Month: December 2025

Timing

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“The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses, just as the Lord had said to Moses.” Exodus 9:12

In 1773 an Englishman named William Cowper penned a poem that would eventually become a beloved hymn that would be sung through the centuries, “God moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. He plants His footsteps in the seas and rides up on the storm.” We don’t always understand why God does what He does, nor when he chooses to do it. I’m sure at the time Moses spent many a night wondering in the back of his mind why God hardened Pharaoh’s heart rather than softening it and letting his people go free sooner rather than later. We can all say the same thing about the circumstances in our lives. Every time I even start to question God’s timing, I think of that old Hymn, “God moves in mysterious ways, HIS WONDERS to perform.

Instant Gratification Is Usually Not Our Friend

The Children of Israel trapped in Egypt needed to learn who God was, and to trust Him with all their heart. Give us everything we want, when we want it, and we usually find ourselves mired in a soup of selfish and ungrateful behavior. God knows what He’s doing. Trust Him beyond what you think you need, and watch as He fills those empty holes in your life with His perfect plan for you.

Details Matter

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“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

As we live out our daily lives Ecclesiastes chapter three says it all; “there is a time for every purpose under heaven.” Always remember,

God Is A God of Purpose

Sometimes God uses a microwave and provides us instant gratification, and sometimes He slow cooks the recipe because He knows the longer things cook the richer they taste. When you put your trust in God, let Him work out the strategy and the timing for what He has for your life. You’ll be amazed at what God has in store for you, and how savory the journey.

Beautiful

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“He (God) has made everything beautiful, in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

There is an age old nursery rhyme from the late 1800’s about “Humpty Dumpty” who fell off his wall, and “all the kings horses and all the kings men could not put Humpty together again.” In our lives today we go through trying and beyond difficult circumstances and feel just like Humpty – there’s no putting us back together. And yet,

God Makes Everything Beautiful In It’s Time.

We don’t know the timing, we just have to trust God’s time clock.

Consider It Done

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“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you.” Psalm 55:22

There is a fascinating promise that shows up in Psalm 55. “Cast your burdens on the Lord, and He will sustain you.” Jesus himself repeats the sentiment in Matthew 11:28 where He says, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” When you think about it, these are incredible promises not to be taken lightly.

If God Said It, He Will Do It!

The question is, why are we so hesitant to cast our burdens on the Lord? He asked for them with no disclaimers. Whether you have one burden, a dozen, or a thousand, He asked that you give them to Him. Then all you have to do is trust how He will work it all out for you. In reality, the trust is really the hard part for we love to keep control. Perhaps that’s the burden you need to hand to God today. Start by saying, “God, I trust you.” say it a dozen times a day if you have to, but at some point the reality of those words will sink in. Remember, God does not say things He does not intend to fulfill.

Silver Linings

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“He calms the storm” Psalm 107:29

Are you going through a difficult time in your life. Does your “storm” look daunting and overwhelming? The good news is that I have the weather report for you. There has never been a storm that did not end. Look closely enough at your storm, through the eyes of faith, and you will soon start to see

Silver Linings Of Hope.

Psalm 107 reminds us that God is in charge. Thankfully, you have a direct dial connection to him. Reach out to him and hand your storm to him. Not only will he provide you with the strength to weather your storm, but you will come out stronger than you ever thought possible on the other side. Our God is the Lord of the storm.

Goodness & Mercy

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“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23:6

My wife was talking to a friend who was worried about something they had said to another person. Their choice of words had not been the best in the moment and they worried about reprocussions. My wife wisely said, “That’s why I pray the 23rd Psalm over my life.” The friend responded, “What do you mean?” My wife said, I pray that, “God will guide me along the right path, and that His goodness and mercy will follow along behind to protect me when I make mistakes.” In other words,

Surrounded By Grace.

This is what happens when you choose to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight”. Proverbs 3:5

Chased By Blessings

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“Blessed is the one whose delight is in the Lord. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalm 1:1-3

I love Psalm 1 because it gives us a direct roadmap to living a blessed life. The roadmap is very simple: delight yourself in the Lord; live your life asking, what would Jesus do and then do that! Impossible you say? God did not say you would be perfect in this, no one is. God said, delight yourself in the Lord, and when you fail, dust yourself off and try again. Scriptures are littered with those who failed many times over but did not stop loving the Lord and trying again.

From A Properly Positioned Heart, Blessings Will Flow.

Psalm 1 says blessed is the man (and woman) whose delight is in Lord. That such a person will bring forth fruit, and that such a person will not wither, and that whatever that person does shall proper. Blessings will literally surround you, and chase after you, when your delight is in the Lord.

Take A Victory Lap!

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“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

Have you ever done a victory lap after a serious setback? Just reading that statement you may think that I’ve lost my marbles, but I’m completely serious. We are all faced with hard times from time to time but our God is greater than our circumstances. Philippians tells us:

Rejoice, and then rejoice again!

Philippians also goes on to say why we can rejoice in all circumstances. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Carry On

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God said, “you who have been borne by Me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am God, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” Isaiah 46:3-4

There are many words in scripture where it says that God will care for us, but none more straight forward than Isaiah 46:3-4. In this passage God clearly stated that He alone created you and I, just as we are, and from your beginning days to the very end of your life,

God Will Carry you!

When the load gets too heavy, hand it to the Lord. You are not alone.

Unbound Faith

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“Without faith it is impossible to please God…” Hebrews 11:6

There is nothing in life that God asks more from us than our faith in Him. Faith is the singularly defining purpose of our lives.

Believe It, Or Not

In my younger years I searched for meaning in life with God on the sidelines. I sensed He was there but He was not tangible to me. Yet in the quiet, still, wee hours of the morning, every time a singular thought would turn toward heaven, inexplicable peace would flood through me. Hebrews 11 starts by saying, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” There is a very real presence that floods through us when we choose to believe, and God in response draws near. I can’t explain it other than to say, talk to Him as you would speak tenderly to someone you love. This simple act of faith is incredibly pleasing to God. He will answer.