.....needed

It seems everywhere we turn, whether in the news or in our own relationships, we are faced with stories of pain and heartache, frustration and confusion; people are crying out for help and simply existing from day to day. This is NOT the life God intended! Yes, our world is facing some dramatic changes that continue to produce trials. But some of what we see is often the result of our eyes being opened and our heart becoming more sensitive to His Spirit. This is good and means we are on the path of transformation; however, our ability to see now begs us to offer a solution.

We who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ have been radically changed, whether we realize it or not. We have been given the ability to see with new eyes and redefine what is truly important; we have been set free to live a new kind of life. We now must live this life and proclaim His truth: Jesus came to set us free! Eternal freedom is found only through the complete forgiveness offered by Jesus, but daily freedom - daily contentment and peace - is found only through complete submission and devotion.

Martha had become irritated that her sister Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus rather than helping her prepare the meal. In fact, she was so bothered she approached Jesus and said: "Lord, don't You care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Luke 10:40. But Jesus very patiently replied:

"Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. Luke 10:41-42

The world continually tries to tell us what is necessary and important - but it's a lie! And we never really understand or see the deception until we consistently make the time to worship at the feet of Jesus and hear Him say; "You have now chosen what is better."

No matter what this day (or however many future days) may bring, we must live each and every moment in devotion to our Lord. No matter what our circumstances, we CAN be set free...and we can offer this freedom to others. 

We may need to adjust our priorities and eliminate some things which consume our time and clutter our thoughts, but the freedom of true worship at His feet is worth it ALL. Let's boldly respond by taking a stand for Christ, faithfully proclaiming His truth to the world, and building our life on His solid foundation. Let's remember that though many things may seem important, only one is needed!

- steve troxel

.....regrets

Four years ago, my brother died and once again I was reminded. Twelve years ago we were in the middle of cancer treatment with our thirteen year old daughter, and I was reminded. Many of you remember the cancer struggles with my sister and her dying at age forty-four. During that time I was certainly reminded! Cancer has been cruel to our family with my mother also dying of cancer at age forty-three. Often over the past many years, and more frequently as I get older, I am reminded of the frailty of life and I ponder the questions: "What if this day was my last? Would I have any regrets?"

John the Baptist discovered the uncertainty of each moment of life as he sat in prison.

I guess they call me John the Baptist because I preached a message of repentance and baptized with water while pointing the way to Jesus (John 1:31-33). The Baptist isn't such a bad name. I could have been called "John the Wearer of Camel Hair" or "John the Eater of Locusts."

King Herod must be mad at me for exposing his sin of marrying his brother's wife Matthew 14:3-4  I sure wish I was back in the desert preaching, but God must have a plan for me here in prison. I think Herod actually likes me. He often listens to me talk and seems genuinely interested (Mark 6:20). It's pretty loud in the palace tonight. They must be having quite a party.

On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, 'Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.' The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. Matthew 14:6-10

Wow, that was fast! No time to say good-bye or write letters to my friends - no time to even gather my thoughts - just, "lean over and put your neck on the block." I sure wish I would have.....

No one knows when they will breathe their last. We may have sixty years or sixty minutes; but no matter how long we have, it will seem to pass in an instant. It amazes me how fast life passes by. The time to place our saving faith in Jesus is NOW! The time to restore relationships and encourage others with the gospel is NOW! The time to enjoy our family is NOW! And the time to praise God for His blessings and grace is absolutely NOW!!

Each of us enters this day with things we wish we could change, decisions and words which have not been honoring to God. But each of us also enters this day with the ability to begin, right this very moment, to live a life which glorifies God in all we do. Let's begin today to live fully committed to following Christ. Let's give Him our ALL and live toward an end which will leave no regrets.

- steve troxel

.....follow

Soon after entering the promised land of Canaan, the children of Israel forgot about God and all He had done. They soon began to worship the false gods of Baal and the love-goddess, Asherah. It seemed like every generation from that time forward was tempted into worshipping these false gods.

About five hundred years later, God rose up Elijah to be His chosen spokesman - His prophet. The Israelites were still being enticed to worship other gods, and the time had come for a direct confrontation between Elijah and the many false prophets of Baal: "Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal" 1 Kings 18:19.

Elijah and the false prophets were to pray to their respective gods, with the winner determined by how the prayers were answered: "You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire - He is God" (1 Kings 18:24). But prior to calling on the Lord, Elijah gave a challenge for the people of Israel to make a commitment.

How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him 1 Kings 18:21

Elijah prayed, and God answered with enough fire to remove any and all doubt. The people clearly saw the hand of the Lord and readily made their choice: "The Lord - He is God! The Lord - He is God!" 1 Kings 18:39.

We face the same challenge today. However, instead of two or three choices, we now have many gods which continually entice us into worship - many gods who desire our time and energy. The world offers a long list of "worthy" candidates: television, money, power, prestige, sex, drugs, food, sports, internet, education...the list goes on. "These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens" Jeremiah 10:11. Who, or what, is truly worthy of our worship?

The challenge today is simple. If the Lord is God, follow Him. If we have recognized our sinful condition, repented of our sin and asked Jesus to be our Savior, then we must continue by being transformed into His likeness - we must follow Him. We cannot allow the distractions in life to become our god. We must devote our heart, soul, mind and strength to loving our Heavenly Father, and commit ourselves to whatever tasks He has given us to accomplish. Our choice is clear, and our response must be boldly decisive: The Lord is God - Follow Him!

- steve troxel

.....compassion

The prophet Elijah was used to call the people of Israel back to worship of the One True God. Elijah witness the mighty power of God but then become afraid and run into the desert when threatened by the Queen.

How would God handle His chosen prophet, His messenger who had been assigned to proclaim the Truth to the people of Israel? What would God say to Elijah, the man now crumpled under a tree wishing to die: "I have had enough, Lord. Take my life" 1 Kings 19:4.

All at once an angel touched him and said, 'Get up and eat.' He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again 1 Kings 19:5-6

God could have chastised and rebuked Elijah. He could have answered with a loud thunder, "Am I not the God who rained down fire from Heaven and then blackened the sky with clouds? Have I not answered your prayers? How can you now doubt Me and wish to die because of your fear?"

Yes, God could have given His "How can you doubt Me?" speech, but He did not. Rather, God saw Elijah's tired pain and showed simple compassion. He ministered to Elijah by sending an angel to give a gentle touch and bake a cake. The time would soon come for Elijah to rise and follow hard after God; but for now, God comforted Elijah and allowed for a very necessary rest.

We must continue to learn what it means to be a loving and caring Family. All who have been saved through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus have been "baptized by one Spirit into one body" 1 Corinthians 12:13. And as members of "one body," we must learn to effectively minister and truly help one another.

Very few circumstances require us to provide a complete solution. We usually must avoid trying to "fix" what we believe has been broken. Most often, our Brothers and Sisters simply need a friend who will compassionately listen and show they care by helping them rest and regain their strength. It's amazing how many Spiritual truths are clearly seen after a little cake and a good night of sleep.

So many of God's children face pain, weariness, fears, and frustration which keep them from experiencing the fullness of God's joy and peace. But each of us can help ease the pain and lighten the load through biblical words of truth and encouragement...along with a gentle touch of compassion.

- steve troxel

.....whisper

God's understanding and mercy as He sent an angel to comfort Elijah during his moment of deepest despair. The angel demonstrated great compassion by offering food to Elijah and helping him regain his strength.

God then sent Elijah on a forty day journey through the desert - a journey which ended at the same mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments. When confronted by God on the mountain, Elijah honestly expressed his discouragement: "The Israelites have rejected Your covenant...I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too" 1 Kings 19:8.

Elijah felt utterly alone. He understood the holiness of God and how far his people had strayed from God's path, but he also felt overwhelmed and helpless, unable to make a significant impact in God's Kingdom. God answered Elijah by calling him to be spiritually revived; "stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord" 1 Kings 19:11.

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face. 1 Kings 19:11-13

Everyone who desires to walk God's path and serve Him with all their heart will sooner or later relate to Elijah. It's unfortunate, but many will face Elijah's overwhelming helplessness time and time again. The mission is simply too great when we only consider our limited ability! But no matter what the problem, God's solution is always the same: we must come into His presence, be clothed with His strength, and listen intently for His leading.

We often assume that when the Creator of The Universe desires to "speak," it will be with a thundering call; "Walk this way!!" But God desires for our heart, soul, mind, and strength to be focused on Him, to be free of the clutter and noise - the distractions which tend to "choke the word, making it unfruitful" Mark 4:19. A major part of God's calling to all His Children is for us to simply be prepared to truly hear. It is therefore not surprising that God most often speaks in a whisper during the quiet and still moments of our life.

No matter how busy we become, we must set aside time which is quiet and undisturbed, time where we can enter into the presence of God, worship Him, and listen. God desires to encourage us and give us clear direction today. Let's love Him with all our heart and listen intently for His gentle whisper.

.....here

Prophet Elijah as was used by God to miraculously confront the 450 prophets of Baal, but then sank into deep despair when threatened by Queen Jezebel; "I have had enough Lord, take my life" 1 Kings 19:4. We saw how God demonstrated His compassion, sent Elijah on a forty day journey through the desert, and revealed His presence in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12). But after all this, God had a very serious question for Elijah.

Then a voice said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah? 1 Kings 19:13

Obviously, the question was not in reference to Elijah's physical location. Elijah was standing on the mountain because God had called him to that exact location. Though God already knew the answer, His question was asking Elijah what had brought him to this spiritually defeated condition. Elijah had been given the opportunity to talk with God, witness His power, and actually stand in His presence, yet he was filled with doubt and felt terribly alone; "I am the only one left" 1 Kings 19:14.

Once again, God could have lectured Elijah on his lack of faith. Instead, in His mercy, God gave Elijah the reassurance he needed to continue; "I reserve seven thousand in Israel - all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal" 1 Kings 19:18. God encouraged Elijah that there were many others fighting this same battle. He also gave Elijah a companion who would walk with him for the remainder of His ministry; "Anoint Elisha to succeed you as prophet" 1 Kings 19:17.

Jesus Christ died as a sacrifice for our sin so we could be restored to a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father. This relationship saves us from an eternal death and separation from God, but it also allows us to be saved from the despair, fear, loneliness, and lack of purpose which surrounds us today. 

As we trust God for our eternal salvation, we must also trust Him to daily save us from the effects of a fallen world as well as our own weak and sinful nature. He is there to hear our cry, and we must never be afraid or ashamed to tell Him exactly how we feel: "I'm weak and lonely, frustrated and discouraged. Lord, I need You! ... please hold me!!" Nothing we say will ever surprise God or cause Him to let us go.

Our Heavenly Father has called us to examine our heart, confess our condition, and trust Him for the solution - He has called us to be saved! When we recognize and confess our weakness, we actually demonstrate our strength in the Lord. Let's strive to live each day in His presence, but let's also be prepared to respond honestly and without fear when God asks: "What are you doing here?"

- steve troxel

.....provision

During the ministry of Elisha, a widow came to him for financial help. Creditors had threatened to take her two boys as slaves if she didn't pay her debt, but all the woman had left was a little oil. Elisha told her how to miraculously multiply her oil and pay her bills...and in the process bring great glory to God.

Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side 2 Kings 4:3

The woman gathered empty jars and began to fill them from her one small jar of oil. She continued to fill the jars until each one she collected was full; "Then the oil stopped flowing" 2 Kings 4:6. The woman was able to sell the oil and pay her debt.

Notice that the oil stopped flowing as soon as the last jar was full. If the woman would have collected half as many jars, the oil would have stopped flowing when the collected jars were filled. And if she would have collected twice as many jars, the oil would have continued until every last one was full. God's provision was equal to the number of jars she collected - equal to the number of jars she believed God would fill.

In our limited understanding of God we often place artificial restrictions on what we think He can accomplish, and our prayers become reduced to what we believe is actually possible. In this sense, our low level of faith has limited what God provides. Hundreds of years after Elisha we read about Peter walking on the water toward Jesus; but Peter never would have stepped out of the boat if confined to the realm of his own understanding. Peter left room for God to work beyond what he could understand.

Please do not read this message as a formula for worldly prosperity; God's Word never teaches that we are all to be rich with material wealth! But God does desire for each of us to trust Him beyond the bounds of our best analysis, and to draw closer than what we believe is ever possible. Peter didn't need to understand how the atomic structure of water might be altered to provide stability, he simply needed to know with certainty that Jesus was calling; "Lord, if it's You, tell me to come to You on the water" Matthew 14:28.

We serve an Awesome God - more awesome than we will ever comprehend; "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts" Isaiah 55:9. We must never believe there is a problem too big for God to handle; "He is able to do immeasurably more..." Ephesians 3:20. Let's pray with a faith that truly believes our Father is the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, and let's refuse to place limits on God's provision.

- steve troxel

 

.....double

God gave Elijah a spiritual companion to share the burdens as well as the joys of ministry. I'm so glad God understands this need in His children! Elisha served as Elijah's attendant for many years while learning the ways of God. Just before the end of Elijah's ministry, immediately before "Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind" 2 Kings 2:11, Elisha made a bold request of his mentor.

Elijah said to Elisha, 'Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?' 'Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,' Elisha replied. 2 Kings 2:9

According to Jewish law, a double portion of the inheritance was given to the firstborn son. This son would also then have the honor of leading the family. By boldly asking for a double portion of Elijah's spirit, Elisha was asking to inherit Elijah's prophetic ministry and his ability to serve God. Elisha could have made many different requests, but he asked to be blessed with an increased ability to serve.

God granted Elisha's request and used him to perform many miracles and serve as a prophet for more than 50 years, almost twice as long as Elijah. God granted his request because Elisha's motives were pure; his heart was firmly set on worshiping God through his service and proclaiming His Word throughout the land.

Solomon made a similar request when God offered to grant him anything he asked; "Give your servant a discerning heart to govern Your people and to distinguish between right and wrong" (1 Kings 3:9). The primary focus of our requests should always be to draw closer to God and glorify Him in all we do. Jesus said if this is the one true desire of our heart, all our other needs will also be satisfied; "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" Matthew 6:33.

Our Heavenly Father desires to abundantly bless His children as we seek His kingdom. He desires to increase our abilities, knowledge, wisdom, peace, and all manner of gifts; He desires for us to inherit these blessings as firstborn sons, "coheirs with Christ" Romans 8:17. And when He blesses those with pure hearts, we ought to remember that He "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" Ephesians 3:20.

God honors the prayers of those who love Him with all their heart and desire to increase their ability to serve. Let's "approach the throne of grace with confidence" (Hebrews 4:16) and live our lives as firstborn sons. Let's inherit all He has promised, and glorify His name as we boldly ask to be blessed with a double portion!

- steve troxel

.....surrender

Jeremiah warned the people of Jerusalem for many years that they must repent or be destroyed. He often warned with direct words from God: "I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways" Jeremiah 18:11. It's hard to imagine a more direct warning.

But the people of Jerusalem ignored God's warning and failed to repent. And once the attacks on Jerusalem began, the promised destruction would not be stopped; "I will hand all Judah over to the king of Babylon, who will carry them away to Babylon or put them to the sword" Jeremiah 20:4.

The righteousness of God requires that sinful hearts be punished. But the mercy of God always provides a path for those who place their trust in Him. This path may contain some painful consequences, but as we continue to trust, it will always lead us closer to His side. Jerusalem would be destroyed, but God provided one final opportunity for His chosen people to live.

I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; he will escape with his life  Jeremiah 21:8-9

The people of Jerusalem felt secure in their city. They had weapons, strong walls, and a location which was hard to attack. Their worldly nature told them to remain in the safety of their "created" security, but God said the only way to survive was to trust Him and surrender.

Jesus used similar words when teaching the disciples; "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it" Matthew 16:25.

Though we are trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus for our eternal forgiveness, are we living in complete surrender for our daily walk? Have we lost our life, in the sense of our control, agenda, and even our dreams, for the sake of our faith? Our flesh wants to place trust in what we can touch and feel - in what we can create and control - but Jesus says the only way to truly live is to surrender ALL into His hands. His promise is that if we release all we think we hold, we will find a life more abundant and fulfilling than any we could imagine!

We may not understand how all this works, but the truth remains and the truth will set us free!  John 8:32. God has a wonderful plan for our life - a plan which will bring fulfillment and peace - but it's a plan which requires surrender; and often this surrender will require us to trust Him in an area filled with great uncertainty and fear. Let's begin today to place EVERYTHING in the loving control of His hands. Let's begin a new life as we completely surrender and live!

-  steve troxel

.....best

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your strength, for there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in the grave, where you are heading Ecclesiastes 9:10

Enrico Caruso was an Italian tenor who thrilled audiences in Europe and North and South America about 100 years ago. He was one of the first to embrace the new technology known as the phonograph (or gramophone). One of his recordings was the first sound recording to sell one million copies. Though his 290 commercially-produced sound recordings were made from 1902-1920, all of them are available even to this day.

During the days of the first World War, Caruso was asked if he would sing at a concert for the benefit of the soldiers. The chairman of the committee who invited him said, "Of course, Mr. Caruso, as this is a charity affair, we would not expect you to do your best. Your name will draw the crowd. I would suggest that you merely sing some song requiring little strength or skill."

Caruso is said to have drawn himself up to his full height of 5’9”, and with great passion declared, "Caruso never does less than his best."

What a great lesson we followers of Christ should learn from that! Sadly, though, we are far too often lackadaisical in our devotion and service for the One Who Died For Us.

A church I pastored several years ago was facing some major repairs to a very old building. The bottom floor had settled until it was actually below ground level by several inches, and consequently, the entire building was moldy and had a musty, dirty smell. In one of our many meetings about the problem, one of the deacons spoke up and said, “Why can’t we just do enough to get by?”

That apparently was the prevailing attitude. But it was worse than I thought: they eventually did nothing.

My point is that too often followers of Christ just do enough to “get by,” rather than giving it all we’ve got. We offer God the leftovers in our time, our talents, and our resources, and are surprised when the blessings we read about in Scripture are not poured out on us! The Kingdom of God is not built with leftovers.

Today may you be as passionate about the quality of your service to God as Enrico Caruso was about singing opera!

- rocky henriques

.....pure

As Jesus watched people place their offering into the temple treasury, He noticed a poor widow who put in two coins valued at less than a penny. Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on. Mark 12:43-44

This passage gives us a wonderful example of faith and how God must be the Lord of our finances, but the real message actually goes much deeper. We have all been blessed in so many ways, and we are called to be good stewards, or managers, of all our blessings. As a good steward, we must present all we possess back to our Heavenly Father as an offering of love. Yes, this relates to our financial resources, but it also means we are to offer our gifts, abilities, talents, and time back to God through service and ministry to others. 

God created us for a purpose. And though we may need to spend good quality time with God to fully understand our purpose, we can be absolutely sure that God has NOT blessed us so we can advance our own selfish agenda!

Every one of our blessings, no matter how small, are given so we can bless God in return. We often hold back from ministry opportunities because we feel our "offering" is insignificant. We feel inadequate to serve or unworthy to make a true contribution to the work of God's Kingdom, but God is never concerned with the magnitude of a gift. He is, and always has been, concerned and blessed by the condition of our heart: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams" 1 Samuel 15:22. How we give is much more important than what we give.

God does not need our money, time, ability, or anything we accomplish or produce. But He loves us dearly and desires to receive the complete love and devotion which is given with our offering. Jesus was blessed by a widow who gave from her heart, even though the actual gift carried very little earthly value.

If we want our service or ministry to have significance in the eyes of God, we must focus on the One to whom we are giving rather than on the value of the gift in the eyes of man. With our eyes focused, we must then give with all the love in our heart. If our heart is pure in the giving, God will receive our offering as a true blessing. There are no worthless or insignificant gifts when the gift is given from a pure heart. 

- steve troxel

.....enough

You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north Deuteronomy 2:3

Will the second half of 2025 be any different than first half?  Will you "press on" in your faith this year or will you continue to wallow in self-pity or live in the "Land of  What If" or the "Land of If Only"?  Will you focus on what lies ahead or will you continue to focus on your past?

Listen to this wonderful challenge from Ruth Graham.  "Either we can be victimized and become victims, or we can be victimized and rise above it. Often it is easier to play the victim than take off our masks and ask for help. We get comfortable with our victim status. It becomes our identity and it is hard to give up. The Israelites often played the victim card, and I love what God finally tells them, 'You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north' Deuteronomy 2:3.   

Turn north! It's time to move on! Self-pity, fear, pride, and negativity paralyze us. Taking off our masks takes courage, but if we don't do it, we will remain in our victim status and end up stunted."

What about you?

     Do you keep talking and talking and talking about something you just can't get over?

     Are you living in the past because you just can't "let it go"?

     Do you keep wallowing in self-pity wondering what "could have been"?

     Have you discussed it over and over with different people, but you've never taken action?

     Have you worried and worried about it, but you've never done anything?

     Are you still living in misery because it's something you can't forgive or forget?

Have you circled and circled and circled this issue all of your life?

The time has come!!!   You have circled this mountain long enough.  Now turn north!!! 

- david langerfeld

.....poverty

God has blessed each of us with gifts, talents, and abilities. We are now to be good stewards by faithfully giving our blessings back to God with a pure heart. But what determines a pure heart?

When Jesus saw the widow offer her two small coins, He said she had given "out of her poverty" Mark 12:44. It required great humility to offer those coins, a true lack of self-importance. She knew her coins had no real value, but with a deep devotion for God and a strong desire to obediently serve she gave what she had. The widow offered her gift with a pure heart!

We are all called to this type of pure giving - a giving motivated by love, and "valued" by obedience. Our gifts to God may appear big or small in our eyes and in the eyes of the world, but when lovingly given in response to His leading, every gift is received as a sweet and fragrant offering.

As we give back to the Lord by ministering to the needs of others, we often perceive the results to fall far below expectations. To keep from being discouraged, we must always remember that our true offering is in our obedience and love. Our offering must never be judged by the outward appearance of how it is being used.

This truth is even more crucial when the results of ministry begin to exceed our expectations. The great danger of "success" in any ministry effort is the tendency to shift our focus to what WE have accomplished and given with OUR abilities. But again, our offering must never be judged by the outward appearance of results!

"For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?"1 Corinthians 4:7

God deserves the glory for ALL the results. He gave us our ability as well as the opportunity to minister and give. We fall into sinful pride anytime we forget the One who has provided all; "Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?" 1 Corinthians 5:6. We must always maintain a sense of poverty as we give back and minister to the Lord. We can give nothing of real value; indeed, we are all very poor! Yet, we can continue to give our all and love Him with all our heart.

Let's give praise and glory to the Potter who continues to shape and mold us into a vessel of great beauty. Let's guard against every attempt to place a value, large or small, on what we offer our Heavenly Father. And, with a spirit of humility, let's continue to abundantly give out of our poverty.

- steve troxel 

.....bagpipes

If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse. Proverbs 27:14

There’s a humorous tale about a young Scotsman named Donald MacDonald who left the Isle of Skye to attend Oxford University. His family was proud but nervous — how would this Highland lad manage among the English? After a month, his mother came to visit. “What do you think of the English students, Donald?”

“Mother,” he said, “they’re dreadfully noisy. One bangs his head on the wall. The other screams all night.” Shocked, she asked, “How do you cope with such awful neighbors?” Donald grinned. “I just ignore them and sit here quietly, playing my bagpipes.”

This story serves as a reminder that the people we find irritating may find us irritating, too -- and perhaps for better reason! We may think we’re blessing people with our enthusiasm, our strongly-held opinions, our eagerness to help, or our early-morning inspiration. But our timing or our tone can easily turn a well-meant gesture into an unwelcome intrusion.

That’s exactly what Proverbs 27:14 warns against. This verse isn’t just about the volume of our voice or the time of the day — it’s about consideration. Thoughtfulness. Recognizing that not everyone lives on our schedule or shares our preferences. It's often not what we do, but how and when we do it that makes all the difference between blessing people and bothering them.

Donald may have thought he was minding his own business, but his “quiet” bagpipes were part of the problem. This happens to us more than we like to admit. We need to take an honest look at how our words or actions are affecting those around us — not just from our well-intentioned perspective, but from theirs.

That’s not to say that we should tiptoe through life, afraid to say or do anything, but we ought to live with genuine awareness and care for others. Whether it’s our words, our habits, our social media posts, or our “bagpipes,” may we always seek to bring joy and blessing to others’ lives, not just noise.

- alan smith

Father, help me to be more aware of how my actions and words affect others. Give me the wisdom to speak at the right time, in the right tone. Show me how to be a genuine blessing to those around me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

.....zeal

For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge Romans 10:2

For the second week in a row, it was just the two of them — father and son — standing on an empty soccer field. No teammates. No coach. No practice. Frustrated, the dad turned to his son and said, “Please tell your coach that we keep coming to practice, but no one is ever here.”

His son replied, “He’ll just tell me the same thing he did before.”

“And what was that?”

“That practice is now on Wednesdays, not Tuesdays.”

That father was faithfully taking his son to practice — on time, every time — but to no avail. His consistency and commitment were real, but they were out of step with reality. He had the right heart, but the wrong information.

That’s a powerful picture of what Paul describes in Romans 10. He’s talking about people who are zealous for God — full of passion, energy, and dedication — but their zeal isn’t based on knowledge. Their sincerity is real, but it’s misdirected. Their devotion is genuine, but it isn’t rooted in the truth of who God is or what God desires.

Sometimes we find ourselves in that same position. We can be incredibly busy for God — serving, volunteering, attending church, doing all the “right” things — and yet still miss what matters most. We might cling to tradition, habit, or our own understanding without checking to see if it’s truly rooted in what God desires or reveals in his Word. Like showing up to practice on the wrong day, we’re active but off track.

Zeal without knowledge is like running hard in the wrong direction. God isn’t looking for mere activity — He’s looking for relationship, truth, and obedience. He wants our enthusiasm to be guided by his Spirit and grounded in his Word.

It’s not about doing more for God — it’s about doing what God is actually calling us to do. And that starts by listening, learning, and adjusting when necessary.

- alan smith

Father, help me not only to be passionate about you but also to walk in wisdom and truth. Guide my steps and let my energy be spent on the things that truly matter to you. May my zeal be grounded in your Word, guided by your Spirit, and shaped by your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

.....heal

They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.” Jeremiah 6:14

After a long winter, the road near Jim’s house was in bad shape. Every morning on his drive to work, he’d zigzag around potholes, trying to save his tires — and his back. So when he spotted a construction crew one morning, he felt a spark of hope. Finally — help was on the way.

But that evening, every single pothole was still there. Nothing had changed — except for a brand-new, bright yellow sign: “Rough Road.” That sign didn’t fix anything — it just made the damage official.

And sometimes, that’s what we do with the broken places in our own lives. We slap on a label — “I’m just having a bad day,” “I’m just tired,” “that’s just the way it is” — and try to move on. We acknowledge the damage but we never deal with it. We settle for putting up signs instead of searching for real solutions.

This isn’t something new. In Jeremiah’s day, people were doing the same thing. They wanted peace without repentance, comfort without change. They said, “Peace, peace,” but there wasn’t any peace because they didn’t want to face the real problems in their lives. They refused to take their sins seriously.

But God doesn’t play along with surface-level fixes. He doesn't just want us to feel better — He wants us to be better. He wants to heal us from the inside out. And that has to begin with honesty. Acknowledging that our problems are serious. Recognizing that we can’t just slap a band-aid on them and move on. Not just labeling our struggles, but bringing them to God.

When we stop pretending and start trusting, God goes to work. Not with quick fixes or shallow comfort, but with deep, lasting renewal. He repairs what’s broken. He fills in what’s missing. He brings peace that’s real. So, don’t settle for just putting up a sign to identify your pain. Bring it to the One who can truly heal it.

- alan smith

Father, I don’t want to just label my problems or pretend everything’s okay. I want real healing and real change. Show me the areas in my life that need your repair, and give me the courage to bring them to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

.....loved

God loved us long before we ever knew Him and loved us far more than we deserved; "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. Our Heavenly Father sent His Son to die for the forgiveness of our sins "that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. And He sent His Spirit to comfort, guide, and strengthen us all the rest of our days.

God's love has created a debt we can never fully repay, but it's a debt of love we now honor by loving others; "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another" Romans 13:8. As we reach out to those around us, we are actually reaching up and loving our Heavenly Father; "He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people" Hebrews 6:10. We know we should love one another, but what is the proper expression of our love?

Jesus had gathered with His disciples for what would be their last meal together. While they were eating in the upper room, Jesus "showed them the full extent of His love" John 13:1.

"He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. John 13:4-5

In this, His clear demonstration of love, the Creator of the Universe lowered Himself to the position of a common house servant and washed the feet of His disciples. His example of love was completely void of pride or selfish motives. There was no agenda in His actions other than to pour out pure love. Only moments later Jesus told His disciples; "As I have loved you, so you must love one another" John 13:34

Jesus was able to love with true humility and self-sacrifice because He was absolutely secure in His Heavenly relationship; "Jesus knew He had come from God and was returning to God" John 13:3. Jesus knew who He was and where He was going; His self-esteem was independent of feedback from the world, independent of any appreciation He may have received in return. Jesus was sent to love, so He loved!

We are now sent to love with this same servant's heart - a heart that simply considers the needs of others and then reaches out to "take care of My sheep" John 21:16. Let's secure our Heavenly relationship through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus and then live each day with a humble heart that only His security allows. Let's love our Heavenly Father as we reach out to the world and love as Jesus loved.

- steve troxel

.....home

I will arise and go to my father... Luke 15:18

G. K. Chesterton tells the story of an English sailor who miscalculated his course and thought he'd discovered a new land in the South Seas. Ready to plant the British flag and claim the land as New South Wales, he'd actually landed back in his homeland. In search of the new, he had discovered the old. And for the first time he saw what he had left behind. 

Jesus tells a parable about a young man who made a similar discovery. He headed off to a "distant country" where he thought life would be great. Drinking and partying looked more attractive than plowing his father's fields. 

But one day, the prodigal son came to his senses. He returned home to discover the amazing welcome of his forgiving Father. Prodigal means "lavish," and what we discover is that the love of our heavenly Father is more prodigal - more lavish - than our sin. God's children come home to discover that life in the Father's house is what they've craved all along. 

Some of us are in a "distant country" today. We've wandered far from our spiritual home. We've sailed far from the land of grace, and it's time to turn our ship around and head home. When we do, we'll discover that our heavenly Father has been waiting and watching for our return. He has the lights on and is calling us to come home.

Father, we know you are watching and waiting for us. Forgive us for wandering so far away. Thank you for constantly calling us to come home when we've tried to go our own way.  In Jesus name, Amen. 

- robert heerspink 

.....debt

Much of Paul's letter to the Romans is a love story between a righteous God and sinful man. Even though our sinful state sentenced us to an eternal death Romans 6:23, God looked upon us with love: "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8.

Our Heavenly Father loved us long before we knew Him - He loved us when there was nothing in us that deserved His love - and He gave His Son as a sacrifice for sin so that, through faith, we might experience His deep and wonderful love for all eternity. This is a love I do not believe we ever fully appreciate or even understand. And yet, this love which was demonstrated through the life of Jesus has become the standard for how we are to love others; "As I have loved you, so you must love one another" John 13:34.

When Jesus came to earth, He revealed the true love of God. John wrote of the awesome power of Jesus; "Through Him all things were made" John 1:3. But we also know that the Creator of the Universe "made Himself nothing...being made in human likeness" Philippians 2:7. Jesus Christ came to earth in human form; He "humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:8. His entire life was an act of divine love which revealed the love of God. And this is the same love He commands us to have for one another, the love which Paul says we must continually repay.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another. Romans 13:8

Paul knew the fullness of Jesus' love and he knew we were commanded to love one another in a like manner. He also knew we could never truly fulfill Jesus' command of love because His love was simply too great. And though the love involved in our Salvation is beyond comprehension, His love continues even more with the gift of His Spirit for daily guidance and strength. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each loving one another, together pour out their love on us with a blessed abundance. We definitely have a large love-debt!

Our debt of love to God has become a debt of love to others - a "continuing debt" which will be with us for the rest of our life. Though we can never fully repay, we can honor Jesus' command by welcoming our debt and joyfully loving those who are placed in our path; "We love {others} because He first loved us" 1 John 4:19.

Honoring the command of Jesus does not mean we love just the loveable or those who love us in return - it means we love...and then we love some more! Let's accept our debt and love one another as we make regular also daily payments toward our continuing debt of love.

.....unseen

A young woman, who was a great lover of flowers, had set out a rare vine at the base of a stone wall. It grew vigorously, but it never bloomed. Day after day she cultivated it, watered it, fertilized it and tried in every way to coax it to bloom. 

One morning, as she stood disappointedly beside it, her invalid neighbor, whose back lot adjoined her own, called over and said, "You can't imagine how much I have been enjoying the blooms of that vine you planted!"  The owner looked, and on the other side of the wall was a mass of blooms. The vine had crept through the crevices and flowered luxuriously on the other side.

So often we think our efforts are thrown away because we do not see their fruits. We need to learn that in God's service our prayers, our toil, our efforts, our ministry, our service and our crosses are never in vain. Somewhere they bear fruit and hearts will receive blessings and joy. 

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise Proverbs 11:30