Tag: Obedience

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Christian Leadership

LeadershipThe single most important thing a leader can give their best people isn’t perks or even money; it’s a goal worth their time. That is an important point. Whether we accept the role or not, as Christians we are leaders. As Christians, we are watched, and people decide whether what we say we believe in is worth investing in.

The Question

So, the question is: Do we give them a goal worth their time?

Hebrews 13:7, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”

What does your life say about your beliefs? I have written a lot about how precious time is. We don’t get do-overs for wasted time. That isn’t to say downtime is wasted, but is it intentional? Right now, I am more interested in uptime. What do we say to the world about how we use productive time to reflect a life worth living?

2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

I remember reading that Christ isn’t just preparing a place for us but preparing us for that place. To me, that means the life we are living right now as aliens on this planet has meaning. The way we live here and now is preparation for eternity.

The Answer

When people watch us go about our everyday lives, do they see something worth aspiring to? Is it appealing to them? How do we handle disappointment and setbacks? Do we interact with strangers and those in need with compassion and grace? How do we celebrate success? Do we see it as a reflection of our achievements or as the natural outcome of a greater plan?

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.”

We cannot always be happy; happiness is conditional. But we can be joyful. We can choose to see life unfolding predictably, even when we do not know the outcome. True followers know the outcome is in our best interest, even when it does not align with our plan.

We have an inner strength that gives us confidence in our abilities and keeps us from being dependent on others. We don’t compete with others because our plans differ from theirs. That is not to say we aren’t competitive, but that we see value in both winning and losing. Both have lessons worth learning.

Is there a calmness in our everyday life that is enviable? Is Christ merely a mythical figure who promises life after death, or is He real in the life I am living today? Does my life have meaning and value, or is it merely temporary and difficult to endure?

1 Timothy 4:8b, “but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

Is Christianity a goal worth my time?

Most practicing Christians ebb and flow. They see God’s hand in everyday events when they look for it, but miss the ones they were too busy to notice. Christians can see the value of compassion when it is a choice, but miss it amid a chaotic moment. They are good at implementing projects for the good of others, but often fail when life is thrust upon them.

We are all a work in progress. We are being prepared for what is next. Preparation is an active process that requires diligence and perseverance. So I ask again: As a Christian thrust into the role of leadership, are you giving others a goal worth their time?

One day at a time, one moment at a time, one decision at a time. Take care of the now, and tomorrow will take care of itself.

James 3:17, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

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I Wrote a Book

Echoes Through EternityI finished writing a book this week. It took more than two years. It wasn’t a biography or a memoir. I didn’t write about my achievements. It was about how I became me, about what happened in my life that transformed me and shaped me into who I am today.

Childhood Through Adolescence

I spent most of my early life very angry. Not at other people, but at myself. You see, I had a great father. He was a humble man who achieved great things. He quit high school at fourteen and became an itinerant farmhand, moving from job to job. When World War II broke out at 17, he lied about his age to join the Navy. He served in the Philippines on a minesweeper, clearing mines for beachhead invasions. He received two Bronze Stars for valor. His high school burned down during the war, which allowed him to attend college without a high school transcript. In college, he earned a degree in civil engineering.

He went on to become the Superintendent of Highways, the Chairman of our City Council, and the Chairman of the School Board. My dad was funny and never acted as if he were somebody. He was an incredible role model; he really was a good man. Dad was married to my mother for 72 years.

Somewhere along the line, I grew angry with myself. I never did enough, accomplished enough, or knew enough; I was consumed by anxiety about performance. That is the way I lived until my mid-forties. I wasn’t just driven; I was obsessed with my performance and accomplishments, never living up to my expectations. I was successful in business, but I never felt any relief. Despite all my earthly goods, I was not happy. By thirty, I was divorced and had a pacemaker. If someone tried to help me by giving advice, I felt humiliated because I didn’t already know what they were trying to teach me.

All of this was internalized. Outside, I was happy and well-adjusted. I didn’t want others to see my flaws. People saw me as intense and as someone who loved their work. I wish I could say that one day I broke and God fixed me, but that wasn’t what happened.

My Forties

One day in my forties, I picked up a Bible. Not because I felt God cared or even knew I existed, but because I was seeking answers. It helped. I read it cover to cover every year for about four years. I never once sought eternal salvation, only salvation from the life I lived. It calmed my anger and gave me perspective. It didn’t quench the drive within me.

Then, somehow, I came across a book by Lee Strobel titled “A Case for Christ.” Lee meticulously documented that every story in the New Testament is historically accurate. Christ lived, died, and rose again. He performed all the miracles described. I needed to go to Church. Who was this guy? This wasn’t a book of fables or stories; it was real life.

“If Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be, and He did die on a cross at a point of time in history, then, for all history past and all history future, it is relevant because that is the very focal point for forgiveness and redemption.” – Josh McDowell

Isaiah 44:22, “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”

I went from church to church in search of answers. I was not, and still am not, a fan of religion. Arbitrary rules were piled onto the gospel in an attempt to segment the marketplace (Personal Bias). I ended up at a gospel-teaching church that simply preached what the Bible says. No membership rules, no membership classes, just the gospel.

For several years, I attended this church and learned about salvation. But I was still self-driven. I was perhaps calmer, friendlier, and much less angry, yet I remained focused on myself. I now wanted to be the best Tomme Stevenson God could make.

True Conversion

Then one day, a friend gave me a cassette tape of a one-man play called “The Bema.” The question was: What have you done for Christ since you met Him? My answer: Nothing. This is where my book begins. This is where true transformation began. It was when I stopped looking only at myself and started looking outward.

The book documents how an extremely logical, pragmatic person met Christ. How Christ used my life to mold me into the person I was always meant to be. How the person I am today is a light-year away from who I was. It is the tragedy of wasting almost five decades chasing meaningless things instead of living the life I was meant to live.

1 Corinthians 1:30, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”

It was a lot of dumpster fires and train wrecks; I’m a hard guy to get through to at times. But every one of them had purpose and meaning. Every one of them changed me for the better. I started looking at God’s plan and moving away from mine: I started judging results not by what I wanted to achieve, but by what God had planned.

I am now more relaxed, still a type “A” personality, but living by God’s standard, not mine.  These last twenty-five years have been the best. The book is my best description of how that transformation took place. It is simple lessons from an ordinary life learning to live for Christ.

Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

P.S. if you want an electronic copy drop  me an email. It was created for my family, but otherwise not completely unreadable.

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Whose Side Are You On?

Whose side are you on?,Whose side are you on? I forgot the importance of that question.

Today, as on many days, I struggle to make sense of my sin. I have a good life. I want for nothing essential. God has blessed me beyond my expectations. I am not rich by worldly standards, but I am rich enough. And yet I struggle much the way Paul did.

The Challenge

I have returned from a very trying trip to Honduras. The people are great, the food is great, and we are making very good progress, but it hasn’t gone smoothly. It took way too long to be granted entry to our quarters because the on-duty guard exercised his authority. The cars behind us in line were honking in dismay. He did not have to, but he could; he was the gatekeeper. The flight back was delayed and had several gate changes, pushing my arrival to 3 a.m. the next day. I didn’t react well to either of these situations. On a good day, travel is challenging; I’m experienced enough to know this.

One of the people accompanying me had a health issue, so I had to teach and write business plans. My schedule became highly flexible. None of this was outside God’s plan, but it was outside mine. It reminded me of a passage in Joshua.

Joshua 5:13-14, “Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for our enemies or for us?’ “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?’”

The Reality

“There is but one good; that is God. Everything else is good when it looks to Him and bad when it turns from Him.” – C. S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

Joshua asked whether the angel was on his side or his enemy’s, and the Angel answered, “Neither.” I am reminded that God’s plan is always right and good, regardless of how it aligns with mine. Delays and changes do not affect God’s outcome. My stress and anxiety are mine, not His. God does not take sides. There is only one side, His.

Isaiah 45:19, “I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right.”

Sometimes my will overrides my common sense. God’s plan will always prevail. I am part of His plan, not the other way around. I was not in Honduras because I had a plan for the Honduran people I was an invited guest in God’s plan for them. It wasn’t my schedule that mattered; it was His. I will not see the outcome until this side of heaven.

I recall hearing this story once about Abraham Lincoln. It is said that a group of ministers approached Lincoln and prayed that God would be with him during his presidency. Lincoln did not want God to endorse his plan, but he wanted to follow God’s plan.

Abraham Lincoln’s reply was:
“It is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.” – Francis B. Carpenter’s Six Months at the White House with Abraham Lincoln, first published in 1866.

He didn’t want to proceed, thinking God was doing his bidding, but he was actually doing God’s. That is an important message we all need to hear. If you are in the middle of God’s plan for your life, no delay, inconvenience, or rescheduling is a surprise to God. It is all part of the plan.

Job 8:3, “Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?”

The Conclusion

It is easy to get caught up in our plans. Plan your work, work your plan. We get the illusion of being in control. God must break that illusion to bring us back to Him.

Obedience is our only responsibility, not the process or the results. We are to make ourselves available to God and use what He has given us. He will do what we can’t. I forget this at times, which leads to stress and anxiety. Neither is part of God’s plan for me.

Psalm 111:7, “The works of His hands are truth and justice; All His precepts are sure.”

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A Tree Does Not Hear Its Own Growth.

A tree does not hear the sound of its own growth

A tree does not hear its own growth resonates because it captures something deeply true about human experience.

GROWTH

Growth is usually silent as it happens. A tree does not hear the deepening of its roots, the thickening of its trunk, or the widening of its branches. It simply continues to respond to sunlight, storms, drought, seasons, and time.

Only years later does someone stand in its shade and realize what it has become.

Proverbs 21:21, “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor.”

Human growth often unfolds the same way. While we are living through it, it rarely feels dramatic or meaningful. Most days feel repetitive, uncertain, or unfinished. We tend to notice failures, limitations, and the distance left to travel more than the gradual transformation unfolding beneath the surface.

INWARD FOCUS

What we miss is that discipline becomes character, suffering becomes empathy, repetition becomes mastery, and action becomes a legacy.

Others often see the growth before we do.

That may partially explain why we sometimes doubt our impact. The person inside the process feels the struggle, not the full shape of the outcome. The tree knows only the wind’s resistance; it does not see the forest changing around it.

Philippians 2:3, “Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life.”

And perhaps that is why simple continued action matters so much. Growth rarely announces itself in the moment. It accumulates quietly until one day the results become impossible to ignore.

OUTWARD FOCUS

When outward acknowledgment becomes the primary goal, growth is often distorted, not always destroyed but redirected. Inward growth is usually anchored in truth, purpose, competence, service, curiosity, or conviction.

Outward growth is anchored in applause, comparison, visibility, approval, status, or validation.

The problem is not acknowledgment itself. Humans naturally want to be seen and valued, which is normal. The danger arises when external recognition becomes the standard for worth or progress.

Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

Because then several things tend to happen: action becomes performance, authenticity becomes branding, patience weakens because recognition is usually desired immediately, difficult but meaningful work gets abandoned if it goes unnoticed, and identity becomes dependent on audience reaction.

One of the strange realities of life is that some of the most important work receives little immediate recognition, including raising children, mentoring, caring for others, building integrity, helping people in need, and quietly serving communities.

These things often echo across decades without public acknowledgment.

THE SOUND OF YOUR ECHO

Matthew 23:12, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Meanwhile, outward validation can become addictive because it temporarily resolves uncertainty. Praise tells us:

“You matter.”
>“You succeeded.”
>“You are enough.”

But the effect fades quickly, so greater recognition is needed to sustain that feeling. That creates a cycle in which a person increasingly lives from reaction to reaction rather than from conviction to conviction.

 “Character is what a man is in the dark.” – Dwight L. Moody

Inward growth is slower and quieter, often lonelier too. Yet it tends to foster stability because the person’s direction no longer depends entirely on the crowd. Ironically, many people who create lasting impact are not primarily chasing recognition. They are absorbed in the work itself: solving the problem, building the thing, helping the people, or pursuing the mission.

Recognition sometimes follows as a side effect rather than the primary objective.

That connects to: “People should focus not on my achievements, but the change that occurs from simply acting.”

That mindset naturally protects against being trapped by external validation because it prioritizes process and consequences over image.

Don’t listen for the sound of your own growth; just keep doing.

Proverbs 20:7, “The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!”

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Measuring Pupose

Measuring PurposeMeasuring Purpose. A tree does not hear the sound of its own growth. That was a very clear message to me. I am analytical to a fault. Plan your work, work your plan, should be on my family crest. I think what I experience is something many people feel: a deep need to know if we are living our intended purpose.

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.”

The deeper challenge for us may not be determining whether our lives have meaning. Rather, it may be coming to understand that we may need to accept that meaningful lives often feel unfinished, uncertain, and insufficient while they are lived. Most of what we do, including mentoring, teaching, evangelizing, helping the underserved, communicating, encouraging, and character development, is a slow-burning influence system. We are unlikely to see most of our impact directly.

Influence usually travels farther than emotion can track.

Dr. William Leslie

Dr. William Leslie was a medical missionary who went to the Congo in 1912. He served in a remote jungle region among the Yansi people for about 17 years. On the surface, the mission was deeply discouraging: little visible response, isolation, harsh conditions, and seemingly minimal lasting impact.

Eventually, discouraged and physically worn down, he returned to the United States, believing his efforts had largely failed. He died years later, unaware of whether his work had produced anything of substance.

But decades later — in 2010 — missionaries and researchers traveled to the same remote region expecting almost no Christian influence to remain. Instead, they found multiple thriving churches, a large network of believers, villages with established worship communities, and even a large stone church deep in the jungle.

The local communities still trace much of the original gospel influence to Leslie’s early work and to the seeds sown during those difficult years.

Living Our Purpose

Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

God does not waste effort. He does not leave obedience unrewarded. God lives outside of time. He knows the task He has set before you and the results that will come from that obedience. The results may lie over the horizon. We are time-constrained beings who measure change over time, but God does not. The ripple effect of a single conversation may take generations to bear meaningful fruit. Yet that conversation needs to happen today to bear fruit somewhere in the future.

“God never said the journey would be easy, but He did say the arrival would be worthwhile.” – Max Lucado.

Be Encouraged

Do not stop doing what God has put in your heart. God smiles at every effort, gesture, and meaningful moment. He alone knows why you are passionate. He created that passion in you. I have learned to judge my impact not by the number of saved souls or changed lives, but by the effort I put in. I must be comfortable doing what God wants of me, even when I do not always know why.

Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

So often, I want to stop because I can’t see the impact. I don’t see the reason to keep going. But I am always reminded that this isn’t my plan; it’s God’s. My job is simple: obedience. God rewards me with a kind word or an unexpected compliment, just enough to keep me going.

That simple gesture tells me I am His. That is enough.

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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What Does it Mean to be Alive?

A life worth livingWhat does it mean to be alive? Is being alive the same as living? If you have breath in your lungs, why? God created you for greatness. Are you living up to God’s intent for you?

Isaiah 49:15-16, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion for the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”

Trouble in a Broken World

Troubles come, sometimes in waves. They are a product of a broken world. Sometimes that trouble is self-inflicted; other times it comes out of nowhere. But trouble does not define us; it refines us. It is one of the tools God uses to make us stronger and more relatable. We cannot speak into others’ lives with wisdom we have not earned. Unfortunately, most wisdom is born of suffering. It is regrettable how little we learn in prosperity.

Galatians 1:15, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace.”

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Given all I have been through in my life, including the unimaginable, which I not only survived but also thrived after, I still find my existence a miracle. There are 100 sextillion stars and planets in our known universe, and over eight billion people on this single spinning orb. And I am me, unique, perfect for my purpose, seeing, feeling, thinking, walking, and talking. I am the impossible. Trillions of cells in my body are continually renewed throughout my life, yet somehow I remain me. The new me retains all the attributes of the old me. I keep living. There is a reason for all of this.

Psalm 139:13-14, “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.”

The Weight of Uniqueness

One of the great lessons from the parable of the talents is the statement “to each according to his ability.” Our lives were not meant to mirror one another. We were always designed to be unique, and with that uniqueness come unique challenges. We tend to treat our challenges as greater than others’ because they are the only ones we have ever known, having lived only within this single life. They are the only challenges we have felt.

Purpose in the Midst of Pain

If every life is unique and purposeful, how do we recognize whether we are truly living according to that purpose? It is a prayerful question, not why this is happening to me, but God, what do you want me to do with what lies before me?

God promises us that we will never experience anything that is not already known to man.

1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.”

But they are unique to us. Because we are unique, trouble and temptation affect us in distinct ways. Our experience can be “like” someone else’s, but never the same. We should not view others’ lives as an enviable path, because we don’t know the totality of their existence. We have not lived their life.

The path forward still exists. If you have breath in your lungs, you have purpose. God woke you up this morning because He has something for you to accomplish. You are standing because God wants you here and now. As dark as your life may seem at times, it is a light for someone else down the road.

Your Overcoming Is Someone Else’s Hope

 “Believe that, when you are most unhappy, there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can ease another’s pain, life is not in vain.” ~ Helen Keller

It is not the challenge that gives hope; it is what you do with it that can lead someone to a better life. You are important to the person who is waiting for you in your future, just as someone is going through something that will echo in your life.

Your greatest testimony is not  memorized scripture, but a life that reflects the love of Christ.

Someone else’s survival may one day depend on what you choose to do with your suffering.

Romans 12:13, “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.”

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The Good Son, A Warning

The Good SonThe good son—do you even know who I am talking about? Luke 15:11-32 is a parable Jesus taught about a lost, wayward son who finds redemption through a good father. The story is often taught in Sunday school and is the subject of many sermons and commentaries. The focus of most of these teachings is on how the prodigal son squandered his inheritance, was redeemed by a loving father, and was restored to his family. It exemplifies the act of Christ redeeming us back into His family after we have turned our backs on Him.

This is a great story in itself. But, like many of Jesus’ teachings, this one carries a warning.

The Good Son

The part of one verse that caught my attention is in verse 28: “So his father went out and pleaded with him.” This statement describes the good son, the rule follower, who is filled with righteous indignation over the lost son’s treatment. We sometimes hear or read a commentary about this son. We hear how he, like Jonah, followed all the rules, did what was right, believed he had earned God’s blessing, and did not want to see the unworthy rewarded above himself.

Jonah ran from God to try to stop God’s salvation plan for the Ninevites. The good son simply refused to join the celebration. The good son, like Jonah, felt there was an admission price tied to redemption.

But the father went out to him and pleaded with him.

Today’s Church

Galatians 2:21, “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

I am a visual learner. If I can see something with my eyes or imagine it in my mind, I will remember it longer. So, when I read verse 28, the image that appeared in my mind was my church—actually, any church. Jesus was at the pulpit, and the wayward sons were in the congregation. They are like the thief on the cross or the Ninevites who desperately wanted grace, but Christ had to go out into the parking lot to gather all of the good sons into the church. These are the parishioners who regularly attend church, tithe, participate in community groups and Bible studies, and pray. They are working toward crowns and jewels as a reward for their service.

The people standing outside are earning their redemption by following all the rules. They see themselves as justified because they are trying. Biblically, they understand they can’t balance the scales, but at least they are making an effort. The problem is that they love God’s stuff—redemption and grace—without truly loving God.

Romans 9:30-32, “What then shall we say? That the Gentiles who did not strive for righteousness have achieved it, that is, righteousness based on faith, but that Israel, who did strive for righteousness based on the Law, did not succeed in attaining it? Why did this happen? Because they did not pursue it by faith but on the basis of works. They tripped over the stone that causes one to stumble,”

The good son is the Pharisees of biblical times. But he is also the overly righteous of our day.

The Idea of Heaven

“The critical question for our generation—and for every generation— is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there? ” ― John Piper, God Is the Gospel: Meditations on God’s Love as the Gift of Himself

They love the idea of heaven, the idea of not being sick, no pain, no sin, seeing loved ones again in an ideal environment, rather than spending eternity at the feet of Christ.

There is a song “What a God” that has lyrics that say:

If the highest place I reached is at your feet. Then I’ve done it all.

If the best thing that I’ve seen is your glory. Then I’ve seen it all,

If one word is the only thing you speak. Then I’ve heard it all,

If I feel your heart and never see your hand. I still have it all,

This is the definition of heaven. It’s not about inheriting streets of gold and rooms in a mansion: it’s not the result of a transactional relationship. It’s about receiving what we don’t deserve and basking in the glory of that gift.

At judgment, I don’t want to be caught standing in the parking lot. Jesus will come out and call me home, but it’s not the homecoming I want. I want to remember to love Christ for who He is, not what He offers. I want to be the person He made me to be, not as repayment, but out of genuine awe of who He is and what He has done for me.

Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.”

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At Some Point, We all Need a Miracle.

At some point, everyone needs a Miracle.At some point, we all need a miracle. That isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s part of being human. Sometimes life pushes us so hard that we finally see what has always been true: we were never meant to carry everything alone.

“One genuine miracle equals a thousand sermons.” — Angus Buchan

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.”

We all experience times of great need. Sometimes it’s our work or business that is in danger. Maybe it’s a loved one’s life that feels fragile and uncertain. Or it’s exhaustion, fear, or grief that we can’t even put into words. In those moments, we’re not asking for luxury or comfort—we’re asking to survive. We’re asking for hope. We’re asking God to step in where we cannot.

Most of us desire a “parting-the-Red-Sea” miracle: something clear, instant, and overwhelming. A solution that erases doubt, pain, and waiting all at once. And yes, those miracles do happen. But more often, God’s miracles occur quietly, gently, and cooperatively. They involve our obedience, our action, and our participation, even when we don’t realize it at the time.

Answered prayer often follows a pattern that is less dramatic but more personal. Not because God is distant, but because He is deeply involved in shaping us, not just rescuing us.

Here are six truths that appear again and again in Scripture:

First, God knew the need before we ever spoke it.

Psalm 139:4, “Even before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely.”

Your fear, exhaustion, and silent prayers—He already sees them. Delay doesn’t mean absence. Silence isn’t indifference. God’s timing isn’t about neglect; it’s about purpose. He’s never hurried, confused, or surprised.

Second, God could fix everything instantly without involving us.


He created the universe with just a word. God doesn’t need our help, but He desires our hearts. He wants a relationship—He wants us to walk with Him, not just watch Him.

Genesis 22:18 states blessing flows “because you have obeyed me.” Obedience isn’t a payment; it’s participation. God invites us into His work not because He is limited, but because love seeks closeness.

Third, God asks us to do what we can. Obedience is movement.

You can’t steer a ship that never leaves the dock. Obedience is often a small, quiet act when clarity is missing. God nudges rather than shouts. He asks for steps, not certainty.

Peter had to step out of the boat.
The servants had to fill the jars with water.
The widow had to gather containers.
The paralyzed man had to be carried by friends who believed.

None of these actions was glamorous; they were just faithful.

Four, God works with what we already possess.

This is often the first miracle we overlook: we are not empty.
The widow had oil.
The crowd had bread and fish.
The paralyzed man had friends.
The wedding had water jars.

We often focus on what we lack and overlook what God has already given us. Our resources may seem small, but they are never insignificant when placed in God’s hands.

Fifth, God does what we cannot do.

This is where grace comes in. Water becomes wine.
Oil multiplies.
Bread expands.
Broken bodies are healed. Fear turns into courage.

Our obedience forms the foundation. God brings the transformation. The miracle is not our work—it is His. But He graciously allows our small acts to play a part in something much greater.

Sixth, the harsh truth: it often takes longer, hurts more, and makes less sense than we wish.

This is the part we find most difficult. We see obedience as a transaction: “If I do what God wants, He will give me what I want.”

But love is not a contract. God sees farther than we do. He understands consequences we cannot imagine. What feels slow to us often provides protection. Pain might be refining. What feels confusing could be shaping a future we cannot yet see.

And yet, His promise remains steadfast:

Jeremiah 29:11, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Not comfort at all costs. Not speed at any cost. Instead, hope. Healing. Purpose. Growth.

These miracles show what compassionate faith really means:

    1. Walking on Water – Matthew 14:22–33
    2. Water to Wine – John 2:1–11
    3. The Widow and the Oil – 2 Kings 4:1–7
    4. Feeding the Five Thousand – Matthew 14:13–21
    5. The Paralyzed Man – Luke 5:17–26

Each one demonstrates effort, trust, and divine intervention working together. Each one shows God meeting people where they truly are, not where they want to be.

Miracles don’t show perfection; they reveal need.
And needing God isn’t a sign of failure; it’s the start of grace.

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Part Three: Finishing Faithfully

Finishing WellIn my three-quarters of a century, I have noticed that a life that ends well rarely happens by chance. It results from thousands of small decisions made over many years.

Knowing who you are is crucial. Acting on opportunities as they come is just as vital. But there is one more trait that distinguishes people who start strong from those who finish strong.

They endure.

The Christian life was never intended to be a short sprint. It’s a long journey that demands perseverance.

Many people start with enthusiasm. They are excited about new opportunities, new ministries, and new ideas. But over time, discouragement, fatigue, and disappointment gradually diminish that initial excitement.

The challenge isn’t in starting; it’s in persistence.

The Long Road of Faithfulness

Scripture repeatedly reminds us that endurance is part of God’s design for spiritual maturity.

James wrote:

James 1:12, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

The writer of Hebrews encouraged believers with these words:

Hebrews 12:1, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Notice that the metaphor is not a sprint but a marathon. Distance runners succeed not through short bursts of energy but through consistent persistence.

Faithfulness works the same way.

There will be times when progress seems slow. Moments will come when your efforts go unnoticed. Some of the work God asks us to do may never receive visible recognition.

But God has never measured faithfulness by applause: He measures it by endurance.

Discouragement Along the Way

One of the greatest challenges in perseverance is discouragement.

We might start a task believing it will produce quick results. When nothing happens, doubt starts to creep in. We question whether our efforts are worthwhile.

Elijah went through this after a major spiritual victory on Mount Carmel. After confronting the prophets of Baal and seeing God’s power firsthand, he soon felt discouraged and drained in the wilderness. Even God’s most faithful servants have moments when their strength runs out.

God did not rebuke Elijah for his discouragement. Instead, He restored him and sent him on his way again.

This pattern is seen throughout Scripture. Faithful individuals often go through times of exhaustion.

What distinguishes those who finish strong is not the lack of discouragement but their willingness to keep going despite it.

Quiet Faithfulness

Some of the most meaningful work in God’s kingdom happens quietly. A parent raising children with integrity. A mentor investing in younger believers. A friend who continues to care for someone who is struggling.

These actions seldom draw attention, but they influence lives in ways that resonate far beyond what we can observe.

Paul reminded the Galatians of this truth:

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.”

The harvest often comes later than we expect. But it comes.

The Finish Line

At the end of his life, the apostle Paul reflected on his journey with remarkable clarity:

2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Paul did not judge his life based on comfort or recognition. Instead, he measured it by faithfulness to the calling God had given him.

That is the true measure of a life well-lived.

Not wealth, titles, or public recognition, but faithfulness.

A clear identity in Christ.

The courage to seize opportunities when God opens doors. And the perseverance to continue walking that path, year after year. Lives built on those three marks rarely make headlines.

But in eternity, they will be remembered.

And when the race is finished, the faithful servant hears the words that matter most:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

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Logos Hope, the true hope.

Logos Hope 2026 BermudaLogos Hope, the true hope. I just spent a week in an environment that should be impossible. Let me paint a picture. You are the head of a family of five, three children ages 18, 19, and 20. You tell the first child, you are responsible for kitchen. Buy all the food, cook all the meals, wash the dishes and mop the floor. The second child you instruct that they are responsible for the household. They clean, sweep, do laundry, and mend broken things. The third child is responsible for all things dealing with transportation, if anyone wants to go anywhere, at any time, you take them. And, this assignment lasts two years. You work five days, take one day to help your neighbors, and then you get one day of rest.

HOW LONG WOULD THIS LAST?

On Logos Hope, over twenty years. There are no passengers, only crew. They maintain everything from the engine room, galley, cabins, and all decks. They work five days, have one community day, and one day off a week. Sounds like a slave gallon of ancient Rome.

Hebrews 10:24, “And let us consider how we spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

It’s not. It is the most amazing experience I have ever witnessed. 350 Christian adolescents from 60 different countries working together to not only keep this floating city running, but serving every community they interact with in incredible, meaningful ways. They accomplish this with extreme harmony. There will always be good days and bad days in anyone’s life, but this crew bands together in every situation to help and support each other.

STORIES

Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill can not be hidden.”

The stories are as amazing as the people themselves. A young lady from Russia had a recurring dream for several year about being on a white boat. One day someone told her about Operation Mobilization, a Christian based non- profit. She went to their website to scroll through the information. There, in full color, was her white boat. She tried to dismiss it, but the connection was too strong. Filling out the application she thought nothing would come of it. She is now 30 years old and has been volunteering on Logos Hope for five years.

Roman’s 12:4-4, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, each member belongs to all the others”

A teenage from Moldavia had just graduated from high school with no plans, and no direction. Her plan, get a job, and then exist like everyone else. She heard of Logos. It was something outside of her comfort zone. Her church encouraged her to apply. At 18 years old she is happily part of the crew. She says her life will never be the same. It now has purpose and meaning. She can not go back to being who she was.

I can tell you stories from Kyrgyzstan, Zambia, Argentina, Singapore, Malaysia, United States and many more. They are all the same. Decision to chase the uncertain that dramatically changed lives.

COMMUNITY DAYS

What are community days? Every crew member must sign up for a community day each week. A community day could be a visit to the local prison, it could be handing out fliers that describe the weekly events held on or around Logos. These events are seminars, bible studies, entertainment, painting local schools, ship tours, performing in plays. Any number of things that have been scheduled by advance teams working with the local community.

1 Peter 4:10, “Each of you should use whatever gifts you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.“

Logos stays in each port about two weeks. It has the largest floating book store in the world, with over 5,000 titles. It has a doctor, a dentist and teachers for the volunteer’s children. At each stop crew members dramatically impact the community receiving them.

If you want an experience that will change you forever, check out Logos Hope on the Operation Mobilization website. Commitments are for three month, six months, one year, and two years. They also schedule one week “vision trips” for groups interested in knowing more.

2 Corinthians 5:20, “ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God we are making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God.”

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