Tag: Love

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To A Warrior Princess, My Undying Gratitude

Warrior PrincessTo my warrior princess, you know who you are. You have changed my life for the better and challenged me to be greater.

Yesterday I talked with a friend from Kyrgyzstan. She is only in her 20s—beautiful, intelligent, and motivated. A Christian, she recently moved alone to another Central Asian country to start a ministry that reflects her faith. She is a warrior for the Kingdom of God. She will make a difference in the world around her.

Romans 10:14-15, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard, and how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” 

I Stand in Awe.

I stand in awe. The courage. The confidence. The selflessness. All gifts from God’s hand. And I wonder—what could my life have been like if, in my 20s, I had lived with that same boldness?

But here’s the truth: God creates each life uniquely. No purpose is more important than another. Impact doesn’t determine worth. God knows exactly what He is doing.

We are all created with purpose. Whether we cross borders to sow seeds of faith or quietly support a neighbor who feels overlooked, both leave a mark in eternity.

I am an engineer and a computer scientist at heart. Words are not my first language, they do reflect my experiences. Over the years, I’ve met people who will never have the material advantages I’ve had, yet they possess something far greater.

It’s a relentless determination to make a difference—a fire that cannot be bought or taught. It humbles me. I realize how insignificant my own achievements are compared to their faith, courage, and sacrifice.

Gifts

They remind me that God distributes gifts in different ways. He gives some people resources and others resilience. He calls some to build and others to go. Yet He invites all of us to make a difference where we are.

1 Corinthians 12:27, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

No act is greater than another. Every gift counts. Every act of obedience echoes through eternity

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Where Were You?

Where Were YouWhere were you when My children were being murdered, raped, and starved? I gave you talents, resources, relationships, opportunities, and passion. I placed you in a world where you could flourish. As My chosen, I fed you, protected you, and surrounded you with abundance. And when My children cried out in need—where were you?

Isaiah 58:10, “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.”

The World Groans

The world groans under the weight of evil. This message is not for the lost, but for the found— for those whom God has blessed with safety, wealth, and comfort so they might care for those who have none. But we, the protected, have grown numb. We live such entitled lives that we fail to see the purpose behind the blessings God has poured upon us. We chase comfort, not calling; we protect our way of life instead of protecting life itself.

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…”

One day, when judgment arrives—and it will—I fear we will hear God’s voice echoing through eternity: “Where were you?” He will cry that His people—those He trusted with resources and influence—used them for comfort instead of compassion. They followed culture rather than Christ. They built bigger houses, bought faster cars, and stored up treasures on earth while His children went hungry.

The World At Large

Imagine being born into a world where a warlord raped your mother, where, as a child, you were forced to kill strangers, and where your sister died of hunger while you watched helplessly. You never knew love, never felt safety, never heard laughter that wasn’t born of cruelty. You look up at the same night sky we do, and you ask, “If there is a God of love, where is He?” And God cries out once more, “Where were you, My chosen people?”

Colossians 3:12, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”

We send missionaries who talk about love, but the hungry wonder, “Where is it?” We parachute into their pain, bringing gifts and good intentions, then retreat to our comforts, convinced we’ve made a difference. Yet, all too often, we leave behind only disappointment— hope that flickered for a moment and then faded. They stay, still hungry, still hurting, still asking where God is— while we scroll, shop, and sleep peacefully.

Mark 10:21-22, “Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.”

Where Were You?

1 John 3:17, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”

Many faithful believers will one day stand before their Maker, expecting crowns and jewels, but instead meet a tearful God who asks, “Where were you when My people suffered?” Jesus said the poor will always be among us—not merely because the world is broken, but because He knew our comfort would be too precious to sacrifice.

“Whenever you serve others in any way, you are actually serving God.” — Rick Warren

So I challenge you: Travel to a place where the world is harsh and hope is fragile. Don’t go to preach—go to listen. Sit with them. Hear their stories. See the image of God in faces marked by suffering. Ask yourself what your life might have been if you were born in their village, not yours.

James 1:27, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

If you do, and you truly listen, you’ll never see the night sky the same way again. You will understand why God still asks, “Where were you?”

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He Said ‘Come’—So He Did, and Everything Changed

The man in the middleBecause the man on the middle cross said I could come, that is what the thief might have said when standing before God. He didn’t mention Bible studies or mission trips. Acceptance wasn’t guaranteed by theology or learning; it was guaranteed because one man said he could come. That man was the representation of our living God. He was part of the Trinity, and He died so that we may live.

Romans 11:33-34, Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has become His counselor?

We complicate salvation. It becomes a mystical and complex mix of rules and actions. We shape it into something we should do or say, fitting what Christ did on the cross into a set of beliefs and standards that reflect our understanding of human behavior. Christians cannot escape cause and effect. Everything has a cost we must pay, even when we know it’s not nearly enough.

Greatest Generation

My dad taught me early on that anything worth having is worth working for. He believed that the value we assign to what we own is directly related to the sacrifice it takes to get it. He was part of the “Greatest Generation” that gave everything for our freedom during World War II. They knowingly and intentionally stormed the beaches of Normandy. Forty-four thousand twenty-seven soldiers died that day taking that beach. Sacrifice was a core part of who he was.

Isaiah 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

We attach a human cost to every action and reaction. Humans are not capable of thinking outside of their experiences. Even our fantasies are grounded in experience.  Our imagination is a composite of various sights and sounds from our past. How can we be expected to understand true grace as demonstrated on the cross?

The Thief

Luke 23:41, “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

The thief didn’t have time to consider theology. His sin overwhelmed him and led him to hang beside Jesus. Nailed to a cross, he was unable to do good deeds or show kindness. It was too late to read or debate God’s word. All the efforts we made to secure our place among the believers who have gone before us were beyond his reach. He stored no crowns or jewels up in heaven waiting for him. Yet, Christ saved him.

Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

We struggle to understand that we are saved by grace so that no one can boast. We avoid this truth by claiming that our good works are a sign of God’s grace. Unlike the thief, we use our time and opportunities to show ourselves and others that we are saved.

Entrance Into Heaven

Luke 23:43, “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”

The thief was lucky that it was God and not us who admitted him into heaven. For God, it was enough that Christ invited the thief and the thief accepted the gift of that invitation. We would have wondered how he got there. He didn’t have the pedigree; no church membership, no experience of giving to the poor, no sacrifice of tithing, not even a single attendance to Bible study. How could he possibly qualify? Everything has a price, even if that price is beyond our ability to repay.

“God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, “I love you.” – Billy Graham.

Christ paid that price in full. Nothing we can do will ever take away that gift willingly given by Christ. Don’t focus on performance. Like the thief, be always thankful that the King of Kings invited you. Stay humble in His presence.

Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

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Victims of the Enemy: A Christian Perspective on Non-Believers

Grace means undeserved kindnessNon-believers are not my enemies; they are victims of my enemy. That statement shed new light on how I engage with those who haven’t had the privilege of meeting my Savior. Non-believers are victims of ignorance and misinformation. We can’t reasonably expect non-Christians to act like anything other than non-believers.

Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness.”

Samuel Butler popularizes an old English proverb in his 1664 satirical poem Hudibras that says, “A man convinced against his will is of the opinion still.” If we view non-believers as stubborn, contrarian believers, we overlook the context of their lives. Most are living a life they believe aligns with what they know. Our enemy has indoctrinated them into believing they are normal and that Christians are abnormal.

2 Timothy 2:24, “The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone. Able to teach, not resentful.”

What We Present versus What We Say

“How you live your life is a testimony of what you believe about God.” – Henry Blackaby

We have all sinned and continue to sin. If we, who understand Christ’s love for us, keep sinning, what can we expect from non-believers? Non-believers don’t share our sense of right and wrong, and even with all our knowledge, we still struggle to stop sinning. Isn’t it hypocritical for us to judge non-believers based on their sin?

“Our world does not need to hear more people talk about God or even about Jesus if those people do not have a lifestyle that reinforces every word they utter. The interesting thing is that the closer we walk in intimacy with God, the less we have to say. Our very lives become a bold and beautiful testimony to the purity, the freedom, and the beauty of the Lord Jesus.” – Dennis F. Kinlaw

If we interact with a non-believer from the perspective of their sin versus my sin, we have set up a confrontation. Confrontations often lead to defensive behavior, which ultimately results in closed minds.

Christian Humility

Luke 14:11, “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Humility is the ability to see all people the way God does. Part of that understanding is recognizing that we are all uniquely and wonderfully made for the purpose God has for each of us. In God’s eyes, none of us is better or worse; we are all equally valuable.

Just because non-believers’ hearts have been captured by our shared enemy doesn’t make them less valuable. Misguided and misinformed, but no less valuable.

Humility is the key to opening doors. Approaching each person with the intent of understanding them first, then guiding them with the love and compassion of Christ, will bring benefits to their lives. Knowing that you accept them as a person first and foremost creates trust. That trust is the currency of meaningful dialogue.

Christian Pride

As Christians, we know how it all ends. We know we are on the winning side. Christians can feel self-righteous, taking pride in the fact that our sins are forgiven and that we will be with Christ.

Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

This pride over something we had no control over. We did not save ourselves. The same God who saved us can and will save those we see as sinners. We should approach this immeasurable gift with humility. Jonah did not want God to save the people of Nineveh because, in his eyes, the Ninevites were not worthy of salvation. Many Christians do not see non-believers who are living in sin as worthy of salvation. Yet we still struggle with our sin.

Evangelism is an act of love and compassion. It is creating a safe place for discussion.

“Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their disbelief in God” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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Last Day on Earth

Take care of your life, and the Lord will take care of your deathIf today were your last day on earth, how would you live it? Reflect on life’s meaning, priorities, and what truly matters most. Most of us don’t get that kind of warning. But if we did, would we choose differently? I don’t mean to sound morbid—but it’s a powerful question worth asking.

James 4:14, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

“You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense.” — Rick Warren

The Accident

I passed a horrific accident on the interstate after visiting family. Metal twisted like paper. Debris littered the highway. Both cars had rolled at high speed. Their roofs lay shredded and torn off completely. The wreckage screamed devastation. No one could have survived.

My first thought: Were they ready to die this morning when they woke up?

Psalm 39:4, “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.”

Today probably started like any other day for them, except for the excitement of a trip. Plans were made, all the essential things needed for the trip were gathered and stored, and life moved forward. Most of us begin each day expecting it to continue normally.

We rarely think: This is the day I stand before God. We assume today will unfold like yesterday. But sometimes, it doesn’t.

The Conversation

I remember a conversation from years ago with an inmate on death row. I was curious about how it feels to know the exact time and date of your death. To me, it seemed frightening and unsettling. He became a Christian in prison; his response was that it was comforting. He then asked, “Do you know if you will live to make it home? Were you prepared?” Life has a way of disrupting our plans. That really stayed with me.

Proverbs 16:9, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Seeing this accident reminded me of his statement. Did I wake up this morning with the intent to live today as if it were my last? Do I live that way every day? Sadly, my answer is “No.” Somehow, I expect to keep living, pretty much the same way I always do. I make a few adjustments along the way, but that is about it.

The Realization

Tomorrow is not guaranteed. There are apologies we’ve postponed. People who need to hear the Gospel. Loved ones we haven’t embraced. Invisible neighbors who crave recognition. It’s easy to let the urgent override the essential. Easy to say, “I’ll get to that later.”

But what if later never comes?

“Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their disbelief in God.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I want you to be prepared. Take a moment every morning to think about it and respond accordingly.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” –

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Do You Love Me?

,Love is a verbDo you love me? That was the question Jesus asked Peter.

John 21:15-17, “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’
‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’
Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’
Again, Jesus said, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’
Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’
The third time he said to him, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’
Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’”

We often talk about our “favorite” Bible verses or choose a “verse of the day,” but the Bible is much more than just inspirational quotes. It’s a collection of love letters—some written by specific people to certain recipients and some anonymous—all pointing to God’s deep affection for us and how we should respond with affection for Him.

God’s Love for Us

Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us—not because we deserved it, but because His compassion is so great that He wants us with Him forever. Our salvation is a priceless gift that we could never earn or repay. There’s nothing we can do to make God love us more, and nothing we can do to make Him love us less.

Our Love for God

So, how do we show our love for God?

God gives us the ingredients for our daily bread, but he expects us to do the baking!  – Chip Ingram

It’s not enough just to say we love Him or even to pray for others. We must show our love through how we live—by obeying God’s Word and ensuring our actions reflect our faith. Without actions that demonstrate our love, we can fool ourselves into thinking we believe in something we don’t truly believe.

James 2:18-20, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe in one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”

It isn’t about working in a soup kitchen or going on mission trips, it is about the daily display of compassion, patience, and understanding. It is about living your life as God would have you live it. Glorifying yourself through grand gestures so people think you are a good person isn’t it.

This self-deception is dangerous.

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

This is a danger we might not even see until it’s too late.

A Warning

God warns us clearly: We must demonstrate our faith and trust in Christ through good deeds. However, good deeds alone, without love for Christ, are meaningless. Our faith should inspire us to care for others, but doing so without loving Christ is also empty of meaning.

We must recognize God as the source of our love and life, giving thanks to Him in all we do.

Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

You can’t be saved just by caring for others — anyone can do that. But you need to demonstrate that you are saved by caring for others.

1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

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Silence is Rarely Silent

Sound of SilenceThe Sound of Silence

Silence is rarely silent. Often, it is louder than the surrounding voices. When we sit back and allow contrary and even destructive voices to drown out the voices of compassion, our silence becomes a statement. It reflects who we are and who we choose to be: apathetic.

Zechariah 7:9: “Show kindness and compassion to one another.”

When we turn away from someone in need and ignore those struggling to survive or be recognized, our inaction resonates louder than words. It suggests that their lives are less significant than ours. We proclaim that our chaotic, confusing, and busy existence is more valuable than compassion or grace, as if their stories matter less than ours.

“Sometimes loneliness makes the loudest noise.” ― Aaron Ben-Ze’ev

The Sound of Apathy

Silence is rarely silent. Not offering a kind word or an act of compassion often does more harm than harsh words. It leaves the other person feeling invisible and without value. Some argue that anger is better than apathy because at least anger still involves feeling. Apathy, however, is a void; it’s the absence of love, empathy, and connection.

Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

The powerful aspect of compassion is that it transforms us. When we choose to see others and enter their lives, we begin to perceive a richer, more understanding world. We come alive by helping others feel alive. That’s not a burden—it’s a gift. Silence eats away at the core of who God made us. It degrades the essence of who we are, created in His image.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” – Leo Buscaglia.

The Sound of God’s Whisper

Silence drowns out the whisper of God’s love calling us to action. God doesn’t force us to care; He doesn’t demand action. He gently whispers through love, inviting us to respond not out of obligation but out of gratitude. Loving others isn’t a requirement for earning God’s love—it’s a result of receiving it.

Proverbs 11:17. “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”

Yes, life is demanding. We have schedules to keep, responsibilities to manage, and our wounds to heal. But the challenge isn’t whether we’ll face obstacles; it’s whether we’ll rise above them. Whether we’ll choose the path of love, even when it’s inconvenient. Life will offer you the rationalization needed to move on in silence. But is that God’s nature? God never chose silence when we were in need. He gave His son that we may live. And if we want to reflect His heart, neither can we.

Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

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The Answer I Didn’t Expect

Answered PrayerThe answer I didn’t expect was created because it wasn’t within my design.

I asked for Strength, God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom; God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for Courage, God gave me difficulties to overcome.
I asked for Love, God gave me troubled people to help.

James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Missed Answers

When I first read this quote, it stopped me. Not because it was profound, which it is, but because it held a mirror to my own life. For years, I have prayed for strength, wisdom, courage, and love. But I didn’t always recognize the answers when they came. Sometimes, they appeared as an inconvenience; other times, as a hardship. And often, they showed up wearing the face of someone in need.

Proverbs 16:16, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!”

“Faithful servants have a way of knowing answered prayer when they see it, and a way of not giving up when they don’t.” – Max Lucado.

It’s easy to assume that when we ask God for something good, the answer will be immediate and obvious—a clear path, a burst of energy, a wise insight at just the right time. But more often, God works through the long road. He doesn’t hand us strength like a tool; He gives us opportunities to become strong. And that usually means facing difficulty, struggle, and pain— the kind that tests our resolve and stretches our soul until we feel like snapping.

Psalm 56:3-4, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise— in God, I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Answers Refined through Fire

I’ve worked among people who have very little by the world’s standards—materially, economically, and politically. And yet they are some of the wealthiest people I’ve known. Why? Because they live lives filled with difficulty that have taught them endurance, humility, and generosity. They don’t ask for an easy life. They ask for the grace to keep going. They don’t quote books, they live wisdom.

God’s answers are rarely what I imagined. When I asked for wisdom, I found myself in rooms where I didn’t understand the language or the culture, trying to solve problems I didn’t create. When I asked for courage, I was sent into uncertain territory, sometimes physically, often spiritually. And when I asked for love, I was given the chance to care for people whose needs and pain made me uncomfortable, people who challenged my assumptions, interrupted my plans, and needed more than I thought I could give.

1 John 4:7, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

Answers Disguised as Burdens

In those moments, I’ve learned something important: God’s blessings often come disguised as burdens. And in serving others, especially the “troubled people” the quote mentions, I’ve discovered not only love but the very heart of God.

Mark 11:24, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

This quote isn’t a feel-good slogan; it’s a map, a pattern, a reminder that the life of faith isn’t about avoiding pain or staying comfortable—it’s about transformation. We are forged in the fire of difficulty, not destroyed by it. We grow through the problems we’re called to solve. We find courage not in the absence of fear, but in facing it with purpose. And we learn to love by pouring ourselves out for others, especially those the world has forgotten.

True Blessings

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed or underprepared, take heart. Perhaps you’re not failing; maybe you’re in the middle of an answered prayer.

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.”

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The Church in Aisle Five: How the Marketplace Becomes Your Ministry

The Legacy you leaveThe church in aisle five: how the marketplace becomes your ministry. For many individuals who do not attend church—whether due to disbelief, disinterest, or disillusionment—the only Christian witness they may encounter isn’t a pastor behind a pulpit but a businessperson behind a counter.

They may never sit through a sermon, open a Bible, or step foot in a sanctuary. But they will, at some point, buy a cup of coffee, get a haircut, or ask for help at a hardware store. In those moments, the person across from them—ringing up the order, sweeping the floor, or fixing a mistake—might be the closest thing to “church” they ever experience.

For the Christian businessperson, that makes the marketplace their ministry.

If you’re going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can’t be erased. – Maya Angelou

A Life That Echoes

Most of us want our lives to matter. We long to leave behind more than just a name—we want to leave something meaningful. For me, that “something” isn’t fame or success, but an echo of grace or wisdom that outlives me—something so rich in truth and compassion that it gets passed on, told, and retold. We should not strive to leave a legacy FOR people but leave a legacy IN people.

Sean Rowe captures this beautifully in his song “To Leave Something Behind”:

“I’m not trying to change your mind, ’cause I was born to leave something behind.”

Every interaction in the marketplace is an opportunity for that echo—an opportunity to live out grace, patience, mercy, truth spoken gently, and love without strings attached.

It might seem like a kind word to a weary mother, eye contact and presence with a grieving man who struggles to express his pain, or grace for a customer who erupts in frustration. These seemingly small moments may hold more power than a thousand sermons.

The Ministry Outside of Religion

People in pain seldom inquire about theology or doctrine. Most quietly ask, “Is there a love big enough to meet me in this hurt?”

And you, as a follower of Christ in business, might be the one God has placed in their path.

2 Corinthians 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us”

Sometimes, that appeal doesn’t sound like a sermon—it feels like warmth, kindness, and safety. Your office, your store, your place of business—it becomes an oasis in a chaotic world—a moment of hope for someone who has long stopped looking for it.

Ministry From the Heart

Polina Gelman, a member of the WWII Soviet bomber squadron known as the “Night Witches once said: “That which is done from the call of the heart is always better than that which is done out of obligation.”

How much more true is this when Christ forms that heart?

Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”.

You don’t need to preach to reflect Jesus. You need to live in such a way that someone walks out of your shop or office thinking: I felt seen, I felt safe, and I felt, somehow… loved.

That experience could be the beginning of their faith. That kindness might be your legacy. That moment could mark the start of your echo.

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world.”

Even in aisle five.

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You Were Chosen to Bear Fruit That Lasts

You were chosen to bear fruit that lasts. Your existence is not temporal; it is eternal.  Your actions are not of someone who passes through, but of someone who is sent.

John 15:16 says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit—and that your fruit should remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” — John Piper, Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist.

Let me tell you a story.

It was late fall. I remember because it was already dark as I stepped off the MARTA train and started walking toward my destination. The air had that unmistakable chill, not the clean, biting cold of the north, but the damp Georgia kind that creeps under your coat and settles in your bones.

I was late to meet a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. My head was down, shoulders hunched against the wind, when I caught the faint shape of a man standing across the courtyard. Just a shadow. But then, a voice inside me—quiet, yet impossible to ignore—said, “Stop.”

So I stopped.

The man wore a trench coat, but it looked more for appearance than warmth. He stood there, glancing left and right like he didn’t know what to do next. I thought, I’m late, and began to move on.

I Couldn’t Walk Away

Then came another whisper: “To the least of these…”

Matthew 25:40, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

It wasn’t a command. Not even a plea. Just a gentle reminder—truth spoken in stillness. That’s how God often speaks. He doesn’t shout. He doesn’t push. He invites.

For the first time, I honestly looked at the man. His face told the story his words never would. Pain, loss, and disappointment. His Eyes were far older than his age. I knew that if I engaged, I would step into his burden. And I also knew, once I saw him—really saw him—I couldn’t walk away.

So I asked quietly, “Can I help you?”

That’s all it took. A small gesture, but to him, it meant everything. I gave him what I had, and it was enough. He straightened his back, shook my hand, and nodded a quiet thanks. But his eyes—those eyes—spoke volumes: relief, surrender, maybe even hope.

As I turned to leave, something pulled at me again. I looked back and said, “You know, God loves you. That’s why I’m here right now.”

And he smiled. “Yes, sir, I truly know that.”

“Small acts, when done with great love, can change the world.” – Inspired by Mother Teresa,

You Were Chosen for Moments Like These

God is not only the Author of great missions and lifelong callings—what we sometimes call BHAGs (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals)—but also the quiet, divine interruptions. The ones that whisper instead of roar. The ones that change you, if you let them.

Isaiah 6:8, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”

Sometimes he plants a seed, tends it over time, and gently shapes us for something big. But other times, He says, “Look. Right there. That one.” And when we look, it takes our breath away.

Those moments are memorial stones. I keep them in my heart like reminders—evidence that God invited me into His plan, not because He needed me, but because He loves me.

He chose me. He chooses you. To bear fruit—lasting fruit.

Answer the call. Be the one who stops, who listens, who speaks life into the hurting. I can’t fully explain how it will change you, only that it will. Forever.

Be that Person.

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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