Author: tommestevenson@gmail.com

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Is Adversity Part of God’s Plan for Your life

Adversity and FaithIs adversity part of God’s plan for your life? That is both a scary and humbling thought. First, I don’t believe God necessarily brings adversity upon us. It is not in His nature. But He does allow our actions and those inherent in a broken world to affect us adversely. I believe He allows this because we need direction and guidance that can not be achieved through prosperity. We will not modify our behavior if we do not see the natural outcome from behavior contrary to God’s teaching.

“Out of the cross comes the resurrection. Out of weakness comes real strength.” – Timothy Keller

Throughout my life, I have developed this philosophy: adversity is an opportunity to either become a victim of my circumstances or the author of a great story demonstrating the power of overcoming. In the middle of the fight, it is hard to see that there are two paths available to us. We can give in and give up, letting the tides of life wash us out to sea, or we can use this opportunity to grow stronger and be an example to others who might suffer the same fate.

Resilience in Hardship:

Several examples in the Bible show how God uses adversity to create greatness. Like Joseph, Moses, and Esther, challenges can be opportunities for preparation and transformation. Even when circumstances seem overwhelming, perseverance and faith can lead to unexpected triumphs.

1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Whatever situation you are in, there is a way out. It may not be simple, quick, or painless, but it exists. God will not let you suffer beyond His ability to save you. Resilience and patience are the key.

Unlikely Heroes:

God often uses ordinary or overlooked individuals—like Esther, Ruth, and David—to accomplish extraordinary things. His use of ordinary people reminds us that everyone has value and the potential to make a significant impact, even in adversity.

God doesn’t create superheroes to show His compassion and grace. He uses everyday people like you and me.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before him.”

Never think you are not good enough to be a beacon of light. Don’t believe that you are not significant or worthy to be rescued. No matter your personal view of yourself, God cherishes your existence.

Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Divine Providence and Timing:

As seen in the stories of Esther and Joseph, timing plays a critical role. Difficult seasons often position people for opportunities they never anticipated, revealing a higher purpose at work. We cannot see the future, but we know that the future God has planned for us is more significant than we could envision. It does not seem that way when you are in the eye of a storm, but all storms run their course and come to an end.

We need to be resilient to withstand the storm. That resilience can not come from within us but from above us.

Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Courage to Act:

Like Esther’s bold decision to approach the king, overcoming fear and stepping out in faith can lead to remarkable outcomes, even in uncertain times.

Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Start creating your story of overcoming by believing you will overcome through God’s grace. With that conviction, start moving in that direction. Great stories require movement and stepping out in faith when the outcome is uncertain.

Psalm 144:1: “Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.”

Transformation Through Faith:

Faith in God can bring healing, growth, and redemption as demonstrated through Paul’s conversion or Job’s restoration.

Jeremiah 30:17: “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord.”

We live in a time-constrained, linear view of life. We see only what is in front of us, and we don’t see the ripple effect of every interaction. God does; He knows the future. We move forward through faith.

Joel 2:25-26: “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten. You will have plenty to eat until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you.”

God is in the business of restoring broken lives, healing wounded hearts, and redeeming what has been lost.

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Creating a Future by Embracing the Moment

Kyrgyzstan 2024The present moment is all we truly have. Think about it—there are 31,536,000 seconds in 2025, and once they’re gone, they’re gone; no rewinds, no replays, no do-overs. Every single second is an opportunity, and this New Year, let’s commit to making the most of them.

Ephesians 5:15-17, “So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise, making the best use of your time because the times are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Kaki King eloquently stated in her 2008 TED Talk (paraphrased):
“If time stretches infinitely behind and infinitely ahead, then each individual moment might seem small and meaningless. But if nothing else has a place in the universe either, then every moment becomes the most important moment ever.”

What if we treated every moment as sacred? We, as humans, are wired to plan and strategize, always looking forward. Yet, in doing so, we risk missing the beauty and significance of our moment. But that’s not how God designed us to live.

Emily Dickinson wisely said, “Forever is composed of now.”

Planning for the Future, Living in the Now

Planning is powerful—there’s evidence to back it up. A landmark Harvard study from the 1980s showed that people with detailed written plans outperformed their peers by over 50 times. That’s incredible! But here’s the key: planning is only valid when paired with action. A vision for the future is meaningless unless you’re moving toward it intentionally, starting now.

Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

God’s purpose for your life isn’t some far-off destination. It’s unfolding moment by moment. While He created you before the foundation of the universe, He also exists in the present. God is in the moment, and by living intentionally, we align ourselves with His purpose.

Time is Irreplaceable

James 4:13-14, “Now listen, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town, stay there a year, conduct business, and make money. You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

“Lost time is never found again.” – Benjamin Franklin.

Time cannot be stored, reused, or replaced. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. This truth doesn’t mean we need to obsess over every second, but it calls us to deliberate how we spend our days. Even intentional rest, like sleep or quiet reflection, has profound value. Sleep, for example, isn’t wasted time—it’s foundational to healthy aging and overall well-being. One study revealed that improving your sleep patterns could increase your chances of healthy aging by 18%.

The same goes for strategic thinking. Effective leaders don’t just act—they take time to think deeply. Research shows that strategic thought is twice as important as communication and 50 times more critical than hands-on tasks.

A Call to Action

In the moment is where intentionality meets action. Begin with a clear vision of where God is leading you. Without it, the movement lacks purpose. Many New Year’s resolutions fail because they’re vague or lack deep meaning. But this year, let your resolution be different.

Chase God’s passion for your life. Live intentionally. Embrace the present moment as the most critical moment that has ever happened. When you do, you’re not just creating a better future—you’re living fully in the now.

“What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.” – Ralph Marston

Let’s make 2025 a year of purposeful, intentional moments that build the life you were created to live.

John 16:13, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority but will speak whatever he hears and tell you what is to come.”

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Love

Christ calls us to love one another. There is a significant difference between caring for someone and being deeply connected to them. Caring involves showing compassion, kindness, gentleness, and patience. It doesn’t require liking them; it’s an intentional act that soothes their wounds and quenches their thirst. Being deeply connected goes further. It includes all care qualities but adds a profound passion and longing. To feel this connection is prioritizing them above all else—it is an act of selflessness.

Love is not only something you feel; it is something you do. – David Wilkerson

1 John 4:19, “We love because He first loved us.”

However, being in love is not the same as being co-dependent. Needing someone for your survival turns love into parasitism, draining their energy for your sustenance. Sometimes, we encounter people who seem to complete us, fill a void, or make us feel worthy, but this isn’t love—it’s addiction.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Christ’s devotion to us is profound and unwavering. He extends compassion, grace, kindness, and patience, giving His very life so we might have eternal life. Jesus does not demand that we fully comprehend the depth of His sacrifice—a passion so great that He gave Himself for a world that rejected Him. God’s care is entirely selfless, requiring nothing from us to complete Him, fill a void, or affirm His worth. It is a commitment so powerful that He offered His Son to endure a horrific death, all so that we might live.

John 15:12, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

Every Day 

1 John 4:7-8, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love.”

He commanded that we love one another and treat one another with intentionality that goes beyond personal comfort. We are to put doing right ahead of being right. Trying to survive in a broken world is enough for humans. We see the seeds of hate everywhere. We are constantly immersed in a world where being right is much more important than doing right. Somehow, our opinions and attitudes are the drivers of the world. We lose sight of the fact that God decides the world’s future, not humankind. Our opinions are just opinions; they shape our thinking and attitudes, but not the future.

Ephesians 4:2, “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.”

I’ve realized that when people treat me unkindly, it’s rarely about who I am but rather a reflection of their life experiences. Seeds of anger and disrespect were sown in their hearts long before our paths crossed. Often, a small, insignificant act triggers these buried emotions to surface. Loving them means looking beyond the hurtful behavior and recognizing it as the overflow of past pain.

Choosing to love in those moments is no small task. It’s easy to see ourselves as victims of the interaction, but we must remember that God’s love for us covers every inequity we may endure on this spinning orb. His love reminds us that our time here is fleeting while eternity stretches endlessly ahead.

John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Sacrificial 

Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

The concept of romantic connection is often misunderstood. Much of psychology emphasizes that humans are inherently self-interested—that every interaction involves, and will always involve, some form of personal benefit. Psychologists are correct in this: We are not divine. So, how can we truly connect on a deeper level if we are imperfect? In a fractured world, that question becomes layered and challenging.

To build healthy relationships, one must first find security in who God created them to be. If someone feels incomplete, they will search for validation elsewhere. But the truth is, God does not create incomplete people—fear and doubt do. When God gave His Son for humanity, it wasn’t because He lacked anything. He acted out of the certainty of His purpose and the depth of His care. As children of God, made in His image, we must embrace this truth about ourselves before forming authentic bonds with others.

Romans 12:10, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

To be devoted to someone means placing their well-being above your own—not by indulging their every desire, but by serving them in ways that truly benefit them. Imagine two people so deeply devoted to each other that each willingly sacrifices their happiness for the other’s sake. In this mutual selflessness, both would find immense joy in the other’s happiness.

However, we live in a fallen world, and achieving even a glimpse of this level of caring requires sacrifice and intentionality. It demands a conscious effort to prioritize the other person’s needs while striving to love gracefully and purposefully.

God’s Love

1 John 4:16, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

God’s caring for us is perfect, unblemished, and forever. There is nothing we can do to separate us from that. His unwavering desire for us gives us the power to care for others.

Romans 8:31-39, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

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In This Moment

Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why?

I believe most people spend too much time fixating on the past or the future while the present goes unattended.  Then, at some future time, this present moment is what we fixate on as a lost opportunity.

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All Will know God

God and NatureAll will know God exists even if they do not acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior. Many people acknowledge a power greater than themselves without allowing that power to have dominion over their lives.

Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Know God

Creation screams His name. When I want to experience oneness with God, I hike into the mountains, find a scenic spot overlooking valleys and mountain peaks, put on incredible music, and let Him come to me. The combined beauty of the outdoors, man’s creativity in creating beautiful music, and the miracle of my existence stamp my soul with an indelible mark of His love, compassion, and caring. In that moment, I know God, and He lets me know, He knows me.

Psalm 96:11-12, “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.”

The day-to-day interaction with God validates that He sees me as a person who is unique and perfect for His purpose. Every small decision sets the stage for future big decisions; God is in the details. When we do not allow Him in the daily boring stuff, we set ourselves up for future challenges. But today, I’m thinking about the glorious, unmistakable signature of God.

“God dwells in His creation and is everywhere indivisibly present in all His works. This is boldly stated by the psalmist: ‘Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?’” A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

Daily Grind

Meeting Him in the daily grind is easier if we can connect with God on a grand scale. When the repetitive mire of a fallen world seems to overwhelm us, we visually go back to that mountaintop. We bask in His creation’s incredible beauty and complexity, knowing that today is not challenging for Him. He’s got this.

“The universe is the theater of God’s glory.” John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion

Psalm 19:1-2. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day, they pour forth speech; night after night, they reveal knowledge.”

This year, find your spot where God’s presence is undeniable. We are all built differently. We all have our quirks, passions, and visions of beauty. Achor your faith in the tangible. When life crescendos into chaos, have a place to seek God. Go to that place often to refuel. God created all of this just for you. Knowing he is the author, he wants you to experience great joy and peace.

The Stones will Cry Out.

Isaiah 55:12, “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”

Remember some of Christ’s last words to the Pharisees in Luke. The Pharisees in the crowd ask Jesus to rebuke His disciples for their loud praises. He replied (Luke 19:40), ‘“I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”‘

In times of need and you lament before the Lord, even the stones will cry out.

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Christmas: God Declared, “It Is Very Good”

Genesis 1:31: “Then God looked over all he had made and saw that it was very good!”

God left no room for imperfection or insignificance in the intricate artistry of creation. Nothing He has made—no moment, no person—is without purpose or value. To doubt this is to misunderstand the nature of the One who orchestrates the universe with precision and love.

The Magnificence of Creation

Colossians 1:16: “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”

Before the universe existed, God meticulously designed every molecule, every life form, every celestial body. Every detail was woven into existence with intentionality, from the smallest nano-cell to the billions of galaxies. He knew our need for a Savior and prepared for it before the first breath of creation. When He finished, He gazed upon it all and said, “It is very good.”

Colossians 1:15: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

Consider the world’s unfathomable complexity. A cardiovascular scientist I once met described his work on the lymphatic system, an essential yet unseen part of human health. God created the visible wonders of our world and the invisible marvels that sustain life. The intricate design of proteins ensuring the functionality of microscopic valves is a testament to a Creator whose brilliance exceeds human comprehension.

John 17:24: “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

Yet even these complexities pale in comparison to the significance of Jesus’ birth—a moment planned with divine precision before the foundation of the world.

The Birth of Christ: A Incomparable and Timeless Gift

The lymphatic system and its intricate design seem mundane compared to the eternal importance of Christ’s arrival. His birth was not just an event in history; it was a pivotal act of divine love ordained to reconcile humanity to God.

As you reflect on Christ’s birth, consider this profound truth: the same God who declared the birth of His Son “very good” also declared the same over your creation. While you and I were not born to save humanity, we were born with a mission uniquely significant to someone in this world.

Your Role in God’s Story

Romans 10:14: “But how can they call on someone if they haven’t trusted in him? And how can they trust someone if they haven’t heard about him? And how can they hear about someone if no one is proclaiming him?”

We are not saviors, but we are vessels. God created us to lead others to the Savior. Every moment of our lives holds the potential for eternal significance. Just as God wastes nothing in His creation, our story has no insignificant chapter.

When God created us, He infused us with purpose—a purpose tainted by the fall but redeemed through Christ. Our task is to embrace this purpose, living lives that glorify Him and lead others to the path of salvation.

Job 42:2: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

Each of us is a part of God’s unshakable plan. Our mission is to glorify Him from generation to generation, spreading the Gospel through word and deed.

A Call to Celebrate Purpose

Have you ever considered your birthday as significant as Christmas? While your birth does not carry the same weight as Christ’s, it carries purpose. You cannot save the world, but you can point someone to the One who can.

When God created you, He declared, “It is very good.” He crafted you to reflect His glory and fulfill a divine mission.

Matthew 5:16: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

This Christmas, let us remember that the same God who sent His Son into the world also sent us into it—with purpose, love, and a call to shine His light.

“My prayer today is that the message of this Christmas time will be a personal message to you that Jesus will be Prince of Peace in your life and will bring peace and satisfaction and joy to you.” – Billy Graham.

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Hope and Love in a Season of Grace

Proclaiming hope and love in a season of grace is one of our most critical missions as Christians. This Christmas season can be highly stressful for many people.

Luke 4:18-19: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, set free those oppressed, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Urgency

These words carry a sense of urgency and purpose, a call to action that feels especially relevant in a year marked by chaos and challenges. Amid the dysfunction, God’s voice remains clear, challenging us to proclaim His favor and glory to all who cross our paths.

“Best of all, Christmas means a spirit of love, a time when the love of God and the love of our fellow men should prevail over all hatred and bitterness, a time when our thoughts and deeds and the spirit of our lives manifest the presence of God.” – George McDougall.

This season, my plea is simple yet profound: reach out to hurting people. Extend not empty platitudes but genuine love. Quiet desperation is a silent killer, an emotion that suffocates the soul.

As we enter this season of celebration, I urge you to reach out to hurting people and offer them a lifeline. Don’t aim to cheer them up or solve their problems—love them. Many people battle quiet desperation, a stifling emotion that isolates and burdens. While we are not the ultimate solution, God can work through us to bring light to their darkness.

Fortune

For those fortunate enough to recognize God’s blessings, this season is a time to reflect with gratitude.

Psalm 100:4-5: “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good, and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

We celebrate relationships, opportunities, and the hope of a brighter future, grounded in the knowledge that God has given us the choice to embrace hope in this moment.

But not everyone experiences this season with such gratitude. For some, the holidays are a stark reminder of what they lack. Broken relationships cast long shadows, opportunities feel distant, and the future appears uncertain. Their thoughts swirl with regret over what might have been, and their hearts grow heavy with grief. Life for them is not a glass half empty; it’s a glass that feels too small to hold anything at all.

Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

These words remind us of God’s nearness to those in despair and call us to embody His compassion by extending love and hope.

Seasons of Darkness

Having faced my seasons of darkness, I know the despair that can rob a person of hope. For some, Christmas is not a celebration but an escape—a time to forget pain rather than reflect on joy. The light others see as hope can feel like the oncoming glare of despair. For those without Christ, peace feels unattainable, and the promise of salvation seems like a distant dream. I have been there, praying for the pain to end, longing for peace that seemed out of reach. Yet, peace without Christ is an illusion, and our true destination without Him is one we dare not desire.

Matthew 25:45: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”

Celebrate

This Christmas, I urge you to invest in someone else’s life. Don’t try to fix their problems; instead, be a source of hope. Walk alongside them in their journey. Let them see God’s love through your actions and presence.

Be the one who brings light to another’s darkness, the one God rejoices over. This season, choose love, hope, and be a vessel of God’s grace to those who need it most.

May His love be poured out upon you, and may you be filled with His love this Christmas. May the true meaning of Christmas bring you great joy, peace, comfort, and many other blessings.

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Right Where God Meant You to Be

You are right where God meant you to be. In darker moments, that is hard to comprehend; in lighter moments, we forget it is not serendipitous.  

Ephesians 2:7: “Now God has us where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.”

Wherever You Are Intended

 Wherever you are today—whether it feels like a mountaintop of joy or a valley of uncertainty—remember this: God circled this spot on the map for you. The 12th-century Persian poet Hafiz foretold this: “The place you are right now, God circled on the map for you.”

Where does this season find you? Are you surrounded by family and friends, basking in love and warmth? Or are you navigating unexpected detours far from where you hoped to be? Life has twists and turns, but moments are filled with purpose wherever you stand today.

Ephesians 1:3-10, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”

This passage reassures us that before the foundation of the world, God chose us and poured out every spiritual blessing in Christ. He has a plan, even when life feels chaotic or off-course. There is no perfect job, relationship, or life—only perfect moments. Don’t miss them by chasing what isn’t meant to be. Instead, lean into the now, trusting the Author of your story.

You Are Meant to Greatness

Consider Paul, stranded in Malta; Esther, serving a pagan king; Jonah, in the belly of a whale; and Joseph, betrayed by his family. Each one found themselves exactly where God had written them to be, their detours transforming into destiny. The shepherds meant to find the King of Kings in a palace but instead found Him in a humble stable. Your journey is no different with its peaks and valleys—it’s all part of God’s perfect design.

Romans 8:29: “For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.”

Every action, every step, is an opportunity to worship. Even in failure, there is glory. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life is a powerful reminder. Though his earthly plans ended at the gallows, his unwavering faith became a testimony that lives on. What some might see as failure, God glorifies.

Becoming

Like Jonah’s journey through the deep or Moses’ exile to the wilderness, your path has meaning. It’s not about where you are but about who you are becoming. Will you worship in the waiting? Will you find joy in the journey, trusting that God works all things together for good?

Matthew 12:30: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

This moment—right here, right now—is your chance to praise the One who created you. Will you acknowledge His hand in your life, triumph, or trial? Let your worship shine, becoming a light for those around you.

Christmas

Every day is Christmas—it is meant to celebrate the love, hope, and redemption born through Christ. As 1 Peter 3:15 urges, always be ready to share the hope within you with gentleness and respect. Let today be a day of gratitude and worship, no matter where you are. This moment is not random; it’s a divine appointment.

Seize it.

1 Chronicles 16:23: “Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.”

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Are You Missing the Blessings

How many of us are missing the blessings given to us by Christ? We pray for an outcome that never arrives, or maybe it does. The fast pace of life focuses so much on our needs and wants that we do not see what God is doing. We have a plan, and God is part of that plan, and we expend all our energy and time living that plan.

Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

“Roughly half of Jesus’ miracles were interruptions. He had a plan, he had a destination, but he was interruptible. I wonder how many of us miss what God is doing because we hold too tightly to our plans.” – Mark Batterson’s book “The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears.”

God Interrupts Us With Blessings.

God interrupts us with the unexpected. I was once hiking with a new friend. I walked faster than he did. He commented on his perception that I was so busy hiking I did not take in or appreciate what I was hiking through. He was right. I planned to get from point “A” to point “B.” I didn’t appreciate all the beautiful gifts God gave me along the way, missing the blessings created by Him. Seeing them was not part of my plan. Hiking in the woods was about an accomplishment, not an experience.

Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Most people live in this action-constrained bubble where cause and effect rules our decisions. We get an idea that immediately germinates an action plan with multiple possible paths. We are then fixated on outcomes. Each outcome produces another potential path or even numerous paths. We lose track of intent. The idea that created the activity becomes lost in the execution. God may have initiated the original idea, but then somehow became just one of the elements required for success. We focus too much on future outcomes and their potential to live in the moment.

The present is the only moment where time touches eternity. – C.S. Lewis’s book “Reflections”

Life is Moments

God lives in the moment. With God, what we experience in the moment dictates the future. He blesses us in the moment. We may not experience the culmination of the blessing until some future point, but God delivers it at the exact time and place that he has chosen. If we fixate too much on the outcome, we may lose what God is doing in the present.

Numbers 6:24: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

God wrote our story. He knows every chapter and verse. We live it word by word. Because we can not see the future, we mitigate risk by creating elaborate plans to deal with unexpected occurrences. Then, we tend to manage our expectations based on that plan. Because of this, we may miss a blessing God is bestowing on us today because of a future event that He is aware of. That event is not part of our current plan.

Capturing Blessing

I suggest taking the time and effort to see how God works in your life unexpectedly. Finding the unexpected will require intentionality. You must look for the unexpected. Do you consider your opportunities, friends, experiences, and time a blessing? Let me give you a couple of examples. Imagine you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, standing in line at a coffee shop. A stranger ahead of you notices and offers a kind smile or starts a lighthearted conversation. Do you see it as God speaking to you?

In another scenario, a stranger might help you in a moment of need, like picking up something you’ve dropped or giving directions when lost. Did God intervene?

Philippians 4:19: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Such encounters are blessings. They are part of God’s plan for your life. Do you acknowledge them in the moment? Acknowledging the little things makes the big things more palpable. Knowing God cares about you daily gives you strength during uncertainty or turmoil.

James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

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The Legacy of Time

The legacy of time. All of us leave a legacy; it can be good or bad. The definition of legacy is something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past.

Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Legacy versus Tradition

The thought that keeps going through my head is not how many seeds are in an apple, but how many apples are in a seed? That question goes to legacy. Most people evaluate the number of people they affect through evangelism as their legacy. That is the definition of how many seeds are planted. What is forgotten is that each seed has the potential to be an apple tree, not just an apple. That apple tree will produce many apples over many years. Each apple has many seeds. Some seeds will fall to the ground, become planted, and germinate into another apple tree, producing fruit. A small portion of the apple seeds from that tree will fall to the ground, be planted, and production will continue. That I see as a legacy.

Luke 12:33: “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches, and no moth destroys.”

That planting of the first seed is good works. It is the temporal activity of good Christians. It may take years for that seed to grow into a tree that can sustain fruit. That tree may not see that some seeds fell on fertile ground and started to grow. Because we cannot know the future, every seed planted is important. Good works eventually produced a good legacy.

Fleeting Legacies

Most of what we consider legacy is more in line with temporary, fleeting, or transient. We create traditions and cultures that last a few generations and then dissipate. We give material goods that are soon forgotten or replaced. Creating a true legacy is about permanence, rippling through time, separate from ourselves. True legacy does not require or even promote self-awareness. Your family name on a building or a non-profit in your honor is fleeting at best.

Luke 12:20-21: “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night, your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

A legacy isn’t confined to years, decades, centuries, or even millennia; it transcends time and touches eternity. It is about fundamentally shifting the trajectory of humankind, inch-by-inch. This concept may sound too big for it to be achievable. But it is not; you’re planting apple seeds. It is not for you to carry the legacy to a conclusion. You should start with a few seeds and then let God do His thing.

I love this quote: “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”, by Edward Everett Hale. It is the essence of leaving a great legacy. It is about apple seeds, not apple orchards, apple trees, or even individual apples.

Johnny Appleseed

1 Corinthians 3:8: “He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.”

There is already one man who has gone before you. Johnny Appleseed (born Johnathan Chapman; September 26, 1774 – March 18, 1845) was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced trees grown with apple seeds (as opposed to trees grown with grafting) to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Ontario, as well as the northern counties of West Virginia. He became an American legend while still alive due to his kind, generous ways, his leadership in conservation, and the symbolic importance that he attributed to apples. He was also a missionary for the Church of New Jerusalem of Manchester, England. Orchards attributed to him still produce fruit today.

Johnathan Chapman left a limited legacy through his distribution of apple seeds and an eternal legacy through his missionary work.

Colossians 3:1-3: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

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