Month: March 2026

My text message flashed a beautiful picture of my friends. They were seated at a formal dinner. He was laughing, looking at his wife, who was laughing back at him. They looked like honeymooners—completely in love. And they were. But their smiles hid a tragic truth. He was dying of cancer and had only a few months left to live. The photograph was sent to me by his wife just days after he passed away—a quiet, poignant reminder of the life and love they had shared.

As I reflected on that image, something struck me. From the moment we are born, we begin to die. Most of us live as though that reality is distant—almost theoretical. We assume there will be more time… more years, more chances, more tomorrows. But for some, like my friends, that illusion is stripped away.

She later told me that when she learned of his diagnosis, everything changed. The little things that once irritated her no longer mattered. The habits, the inconveniences, the minor frustrations—all of it faded. She began to live each day with the awareness that it could be his last. And because of that, she lived differently. She loved more intentionally. She valued time more deeply. She refused to be distracted by what didn’t matter.

It is sobering that it often takes a terminal diagnosis to wake us from our complacency. I see this in myself. How easily I allow small annoyances to consume my thoughts—a flat tire, spoiled milk, a forgotten task. These things steal attention and energy from what truly matters. It shouldn’t be this way.

Scripture does not just remind us that life is short—it teaches us how to live because it is short.

So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12 (ESV)

To “number our days” is not to live in fear of death…but to live with clarity about life. It is to recognize that our time is limited—and therefore precious. And even more than that, Scripture reminds us that our lives are not drifting aimlessly toward death…they are moving toward eternity.

I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.
John 11:25 (ESV)

This changes everything. If we truly believe this, then our days are no longer random or disposable. They are appointed. We are called to live with urgency—but not anxiety. With purpose—but not panic. With eternal perspective—not temporary distraction. The question is not whether we are dying. The question is: Are we living in light of eternity? Are we loving well? Are we using our time for what lasts? Are we sharing the hope we claim to believe?

Because one day, like my friend, our time here will end. And what will matter then is not what annoyed us…but what we did with the life we were given.

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.

#faith #trustinggod #christianity #jesuschrist #bible #seekinggodswill #truth #sanctification #godisincontrol #godhearsourprayers #salvation #providenceofGod #wearealldying #Psalm90:12 #John11:25

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I was reading a book on the history of surgical pathology in America. The author, a renowned surgical pathologist and editor of one of the standard textbooks, had compiled an exhaustive account of the institutions and key figures in the growth of this important discipline. As I perused the chapters, one paragraph stood out. The author described a surgical pathology fellow as one of the brightest physicians ever to train at that institution. His name was the same name that had been on the office I now occupied. I paused. To be mentioned by name alongside dozens of giants in the history of surgical pathology was a rare honor. As I learned more about him from hospital administration and former colleagues, I understood why he was held in such high esteem.

In medicine, names matter. They are remembered, cited, and honored. The Bible also records many names.

Some are familiar—Adam, Eve, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Peter, Paul, and John.
Others are less familiar—Micaiah, Hananiah, Tychicus.

To be mentioned by name in Scripture is no small thing. But there is one name… mentioned only once.

Jahaziel.

And the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel…
2 Chronicles 20:14 (ESV)

Jahaziel was a prophet. At a moment of national crisis, a vast coalition of enemies had surrounded Judah. King Jehoshaphat, overwhelmed and afraid, cried out to God. And in the middle of that assembly—not from the throne, not from the generals, not from the most recognized voices—God spoke through a man mentioned only once.

Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed… for the battle is not yours but God’s.
2 Chronicles 20:15 (ESV)

Jahaziel did not build a legacy. He did not write a book. He did not establish a school. He was not quoted again. He simply spoke when God called him to speak. And it was enough. The next day, Judah went out—not in strength, not in strategy, but in obedience. And God gave them victory.

In our world, we measure significance by recognition. Titles. Publications. Positions. Influence. Reputation. We remember the names written in textbooks. We honor the ones repeated in history. But heaven keeps a different record. Jahaziel is mentioned once—and yet, in that one moment, he carried the voice of God. That is enough.

The question is not whether your name will be remembered by others. The question is this:
When the moment comes… will you be listening?
Will you be willing to speak when God calls you to speak?
Will you trust Him when the situation in front of you feels overwhelming?
Will you stand still when everything in you wants to fight, control, or fix?

Because the battle was never theirs to win. And it is not yours either. There may be situations in your life right now that feel impossible—decisions, conflicts, uncertainties, burdens you cannot carry. You are not being asked to conquer them. You are being asked to: Stand firm. Trust. Watch what God will do.

Jahaziel had one moment. And he was faithful in it. You may only have a few moments like that in your life. Don’t miss them. Because being known by God is far greater than being  emembered by men.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

#faith #trustinggod #christianity #jesuschrist #bible #seekinggodswill #truth #sanctification #godisincontrol #godhearsourprayers #salvation #providenceofGod #Jahaziel #2Chronicles20:14

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I was watching a young man place a flower on every grave that did not have one. It was a simple act… but a beautiful one. One that spoke louder than any sermon. He moved quietly, without drawing attention to himself, stopping at each grave that had been overlooked—each one a life that, at least for that moment, seemed forgotten. The truth is, he likely did not know a single name. And even if no one else ever saw what he was doing… I did. And it left a deep impression on me. Both he—and the people he honored—were unnamed… but not forgotten. The Bible tells us of a man like that. Not famous. Not celebrated. Not even named. Only described as “a man of God.”

And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Bethel…

1 Kings 13:1 (ESV)

He appeared at a critical moment in Israel’s history, during the reign of King Jeroboam—a king who had led the nation into sin. Standing before the altar, he cried out against it. But he didn’t just warn of judgment. He spoke a prophecy—specific, bold, and seemingly impossible. A son would be born to the house of David. His name would be Josiah. And one day, that king would defile that very altar.

Then, just as suddenly as he appeared…he was gone. No recognition. No following. No legacy attached to his name. Just obedience. And yet—God did not forget. Centuries passed. Kings rose and fell. Generations came and went.

And then…

…according to the word of the LORD that the man of God proclaimed…

2 Kings 23:16 (ESV)

Josiah came. The altar was torn down. The prophecy was fulfilled. And what an unnamed man had spoken…stood.

Here is the tension we live in: We live in a world that wants to be seen. To be known. To be remembered. We measure significance by recognition. By titles. By influence. By visibility. But God measures something entirely different. Faithfulness. If God has called you to serve Him…you may never be recognized. You may never be known. You may never see the full impact of your obedience in your lifetime. But that does not mean it does not matter. Because the same God who fulfilled His word through an unnamed prophet…is still at work today. Still seeing. Still remembering. Still accomplishing His purposes—through those who are willing to obey Him. And here is the gospel truth: Your name is not secured by what you accomplish…but by who you belong to.

Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Luke 10:20 (ESV)

Through faith in Jesus Christ, you are not just remembered—you are known. Fully. Eternally. Unnamed in this world…but never forgotten in God’s Kingdom.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

#faith #trustinggod #christianity #jesuschrist #bible #seekinggodswill #truth #sanctification #godisincontrol #godhearsourprayers #salvation #providenceofGod #unnamedbutnotforgotten #1Kings13:1

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The recent rains had provided the perfect setting for the weeds to take over my yard. I had allowed it to grow unabated, living up to its reputation of growing like a weed. These were not ordinary weeds. The main stalks were sometimes an inch in diameter. No easy fix—each weed would need to be snipped with heavy loppers, suitable for tree branches.

As I began the task, it was satisfying to see the weeds topple as I cut the base. Clearing a path through this forest, I discovered the true extent of my neglect. The weeds branched out along the ground, giving rise to multiple stalks. Simply cutting one stalk only revealed a greater network beneath. It was the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The problem was far worse than I anticipated.

If I had been proactive, I could have destroyed the weeds when they were young sprouts, just after the first rain. I waited too long. This was familiar.

I treat sin in my own life in a similar manner. I address what is visible—what has already grown thick and obvious. I cut down what others can see. But beneath the surface, the roots remain. Quiet. Expanding. Multiplying. And like those weeds, sin rarely stays contained.

Scripture warns us:

Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
1 Corinthians 5:6 (ESV)

What is small does not stay small. What is tolerated spreads.

The unchecked thought.
The quiet resentment.
The subtle pride.
The private compromise.

Left alone, they grow—beneath the surface, out of sight, until what once seemed insignificant becomes strong, entrenched, and difficult to remove. Even in the language of love, we are reminded:

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.
Song of Solomon 2:15 (ESV)

It is often the small, hidden things that cause the greatest damage. What could have been pulled easily at the beginning…eventually requires something far more painful to cut away.

But there is grace—even here. Because unlike my yard, where I must do the work myself, the Lord does not leave me alone with the roots. He sees deeper than I do. He reaches where I cannot. And through confession, repentance, and surrender, He does what I am unable to do on my own—He begins to uproot what has taken hold beneath the surface. Not all at once. But faithfully. Patiently. Completely.

Perhaps today is not the day to be overwhelmed by how much has grown. Perhaps today is simply the day to begin—to bring even the smallest weeds into the light before they become something more. Before they take over what was meant to bear fruit.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

#faith #trustinggod #christianity #jesuschrist #bible #seekinggodswill #truth #sanctification #godisincontrol #godhearsourprayers #salvation #providenceofGod #growinglikeaweed #1 Corinthians5:6 #SongofSolomon2:15 #growinglikeaweed

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“It’s okay. He is in Heaven right now. He was baptized when he was born.”

I was listening to a conversation at a memorial service. The person in front of me was reassuring her friend that the deceased was in Heaven—in God’s presence. I did not know the spiritual state of the deceased. But I did know this: Baptism alone is not sufficient for salvation.

I have heard variations of this conversation before. Families rushing to have their dying relative baptized—hoping that a final act, a final ritual, will secure eternity. It feels compassionate. It feels hopeful. But is it true?

The sacraments of baptism and communion are deeply meaningful. They are sacred. They are commanded. But they are not the source of salvation. They are the sign of it. They are the outward expression of an inward transformation. And without that transformation… the sign means nothing.

Jesus did not say, “Whoever is baptized will be saved.” He said something far more unsettling:

Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Matthew 7:21 (NKJV)

There will be people who believed they were safe. People who trusted in association… in ritual… in proximity to faith. But never truly surrendered. Never truly knew Him. Never trusted Him. Salvation is not inherited. It is not performed. It is not applied at the end of life like a final stamp of approval. It is received—through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

The thief on the cross had no time for baptism, no opportunity for ritual. But he had something greater: A heart that turned to Christ.

“Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:42–43 (NKJV)

No ceremony. No sacrament. Just faith. This is not a message meant to remove hope. It is meant to redirect it. Because false assurance is far more dangerous than honest uncertainty.

If we place our confidence in rituals, we may never seek the One those rituals point to. And if we wait until the end…we may find that we waited too long.

The question is not: Were you baptized?

The question is: Do you know Him?

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.

#faith #trustinggod #christianity #jesuschrist #bible #seekinggodswill #truth #sanctification #godisincontrol #godhearsourprayers #salvation #providenceofGod #baptism #Matthew7:21 #notenoughtosaveyou

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The speaker was a renowned author and communicator. His message was a retrospective of his life’s work—stories, lessons, reflections gathered over decades. When it was over, there was no debate. Everyone agreed. “That was an amazing conference.”

What is the greatest conference you have ever attended?

For me, the most memorable ones are not necessarily the most polished or technical. They are the ones where the speaker shares something real—personal stories shaped by experience, failure, insight, and truth. Those are the moments that stay with you long after the conference ends.

The Bible records what may be the greatest “conference” ever given. It didn’t take place in a convention center. There was no stage, no microphone, no mass audience.

Just a road.

After His resurrection, Jesus Christ met two of His followers walking along the road to Emmaus. They did not recognize Him. As He walked beside them, they shared their disappointment and confusion. They had hoped that Jesus was the Messiah—the One who would redeem Israel—but now He had been crucified.

Their expectations had been shattered. Their hope, buried. Jesus responded—not with immediate comfort, but with correction. He gently rebuked them for their unbelief and their failure to understand what the Scriptures had already revealed. And then He did something extraordinary.

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luke 24:27 (ESV)

Imagine that moment. From Genesis through the Prophets, Jesus unfolded the story of redemption—showing how every promise, every symbol, every prophecy pointed to Him. The Author explaining His own work. The fulfillment revealing the promise.

These two disciples were the only attendees at the greatest conference ever given. The greatest Teacher who ever lived…explaining the greatest Truth ever revealed.

And yet—they still did not recognize Him. It wasn’t until later, when Jesus broke bread with them, that their eyes were opened. And in that instant, He vanished. Only then did they fully understand what they had just experienced. They said to one another:

Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?

Luke 24:32 (ESV)

Their hearts burned. Not because they were entertained. Not because they were impressed. But because they had encountered truth.

We attend conferences, listen to speakers, and gather information. But how often does our heart truly burn? How often do we encounter something that moves beyond knowledge and reaches the soul? The remarkable truth is this: We do not have to wish we had been there. Jesus Christ still meets people on their own road to Emmaus.

In moments of confusion.
In seasons of disappointment.
In times when hope feels distant or unclear.

He walks with us—even when we do not recognize Him.
He speaks through His Word.
He reveals truth to those willing to listen.

But there is a response required.
We must be willing to turn—to confess and repent of our sin—and to receive Him not only as a teacher, but as Lord and Savior.

The greatest conference is not one you attend once.

It is one you are invited into—again and again—as Christ meets you where you are and reveals Himself through His Word.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

#faith #trustinggod #christianity #jesuschrist #bible #seekinggodswill #truth #sanctification #godisincontrol #godhearsourprayers #salvation #providenceofGod #Luke24:27 #amazingconference

It is the best-selling book of all time.

Some estimate that between 5 to 7 billion copies have been printed. In America, 88% of households own at least one, with an average of 4.4 copies per home. These are impressive numbers. This must be a very important book.

Is it a dictionary?
An encyclopedia?
An atlas?

It’s the Bible.

Even today, it remains a bestseller. It is arguably the most owned book in human history—and yet, perhaps the most neglected. If we followed its instruction for life, we would live differently. e would understand our purpose. e would see ourselves—and God—more clearly.

But ownership is not the same as obedience. If we truly valued this Book, wouldn’t we read it every chance we had? Wouldn’t we build our lives around it? Wouldn’t we teach it—first in our homes, and then everywhere else?

The problem is not access. It never has been.

“How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us’?
But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.
The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken;
behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?”
Jeremiah 8:8–9 (ESV)

This isn’t a modern problem. It’s an ancient one. The people of Judah claimed to possess the Word of God—but they reshaped it, ignored it, and ultimately rejected it. They didn’t lose the Scriptures. They lost their submission to it. 

And we are not so different. We carry it in our hands. We highlight it. We post verses. We quote it when it comforts us. But do we follow it when it confronts us? Do we submit to it when it corrects us? Or have we quietly rewritten parts of it—not with ink, but with our lives?

The greatest tragedy is not that the Bible is unavailable. It is that it is unopened. Unread. Unlived. A house full of Bibles does not mean a heart full of truth. And a culture familiar with Scripture can still be far from God.

So the question is not: Do you own a Bible?

The question is: Does the Bible own you?

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.

#faith #trustinggod #christianity #jesuschrist #bible #seekinggodswill #truth #sanctification #godisincontrol #godhearsourprayers #salvation #providenceofGod #Jeremiah8:8-9 #thebestsellingbookofalltime

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The patient came into the emergency room recovering from a grand mal seizure. The paramedics had already started an IV and quickly transported him from the ambulance to an empty bay.

The emergency room physician performed a rapid exam and barked,  “We’re going to need an MRI.”

Within minutes, a tumor was identified in the brain—the cause of the seizure. A treatment plan was quickly developed in consultation with the patient and his family.

Scenes like this play out every day in hospitals around the world. An MRI gives physicians the ability to look beneath the surface—to uncover what cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Now, a similar concept exists in the automotive world. 

It’s called UVEye.

Using a sophisticated system of cameras, every angle of a vehicle—including the undercarriage—is scanned and analyzed. The data is processed by AI, producing a detailed report within seconds. What once required time, guesswork, and human inspection can now be revealed almost instantly.

Hidden problems… exposed.
Invisible damage… made visible.

And it raises a deeper question. What if there were a way to scan us? Not our bodies—but our hearts. Imagine stepping into a machine that could instantly reveal your thoughts… your motives… your hidden struggles. The sins you justify. The temptations you entertain. The patterns you’ve learned to ignore. Not just what you’ve done—but what you’re becoming.

Would you step in? Or would you hesitate… knowing what might be revealed?

And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.
John 16:8 (ESV)

There is a scan. Not mechanical. Not artificial. Spiritual. If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit dwells within you—not to shame you, but to reveal you.

He exposes what we try to hide.
He interrupts what we try to justify.
He warns us before sin takes root.

This is not artificial intelligence.

This is divine intelligence.

And unlike a machine, the goal is not just diagnosis—it is transformation.

Because God does not reveal sin to condemn His children…He reveals it to restore them. The question is not whether the scan exists. 

The question is: Are you listening… when it speaks?

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

#faith #trustinggod #christianity #jesuschrist #bible #seekinggodswill #truth #sanctification #godisincontrol #godhearsourprayers #salvation #providenceofGod #UVEye #John16:8

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“I’ll be praying for you.”

“You’re all in my prayers.”

We hear these words all the time. They sound comforting. Spiritual. Even compassionate. But do we really understand what we’re saying? Prayer is not a cliché. It is not a polite response. It is not a social courtesy. Prayer is direct communication with God. When we pray, we are asking the Creator of the universe to act—to intervene, to provide, to heal, to change outcomes. That should cause us to pause. To consider. To approach Him with reverence.

So here is a question we rarely ask: Is there ever a time when we shouldn’t pray for someone? Surprisingly… the answer is yes.

“As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you.”

Jeremiah 7:16 (ESV)

This wasn’t a one-time statement. God told Jeremiah this three separate times (Jer. 7:16; 11:14; 14:11).

Why? Didn’t God love His people? Of course He did. God had shown extraordinary patience. For generations, He had rescued, provided, protected, and forgiven. He delivered Israel from slavery. He established their nation. He answered their prayers again and again.

And yet…

They refused to acknowledge Him.
They did not thank Him.
They turned to false gods.
They trusted political alliances instead of His Word.
They maintained the appearance of religion… while rejecting the reality of obedience.

So why would God tell Jeremiah to stop praying? Because there comes a point when prayer is no longer the issue. The heart is. The people were still praying. Still going to the temple. Still using the language of faith. But they no longer wanted God. They wanted protection… without obedience. Blessing… without surrender. Favor… without repentance.

And prayer had become a substitute for turning. God was not rejecting prayer. He was exposing it. Exposing prayers that sound spiritual…but are disconnected from truth. Exposing words that sound faithful…but are rooted in disobedience.

Jeremiah 7 is not just a warning to ancient Israel. It is a mirror. Because we still say the same things today. “I’ll pray for you.”

But what are we actually asking? Are we asking God to fix circumstances…while ignoring the condition of the heart? Are we asking Him to bless decisions…we already know are outside His will? Are we praying for others… while avoiding the call to repentance in our own lives? There is a danger in using prayer as a way to feel spiritual…without actually submitting to God. Because prayer is not just speaking to God. It is aligning with Him. And if we are not willing to align with His will…then we have to ask: What are we actually asking God to do?

Are we asking Him to bless what He has already called sin?
Are we asking Him to protect what He is trying to correct?
Are we asking Him to give…when He is calling us to turn?

Jeremiah’s message is uncomfortable. But it is clear. God is not impressed by words. He is looking at the heart. So before we say, “I’ll be praying for you”…before we assume God is hearing…We need to stop and ask:

What are we really asking when we pray?

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.

#faith #trustinggod #christianity #jesuschrist #bible #seekinggodswill #truth #sanctification #godisincontrol #godhearsourprayers #salvation #providenceofGod #Jeremiah7:16 #dontprayformypeople

“Prepare war against her; arise, and let us attack at noon! Woe to us, for the day declines, for the shadows of evening lengthen! Arise, and let us attack by night and destroy her palaces!” For thus says the LORD of hosts: “Cut down her trees; cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem. This is the city that must be punished; there is nothing but oppression within her.”

Jeremiah 6:4-6 (ESV)

The strategy was perfect.

Attack the enemy at noon, when the heat was exhausting and an assault was least expected. Every detail had been considered—even down to the granular work of chopping down trees to build siege ramps to scale the walls of the city.

The campaign could not fail. Jerusalem would fall. This was the message that the prophet Jeremiah delivered regarding the coming Babylonian Empire invasion. God Himself described the strategy that would bring Jerusalem to its knees. Needless to say, this message was not well received.

Wait… what?

Wasn’t God supposed to be on our side? Why would God help the enemy? 

Why, indeed?

The answer is painfully simple. God was judging His own people. For generations the people of Kingdom of Judah had ignored God’s warnings. They continued in idolatry, oppression, and moral corruption while assuming that God’s presence in Jerusalem guaranteed their safety. But God had given them centuries to repent. Prophets had warned them again and again. Yet their pride proved stronger than their faith. Instead of trusting God, they trusted themselves and their idols, believing they knew better.

Eventually the warnings ended. Judgment began. The fall of Jerusalem was not simply a military defeat. It was a spiritual verdict. God was not abandoning His people. He was disciplining them. And that truth still confronts us today.

Sometimes the greatest danger to God’s people is not the enemy outside the walls—but the sin within them. When pride replaces repentance and self-confidence replaces obedience, even God’s protection cannot be assumed. 

History reminds us that God is not merely on our side. He calls us to be on His.

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.

#faith #trustinggod #christianity #jesuschrist #bible #seekinggodswill #truth #sanctification #godisincontrol #godhearsourprayers #salvation #providenceofGod #Godisonourside #Jeremiah6:4-5

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