February 1, 2025

BATHED FOREVER, WASHING DAILY

John 13:6-10 NASB2020

[6] So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, You are washing my feet?” [7] Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not realize right now, but you will understand later.” [8] Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no place with Me.” [9] Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” [10] Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet; otherwise he is completely clean. And you are clean—but not all of you.”

 To fully understand the context, we must read Exodus 40:12-15:

"Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. And you shall put the holy garments on Aaron and anoint him and consecrate him, so that he may serve as a priest to Me. You shall also bring his sons and put tunics on them; and you shall anoint them just as you have anointed their father, so that they may serve as priests to Me; and their anointing will qualify them for a permanent priesthood throughout their generations."

Before the high priest and his sons could enter the tabernacle, they had to be washed with water. The water represents the Word of God. Jesus illustrates this principle when He tells Peter, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet." Jesus was conveying that He was about to bathe his disciples with His blood, dress them robes of righteousness, and declare them  priests and sons. Because of this bathing, Peter will be forever clean. However, to daily enter into God's presence, Peter's walk needed to align with Gods Word. Each day, believers are to wash one another’s feet with the Word so we can maintain intimate communion with God.

 Prayer: Father, Aaron had to wash his feet with water before he could be anointed with oil. Jesus, however, was anointed with oil without having to wash His feet. Aaron brought lamb's blood to the mercy seat, built by human hands, to atone for the people's sins for only one year. Jesus brought His own blood to the mercy seat built by God to atone for the sins of the whole world for all time. Thank you for making us sons and daughters. Thank you for making 

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February 2, 2025

CUT IT OFF

Matthew 8:18 (NASB)

“And if your hand or your foot is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; it is better for you to enter life maimed or without a foot, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.”

God is not talking about self-mutilation in this scripture, He is talking about sins that we commit willingly and actively. God tells us repeatedly in the Word to turn from sin, to cast off our imaginations, to flee from the things that bring us temptation. He does this because He knows better than we ever can what kind of harm unrepentant sin brings to our lives. We get pretty good at making excuses, our hands and feet are fairly valuable. But God says that it is better that we are crippled, walking with a limp (experiencing sorrow and longing) or using one hand (having to rely on God to do what we cannot do alone) than it is to have all of our limbs and walk gingerly toward destruction. 

There are limbs that seem to keep growing back. We think,”Well darn, I thought I cut that stinking hand off years ago.” And we have to cut it off again and again until we see that the price to have it is not really worth the cost. Someday, we will get sick of the sting that comes when we have to chop it off again, and we won’t let it grow back.

PRAYER

God,

Take all of our limbs and carry us across the finish line if that means that we get to come to You with peace and purity. We ache for a life that is full of rest and surety. Help us to cast away the hands and feet of the habits, patterns, and indulgences that our flesh craves. We don’t like that it’s our tendency to let the limbs grow back so help us to know in our heart of hearts that You have given us the strength to keep them off of us for good. For those that need it, offer anesthesia as they take the knife to the things that harm them. And for the ones that need to feel the pain of the amputation in order to make the lesson stick, help them to feel the full measure of it. We want what You want, fullness of joy. Thank You for giving us the strength to have it.

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February 3, 2025

OUR HEARTS CONDITION

John 12:1-8 NASB2020

[1] Therefore, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. [2] So they made Him a dinner there, and Martha was serving; and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. [3] Mary then took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. [4] But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to betray Him, *said, [5] “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the proceeds given to poor people?” [6] Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he kept the money box, he used to steal from what was put into it. [7] Therefore Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. [8] For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

How we choose to spend our time each day reveals the condition of our hearts. Lazarus had just escaped death. As he reclined at the table with Jesus, he was resting in gratitude for the breath in his lungs. Martha was distracted by things that didn’t really matter compared to what truly matters. Judas was trapped with the love of money. But Mary, she found the most expensive thing she could find and poured it over the feet of Jesus. Without speaking, her heart was revealed. She was willing to give anything up, no matter the cost, just to sit at His feet. Because of her love for Him, God allowed her to do something very important. Remember how Moses would anoint the high priest Aaron with oil before he would enter into the Holy of Holies to pour the lamb’s blood on the mercy seat to atone for the people for one year? That prophecy, acted out over and over, was finally being fulfilled. Our High Priest Jesus Christ was anointed before He entered the Holy of Holies in heaven to apply His blood upon the mercy seat to atone for the sins of the world, not just for a year, but for all time. What a special part God allowed Mary to have in His redemptive plan. Whose heart in this story does our heart reflect the most? If only our heart could reflect Mary’s. There’s no telling how God would use us in His plan.

Prayer: Father, if our heart doesn’t reflect Mary’s, chip away at whatever is preventing it from being so. Show us the condition of our hearts, give us the desire to work on them, and empower us to do whatever we need to do. Help us fall in love with You like Mary was. In Jesus Christ’s name, amen.

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February 4, 2025

NOT A MORNING PERSON

“Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:7-9

I sit on my couch with a hot cup of coffee that says, “Not a morning person.” That used to be me. I bought this mug when we lived in Washington, and up until this past few years, it's rang true. It makes me chuckle now because it's so far from who I am today. I wake up super early most days, ready to watch the sunrise, ready to slip out of bed, ready to smile. 

I'm not sure that I can pinpoint exactly what changed or even what season it did. It was so natural, I didn't even have to try. I think God is like that with us in many ways. 

I look back and think about how "not being a morning person" was an identity that I was sure would always be part of me. I used it as an excuse to be grumpy, lazy, or selfish. I had sort of adopted this mentality that it was "Just who I am." I would see Trevor get up at the butt crack of dawn with his chipper attitude and ability to face the day, and I would have some contempt. "How in the world can he be that awake??" 

Then the Lord just started to wake me up at like 5 a.m., and I would be rested. I wouldn't be groggy or tired. I surely wasn't asking God to make me a morning person. In fact, I kind of liked sleeping in and waking up slow. I didn't want to be awake before the sun was up...ever! But sure enough, almost like a switch had been flipped, I became a lover of sunrises and early mornings. I love the quiet. I love hearing the world wake up. 

I'm wondering as the Bride of Christ matures, what sort of old identities He will strip off of us. I wonder what it will look like to have the whole church awake and suddenly be "morning people." I wonder, what will He change in us without us even asking? What kinds of sunrises will we see?

PRAYER

Lord,

Redeem us, Your bride, so that we are ready for the wedding feast. Purify us and coax us into deeper and greater things. Help us to remember our purpose and the plans that You have for us. May we never forget that You are our first and greatest Love. 

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February 5, 2025

SHEEP VS. WOLF

John 10:11-12 NASB2020

[11]  “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. [12] He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters the flock.

There are plenty of hired hands, but only one Good Shepherd. Our Good Shepherd has proved His love for us. He said He would lay down His life for us, and then He did it. The one thing Satan is good at is deception. He can make a door look like it's the one we're supposed to walk through. If we follow a hired hand through one of those doors, when the wolf comes, we'll find ourselves alone, sheep vs. wolf. We need to be in a place where we can hear the voice of our Good Shepherd. We must stop allowing our flesh to look and listen for the things it desires. Our spiritual ears and fleshly ears cannot hear at the same time. Our spiritual eyes and fleshly eyes cannot see at the same time. The mind of the spirit and the mind of the flesh cannot think at the same time. Jesus left us the keys that open the doors He's trying to lead us through. When we do what God's word tells us to do, He leads us to the right door, then to the next one, and the next one.

Prayer: Father, remove every distraction in our lives, reveal every hired hand, and uncover every camouflaged door. As we do what You ask us to do in Your word, we take hold of Your hand. Lead us. In Jesus Christ's name, amen.

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February 6, 2025

A QUIET PLACE 

“You keep him in perfect peace

whose mind is stayed on you,

because he trusts in you.” 

Isaiah 26:3

Yesterday I had to bring in my olive trees. It's in the 20s out here in East Texas, and each year, for at least a few weeks, my olive trees have to find a home somewhere inside. For the first few years, they were small and easy to find a home for, but now they are much larger, harder to place without being in the way. It's funny how God uses the little things to highlight something for us. 

I have been praying about a dedicated place of prayer in my home for a while now. Thinking that maybe, if I organized my closet, I could fit a chair in there. Or perhaps turn one of my sheds into a prayer room. As I was reorganizing this little "sitting room" in my house so I could fit this tree in it, the Lord thumped me on the head. I already have a prayer space, and I've been using it for over a year now. 

This ugly, wonderful couch has hosted me almost daily during my prayer time. It's one of my favorite spots seeing as it's the only place I can fully watch the sunrise and see the wildflowers bloom in the meadow across our valley. 

When I placed this olive tree in here, which represents the peace of God, He made it clear. This is a space for worship and rest. This is my prayer room. 

We meditated on the peace of God for our prayer focus at church today. It was confirmation. Thank God for olive trees. 

PRAYER

God,

Thank You for the quiet places. Thank You for revealing Yourself in the nooks of our homes. Help us to seek them out and to rest when we find them. You are always waiting to talk to us and meet us. We love that You adore us and treasure the moments that we get to be alone with You. 

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February 7, 2025

COUNTLESS REASONS

John 11:1-4 NASB2020

[1] Now a certain man was sick: Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. [2] And it was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. [3] So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” [4] But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not meant for death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

God may allow sickness so He can heal, a car wreck to prevent us from going where we want to go, termination from a job to provide us with a better one, and even the death of a loved one to cause enough pain for us to fully surrender and let it all go. There are countless reasons why God allows and prevents things. We think we’ll have peace if we knew why, but knowing will not give us peace. Trusting that God is in control, that He knows best, and resting in His arms is the secret. We’re not meant to know everything. It’s okay not to know why. He knows, and that’s all that matters.

Prayer: Father, You’ve proved over and over that we can trust in Your decisions. Knowing why will not change anything, but trusting You will make it well with our souls. Forgive us for judging Your decisions. We know nothing. You know everything. Your love is perfect; ours is flawed. Have Your way, Lord. Perform Your perfect will in our lives. In Jesus Christ’s name, amen.

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 February 8, 2025

SURRENDER 

"Though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him." Job 13:15

I sit on this old, fallen tree and watch the sun come up in the sky. The pause is breathtaking. As I perch here, the Lord brings to my mind a scripture that I've read a hundred times. Though He slay me. This decomposing oak lays slain, surrendering to the forces of God. It has no ability to change its status. Soon, it will become one with the dirt that surrounds it, and even though it has no feeling or life or breath, each molecule is working in obedience to the sovereignty of God.

This is a miracle worth noticing, worth imitating. 

PRAYER

Good God,

Make me like this tree. Surrendering to Your hand and Your work in full submission. May I become one with the ground in which You've laid me, becoming nutrients to the new thing, the next thing. Pour out Your stillness on me. May there be beauty in the status of my undone nature and let those who need a place to perch find me in the wilderness. You are so kind. Amen

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February 9, 2025

TERRITORY

Jeremiah 29:4-7 NASB2020

[4] “This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: [5] ‘Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. [6] Take wives and father sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may give birth to sons and daughters; and grow in numbers there and do not decrease. [7] Seek the prosperity of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its prosperity will be your prosperity.’

This is one of the many scriptures I relied on as I moved from prison to prison and cell to cell. Prison felt like a breeding ground for demons. Whenever I was transferred to a new prison or cell, I would immediately start praying, speaking, and claiming this over the new territory. I would literally see the darkness start to fade away, and life begin to sprout. I had to keep praying, speaking, and claiming each day. If I let up, the darkness would try to press back in. If this worked in a place where no life was, it will work anywhere. Let us pray, speak, and claim this over every territory the Lord has entrusted to us: our country, our states, our cities, our families, our friends, our homes, our land, our vehicles, our schools, our jobs, ourselves, and everything the Lord has blessed us with.

Prayer: Father, thank you for being so good to us. From the smallest blessing to the greatest, we thank You and praise You. Forgive us when we don't take care of what You entrust us with. Teach us how to be better stewards. In Jesus Christ's name. Amen.

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February 10, 2025

BENT BUT NOT BROKEN

"He will not crush the weakest reed

    or put out a flickering candle.

    He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.

He will not falter or lose heart

    until justice prevails throughout the earth.

    Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction." Isaiah 42:3-4

God's gentleness for us in times of hardship and suffering is so vast. He does not harm the hurting or bring the lowly to the depths. He comes beside us as a pillar of strength that we can lean on and a refuge for us to hide within. 

Sometimes, we can feel like we have no reprieve, that if we endured one more thing, we would break into a million pieces. Sometimes, we can get into a poor mindset, thinking that because we participated in bringing suffering on ourselves, we deserve to stay there. When we confess our faults and the faults of others to the Lord and hand all of those back to Him, He takes on the full measure of death that was portioned out. He redeems it. 

We may still feel the weight of the consequences, but He is faithful. 

As it says in Psalm 30:11-12

"You have turned my mourning into dancing for me;

You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever."

For those needing to receive the gentleness of God, turn Your mindset (repent) toward Him. Don't focus on the wickedness of others or even of yourself. He will not bruise you. He will not blow you out.

PRAYER

Tender God,

Thank You for Your gentleness, especially when we don't deserve it. Thank You for the kindness of correction and the embrace You offer us afterwards. Help us to repent toward You, giving ourselves the opportunity to do Your good work and see Your great glory. We praise You, oh King. 

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February 11, 2025

LEADING THE WAY

John 13:12-15 NASB2020

[12] Then, when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? [13] You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’; and you are correct, for so I am. [14] So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. [15] For I gave you an example, so that you also would do just as I did for you.

In biblical times, washing feet was considered the lowest and most humble task—even for a servant. Yet, Jesus, the Creator of the universe, knelt to wash the feet of His disciples. Why would the King of kings humble Himself in this way? Because true leaders lead by example. They never ask others to do what they are unwilling to do themselves. A powerful leader Inspires others not just with words but with action. Think about the movie Braveheart. The odds were often stacked against them. Their victories weren’t a result of numbers or strength—they came from the fire, passion, and courage of the people. What ignited that fire? A leader who was willing to charge into battle, leading from the front, even when the enemy was much greater. In the same way, when we humble ourselves, when we step out and do what others might avoid, we ignite faith in others. It’s not enough to simply tell people about Christ or say, “I know someone who can give you peace, love, and joy.” We must show them who He is by how we live, how we love, and how we serve. Jesus led the way, and He calls us to do the same.

Prayer: Father, thank You for showing us what it means to lead by example. You didn’t just point to the way; You became the way. Help us to follow Your example of humility and love, inspiring others to draw near to You. Thank You for reminding us of the incredible moment when the Creator washed the feet of His creation. May we walk in Your footsteps daily. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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February 12, 2025

OUR VICTOR REIGNS

“The Lord Almighty is with us;

 the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done,

 the desolations he has brought on the earth.

He makes wars cease

  to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

 he burns the shields with fire.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

 I will be exalted among the nations,

 I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

Psalm 46:7-11

PRAYER

Lord,

Thank You for bringing us peace. Thank You that when we are at peace with You through salvation, we are also at peace within ourselves. We know that life becomes beautiful when we receive all that You have for us. Give us the eyes to see the truth! Help us to remember that peace is given freely. We only have to receive it. Help us in times of trouble, when the storms rage around us, and our hearts writhe within us. We need You to fill the gap and subdue the wars, break the bows, and shatter the spears. You are the Lord Almighty!

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February 13, 2025

WHAT HE DID AND WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO

John 12:49-50 NASB2020

[49] For I did not speak on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. [50] And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die.'" (John 11:25-26)

When Jesus spoke these words to Martha, He was revealing a profound truth: belief in Him brings eternal life. There are two essential aspects we must embrace to be born again. First, we must trust that what Jesus accomplished on the cross washes away our past, present, and future sins. Second, we must trust that His promise of resurrection will indeed come to pass. The Father commanded the Son to declare, "Believe in Me!" These words, spoken by Jesus, still ring throughout the whole world, waiting to be received. Receiving this message resurrects our spirit and restores a relationship between the Creator and His creation. As those who have transitioned from death to life, we are called to continue proclaiming what the Father commanded the Son to speak: "Believe in what He has done and what He will do!"

Prayer: Father, thank You for what You have done for us on the cross. Even if we had paid for our own sins, You would not have accepted the payment. Our blood is tainted by sin, but His was perfect. Thank You for what You're going to do. We eagerly look forward to the day when our eyes will finally see You and see again those who have gone before us. In Jesus Christ's name, amen.

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February 14, 2025

THE BLACKSMITH 

"Behold, I have created the smith

  who blows the fire of coals

  and produces a weapon for its purpose.

I have also created the ravager to destroy;

no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,

 and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord

  and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” 

Isaiah 54:16-17

PRAYER 

Oh Lord, 

It's so easy to be distracted by the weapons of the enemy. We take our eyes off of You and stare at the glint of the sword that comes against us. But You have given us a weapon that pierces the heart of our enemies and armor to defend us against their attack. Help us to keep our focus on You, our victorious commander and rear guard! Help us to remember the command that You've given us, "Do not fear, for I am with you." 

Thank You for this new day and the opportunities to storm the lines of the enemy. We blow the trumpets of victory and interlock our shields with our brothers and sisters. We love You, we need You, we want You. Amen.

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February 15, 2025

OUR WORST ENEMY

John 12:42-43 NASB2020

[42] Nevertheless many, even of the rulers, believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, so that they would not be excommunicated from the synagogue; [43] for they loved the approval of people rather than the approval of God.

Sometimes, people build their entire lives for the purpose of being worshiped. The desire to be praised and approved comes from our sinful nature, which we've inherited from Adam's seed. When Adam agreed with Satan and disobeyed God, he received Satan's nature. Those of us who are in Christ will one day be transformed back into God's original creation. Finally, we will experience life without the constant nagging of our flesh. No longer will we desire to be worshiped. With our souls fulfilled and zero desire to please ourselves, we will finally be able to give Him the worship He deserves. Until then, we must beware of ourselves. Our sinful nature is our worst enemy.  If we allow it to, it will grab hold of the wheel. Let's be mindful of each choice we make. Here are a couple of questions to ask ourselves: When I make this choice, who will it affect, and how will it affect them? Am I making this choice to please myself, others, or God?

Prayer: Father, forgive us for allowing our flesh to drive. Forgive us for not considering how our choices make You feel and how they affect others. Remove selfishness from us so we can live a life pleasing to You and draw others into Your arms. In Jesus Christ's name, Amen.

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February 16, 2025

A LEAKY FAUCET

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” 

1 John 5:3

Obedience runs steady like the "drip, drip, drip" of a leaking faucet. There is no gushing water or hard stop, just a drip, methodically and rhythmically coming out. The basin fills slowly. At some point it will overflow but for now the level rises at a "God pace". Slow, intentional, purposeful drops fall down and the sound of them hitting the water is its own type of worship. 

The enemy would like to tell me that the waiting is pointless, the basin too large to ever be filled, the God pace too slow to ever make sense. But Jesus stills the knee jerk of my flesh and silences the whisper of the devil in my ear.

"Drip, drip, drip".... "Trust, surrender, hope". There's an audience of angels who rejoice in the glory of it and a King who delights in the steadiness of it. I just lay and am humbled by it. I don't see the progress with my naked eyes. So I close them. I halt and know that whether I see it or not, the increase continues. 

PRAYER

Lord,

Help me find rest in the rhythm of the drops, Lord. Help me praise in the intervals of their song and the echos in the basin. You are good and you know exactly what I need. I love you.

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February 17, 2025

THE PRINCIPAL OF SACRIFICE

John 12:32 NASB2020

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.

The principle of sacrifice was evident when Jesus walked the earth, and it remains powerful today. He provided the ultimate sacrifice by giving up His own life as payment for our sins. There is no greater love than one laying down their own life for their friends. How can we show our appreciation for this immense act of love? We can start by focusing on each opportunity we have each day to place others before ourselves. There are countless ways to do this. We could wait to make our plate of food until last. We could be the ones who cook the food. We could be the ones who serve the food. We could do the dishes. We could let someone else pick the movie. We could let someone else choose the place to eat. We could stop and allow a car to pull out instead of rushing forward. By starting small and practicing these acts of kindness each day, we will eventually live a selfless lifestyle. When we plant selfless seeds each day, we will eventually see a harvest that grows and produces good fruit.

Prayer: Father, renew our minds. Give us thoughts that are unselfish. Help us as we strive to practice selflessness. Show us what it’s like to walk through a fruitful land with good fruit everywhere we turn. In Jesus Christ’s name, amen.

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February 18, 2025

TERMITE DAMAGE 

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 

2 Corinthians 10:5

Do you ever get to a place with God when He gives you a very clear choice? Sometimes, He gets us to the point of a major decision. The options are obvious, either make the choice that leads to life and fulfillment, or the one that leads to confusion and decay. 

Just like this termite damage, the erosion of compromise can leave drastic effects. Most of the time, it's hidden behind layers. The full understanding of the problem isn't revealed until those layers are peeled back. Once it's revealed, we have to make a choice, deal with the problem and shore up the walls, or cover it back up and let the problem get worse.

Any good carpenter knows that this has to be dealt with immediately. And the Lord is the Master Carpenter. An immature and lazy carpenter might choose to let the problem fester, hoping that the next guy will take care of the issue when the walls fail. We are called to walk in a spirit of excellence, addressing the difficult things when they arise. 

Today, I get to address my own termite damage. Today, I get to tear out the rotten studs and get to work with the One who knows how to fix it. I know that the walls will be sturdier and the work required will be rewarding. I love how God uses our daily surroundings to prick our spirits and bring us into His presence, building us up and mending our souls. 

PRAYER 

Lord,

You are the only One who knows how to fix our problems. Help us to have the courage to peel back whatever is hiding the damage of compromise. Help us not to experience shame when it's exposed but to rejoice in getting our hands dirty and going to work. We love that You work with us, guiding us and teaching us how to repair each and every problem we see. We love You. Amen.

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February 19, 2025

GIVERS AND TAKERS

John 12:27 NASB2020

“Now My soul has become troubled; and what am I to say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

Jesus was as strong as one could be, but the task our Father had for Him to accomplish was as big as the world. The weight of the task made even Jesus weary, but He didn't give up. Aren't we glad He didn't give up or change His mind? We were counting on Him, and He came through for us all. There are people who are counting on us and need us to come through for them, just like Jesus came through for us. We can't always be the ones who need help. It's okay to receive help so we can get into a position where we can help others, but we must get there!  God's word says, "We are the lenders, not the borrowers." This applies not just to money, but to everything. We have to stop being consumers and start giving back. We might not be in a season where we can help someone financially right now, but we can start somewhere. Even if it's just being a good example to those God has placed in our lives. When God knows He can trust us, He will begin to bless us in a way that allows us to be a blessing to others.

Prayer: Father, just as you had a great task for Jesus to accomplish, you have tasks for us to accomplish. Prepare us for our purposes. Build us up from the inside out. Remove anything that slows us down from becoming who You want us to be and doing what You want us to do. In Jesus Christ's name, amen.

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February 20, 2025

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND

“My son, pay attention to what I say;

    turn your ear to my words.

Do not let them out of your sight,

    keep them within your heart;”

Proverbs 4:20-21 

I have had several dining chairs in my shop for WAY longer than I care to admit. They have been collecting a small blanket of dust, patiently waiting for me to finish them. The problem is, they have been out of sight, and therefore, I haven't hardly thought about them. It's amazing how neglectful we can be, even over beautiful things.

Today, I had the day off, and my husband said, "Don't do anything but finish those chairs." The poor guy has been asking me to take care of this for months. So, I went to the store, picked up some supplies, and went to work. It's so funny that something I had worked up in my head as being a "big" project turned out to be simple, quick, and sweet. I loved admiring the craftsmanship as I wiped the wood with my stain covered rags. I loved that I had the chance to pray for the family who will be sitting in them. 

Sometimes, I can get in the bad habit of procrastinating. Even if it's something I really enjoy, I tend to think of what's right in front of me. God places people in our lives to remind us that there's "something in the shop" that needs our attention. We get the privilege of getting our hands on it, admiring the beauty of it, and taking the time to pay attention to the things we have neglected. 

PRAYER 

Lord,

Show us the things that have collected dust. We want to put our hands on them and appreciate something You have given to us. Help us not to be so consumed with what's in front of us that we forget about the special things that are hanging out in the shop.

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February 21, 2025

SMALL PIECES

John 12:24-25 NASB2020

[24] Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. [25] The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.

 Since the moment we were born, Satan has been working to get us to give away pieces of our hearts. He doesn't care who or what we give them to, as long as it's not God. Satan is not concerned with us giving away big pieces at once; he prefers that we give away small pieces over time. Reclaiming a hundred small pieces is much more difficult than reclaiming just a few. Be aware of the little things that may not seem like a big deal—they can quickly add up.

Prayer: Father, reveal to us every small piece of our hearts that we have given away. Help us gather all these pieces so we can offer our hearts fully to You. In Jesus Christ's name, amen.

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February 22, 2025

CRY OUT

My God, I cry out to You by day and night. You are holy and enthroned. In You, our fathers put their trust. They trusted in You, and You delivered them. They cried out to You, and You heard them. When they put their trust in You, they were not disappointed. (Paraphrased from Psalm 22)

In the middle of the night, the waking hours of the morning, or the long hours of the afternoon, God is anticipating our cries. His ears are always tuned to the sound of His children and the aching of our hearts. 

When we don't know how to pray for ourselves, He prays for us with words too deep for us to understand. His mysteries encompass us, and His steadfast love is a foundation in which we can find our footing. In the tenderness of His affection, we find rest for our souls and cannot be shaken. 

"I will bless the LORD who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.

I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.

For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever." Psalm 16:7-11

PRAYER 

Lord,

Thank You for interceeding for us. We don't always know what to say, but You do. Thank You for Your tender mercy and Your steady voice. Help us to tune our hearts to Yours and join You in Your prayers. Be near to us. We love You. 

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February 23, 2025

VIRAL LOVE

John 12:9 NASB2020

The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not on account of Jesus only, but so that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead.

Jesus went viral everywhere He went. He kept the crowd wondering about what would happen next. The crowd is still searching for something today. Most people don't even know what they are searching for; they just know that something is terribly wrong in the depths of their souls. Some scroll for hours to find a reel that will make them laugh, smile, or feel differently than they do. Some think a new relationship will make them feel better. Some use drugs and alcohol to numb the uncomfortable feeling. Some will go on a shopping spree to place their minds on something else for a bit. Some allow themselves to get lost in their work, only making time to sleep. Some sleep for most of the day, rolling back and forth in bed, dreading the few hours they will have to be awake. Some use music or TV, not allowing themselves to be still and quiet, because being still and quiet will bring a greater awareness of the unsettled spirit. Think about two people who are soulmates. The connection and love they feel for one another are so powerful that when something is unresolved in that relationship, there is no peace. There is a gut-wrenching pain until the problem is dealt with, and peace is restored. This is what's going on with the crowd. They have a Father who loves them more than anyone in the world. Their spirit is screaming out, grasping at anything to find peace. The only thing that can give a spirit peace is the One who created it. If Christ is in us, why aren't we drawing the attention of the crowd? All they need is a taste of what their spirit is looking for. All we have to do is allow God to love people through us. It's easy to love those who love us. Are we willing to love those who hate us? I'm not talking about loving with just words. I'm talking about loving with action. Acts of love that capture the attention of the crowd. Viral love.

Prayer: Father, we are so easily offended and so unwilling to love people who we don't like. We don't like people who don't think and act like we think they should. You didn't put qualifications on those we are supposed to love. You just told us to love. As a matter of fact, You challenged us to love those who are difficult to love. Remind us that we are difficult to love as well, but You keep on loving us anyway. Show us how to love others as You love us. In Jesus Christ's name, amen.

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February 24, 2025

A MORNING BY THE DOCK

"My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

 a broken and repentant heart

  you, God, will not despise." 

Psalm 51:7

The lasting freedom of a repentant heart brushes my cheek like a warm breeze. I am reminded of the kindness of His touch, the softness of His embrace. As I sat on the dock for just a few minutes this morning, the Lord sat next to me, making sure the moments felt a little longer. The smell of lake water wrapped me up. The sound of the chattering ducks was like a song. I've found the Lord in this precious creation and been reborn once again. Today is a new day. 

When God reaches down to us, offering His hand of sanctification, we can sometimes slap it away. We can get to a place where we think our sin is too messy, our hurts too big. Sometimes, we find rest in our struggles, and the familiarity of them can offer us a twisted sort of comfort. 

But God wants to meet us in the stillness of a morning conversation, the sweetness of a moment by the water. He wants to woo us into submission, covering each stain in the work of His sanctification. Will we let Him? Will we let Him put His hands on our stories, on our sins? Will we let Him satisfy our wants and our needs?

He wants to give all good things to us. He wants to see us surrender. He wants to make us free. Every morning, He wants to behold us and wants us to behold Him. 

PRAYER 

Lord, 

We behold You today. We surrender today. We receive freedom today. Put Your hands on us, shaping us so that we look more like You.

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February 25, 2025

SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT

John 11:43-44 NASB2020

[43] And when He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” [44] Out came the man who had died, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

When we're dealing with demons that have us bound, we cannot deal with them nicely. "Excuse me, do you mind not giving me those types of thoughts anymore?" Even a mischievous child would not listen to such an approach. A demon knows if we believe in what we are saying. The first step is recognizing the lie we've believed in; that's the stronghold. I'll use addiction as an example. The lie is, "I'll always be an addict." We know that's a lie because God tells us that we are overcomers, that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, and that nothing is impossible with God. The next step is to get back in agreement with the truth. We do this by cutting ties with anything that aligns with the lie. This means we'll probably have to quit doing some things and give up some stuff that our flesh will resist. If we want deliverance, we'll do whatever it takes. The following step is to take authority over the demons who deceived us. Yes, we use words. We speak the truth to them, and because we're in agreement with the truth by obeying and believing it, they have to submit to the truth. When we decide to take authority over them, we are declaring war. We must take it as seriously as if we were in the middle of a real war with real bullets flying. We don't whisper. We must raise our voices and let them know that we know. We're not requesting that they turn us loose; we're commanding that they tuck tail and run. When we open our mouths and cry out with a loud voice, just as Jesus did, light comes out and darkness flees.

Prayer: Father, there is no telling how many lies have us bound and keep us from walking in the power Christ walked in. He said we would do greater things than He did because of Who He sent us. Not that we would individually do more than He did, but as a body of believers, walking in the full power of God, operating in the gifts of the Spirit, and spreading out over the whole world, we should be. Shine Your light on the lies we've believed so we can align with the truth and be vessels You can work through in full power. In Jesus Christ's name, amen.

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February 26, 2025

LIMITATIONS 

“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” 

Ephesians 5:22-24

This morning, the Lord has been working on my heart, bringing me to a place where the limitations of my life transform from burdens to blessings. I have to confess, it's been rough. I've thrown quite the temper tantrum in my soul. It's comical how God uses little things to reveal much larger issues. 

As many of you know, I love to fish. I love getting out on the water, losing myself in the stillness of the lake, chasing the thrill of a bent over pole and a tight line. We've been having short work days so I thought it would be a great day to get on the water. After all, I our job is no more than a quarter of a mile from the boat launch. I got everything ready, checked my poles, got things in order, and dropped the kids off at school. On my way to head to work, I heard a very clear prompt from the Lord. 

"You need to ask your husband  if he's ok with you getting on the lake today." 

Crap. I knew what his answer was going to be. I didn't want to ask him. But I did anyway. He said, "I'm just not comfortable with that." He didn't say "no" but I knew I had a choice, respect him and his limitations, or don't. I have to admit, I was not happy. Not because he wasn't comfortable with it but because I was confronted with a deeper issue. My obstinace toward my femininity. 

Yikes. I knew in a split second that God had something much more profound for me to embrace. Being delicate, being a woman, and being protected, those are all things that I love until it challenges my independence. I don't like that the identity that the Lord gifted me with is one that comes with some (at times) very frustrating boundaries.

I know this is ugly, y'all, but I think that it's important to share. I had to make a decision, embrace the gift of a protective husband, or participate in rebellion against his love toward me. It's not that he doesn't want me to have fun. It's that he's looking out for my best interest. There are lots of times that he's totally comfortable with me going fishing alone, but not today. Not this time. 

I chose to surrender to his protection. I choose to embrace being his "girl"... even if I threw a fit on my way to get there.

PRAYER

Lord,

Help us to love our identity and the boundaries that You place around us. May all of our limitations turn into gifts. Help us to see that there are better things for us when we embrace what You have given us, even if that means that we have to surrender our independence at times. Thank You that You are the God who wants so much goodness for us. 

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February 27, 2025

LIFE CONFRONTS DEATH

John 11:38-40 NASB2020

[38] So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. [39] Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” [40] Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

There is no hope for someone who is dead in a tomb. Then Jesus shows up. The Author of Life confronts death: “Death, where is your sting?” What was it that deeply moved Jesus, causing Him to confront death on Lazarus’ behalf? When Lazarus’ sister, Mary, fell down at Jesus’ feet and cried out for her brother, He was deeply moved. Mary’s soul was in pain, and she cried to Him for help. The cry of her soul stirred His soul. It wouldn’t have mattered if Lazarus had been dead for a year—Jesus would have still called him out of the tomb. When we fall down at His feet and let our souls cry out, the Author of Life will show up at the tomb. Death has no choice but to obey Him.

Prayer: Father, thank You for listening to our cries. Show us how to cry out in a way that stirs You. Command any death that has a hold on us to let go. Any blindness, any deafness, and any part of our hearts that has become hard. Help us see, hear, and feel the way You do. Call us out of the tomb. In Jesus Christ’s name, amen.

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February 28, 2025

HELP ME IN MY UNBELIEF 

"Immediately, the boy's father cried out and said, 'I do believe; help my unbelief.'" Mark 9:24

The Hebrew word for belief is the same as faith, "Emunah." The definition is "accepting something as truth." Faith and belief is not conjuring up an emotional response to the word of God, it's accepting it as truth, not trusting the ebb and flow of our feelings. 

As I read the Mark 9 passage this morning, I was challenged with my own unbelief, my own rejection of truth. Many times, I have chosen to hear the promises of God and not accept that it is absolute. Promises like, "It is finished," "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion," and "neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will separate us from the love of God." 

I have added my own religion to these promises, placing a condition of my own "goodness" around them. That is dangerous. That mentality will inevitably separate me from God, bring me into shame, and provide opportunities to agree with the deceiver. 

PRAYER

Lord, 

I believe. I believe that You are the Way, the Truth, and the Light. Help me in my unbelief. Help me when I do not accept the truth and believe the lies of the enemy!”

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ce.