 

When we heard the news . . . 

Jim and I watched the news of the crazy man with a gun randomly shooting people in Midland and Odessa. He didn’t know them and he didn’t care to know them. He just picked up a gun and shot people who could have been our friends. They might have been friends to him, if he had just given them a chance. 

Jim and I sat stunned, scared, angry, shocked, and saddened, wondering if we knew any of the people. 

Then we realized it didn’t matter if we knew them. We still grieved for all those families. 

Paul’s words, Midland’s hope 

I have a lot of blog readers who live in Midland. But, for all of us, this is Paul’s truth and encouragement to be the people we are called to be, even when others choose crazy. 

Paul was wrapping up his letter to the Thessalonians when he wrote a message I think he would write to Christians in Midland and Odessa today. He said, “Since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:8–11). 

How do Christians “stand” firm in the craziness? 

  • Be sober-minded. We often think of “sober” as not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. But, maybe it means more. We shouldn’t be controlled by an influence that isn’t of God. We shouldn’t be controlled by our anger, our frustrations, or even our desire for justice in this world. How do we achieve “sober”?
  • Protect your hearts. It will be difficult not to “feel” anger, rage, and even fear. Paul advises we protect our lives by a “breastplate” of Christian faith and love. We protect our hearts (this meant the source of our motivations in Paul’s day) with God’s armor. Christians should be motivated and outwardly covered by our faith and love, not something less.
  • Protect your minds with a helmet. Our hope of salvation is the way we protect our thoughts. This will be so important going forward. Causing fear is a weapon in our world today. Choosing not to fear is how Christians fight back. We have hope, every day. The point of our lives isn’t earth; it is heaven. Your eternity is guaranteed. So, as the hymn says, “Whom then shall I fear?”
  • Strengthen your community of faith. I know a lot of the Christians in Midland, Texas. God will redeem the awful for his greater good. People who fear will be watching the people who are able to stand firm. As Paul said, “Encourage one another and build each other up.” I know these Christians in Midland, and I know Paul would say, “Just as in fact you are doing.”

Christian amidst craziness 

Craziness. There is never a time that Christians have a greater opportunity to stand out. Sadly, there is never a time that Christians have as much permission or temptation from the world to stand with the world. 

Be part of the redemption, and even the revival, that God plans to bring out of the horrible craziness that happens in our world. That is how we can live in this world but not of it. 

“Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” Midland and Odessa have some of the best and strongest Christian people I know. I’m so, so sorry there was a shooting and innocent lives were lost. It wasn’t fair or even comprehensible to a normal mind. 

Let’s pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who will be God’s workmanship, wearing God’s armor as their witness. I know them—and they are some of God’s finest soldiers. 

Dear friends in Midland: We are praying for you while the world is watching you be the people God has equipped you to be. Stand firm. As my husband and your former pastor Jim would say, “God will redeem what he allowed, for his greater good.”

Focusing on God’s Word

Do you ever wonder why people send money to a television evangelist so they can get a piece of the cloth he used to wipe his tears? 

I knew someone who sent such a televangelist a donation. She didn’t really believe it would work. She just wanted to hope. 

History channels have produced shows and books have been written about possible and potential miracles involving a supposed piece of the cross, the Shroud of Turin, Noah’s Ark, or the Ark of the Covenant. Church history records all kinds of promises about these holy objects, and others, that were offered to people who wanted to believe. 

Hope has always been one of God’s promises, and false hope has always been a by-product of that truth. 

A church leader’s words can’t change God’s

There are some passages, like one in Luke 8, that theologians and Bible teachers will always struggle to explain. 

At least, they should struggle to explain these passages. One of the reasons miracles are miracles is that they involve acts of God that transcend what is normal or explicable. 

There is a story in Luke 8 that certain preachers have used to offer people hope of healing. It’s in the Bible, therefore it is possible. 

Why did touching Jesus’ hem heal the woman?

It isn’t easy to find a theologian that wants to tackle that question. There really isn’t an answer except “It happened”—to her. 

It was the second year of Jesus’ ministry, and his popularity was soaring. By now, word had spread about the miracles people had seen, the sermons people had heard, and the hope that Jesus might be the long-awaited Messiah. Jesus is drawing large crowds of people everywhere he goes.

Luke records a time Jesus is walking through such a crowd. A synagogue ruler had pled with Jesus to come to his home because his twelve-year-old daughter was dying. Jesus is very unpopular with most Jewish leaders by now, but a man whose daughter is dying is desperate for any hope. Jesus agrees to go to his home, and Luke says, “As Jesus went, the people pressed around him” (Luke 8:42). 

Then Luke describes a miracle within the miracle. 

A woman in that crowd had been bleeding for twelve years. Her medical issue would have made her an outcast from society, worship, and even her family. 

In desperation, she reaches out to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, hoping and believing that it might help. And it does. 

Luke wrote, “Immediately her discharge of blood ceased” (Luke 8:44). 

Why was this woman healed? 

According to Luke, the crowd was large and people were pressing to get next to Jesus. His robe would have touched or been touched by many people. Why did touching the robe of Jesus heal the woman but not all the others who were “pressing around him”? 

Why did Jesus sense her touch?

The disciples didn’t understand why Jesus was wondering who touched him. Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” (Luke 8:45).

Blogger’s note: This statement is another reason I am a huge fan of Saint Peter. Luke usually got his information straight from the source. In other words, he probably interviewed Peter and the apostle made sure people knew about another of his less-than-perfect retorts to the Son of God. Peter also made sure Luke had Jesus’ answer to his impertinent question. 

How did Jesus know that someone’s touch in that crowd was different from the others? 

Luke records Jesus saying, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me” (Luke 8:46).

Jesus’ power to heal

The reason this is a theological conundrum is that Jesus didn’t choose to heal the woman. He didn’t know she was healed until after the fact. 

The woman came to him and confessed she had touched his garment. It was then that Jesus told her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace” (Luke 8:48).

Those words open a can of worms that theologians can’t fully explain, so this blogger won’t even try. 

  • Was it her faith in Jesus? 
  • Her faith in God? 
  • Her faith that even Jesus’ garment could heal? 
  • Were the others that touched his garment lacking faith? 
  • Does enough faith heal and not enough faith hinder? 
  • Why didn’t Jesus know who had touched him and who had been healed? 

Those are just a few of the questions that surround this passage. So, why is such a complicated passage included in our Bibles? 

In fact, the story is important enough that Matthew and Mark also record the miracle in their gospels. 

What if we are supposed to focus on the reason Jesus knew he had been touched rather than the fact that a woman was healed? 

What if the moment and message of the miracle are the most important parts of the story?

The message of the miracle

Jesus perceived that “power” had gone out from him. It wasn’t the garment of Jesus that healed the woman; it was the power within Jesus. 

It wasn’t the crowds that were healed. God healed the woman that day, and Jesus knew it when God’s power was released through him. 

One day, Jesus would look at these same men and tell them, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). 

The “power” released through Jesus that day is the power that fills all Christians today. But, it isn’t the power to heal; it is the power that can heal, when God chooses. 

Jesus was on his way to Jairus’ home. Jairus was a synagogue ruler and probably the most important, influential person in the crowd. Culturally speaking, Jesus paused from his most important task to show compassion to an “unclean” woman who had not requested his attention but had stolen it. 

That day, the culture didn’t define important; God did. The apostle Paul was trying to explain that truth when he wrote about heaven, saying, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

A message about miracles

Two miracles occurred that day: God publicly healed a bleeding woman and privately healed Jairus’ daughter.

What is the message about miracles? 

God heals and decides how to heal and who is healed.

The power for healing is the power of God, through his Son, and through his Holy Spirit.

God loves everyone, equally. Some of God’s miracles are witnessed; some are not. Some of God’s people are healed on earth, but most are healed in heaven.

Faith in God is the key, not faith in garments.

Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” 

If you are a Christian, that is your hope, your promise, and your miracle for today and every day. Whatever you are facing, you will be healed—maybe not today, but definitely one day.


Live blessed: He is coming soon

Jesus is coming—soon.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus said he was coming soon?

It’s been more than two thousand years since Christ appeared to John on the island of Patmos and gave him the book of Revelation.

Toward the end of the revelation, Jesus said, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:6–7).

I included these verses in my teaching last week, with a new thought. Most sermons about this passage are about the ultimate end of our world when Jesus returns for the final time. The book of Revelation teaches us that everything on earth is temporal, with a beginning and an end. We are supposed to live like Jesus could return tomorrow.

But, again, it’s been more than two thousand years.

What did Jesus mean by “soon”?

How should we define soon?

My mom and I spent the weekend driving to northern Arkansas and then back again. I took Mom to her brother’s funeral service. She is the youngest child in her family. She had ten brothers and three sisters. Now, Mom is the only one still living.

I watched the photo montage the funeral home put together and wondered how Grandma and Grandpa were able to raise fourteen children to be such fine human beings. But they did. Now, they are in heaven, except for my mom. She will join them one day, but today, she is without all of them, and my dad too.

The good news: Jesus is coming soon.

A wonderful woman from our church in Midland, Texas, was lying on her deathbed. Her family was gathered around quietly singing a hymn. She had not spoken in several days when she sat up and exclaimed, “Jesus!” and then she was gone.

Jesus had come to bring her home to heaven. It was sooner than the family expected it would be.

And that’s the point. We might not say that two thousand years is an accurate description of “soon,” but how many times have you lost someone you wished could have lived a few more years? Did their death feel like it came too soon?

Jesus is coming soon.

For all of us, it will be less than one hundred years from now, fifty years from now, twenty years from now—or sooner. If that makes you feel concerned, look at what Jesus said right after “Behold, I am coming soon.” He said, “Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7).

What does the Revelation promise to bless?

Are you living a blessed life now?

If you are, the return of Christ is something to anticipate, not fear. The book of Revelation promises blessings to all of us. When last did you find joy in those promised blessings?

Jesus said:

We are blessed by reading the Book.

Jesus said, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3).

The last book of the Bible is the only book of the Bible that promises blessing to the reader.

And again, Jesus said, “For the time is near.” The book of Revelation is not easy reading. In fact, it is a book to be studied with a good commentary in hand. (I suggest The Expositor’s Bible Commentary.)

When last did you read the book of Revelation?

Jesus promised a blessing to everyone who does.

We are blessed by dying in Christ.

Jesus said, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!’” (Revelation 14:13).

Jesus taught us to look at the death of a Christian, especially a Christian who has lived their life in great service to the Lord, as a wonderful reward, a blessing. My dad died with a smile of peace on his face. My uncle, who only recently gave his life to the Lord, died with a smile on his face. The woman in Midland, who sat up on her deathbed and called out to Jesus, was glad to see him.

If we are in Christ, we are blessed when we die!

We should live today, blessed by that assurance.

We are blessed by living “ready.”

Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!” (Revelation 16:15).

Simply put, we should be steadfastly faithful all of the time so that we are okay with Jesus returning any time.

Live today like it could be tomorrow.

Christians were blessed at the moment of their salvation.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9).

When faithful Christians pass a mirror, they should see the reflection of a person who is already abundantly blessed! We have been invited to be the honored guest of Jesus at the eternal banquet of heaven. We are invited to the best meal of our entire lives, for every moment of our eternal lives. And with our eternal bodies, we can eat whatever we want! (That last sentence is more my thought than God’s. But, it seems likely.)

Maybe we should “look” at our invitation a little more often. It is printed in gold.

Christians are blessed by keeping our lives clean.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates” (Revelation 22:14).

We are “washed” by the blood of the lamb. That is, the blood that was shed by Jesus on the cross for the forgiveness of sin. A Christian has forgiveness. We are blessed every time we confess our sins and receive his mercy and cleansing. Christians will live eternally clean, but we can receive his cleansing today as well.

It’s better to seek forgiveness now and arrive in heaven as “clean” as possible.

Are you blessed and ready?

Jesus is coming soon.

He said it, and for most of us, the day will come sooner than we think it should. That’s the point.

If you speak to an older person, they will almost always say, “Time is flying by!” They are genuinely surprised to look in their mirrors and see an older face looking back. I watched that photo montage and some of those pictures were taken decades ago. My mom and dad were sitting together at a picnic, smiling. She told me it seemed like yesterday.

Jesus is coming soon.

If you are living today with that hope, you are living a blessed life. If there are areas of life that could use some “washing,” then go to the fountain now and get cleaned up.

Heaven is real, and heaven is promised to those who have placed their faith in Jesus. My uncle wished he had made that decision earlier in his life. Who do you know that still needs to choose Christ?

Jesus promised you will be blessed by reading the book of Revelation. Let’s do that this week and obey the prophecy that inspires your soul. If we do, we will see the Lamb and the Spirit use us to give the hope of Christ to others.

Don’t wait.

He is coming soon!

It Was a Life Lesson

I have always appreciated the speaker I heard one Sunday night about thirty years ago. He taught me a lesson that changed my life, and one I have passed on to others many times since. I wish I knew his name, but I look forward to the moment in heaven when I can tell him, “Thank you for blessing my life.”

The lesson he taught that night was that we should never just sit and feel sad or helpless as we watch the news. Every day, there are pictures and reports of people who need our prayers. The news we watch on television is a list of God’s prayer requests. If there is a need, God wants to help. And, sometimes, God wants us to help. When you pray your way through the news, the Lord will tell you when and how.

The early Christians in Jerusalem were starving and in trouble, so the apostle Paul took up a collection from the Christians who weren’t. The words he spoke are so familiar that it requires some effort to make sure they sink in. But there is a fascinating lesson about God in these words, and we would be wise to rethink its truth.

Paul wrote, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6–7). There are a lot of ways to give generously. We can pray without ceasing for the lives of the people we see each night on the news. We can pray they know God. We can pray for their families, friends, and churches to provide and help. We can pray for God’s calling in our own lives.

Paul also said, “You should give what you have decided in your heart to give.” Paul said we shouldn’t give out of reluctance or because someone talked us, or guilted us, into giving. I’m sure all of us have put money in the plate that we didn’t feel that great about giving. God wants us to give out of a sense of generosity. “God loves a cheerful giver.” Those are the words that we forget to take to heart. They have commonly been used by the church to accomplish something that required a financial pledge. But, take a minute and think about those words again. “God loves a cheerful giver.” When was the last time you were excited to help? When was the last time God asked you to give just because you were praying and your heart was nudged? Isn’t that the gift you still feel good about giving? That’s because you have been blessed.

Here is the “feel good” promise from God’s word to all who have given with a generous, inspired heart: “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Each time you give as God leads you, you have accomplished a good work that God is able to bless.

I’m writing this blog post to pass on the same lesson I was taught more than thirty years ago. And that is to pray your way through the news, the emails, and the “asks.” You are supposed to give when God prompts your heart. Those prompts receive his abundant blessings. The Corinthians weren’t starving, but the Christians in Jerusalem were. So, Paul told them to give from all they had, with cheerful generosity. God loves those who give like that.

Paul then quoted a lesson from Psalm 112. Paul was teaching the Corinthians about the timeless nature of God’s heart. He said, “As it is written: ‘They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever’” (2 Corinthians 9:9). God has always loved cheerful givers.

Two hurricanes have left a LOT of people without a home and without hope. There is a way to help them that will help your soul and life as well. God loves a generous heart. Christmas is around the corner, and there will be a lot of gifts to give. But today, there are people who just want a place to call home again. There are families who just want safe drinking water and a place to wash their clothes. And there are groups of people who have left their homes to go and help. Should your family help?

Jim and I enjoy giving to the Texas Baptist Men. They bring physical and spiritual help to people who have been touched by disaster. They continue to go long after the news has stopped reporting the needs to rebuild homes, churches, and lives. I share this with you not because I think you should give, but because I think you should give if God prompts. God loves and blesses a cheerful giver. The way to be cheerful about a gift is to be called to give it.

That is the lesson I was taught by the Holy Spirit one night in Midland, Texas, by a man whose name I might never know this side of heaven. I’m grateful to him for being used by God to bless my giving and my life. The way I say thank you for his lesson is to give it to others cheerfully. It is easier for me to watch or read the news now because I know God is using those men and women to help, and Jim and I are blessed to help them fulfill their calling.

If God has prompted you to cheerfully give to Texas Baptist Men, here is their link:  Texas Baptist Men

When the Whole World Agrees

Churches all over the world prayed. The breaking news was reported in every language. The boys were coming out of that cave and they were safe. The whole world responded with jubilation and praise for the rescued and for the rescuers. It is easy to agree when we all believe in the same outcome.

I was struck by the contrast in the news reported. People everywhere cared about those boys in Thailand and wanted them to be saved. But, after the lead story united the country, the next stories divided. Our Supreme Court candidate is a positive for some, a negative for others. There are decisions to make about the children of immigrants who remain separated from their parents. Another angry, and probably frightened, police officer’s actions are recorded on a cell phone. And all of us will be impacted in some way by the higher tariffs on imported goods.

But, the most compelling story is the rescue of those boys. I like what that says about our world. We disagree about a lot of things, but we all agree that we should fight for the lives of those children. That outcome is worthy of our best efforts, and we can be unified by a shared goal.

I’m ready for Christians to be unified again. There are a lot of debates among us that remain unresolved because we each have our own opinions of right and wrong and our own values based on personal comfort and security. Jesus knew that would happen to us so, as he waited for the soldiers to come and arrest him, he prayed that his disciples would be unified. His prayer was preserved in Scripture so that we would understand how that unity is possible. Jesus prayed to God, saying, “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:23).

A disciple of Christ will impact a lot of people in a lot of different circumstances. But we have one message that will always unify us and dignify Jesus. Jesus called it the gospel message, the good news that is for everyone. When we are one with Jesus like he was one with God, we will show the world that God so loved every person, he sent his Son so they could be saved (John 3:16). People need to know how much they are loved by their Creator.

I imagine those boys are going to be amazed at the interest the world has taken in their lives. Two weeks ago, only a small number of people knew their names and cared about their lives. Now, an entire world wants to know more about them. But, two years from now, who will continue to care? I imagine those divers who risked their lives for those boys and many of the reporters who camped at that cave will still care. The families and their friends will still care. And God will love them in the coming years, as much as he loves them today.

There is a popular Pinterest quote by Dr. Frank Hayden that says, “I cannot make a difference in the world, but I can make a world of difference in a few people’s lives.” Jesus taught the same lesson when he said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). It is easy to feel powerless when we focus on the big picture. Most of us will never have a national impact with our lives, but Jesus said all of us would have an impact as his disciple—if we follow his lead.

Those boys will remain the focus of world news until reporters have exhausted the story. Soon, another story will become the most compelling news in the world. But Jesus walked this planet more than two thousand years ago, and he is still impacting the world every day. Jesus has disciples who are still his followers. Individually, we aren’t changing the world, but each of us is making a world of difference to some.

If you are one with Jesus, your life will impact someone else today for a kingdom purpose. How do I know that? Because Jesus said, “For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matthew 10:20). When you are one with Christ, then Jesus will say something through you today, and his words always have an impact.

It is easy to be unified when we all share the same desired outcome. Everyone you meet today is going to heaven or to their death. That is the outcome that should unify and guide our lives today. Disciples are one with Jesus and share his priorities. Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

You might not impact the world today, but you will impact heaven, forever. I think we can all agree with the importance of that outcome.