Tag: Joy

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Reflecting

Reflecting on the upcoming holidays and their meaning to me through the years has brought me to a story.

Proverbs 4:23, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

As we move through this season, we naturally reflect on gratitude. Thanksgiving draws us to consider our blessings. Christmas invites us to show love and appreciation to others, including those whose struggles we might not personally know. Then comes New Year’s, a time for renewal, as we commit to becoming the best versions of ourselves. Gratitude, love, and hope—these themes call us to live with purpose.

Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

I started remembering one of my most cherished memories and how powerful gratitude can be when shared.

A Story

“That’s because sympathy identifies with the problem, but compassion gets up, looks up, and says, I need to do something about this.” – Brian Houston, Live Love Lead: Your Best Is Yet to Come!

Years ago, I attended the Dogwood Art Festival in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. The spring weather was flawless, with blue skies, cotton-candy clouds, and dogwoods in full bloom. Artists displayed their passion through beautiful creations, and I was content simply soaking in the scene.

As I sat on a picnic bench, a woman joined me. She was unremarkable in appearance but soon revealed a life marked by struggle. She mentioned how she could live for a year on the cost of some of the art displayed. Her comment opened a door to a deep conversation.

She shared her story: a life of hardship, poor decisions, and broken opportunities. She was living in a halfway house after being released from prison, striving to rebuild her life. Her dream was simple—to live a normal life with work, friends, and stability. Yet, she felt the weight of her past holding her back.

Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”

A Choice

God has a way of placing people in our paths at just the right moment. I shared with her about God’s plans—plans not to harm, but to prosper. I encouraged her to surrender her plan for His, to find a church where she could grow, and to join a group of believers who would walk alongside her.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

During our talk, her demeanor changed. She sat taller, her face softened, and her eyes brightened She admitted she had heard of Christ’s love before but had always put off exploring it. She resolved to connect with a nearby church where she knew some members who visited her halfway house.

I don’t know how her story unfolded, but I trust in God’s timing. I was just one part of her journey—perhaps a small catalyst in God’s grand plan for her life.

Psalm 9:1, “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”

A Moral

This experience reminds me that sharing God’s love is more than an obligation—it’s a privilege. By sharing the richness of His blessings in our lives, we allow others to see His transformative power.

1 Corinthians 9:10 affirms: “Whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.”

May this season inspire you to live with thankfulness, share God’s love with others, and embrace the peace of Christ in your heart.

Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

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Message About the U.S. Election from Pastor Jason Cook

Many of us took up our American freedom and cast our ballots this week. That vote is in and our new president is Donald Trump. Mercifully, we do not have to wait days, weeks, or months to know this with certainty. The question of who will be our next President has been answered.

However three questions loom large for us as a church: Who are we? What is our Kingdom calling? How should we live?

The Church is the bride of Christ and functions as an outpost of heaven — a counter-cultural Kingdom colony. We are more than a collection of individuals; we are a family and holy ground that anticipates heaven. Fellowship is that and more.

We are an inter-cultural, inter-generational, and inter-ideological holy remnant who does not bow the knee to a world leader or power. We venerate and worship the Christ who has saved us and is our King. We are those who belong to God and have a Kingdom calling to worship God and care deeply for our neighbors.

Our identity as children of God is cast in stone — won by the body, blood, and resurrection of Jesus. We are sons and daughters of the Most High God. We have been called to make disciples of all ethnicities, languages, countries, ideologies, and political affiliations. We do so gladly and joyfully! Now that the election is behind us one question remains: How should we live? [Let’s focus on today, because tomorrow has troubles of its own.] Today, feel your feelings. Whether exultant or discouraged we are humans who should make space and time to feel what we feel.

But let’s agree to not stay there. We have too much work to do. We must not remain in despair or live in discouragement for the future because of the outcome of the election. Nor should we gloat or strut because our team won. If you’re sad, be sad. If you’re excited, be excited! Feel your feelings. Feel them deeply. But don’t make how you feel today your emotional home.

How then shall we live as a people? We live with Trust and Hope.

Considering the range of emotion within our church it would be wise for each of us to choose to trust and hope.

Trust in the God who commands all things under his power and is near to us at every moment. Trust that God truly is working all things out for the good of those who love him—including who is elected to office. And we must hope. Hope that God will continue to restrain sin and its effects across the world. Hope that the Kingdom of God still marches on to its inevitable end. Hope that we will one day be with Jesus.

And hope that Jesus will arrive in the sky and bring us home. A church that trusts God’s deep involvement in our lives and is willing to courageously hope is a church that lives well. We must continue to preach and live out the gospel. We must continue to hope in the resurrection. We continue to love our neighbors and invest in the world around us. Fellowship, this is our moment. Now is Our time.

We should remember the instruction of Romans 12:14-18:

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

If you are rejoicing today, rejoice! If you are sad today, be sad. Feel your feelings. AND fix your mind and heart on Jesus.

Fellowship, Now is our time. Today and each day ahead we can do something that rarely happens at churches across our nation: We can create space for each of us to feel deeply AND choose to live at peace with one another. We were built for this. We were made for this moment. God has constructed our inter-generational and inter-cultural fellowship to not only endure such a time but thrive through it.

There is, perhaps, no other church more battle tested and ready for the days ahead. Now is our time. This is our moment to be the people God has called us to be. This is the appointed time for us to live into our Kingdom calling. We were made for this moment!

How then shall we live? We live unto God so that Everyone Everywhere Experiences Jesus! Friends, we have work to do. As the church we press on toward the upward call in Christ Jesus. We press on in prayer. We press on in hope. We press on in trust. We press on until what is happening in the throne room of God (at this moment!) is also happening at Fellowship, in our communities, in our homes, and in us: As it is on earth as it is in heaven.

Let’s continue our work together until Everyone, Everywhere Experiences Jesus. Our purpose matters. You matter. We matter. Regardless of how you voted, how you feel today, or your hopes about the future of our nation one thing remains true: You Belong Here!

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Trusting in God’s Plan

Trusting in God’s plan when the future is unknown and incredibly important, takes not just faith but courage. In the chaos of life, it’s easy to feel lost, like I’m stumbling around in the dark, searching for direction. The world constantly demands that I have everything figured out—my career, relationships, and future. I feel pressure to know what’s next and plan every step meticulously, and yet, the more I try to control things, the more uncertain I become. I wonder, am I truly following the right path or just wandering aimlessly, hoping for the best?

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

This verse speaks to me because it reminds me that my plans aren’t the end of the story—God’s plans are. But trusting Him is hard when the road ahead is muddled.

“The most important lesson I have learned is to trust God in every circumstance. Lots of times, we go through different trials, and following God’s plan seems like it doesn’t make any sense at all. God is always in control and will never leave us.” – Allyson Felix, Olympic champion and ten-time U.S. national champion

Hard to Move Forward

There are moments when I’ve tried to move forward, thinking I’m on the right track, only to be met with obstacles. These setbacks often feel like failures. I ask myself, “Did I misinterpret what God wanted for me? Did I miss a sign along the way?” It’s easy to get discouraged and doubt whether I can discern His will.

Isaiah 55:8-9, where God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.”

His perspective is much broader than mine, and what feels like failure from my limited perspective may be part of a larger, divine plan. Perhaps the closed doors and disappointments are not rejections but redirections—God is steering me toward something better than I could have imagined.

Walking by faith

2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Walking by faith means moving forward even when I don’t have all the answers, trusting that God sees the bigger picture. It requires surrendering my need for control and admitting that I can’t always understand His timing or methods. But I find peace in those moments of letting go, knowing He guides me.

This surrender doesn’t mean that the journey will be easy. There will still be struggles, doubts, and lonely moments. But in those moments, I can rest in this truth.

Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Even when I can’t see it, God works for my good. His purpose for my life is far greater than the plans I’ve made for myself.

I’ve also learned that trusting God’s plan doesn’t mean I’m passive. It’s easy to think that faith is simply waiting for God to show up, but genuine faith is active. Genuine faith is about stepping out, even when unsure of the outcome. It’s about being diligent in prayer, seeking wise counsel, and being willing to follow wherever God leads, even into the unknown.

“There is a grand designer behind everything. God’s plan for your life is all that happens to you, including your mistakes, sins, and hurts.” – Rick Warren.

The more I walk this journey of faith, the more I realize that success isn’t about achieving worldly goals. True success is about faithfulness—being faithful in small things, daily tasks, and moments when it feels like nothing is happening.

Luke 16:10, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”

When I commit my efforts to the Lord, He blesses them in unexpected ways.

It Comes Down to Trust

Ultimately, it all comes down to trusting in God’s plan. I trust that God knows me better than I know myself and that He has a purpose for my life.  God’s plans are far better than anything I could ever design. It’s about learning to be content in the waiting, finding peace in the not-knowing, and surrendering my plans for His perfect will.

And even when the path ahead feels foggy, I cling to this promise:

Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

It’s a future I may not fully see, but I can rest in that God is already there, leading the way. My job is to trust, obey, and walk forward by faith.

1 Corinthians 2:5, “so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”

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Pick a Fight

Fight the Good FIghtPick a fight, really? I was reading Regi Campell’s book Radical Wisdom, and he talked about picking a fight. In it, he said, “It is one thing to defend ourselves when we are attacked. Most people will do that out of necessity. It is another to go pick a fight on behalf of someone or something.” He says, “It is a clue as to why Christians are so passive- they haven’t picked a fight. They’re just sitting in Church learning more stuff. They’re useless… as Jesus said, ‘like salt that’s lost its savor.'”

Isaiah 42:13, “The Lord goes out like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his zeal; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes.”

Behind my desk, and always within my sight, is a wooden statue of Don Quixote. It has been with me since I first read Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra’s novel in High School. When the Broadway musical Man of La Mancha came out, I loved it. This line in the song “The Impossible Dream” defines me, “And the world will be better for this, that one man, scorned and covered with scars, still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable star.”

Two critical images came to mind when reading this passage by Regi; the first is that Regi still speaks to me beyond the grave, and second, this is the hole in my heart that God has been trying to fill since my creation.

Deciding to Fight

1 Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight of the faith.”

As humans, it is easy to become defensive. Some of us are extroverts and can’t hold back, while others are introverts, allowing it to fester within. Neither of those choices is particularly the correct answer. We become defensive when we perceive our territory is under attack. Fight or flight kicks in when another is maligning something personal to us, and we mobilize.

Regi and Don Quixote make the point that there are issues out there that require our defense. God did not create us to let the fight come to us. He created us to take the fight to the enemy. It is about taking territory for Christ. Very seldom is that standing nose-to-nose and fighting until the last one standing. Mostly, it is about being obedient to God’s call.

Isaiah 54:17, “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.”

National Guard

I think of it as God’s National Guard. It is a voluntary organization comprised of like-minded people who freely give their time to prepare for war or disaster. When the time comes for action, they follow orders and enter the fray. They use all their previous training to overcome a wrong or defend others. In this case, we are to defend the underserved from the evil that has existed in the world since the fall.

“If we don’t stand for something, we’ll fall for anything.” – various sources.

Psalm 18:39, “For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.”

Each of us should define our field of battle. It can be homelessness, fatherlessness, loneliness, human trafficking, hunger, medical assistance, education, employment, or anything else. The person God created you to be has the skills and resources to enter the fight against something. We will never know what we are made of or made for until we pick a fight.

A fight musters resources, pumps adrenaline, creates urgency, and clarifies calling. Big fights force you to create alliances. It requires us to attack and defend, always keeping an eye on our adversary. Guess what? God is a master at this. He will ensure you have the resources you need to advance His kingdom. You’ll never fight alone as long as you do God’s will.

Luke 10:19, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”

The fight is not ours to win; it is ours to participate in. God, and only God, has the resources to overcome.

Echoes of War

Earlier, I mentioned that I realized that Regi was still talking to me from the grave. His voice echoes long after his passing. The fight he chose goes on even when he is not here. We each have that potential. Most of us either don’t believe it or choose to ignore it. Pick a fight. Make your moment count. Somewhere, sometime, someone will hear the echo of your existence.

Deuteronomy 20:4, “For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”

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Love Without Words

Acts of Kindness

Love without words is the most challenging love of all; It requires the person expressing their love to understand the recipient’s love language and to take physical action. “I love You” is easy to say even when you don’t mean it. It is difficult when it connotates weakness or vulnerability. Determining what a person needs to feel loved requires attention to detail. Showing love without words isn’t about saying what you think is loving, but doing what they need to feel loved. To do that, you must take the time to understand and care.

1 John 3:18, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

Words and Speech

“Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning.” – Frederick W. Faber.

Kind words do heal. They bring peace to the weary. Kind words should never be used sparingly. They are the suave to the wounds of life. We should always try to communicate with love and compassion. The world is full of trouble; we should not add to it.

Proverbs 16:24, “Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

But it is easy for Christians to talk. We placate people with words, quote scripture, and offer prayers. Prayer is always good and should precede every action, but it is not enough. Scripture is fundamental to understanding what God wants us to do, but it is not the doing.

The use of words when action is needed paints Christianity as hypocritical. Jesus modeled what He taught. He demonstrated what He said through His actions. We need to be doers of the word, not just sayers.

James 1:22, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

What would it be like to sit quietly listening, then wordlessly act, meeting a need without being asked or receiving praise? When all you do is give advice, console, be empathetic, and then move on with your life, you have done more harm than good. You have provided evidence of your shallowness and the shallowness of being Christian, harming the one you speak to, and grieving the Holy Spirit.

Titus 1:16, “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”

Action and Deeds

2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

For what they have done, an action word. It does not say we will receive judgment for everything we say, but what we have done. I would argue that saying without doing it sometimes does great harm.

James 2:17, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Faith without works is dead. That is not hard to understand. One of the most rewarding things a Christian can do is to help someone in need without being asked. The joy of seeing a need and then using the resources God has put at your disposal to meet that need is overwhelming. To do it anonymously, praising God for the opportunity, is even better. God loves that we acknowledge that He, and He alone, makes it possible. He loves that we act according to the gospel, redistributing His resources. There will always be an opportunity to witness to that person after their need is met. But meeting their need opens the door to that conversation.

James 2:26, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”

Random Acts of Kindness

When a stranger walks into someone’s life without provocation and does something to help, it leaves an indelible mark. People will not remember what was said, but they will remember the act of a stranger. Giving generously of your time is more extravagant than giving generously of your money.

Plan “random” acts of kindness that embed a gospel presentation.

Train yourself to be ready to give, serve, show love, and act in every season or circumstance.

Become the sort of person for whom Jesus-like acts of kindness become natural.

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.”

Randon Acts:

      •  Mail a gift card to someone going through a rough season (not text or email)
      •  Mow your neighbor’s lawn
      •  Rake your neighbor’s leaves
      •  Shovel your neighbor’s driveway and/or walkway
      •  Weed your neighbor’s flower garden
      •  Take out your neighbor’s bins on trash day
      •  Leave an encouraging note on a car windshield in the parking lot
      •  Offer to babysit so a couple you know can have a date night
      •  Offer to babysit the kids of a single mom so she can go shopping or have a few hours to herself (make this a regular thing!)
      •  Mentor a young adult.
      •  Offer a free class to kids (or beginner-level adults) on a topic in which you are skilled or knowledgeable: crochet, history, meal planning, budgeting, soccer, art, photography, woodworking, car maintenance, etc.
      •  Help someone move
      •  Talk to someone on the street. Buy them a meal, hang out with them, give them a hug or an affirming touch.
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Point Nemo

Point Nemo is one of the most remote locations on Earth, officially known as the oceanic pole of inaccessibility. It is the point in the ocean that is farthest from any land. Specifically, it lies in the South Pacific Ocean, about 2,688 kilometers (1,450 nautical miles) from the nearest landmasses. The International Space Station is closer than any landmass.

There are times when I believe I am at the pole of inaccessibility. I’m disconnected from what is going on around me. The world is whirling around me; activity is everywhere, and I don’t care. I’m in my little world that seems frozen in time. My prayer life slows to a standstill. I pray, but not with conviction. I’m walking knee-deep in mud.

Psalm 32:1-2 – “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.”

The lies are impeccably factual. They contain no errors. There are no distortions or falsified data. But they’re lies all the same because they claim to tell us who we are and omit everything about our origin in God and our destiny in God. – Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

Point Nemo

We all experience times when we seem to have been left behind by the world around us. We have concerns and issues that don’t matter to anyone but us. Someone has hurt us unintentionally; we know there is no real cause, but we feel it. When we feel disconnected from the world, even amid a crowd, it’s like a glass wall surrounds us—able to see and hear everything but not truly part of it.

Untreated, this feeling can mushroom into full-blown depression. For most of us, it is a fleeting melancholy. Generally, we are left feeling like we don’t matter; our goals and dreams are too far away. Our past controls our future. We don’t measure up to the people around us. Maybe because we can’t catch a break, everything is too hard. Money, work, family, friends, and society are flashpoints.

Psalm 32:1-2 – Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Traversing this storm in life feels like being caught in a cyclone where the winds of uncertainty howl and the rain of challenges pours relentlessly. Each step forward is met with resistance as if the very ground beneath is shifting, threatening to swallow us up. Amidst the chaos, there are moments of exhaustion, where the weight of the storm bears down, making every breath a battle. How do we escape the pole of inaccessibility?

Tranquil Journey

The raging storm is a mirage; it doesn’t actually exist. It is a construct of our mind. That is hard to believe. Isn’t it? Most visits to Point Nemo are self-inflicted wounds. Point Nemo is real, but the journey away from Point Nemo doesn’t require you to overcome a storm. You feel what you feel (Point Nemo), but the path to serenity doesn’t require a great physical effort. More importantly, you do not have to accomplish it alone. The more time you spend at Point Nemo, the harder it is to believe you can leave.

Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Seeking refuge in Christ is our only hope, whether we feel condemned by our actions or by the actions of others. Christ is our true identity, and our past does not bind us. Instead, we are defined by Him. Scripture continually guides us forward, reminding us that our identity rests in Him alone.

Remember that solutions take as much time to create as problems, and problems are not as spontaneous as you think. You will not change your thinking quickly when you have taken a lifetime to create it. The journey starts with prayer and proceeds through a path of willing friends and loving family.

2 Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake he made him be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

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Contentment, Happiness, and Joy

Joy and HappinessContentment, Happiness, and Joy: I discussed these three issues with a good friend. It is easy to get confused. Which one is the most important?

Contentment

I have held many things in my hands and have lost them all, but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, I still possess. – Martin Luther

1 Timothy 6:6-7, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”

Contentment is a state of being satisfied with what one has. It’s a feeling of peace and acceptance regarding one’s situation. It comes from a place of acceptance and is often associated with having a sense of sufficiency and being at ease with one’s life.

Contentment offers a steady and enduring sense of satisfaction and peace. It’s less dependent on external circumstances, which means it can provide a reliable foundation for well-being. Contentment makes you more likely to navigate life’s ups and downs with a balanced perspective. Contentment is about accepting and finding peace with what you have.

Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'”

Happiness

Do not let your happiness depend on something you may lose… only (upon) the Beloved who will never pass away. – C.S. Lewis

Luke 12:15, “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'”

Happiness is a broad term that generally refers to well-being and euphoria. It encompasses various emotions and experiences that make one feel good. It comes from external factors like achievements, relationships, or material possessions, as well as internal factors like personal attitudes and outlook on life.

External factors heavily influence happiness and might fluctuate based on circumstances, achievements, or experiences. While happiness can be exhilarating, it often relies on positive external factors or events that are not always within our control.

Joy

Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering; it is the presence of God. – Sam Storms

Ecclesiastes 3:12, “I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live.”

Joy is a deep-rooted, inspired happiness that transcends circumstances. Unlike fleeting emotions tied to external events, biblical joy is a state of contentment, confidence, and hope rooted in a relationship with God. It is often associated with spiritual well-being and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Biblical joy is a profound and enduring state of happiness rooted in a relationship with God, characterized by trust, hope, and the assurance of His presence and promises.

Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”

What is your Priority?

After a long debate and much consternation, I walked away thinking this: Joy is the essence of my existence, Contentment is a goal I have control over, and Happiness, well, I hope it visits me often. I can be joyful in any situation, even when I am discontent. The strength of that choice is God’s promise for my life. Contentment can be challenging because it typically requires physical, emotional, worldly, and spiritual living within my means. Sometimes, in a broken world, being content is problematic; it takes tenacity.

Happiness is a bluebird; in sales, we used to refer to a bluebird as a sale that dropped into your lap. That is a good metaphor. Happiness happens; it is spontaneous and serendipitous. We can build an environment that improves the likelihood of it visiting, but it takes external conditions for it to appear. Just as quickly as it comes, an event can chase it away.

Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

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Cascading Decisions

Helping othersCascading decisions rule our lives. Millions of people make millions of everyday decisions in millions of places, causing a cascade that eventually affects us. The overseas workers can make the products we bring into our homes. Their decision every morning to work hard or blow it off can eventually affect us. People’s interactions with significant others, friends, family, or co-workers affect how they go about their lives and may encroach on our lives. Product developers in companies worldwide make decisions every day that eventually seep into our existence. People we never see, talk with, or know, make decisions that eventually cause difficulties.

Why is it important to understand this human dynamic? Every day, we face challenges created outside our sphere of influence. These challenges are ours; we own them. We are the ones that react in the wake of their existence. How we react is part of the millions making decisions that affect others. We see the immediate impact on those close to us, but we may not see the ripple effect across time.

The person we cut in front of in line at the grocery store who then speaks harshly to their mate, who then takes that out on an employee. The cycle goes on. A viral tsunami of vitriol emotions that spawns outward. Just as we are the recipients of cascading decisions made by others, so are others the recipients of ours.

Prayer

“True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that – it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” – Charles Spurgeon

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Why did this come to mind? It came to mind because of its impact on answered prayer. Yes, God can and does create miracles. But I don’t think He is in the miracle business. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus constantly comments on an unbelieving world that requires signs and miracles to believe. He does not want us to rely on miracles as evidence of our faith. He wants our faith to reveal the evidence of His miracles.

1 John 5:15, “And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.”

The example that comes to mind is the fig tree Jesus cursed as He arrived in Jerusalem. It did not wither and die immediately. The fig tree revealed the evidence of the curse the next day. Prayer works that way many times. Yes, I have had the experience of prayer being answered almost immediately, which is what I would describe as a miracle. But often, my prayers are answered in a very subtle way over time. Sometimes, if I am not looking, I miss them all together. It is later that I realize the impact of that single prayer.

1 John 5:14, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

Cascading Decisions

Keep this in mind as you pray. We are not an island but part of an eight-billion-person ecosystem. Most problems we face are not simple transactions between two people but the cascading culmination of many decisions. The way God answers our prayers may affect more people than ourselves. This cascade of actions starts the moment we pray. We may not see the results of these actions for some time. It does not mean God does not go to work the moment you pray, but, like the fig tree, the results take time.

Psalm 145:18, “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”

Do not get discouraged when you feel that God did not hear you. Do not feel your faith is weak because the answer was not immediate. Be patient; let God work in the lives of all the people affected by His response. Many times, I miscalculated the complexity of my prayer only to see the impact on myself and maybe a few others. I don’t see the pattern of ripples as this one decision goes across time.

God Loves You

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

God loves you unconditionally, even when we do not reciprocate that love. God never changes. He is not affected by mere human frailties; He knows us better than we know ourselves. God knows what you are going through. What He wants from you is for you to glorify Him by coming to Him with whatever is on your mind. He wants you to invite Him into your world.

Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

The world is not too complex for Him. He created it along with the universe. God looks over every person, animal, plant, insect, molecule, and quark He created. To us, it is a giant and hostile planet constantly buffeted by the afterglow of Adam’s betrayal. To God, it is His loving creation that He carefully cares for even when we do not see it.

Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

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We Only Get One Life

We only get one life, and time flows in only one direction. Every moment is unique and irreplaceable, never to be repeated. Yet, we often fail to grasp the true value of our time. Time is one of the most precious resources in life—finite and irreplaceable. It’s easy to overlook its importance, to pretend that tomorrow will always be there. But tomorrow never truly arrives; all we have is today, this present moment. Do we honor it as we should?

James 4:13-14, “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.”

Most of us spend our entire lives reliving moments that will never come. We fill our heads with thoughts of tomorrow, conversations that will never happen, and events that will never come to fruition. We are so busy playing what-ifs with our future that we do not cherish the present. The very thing we have the most control over is the last thing we think of.

Proverbs 27:1, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

We spend a tremendous amount of time worrying about what we can accomplish in the future, creating regrets about the past. We fret over lost opportunities and missing relationships. We forget all the time we spend building scenarios that never came to fruition.

Why do We Live in the Past

Isaiah 43:18, “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.”

Humans are naturally inclined to focus more on negative experiences than positive ones. Regret often arises from situations that feel incomplete or unresolved. Without a sense of closure, the mind repeatedly revisits these moments, searching for a satisfying conclusion or attempting to rewrite the past. When our actions or decisions conflict with our values or self-image, it creates cognitive dissonance—a psychological discomfort. To alleviate this discomfort, the mind frequently replays the regretful event to find a resolution or make sense of it. Regret is often tied to unresolved emotions like guilt, shame, or sadness. These powerful and persistent feelings can lead to dwelling on what went wrong and what could have been done differently

Ecclesiastes 3:14-15, “I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; God will call the past to account.”

The past is not malleable; it is unchangeable. Our best approach to overcoming regret is to spend more time in the present moment, where our regretful actions have their genesis. God has given us this moment, right now, to do that which will resolve many of the regrets we may have in the future.

Living in the Present

Time is the brush of God as he paints his masterpiece on the heart of humanity. – Ravi Zacharias

That is not the life God has intended. God created us to glorify Him, but we cannot do that if we live in the future or regret the past. The greatest glory we can bring before God is to live the life He has planned for us. That life is not a life of worry and anxiety but a life of achieving, excelling, and joy. But if we do not take the time to experience it in the moment, then why experience it?

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

You have one life to live. It is the only life God has given you.

Being a Good Steward of Time

Proverbs 3:6,” In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

The future is yet to come. Millions of decisions, made by millions of people from millions of places, have yet to determine it. We must be mindful of the future but not live in it. Be a good steward of what God has given you. Protect it, nourish it, and help it grow. Be mindful of the sustainability of your mission, but not at the expense of today. Otherwise, you will create a vast catalog of lifelong regrets. That future you worked so hard to create will remain elusive.

Job 8:7, “Though your beginning was insignificant, yet your end will increase greatly.”

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RANDOM

Randomness seems so random. Simple concepts sometimes catch my attention. One of them is randomness. Did you know you cannot prove randomness; you can only disprove it? Just because you can not find the pattern in a sequence does not mean it doesn’t exist. But if you find a pattern, you know it is not random.

Interestingly, this also applies to a lie. If I had said that I was at home last night by myself, then the only way to prove I lied was to prove where I was. If you can’t prove the truth, the lie stands. Just because someone did not see me doesn’t mean I wasn’t out somewhere.

INCIDENTAL ME

Psalm 139:13-14, "You alone created my inner being. You knitted me together inside my mother. I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this."

Let’s start with the most random event in my life: being born a white male in the United States during the 1950’s. The answer is incredibly small, 0.065%. That is sixty-five one thousand of one percent. Each of us has a number like that in our existence. For example, the probability of a male being born in Zaire in the 1970s is 0.14%. That means it was twice as likely to be born male in Zaire in the 1970s than in the US in the 1950s. My dad had a college degree, making him among the only 6.2% of people in the United States with a degree. That means only 43 out of every million people born in the US in 1950 shared my start in life. There were only 3 million births in the United States that year. In the world, as a whole, there are less than 140 people who started life with what I had. Why is this important?

Isaiah 64:8, "Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay; you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."

God is not random. The odds of my existence, 0.004304%, are not random. I take for granted that I am who I am. I do not question my heritage. But my existence, although seemingly random, is specific. God planted me here and when for His purpose. What I have experienced in my life is not the product of random behavior. It is part of a carefully crafted plan for all of creation. Do you believe that about yourself?

ARBITRARY YOU

Jeremiah 1:4-5, "The Lord gave me this message: "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations."

I get the incredible opportunity to meet people from all over the world who God created in a much different environment. Sometimes, it is hard for me to understand the context of their existence. Those are fancy words: “I don’t get how you can accept who you are and where you are.” I find insane potential with limited opportunity. But, just as I am a carefully crafted person, designed for a specific plan in God’s kingdom, so are they. So are you.

Every Christian is born great. Greatness is inside every new creation. This greatness is what makes you unique and distinguishes you from others. – Justice Kojo Bentil

When we spend too much time trying to be someone else or somewhere else, we are disputing the sovereignty of God’s wisdom. God created our purpose and meaning before we became aware of it. The country, ethnic group, economic status, gender, education, and even our disabilities are part of the careful crafting. In our weakness, we are made strong.

Psalm 139:16, "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

What we choose to do with that craftmanship differentiates who we become. Do we see ourselves as a victim of randomness or part of a glorious plan to save all of humankind? Are the events of our lives the random results of living in a broken world? Is God crafting us to be unique within His kingdom, or is He accepting what life makes us?

THE GREAT PLAN

Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

I apologize; I had an unequaled head start in most of the world. I did not recognize it for what it was and squandered the first half of my life, thinking it was normal and random; 0.004304% had to be random. Now I know that you, me, and every other person on this planet are specifically created to achieve a purpose designed within us at birth. It is not random; the creator of the universe intentionally crafts it. We, and we alone, get to choose.  

Psalm 139:2-4, "You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord."

CHOOSE WISELY

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