A New Beginning

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Photo by David Ilona

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks. You, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’” Mark 11:1-3 NIV

The moment had finally arrived; all the years of watching, listening, learning, and sacrificing were finally over. The twelve disciples were witnessing the unfolding of the promised kingdom. They must have been smiling and high-fiving each other as they watched the crowd grow larger and larger, thrilled by the moment as they heard the crowd shouting:

Hosanna!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!

Hosanna in the highest heaven! (Mark 11:9b-10 NIV)

Churches around the world celebrated Palm Sunday yesterday as Holy Week started, leading up to Easter. The twelve disciples would go through a life-changing week after this triumphant entry into Jerusalem. What they thought would happen was not how Jesus ever intended it to be. This week would reveal their hearts, and by the end, challenge them until they truly understood the nature of Jesus’ kingdom.

“There are many things that can only be seen through eyes that have cried.” (Oscar Romero). It was through eyes of tears that all twelve finished the week. Each of the twelve would run and hide, overwhelmed by their failures. Although all would fail initially, eleven of the disciples would find redemption and restoration through grace. One would run, but not to Jesus. Judas would seek restoration on his own terms by going to the religious leaders instead of to the source of grace, Jesus. Though embarrassed, discouraged, hopeless, and afraid, the other eleven disciples found redemption and went on to become the world changers Jesus prayed they would become.

Do you ever feel your faith is fragile? Like you’re hanging on by a thread, questioning if you have enough. These twelve disciples, close friends and followers of Jesus, felt the same way. The week brought them panic, but it ended with hope when they realized their strength was not in their own faith, but in their Savior.

The events of the week were slowly unfolding. The act of betrayal was set in motion as “Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money.” (Luke 22:4-5) The act of worship was set in motion as “Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” (Luke 22:8). Same week, different actions, yet all for the purpose of the Kingdom.

Passover, this foundational celebration, has been celebrated through the generations to remind them of God’s deliverance and protection. Freedom came after 430 years through an act of faith. “Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin, and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe….When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.” (Exodus 12:22-23)

The story is told of two men on the night of Passover, one was afraid, the other excited. Each man followed the instructions given without any compromise. The blood had been placed carefully on the doorpost, and although both men did what God told them, one man had doubts. Which one lost his son that night? Neither! Death doesn’t pass over them based on the intensity of their faith but on the ground of the blood of the lamb.

That night marked the beginning of a new life, not because of what anyone did, but what God did. The same became true for us at Easter because of Jesus. Faith isn’t about what we do but about the Who of our faith. Even a weak faith in a perfect Savior saves completely. “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading…The life of faith is not a life of mounting up with wings, but a life of walking and not fainting.” (Oswald Chambers)

Jesus gathered his disciples together as every faithful Jew had done since that first Passover. He would celebrate the Passover with his followers, but after this night, future Passovers would never be the same again. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:26-29)

The crowd’s euphoria gave way by the end of the week to the shouts of an angry mob. The disciples who had pledged their unwavering devotion all retreated to their hiding places. The religious and political powers joined forces to destroy what they saw as a threat to their authority. What seemed like a complete failure for Jesus on the surface was anything but. Darkness fell over the land, the temple curtains were torn in two, and Jesus’ cry of victory was heard: “It is finished.” It was a week filled with incredible highs and heartbreaking lows, but it ended with hope that changed lives.

“You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!” Mark 16:6

Rejoicing this Easter for He is risen!

God is great!

Spring Cleaning and Prayer

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How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you. Psalm 139:17-18 NIV

Spring has arrived! Last Friday marked the end of winter, and we welcomed spring with open arms for those in the Northern Hemisphere. My friends in Africa and Asia who are moving into winter, bear with me. We know there is nothing like the feeling when plants start to bloom, grass turns green, days get a little longer, and birds sing sweeter. However, before Utopia settles in, you also see tornado warnings flashing across the screen, things turning yellow (only those on the US East Coast can relate), the sound of lawn mowers, and people coughing and hacking due to increased allergy levels.

Yet spring brings newness, change, and fresh beginnings. Heavy coats are stored away for another year, people sit outside, windows are opened, and the annual tradition of spring cleaning begins. “See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, and the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.” (Song of Songs 2:11-13a NIV)

The concept of spring cleaning is rooted in religious and cultural traditions as well as very practical needs. It is a tradition dating back centuries, with different cultures and peoples using the changing seasons to deep-clean the house, clear out clutter, and open it up after the cold winter months. “The concept of deep cleaning and decluttering during the spring season can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as the Persians, Egyptians, and Romans. In these cultures, the arrival of spring symbolized a fresh start and was seen as an opportunity to cleanse both the physical and spiritual aspects of life.” (Unisan Direct newsletter)

Spring cleaning does come with a cost. Your body gets tired from the up-and-down motion, but it is rewarding in the end. It also makes you realize that your cleaning equipment needs a good spring cleaning. I couldn’t figure out why our vacuum cleaner kept quitting on me. I assumed we needed a new one, but fortunately, I didn’t click the buy now button on Amazon. The canister was empty, no apparent problems on the outside, but when I opened up the machine, the inside was clogged with paper and leaves. It took some time to clean out the inside, but once I did, the machine worked great. Sorry, Amazon, you lost the sale!

We understand that our prayer lives can become clogged at times, and it may not feel as effective as it once did. For some reason, our conversations with God might seem to disappear. Still, keeping our prayer life open to God should be a top priority. George Muller, a man known for his prayer life, once said, “The first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was to have my soul happy in the Lord.”

Prayer is often viewed merely as a habit or discipline to develop, and yes, while both can play a part, they are minor aspects. Prayer is more like our heartbeat, giving us life with every beat. “So we pray because we were made for prayer, and God draws us out by breathing Himself in.” (P.T. Forsyth)

Andrew Murray writes that, “In praying, we are often occupied with ourselves, with our own needs, and our own efforts in the presentation of them. In waiting upon God, the first thought is of the God upon whom we wait. God longs to reveal Himself, to fill us with Himself. Waiting on God gives Him time in His own way and divine power to come to us.”

It is easy to become preoccupied with trying to figure out why our prayer life seems empty. We assume this, or that is the reason God doesn’t respond to us. We work to resolve the problem instead of sitting quietly with God to hear from Him. We need to wait with the One who has all the time in the world. Psalm 139 is a beautiful prayer to meditate upon as you wait. “You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” (vs 1-6 NIV)

Spring cleaning is about deep cleaning, which means slowing down enough to really pay attention to what we are doing. The same will be of our prayer life; there will be times of fast praying, but if we want to really sustain our prayer life, it takes time to sit with God and be still. Jesus was never in a hurry, and that was especially true of his prayer life. Portland Pastor Christian Dawson said it well, “The people who followed Jesus first were all taken aback by Jesus’ prayer life. They were fascinated by it. Jesus woke up early to pray. When He was exhausted, He’d get alone to pray. When he was successful, He’d get away to pray. When he was in trial, He stayed up all night to pray. It’s as if the first work and the last work that Jesus was up to was always prayer. Our Rabbi lived something that’s so easy to forget: Prayer, more than anything else, fuels our love for God, His people, and His mission in the world.” (from Lead with Prayer, Ryan Skoog)

Heavenly Father, You made me for prayer, and I am most fully alive when I am in Your presence. Thank you for Your Spirit, which first moves me to pray, and which prays through me. I yield myself fully to you, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.

God is great!

Thank you for taking the time to read Prayer Safari, and I hope it will be a blessing and encouragement to you today.

No Longer I, but Christ

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But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:7-8 ESV

“May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.” I offer this traditional Irish blessing to you as a greeting on Tuesday (March 17) as you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. It is the one day of the year that totally disregards your Ancestry.com results. You may have traced your roots, but on St. Patrick’s Day, all of that goes out the window so that you can claim your Irish heritage.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote, “Everybody is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, but if your name is Eisenhower, you’ve got to wear something green to show it.” The city of Chicago must have taken President Eisenhower at his word and decided to dye the Chicago River green. Around the world, shades of green appear everywhere, in hair, clothes, drinks, and food. “I do so like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you, Sam-I-Am.” (Dr. Seuss, Green Eggs and Ham)

St. Patrick’s Day is more than dying your eggs green, wearing green clothes, or eating corned beef and cabbage; it is a day set aside to commemorate a once enslaved teenager in Ireland who would later return to the same country as a missionary. Maewyn Succat was born into a wealthy family in what is now Kilpatrick, Scotland. He was captured by Druid raiders and sold into slavery as a shepherd.

Though born into a Christian family, he wrote in his spiritual autobiography, “It was there that the Lord opened up my awareness of my lack of faith. Even though it came about late, I recognized my failings. So I turned with all my heart to the Lord my God (Joel 2:12), and he looked down on my lowliness (Luke 1:48). (From Confessio 2)

Maewyn Succat escaped his captors and made his way to a monastery in Gaul (France). There, he entered the priesthood and took the name Patrick. He would return to the very people who had enslaved him with a singular zeal to share about God who had completely set him free.

Millions will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday, having fun, but most will forget the real story behind the name. Patrick was a devoted servant of God, known for his faith and deep prayer. He was totally abandoned to Christ, and his faith and prayer life would transform a nation. It was a life that would serve as an example of surrender and as a testimony to the generations that followed. I think Patrick would have identified with the ideas that Oswald Chambers expressed centuries later: “Salvation is not merely deliverance from sin, nor the experience of personal holiness; the salvation of God is deliverance out of self entirely into union with Himself…In your abandonment we give ourselves over to God just as God gave Himself for us, without any calculation. The consequence of abandonment never enters into our outlook because our life is taken up with Him.”

Patrick escaped from his captors and could have returned to his life as Maewyn Succat. He might have chosen a much easier and more comfortable life than that of a 5th-century pioneer missionary. He could have taken an easier path as a priest rather than going back to those who had enslaved him for years. Yet, what he chose was a life of total abandonment to do the will of God. Through his work, he inspired a generation in Ireland to be faithful, overseeing the launch of 300 churches and helping over 135,000 people come to faith.

“The thing that tells in the long run for God and for men is the steady persevering work in the unseen, and the only way to keep the life uncrushed is to live looking to God. Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the Risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to damp you.” (Oswald Chambers)

Patrick lived out what Paul wrote to the churches in Galatia of the only thing that truly matters, complete surrender to Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 ESV

There are several variations of St. Patrick’s Breastplate (song), but I hope this portion of the longer versions will be both an encouragement and blessing to you as you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

 I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me…

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
~ St. Patrick

May this day, as all days, be filled with Christ. God is great!

Refuge in the Shelter of God’s Wings

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Let me dwell in your tent forever; let me take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Psalm 61:4 NASB

The better part of prayer is not the asking but the being with God, resting in His shelter, knowing He knows me and wants to be with me. Why would I not want to be with Him? It is easy to pray in the easy afternoons of spring, but it is in the cold nights of winter that our prayers give life.

Ben Sasse is now living in the cold winter of the night, yet not with fear and defeat. You would know Sasse as a former U.S. Senator from Nebraska, President of the University of Florida, public servant, devoted husband and father, but also a man dying of Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

What gives him hope isn’t the chance of a medical cure, although he is exploring all options. What gives him hope isn’t his determination, even though he writes, “he would not be going down without a fight.” What sustains his hope is his unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. Sasse announced his battle with cancer in December 2025, two days before Christmas. In his news release, he said, “As a Christian, the weeks running up to Christmas are a time to orient our hearts toward the hope of what’s to come. Not an abstract hope in fanciful human goodness; not hope in vague hallmark-sappy spirituality; not a bootstrapped hope in our own strength… We hope in a real Deliverer—a rescuing God, born at a real time, in a real place. But the eternal city—with foundations and without cancer—is not yet.”

Life often catches us off guard. What will we do when it does? The Psalmist encourages us to learn to rest in God’s shelter. It will be the only place where we can endure the storms that might otherwise overwhelm us quickly. “The trials of life are sent to make us, not to break us. Financial troubles may destroy a person’s business, but build up his character. And a direct blow to the outer person may be the greatest blessing possible to the inner person. So if God places or allows anything difficult in our lives, we can be sure that the real danger or trouble will be what we will lose if we run or rebel against it.” (Maltbie D. Babcock)

Our prayer life is a pivotal hinge that prevents everything from coming completely unhinged. Yet, walking into those dark winters of our soul, prayer can seem the most unattainable place we can find. One of my favorite writers is Tim Keller, who wrote a great book simply called “Prayer.” Keller wrote, “What is prayer, then, in the fullest sense? Prayer is continuing a conversation that God has started through his Word and his grace, which eventually becomes a full encounter with him.” (Prayer, p 48)

Keller outlined the importance and power of prayer throughout nearly 321 pages of his book. However, it was during his own dark night a decade later, when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer, that he would say in an interview on the podcast Premier Unbelievable, “Despite the pain and fear associated with cancer, he and his wife, Kathy, would never want to go back to the kind of prayer life and spiritual life we had before the cancer. Never.”

 Jim Denison, writing in Denison Forum, shared what it means to trust God with our pain. “First, when we trust God with our pain, we can experience his presence and comfort on a level we could not before the suffering came. Second, when we trust God with our pain, he can use us in ways he could not before the suffering came. Third, when we trust God with our pain, he can use our suffering to guide us into his purpose in ways he could not before the suffering came.”

Learning to take refuge in God’s shelter is critical because it is life-giving. The Apostle Paul understood what it meant to face challenges. Paul’s resume of suffering and pain was impressive: “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers…I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked…If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27,30)

Paul understood the meaning of pain and didn’t shy away from these challenges for the sake of Jesus. Yet he also wasn’t afraid to ask God to remove the thorn that tormented him. “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.” Still, Paul trusted God for the outcome even as he heard God say, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul may have desired a different answer, but he valued God’s purpose more—so much so that he was willing to say, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:8-9,10)

It is in the shelter of God’s wings that we finally become all we are meant to be. Tim Keller has completed his earthly journey; Ben Sasse will finish his, as will we. Yet it is only then that we will truly understand what it means to live. “You must hand yourself and all your inward experiences, your temptations, your temperament, your frames and feelings, all over into the care and keeping of your God, and leave them there. He made you and therefore He understands you, and knows how to manage you, and you must trust Him to do it.” –Hannah Whitall Smith

God is great!

Finding Your Way Out Of The Wilderness

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Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. Isaiah 35:6b-7 NIV

What do you do when you find yourself in the wilderness? Our first home in Africa was in Bophuthatswana. Sitting on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, it was known for its dry and harsh conditions, where brown became the new green. The winds blew dry, dusty air, often forcing us to put wet rags under the doors to try to keep out the dust. During the worst droughts, animals and livestock died from hunger.

Living so far from the familiar surroundings of home, I realized that living in the wilderness was not just a physical place but also an emotional and spiritual experience. It was on one of those mornings, feeling the weight of my wilderness, that I stepped outside our front door. It felt as if God wanted to remind me that even in the deepest wilderness, He would be there. I looked up and saw one of the most spectacular rainbows I have ever seen, as if God was writing His name across the sky. It was His signature, a guarantee of “I will always be here with you.”

Choosing to rejoice in God’s presence during our wilderness seasons may not come easily. However, without Him, survival becomes impossible. Your wilderness could become a place where you are overwhelmed with pain, anger, and loneliness without His presence. “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1 NIV

The 2026 Winter Olympics have captured the world’s attention through much of February, with 92 nations sending their top athletes to compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 games. The event has offered breathtaking moments of victory and crushing defeat. Norway has led the medal count but had to make space for the Brazilian alpine skiing gold medalist.  He won the first medal ever from a South American country and from any tropical nation. The medalists will rejoice, but several athletes will find themselves in their own wilderness.

U.S. Olympic skater Amber Glenn was a favorite for gold at this year’s Winter Olympics in the ladies’ singles competition. She lived up to expectations, skating beautifully with a flawlessly executed performance. “After hitting the highest-graded triple Axel of her career and a solid triple-triple jump combination, Glenn just needed one more jump to complete the most difficult elements in her short program.” She completed her third and final jump without a fall and, to the casual observer, delivered a perfect skate.

However, to the judges’ trained eyes, she made an unforgivable mistake that would cost her a medal. Glenn executed a flawless double loop, but the rules required a triple. She just needed one more revolution to qualify, but she failed. So close—why not just give her credit, knowing she could do it? The problem was that ISU Special Regulations and Technical Rules require a skater to perform a triple jump; if not, the element is officially considered “not according to requirements.”

Lindsey Vonn dreamed of making a comeback after five years away from the sport following a partial knee replacement. However, she crashed seconds after the start of her downhill run, suffering a badly broken left leg that required four surgeries. “My Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would. It wasn’t a storybook ending or a fairytale; it was just life. I dared to dream and had worked so hard to achieve it. In downhill ski racing, the difference between a strategic line and a catastrophic injury can be as small as five inches.” (Luke Phillips, AFP)

Ilia Malinin, nicknamed the “Quad God,” known for his quadruple axels, was expected to win medals. Going into the Olympics, he competed in four events with scores ranging from 209 to 238, but his final score was 156.33, which placed him eighth. Why? The normally flawless skater fell multiple times during his final routine. “Of course, it didn’t go the way I wanted it to.”…All I have to do is just learn from my mistakes…

How they emerge from their own wilderness depends greatly on where they focus. Some will wander; others will thrive. Passion to be the best will help some of them walk out of their place of struggle. David Jeremiah writes, “Passionate people hang in there when the going gets tough. They persist, they persevere, they never lose heart, and they never quit.”

What if we find a way to make peace in those wandering times? British Pastor Pete Greig writes, “God’s blessings may come to me not instead of this wilderness, not in spite of this wilderness, but actually within it. The very situation I am currently tempted to resent may become the theatre of God’s greatest grace in my life. And so, I must ask myself a difficult question (and I don’t ask it lightly). Is it possible that God has actually called me into this dry, difficult, or disappointing place?”

“For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes. “ (Proverbs 24:16 NIV)

I have found that wandering in a wilderness is not a once-in-a-lifetime experience, as you may have also discovered, especially if you live long enough. You walk out of one wilderness experience only to find yourself, at some point in your life journey, wandering in a new one. However, I have learned that the only thing that will provide the courage, hope and faith to walk out of the wilderness is that God will be there to wander with you.

“What god is as great as our God? Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.” Psalm 77:13b,19)

God is great!

Come, Follow Me

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But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, Matthew 6:33a

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7: 13-14

What do you consider important? Most people see the election of a nation’s leader as important. In the 2024 United States election, 154 million people, or 65.3%, of the population voted. (US Census Dept) Attending church is still highly valued in the US, with 65-100 million people attending services weekly. (Church Trac) Everyone has their own idea of what is important. One Sunday each year seems to define importance: Super Bowl Sunday.

Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest and most-watched sporting event in the United States. According to Nielsen, this past Super Bowl drew 124.9 million viewers in the U.S. alone. That is a lot of people. But that’s only part of the story.

Steve Randall with Investment News writes, “Super Bowl LX was not just a football game but a one-night financial ecosystem, touching broadcast television, labor contracts, municipal budgets, and a rapidly expanding betting economy.”

The average ticket price for the 2026 game ranged from $6,200 to $8,000, with top-tier seats costing over $30,000. If you got thirsty during the game, a simple bottle of water cost $8, and other drinks were significantly more expensive. The winning team’s players received a bonus of $178,000. However, the losing players got a consolation prize of $103,000.

Marketing involves capturing viewers’ attention and converting it into purchases, which is why advertisers target large audiences. During the Super Bowl, advertisers were willing to pay an average of $8-10 million for a 30-second ad.

Coinbase, a regulated cryptocurrency exchange, spent an estimated $14 million dollars for a 60-second spot featuring a color-changing, bouncing QR code. Apparently, it worked: it drove over 20 million people to the Coinbase site, causing the app to crash and adding nearly $1 billion to its market cap. Why would anyone think a bouncing QR code is important? Asher Bykov writes, “Humans have an innate desire to understand the world around them. As a result, if we don’t understand something, we spend countless hours searching for the truth. Coinbase’s QR code ad was genius because it tapped into this desire.”

The American Gaming Association projected $1.76 Billion in legal wagers nationwide. Houston’s Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale made headlines by placing a $2 million bet on the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl LX.

If importance were simply measured by impressive numbers and economic impact, the Super Bowl would claim that spot every year. However, that importance will be short-lived unless you are one of the advertisers writing the $6 million check or “Mattress Mack” covering his $2 million wager.  Most of you would know that the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots in this 60th Super Bowl matchup, but if I asked 100 random people on the street who won last year’s Super Bowl, far fewer would remember. I had to Google to see who won, even though I watched the game last year. David Icke’s quote could be applied to the Super Bowl: “I love sport as long as it’s kept as an entertainment – not a meaning of life.”

If winning the Super Bowl is not the greatest thing in the world, what is? We might say our families, which are important. We might also mention being a good citizen, employee, employer, or neighbor—all of which are important. We could list a thousand and one things, and they would all be important.

Jesus was asked many questions about what mattered most, but all his answers pointed back to one thing: Himself. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26 NIV)

Jesus emphasized what mattered most when he called his disciples to the journey. His simple reply was, “Come, follow me.” The outward benefits of good doctrine, a way of life, gospel influence, and more would come, but first, they were only asked to “Follow me.”

We typically measure effectiveness and impact using external standards such as wealth, education, influence, and position to decide what matters. However, what we see and prioritize is rarely what God highlights. Jesus was approached by a wealthy, doctrinally sound, high-ranking man who held power, seeking guidance on how to gain eternal life. Jesus didn’t look at his impressive resume and say, “You have it all together.” Instead, he looked at him and said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:23-34)

Paul’s Damascus Road vision wasn’t about him becoming a great theologian and writing half the New Testament, but it was about who to follow. “Come, follow me.” Oswald Chambers writes, “Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim; he was brought into a vivid, personal, overmastering relationship to Jesus Christ…Paul was devoted to a Person not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s, he saw nothing else, he lived for nothing else.”

Jesus’ invitation to follow Him was never extended to those who had everything together. His invitation wasn’t for people who never made mistakes. It was never meant for men and women who immediately understood the full meaning of everything He said. Jesus’ invitation remains the same for us misfits, slow learners, and ego-centered folks today. “Come, follow me.”

God is great!

When Others Dismiss You, What Do You Do?

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Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 NIV

“This hobbit was a very well-to-do hobbit, and his name was Baggins. The Bagginses had lived in the neighbourhood of The Hill for time out of mind, and people considered them very respectable, not only because most of them were rich, but also because they never had any adventures or did anything unexpected: you could tell what a Baggins would say on any question without the bother of asking him. This is a story of how a Baggins had an adventure and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected. He may have lost the neighbours’ respect, but he gained—well, you will see whether he gained anything in the end.” (from The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien)

J.R.R. Tolkien opened our imaginations to adventure. One thing we learned about Bilbo Baggins was that as long as he lived according to Hobbit expectations, all was fine. However, when he went on his great adventure with Gandalf, everything changed.

 Tolkien experienced a similar kind of rejection after he was nominated by his good friend C.S. Lewis for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1961. Lewis believed his friend showed a unique, imaginative scope and depth in storytelling that deserved acknowledgment. Unfortunately, the Nobel Prize committee didn’t agree and rejected the nomination, stating that “Tolkien’s storytelling lacked the literary quality required for the prize.” Tolkien may not have matched others’ expectations, but he kept doing what he did best: writing. He became known as the “father” of modern fantasy literature and is considered one of the most influential authors of all time.

When others dismiss you, what do you do? You look for God’s view. When Samuel the prophet was given the task of anointing the next king of Israel after Saul failed, he first looked at the outward appearance of the sons of Jesse. “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”  Wrong! God told Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7)

Fernando Mendoza faced 130 rejections before finally being signed by Cal University as a third-string quarterback. When a transfer was brought in to compete for his position, he entered the transfer portal and moved to Indiana University, the losingest program in college football history. That all changed Monday night when Mendoza led Indiana University to its first national championship and undefeated season.

When others dismiss you, what do you do? You find God’s confidence to stand firm. The Psalmist understood that only in God do we have the confidence to withstand the rejections of others. “When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.” (Psalm 118: 5-7 NIV)

“Never mind if you think you are unable to take another step, for either he will strengthen you to make you able, or he will call a sudden halt, and you will not have to take it at all.” (Frances Ridley Havergal)

When others dismiss you, what do you do? Keep your focus on God. Our darkest hours are often just moments away from when God will do His greatest work. The Book of Genesis offers a glimpse of God’s work in Joseph’s life. Joseph’s journey—from the favorite son to the despised brother, then sold into slavery, falsely accused, imprisoned, interpreter of dreams, and eventually becoming a prime minister—culminates with him as the rescuer of a nation. At any point, Joseph could have made his life easier by choosing a different path. Yet he chose to stay focused on God and was able to end his story by saying, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” Gen 50:20.

“All the good that you will do will come not from you but from the fact that you have allowed yourself to be used by God’s love. Think of this more, and gradually you will be free from the need to prove yourself, and you can be more open to the power that will work through you without your knowing it.” Thomas Merton

When others dismiss you, what do you do? Make sure your identity is firmly rooted in Jesus Christ. Paul was a no-exception rule-keeping religionist until the day he finally encountered living grace. From that day on, there was no mistaking that Paul’s identity was rooted in Jesus. “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.” (Galatians 2:20)

The answer to everything we need, every answer we seek, every problem we must overcome is from our identity rooted in Jesus. “God is not a retailer dispensing grace to us in doses. God is not measuring out some patience to the impatient, some love to the unloving, some meekness to the proud in quantities that we take and work on as a kind of capital. God has given only one gift to meet all our need—His Son, Christ Jesus. As I look to Him to live out His life in me, He will be humble and patient and loving and everything else I need—in my stead… (Watchman Nee)

Father, because I am in Christ Jesus, I have everything I need regardless of what others may think or say. I place my trust in you to work out your plans in my life. I take my hands off, letting you have full control. “I will run after you with delight in my heart.” My soul delights in you.

God is great!

Leftover Resolutions

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Help me turn my eyes away from illusions so that I pursue only that which is true; drench my soul with life as I walk in your paths. Psalm 119:37 TPT

How’s your New Year’s resolution holding up? If you made a resolution, then you are in good company. Pew Research estimates that three in ten adults made a 2026 resolution, and Stagwell, a digital marketing company, increases that number to 42%. The most common resolutions are to exercise more, be happier, eat healthier, improve physical health, and save money. All noble resolutions!

However, you are also in good company if you have already broken your resolution. The University of Scranton estimates that only 8-9% actually keep their resolutions. There is an unofficial holiday, Quitter’s Day, observed on the 2nd Friday of January, when people give up on their resolutions. This year, Quitter’s Day was on January 9.

Resolutions can be helpful if they draw our attention to something in our lives. The problem is that resolutions, for the sake of resolutions, often fail. We all intend to keep our resolutions, so why do we often fail? The reasons are probably just as diverse as the resolutions: lack of time, busy schedules, conflicting interests, too complicated, or simply one more task to do. Whatever the reason, we tend to move on to something else.

I didn’t observe Quitter’s Day this year because I didn’t make any resolutions. However, I did decide on my defining word for the year. Last year’s word was space—not outer space, but inner space. My desire was to create space within my soul for God, and from it flowed what truly mattered.

This year, I chose the word “Sacred.” I realize that everything I do should be sacred, which for me means honoring God in how I use my time, energy, money, writing, social media, and life itself. The key verse for me is found in Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (NIV)

Life is often described as a contrast between the sacred and the secular, creating a divide between God and our world. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines sacred as “set apart for the service or worship of deity,” and secular as “not sacred or ecclesiastical.”

This past week, one of my favorite writers admitted to an eight-year affair involving infidelity. His work helped a generation understand and live a grace-filled life. I felt disappointment, frustration, and a bit of shock. At first, I thought it was just an AI-generated hoax. Lisa Whittle of Relevant Magazine said it well, “We can be sad and mad at this, but it shouldn’t cause us to lose faith in God. God had nothing to do with this. People can be a Christian and sin. People can be a spiritual leader and sin. Secret sin kills everyone around us. It’s time to take it seriously.”

This writer may have had good intentions to be faithful and made all the resolutions to stay true, but somewhere along the way, he failed to keep his first commitment to honor God. My heart grieves for another voice lost because of his failure to stay true to God’s way, but even more for his wife, family, the church, and those outside the community of faith who only see another Jesus follower fail.

I don’t think Jesus was overly concerned with making resolutions, but he was concerned with how we live and where our focus should be. When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) That keeps everything in focus!

This week’s failure was not the first, nor, unfortunately, will it be the last. Nonetheless, what is certain is that God’s grace, love, and faithfulness continue. I offer this prayer, worded by Sarah Yardley, to encourage us:

“Christ, have mercy. Keep me holy. Keep me humble.

Expose my unrepentant sin. Convict me of thoughts, desires, behaviors that could shatter my soul and destroy my credibility.

Give me friends who speak to me boldly, clearly, calling me to a deeper holiness. Make me this kind of friend to others. Thank you for the companions who have walked with me all my life with honest, holy love. Let me hate patterns of sin and deeply love people in my life. Christ came for sinners, and I am one.

Break my heart for the layers and depths of the hell we choose when we betray hearts, bodies, lives. I grieve the heartache, despondency, disillusionment, pain. Christ, who entered that hell and took captivity captive, have mercy. Enter into the places that feel like hell today. Lead captives into freedom.

Let the name on my lips be Jesus; the only true hero, the one who is always faithful. Spirit of God, make me more like Jesus. Do not let me delight in sin or deride it casually. Give me holy grief and deep compassion.

Jesus, Keep me holy, Keep me humble, Keep my heart close to you.

God is great!

Christmas Is Just The Beginning

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After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 NIV

Did you get what you really wanted for Christmas? Hopefully, you did better than Diane, who excitedly ripped open the box from her sister. Inside, she found a colorful hat, soft and fuzzy; she loved it. However, after several attempts to get the right angle, it just didn’t look right. So, she called her sister. “I got the hat you sent me,” Diane said, “but it doesn’t fit.” Her sister replied, “A hat?” “I sent you a toilet seat cover!” (Life in these United States, Reader’s Digest)

Yes, Christmas is over, or at least that’s how we see it. The gifts have been unwrapped, the parties are finished, and we attended the special services at church. Now, our thoughts turn to the coming year. In a few days, most people will start packing away decorations and deep cleaning the house. The lines at Walmart, Target, and UPS will be long and slow as people return the wrong-size shirts, duplicate gifts, or even toilet seat covers.

However, in reality, Christmas is just the beginning. Both Christmas and Easter serve as essential dates on the calendar that remind us of the impact God has had, had, or will have on the world. Jesus never intended to be confined to two days on a human calendar but to be alive and transformative every day of our lives. Howard Thurman expressed this beautifully in his poem “The Mood of Christmas.”

“When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the star in the sky is gone,

When the kings and princes are home,

When the Shepherds are back with their flock,

                  The work of Christmas begins:

                  To find the lost,

                  To heal the broken,

                  To feed the hungry,

                  To release the prisoner,

                  To rebuild the nations,

                  To bring peace among people

                  To make music in the heart.”                (The Mood of Christmas by Howard Thurman)

Matthew added a twist to Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth. He introduced us to a small group of scholars from the East, who set out on a mission to find the true king who was meant to change the world. These “foreigners,” Gentiles, intellectuals, and advisors to kings—yet outside the Jewish faith—searched for the real meaning of Christmas. Others might have looked up at the night sky and seen the star, but did nothing to seek the truth.

Religious leaders knew the location from years of careful study of Scripture. When asked about where the Messiah was to be born, they knew precisely by quoting the prophets. They wanted a Messiah, on their own terms. What a difference if they had decided to join this band of seekers and follow the star. No doubt they gave good directions; unfortunately, they didn’t follow their own instructions to Bethlehem to find the Messiah.

This band of seekers wanted more than directions and more knowledge concerning the birthplace of the king of the Jews. They hadn’t traveled for weeks simply to talk with an earthly political leader; they sought the real king. This band of wise men didn’t need more information; their journey towards Christmas wouldn’t be complete until they saw the King of kings.

“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:9-11 NIV

These outsiders, seekers, scholars are a great example of those who understood the real meaning of Christmas. They willingly gave up comfort, prestige, and wealth to seek out the “one who has been born king of the Jews, the Messiah, the One who could bring real meaning to life.

“Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point—a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest—our best for His glory.” (Oswald Chambers)

What will you do with Christmas as we celebrate the arrival of 2026? Was it just another day that gets crossed off the calendar until next year? We can make our plans for 2026, and we should, but remember that they are subject to change often due to circumstances beyond our control. The one thing that remains certain is that God will be with us throughout 2026. “For to us a child is born…And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) There will be times in the coming year when these names and titles of Jesus will be our place of refuge and strength to face our challenges.

I pray that the hope, joy, and promise of Christmas continue throughout this year. Thank you for subscribing to and reading Prayer Safari each week.  I hope it offers a quick word of encouragement as we journey together on Safari. My desire is to honor God with each post.

Happy New Year!

God is great!

 

Due to technical problems post failed to send Monday

Christmas Is Just the Beginning

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After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 NIV

Did you get what you really wanted for Christmas? Hopefully, you did better than Diane, who excitedly ripped open the box from her sister. Inside, she found a colorful hat, soft and fuzzy; she loved it. However, after several attempts to get the right angle, it just didn’t look right. So, she called her sister. “I got the hat you sent me,” Diane said, “but it doesn’t fit.” Her sister replied, “A hat?” “I sent you a toilet seat cover!” (Life in these United States, Reader’s Digest)

Yes, Christmas is over, or at least that’s how we see it. The gifts have been unwrapped, the parties are finished, and we attended the special services at church. Now, our thoughts turn to the coming year. In a few days, most people will start packing away decorations and deep cleaning the house. The lines at Walmart, Target, and UPS will be long and slow as people return the wrong-size shirts, duplicate gifts, or even toilet seat covers.

However, in reality, Christmas is just the beginning. Both Christmas and Easter serve as essential dates on the calendar that remind us of the impact God has had, had, or will have on the world. Jesus never intended to be confined to two days on a human calendar but to be alive and transformative every day of our lives. Howard Thurman expressed this beautifully in his poem “The Mood of Christmas.”

“When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the star in the sky is gone,

When the kings and princes are home,

When the Shepherds are back with their flock,

                  The work of Christmas begins:

                  To find the lost,

                  To heal the broken,

                  To feed the hungry,

                  To release the prisoner,

                  To rebuild the nations,

                  To bring peace among people

                  To make music in the heart.”                (The Mood of Christmas by Howard Thurman)

Matthew added a twist to Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth. He introduced us to a small group of scholars from the East, who set out on a mission to find the true king who was meant to change the world. These “foreigners,” Gentiles, intellectuals, and advisors to kings—yet outside the Jewish faith—searched for the real meaning of Christmas. Others might have looked up at the night sky and seen the star, but did nothing to seek the truth.

Religious leaders knew the location from years of careful study of Scripture. When asked about where the Messiah was to be born, they knew precisely by quoting the prophets. They wanted a Messiah, on their own terms. What a difference if they had decided to join this band of seekers and follow the star. No doubt they gave good directions; unfortunately, they didn’t follow their own instructions to Bethlehem to find the Messiah.

This band of seekers wanted more than directions and more knowledge concerning the birthplace of the king of the Jews. They hadn’t traveled for weeks simply to talk with an earthly political leader; they sought the real king. This band of wise men didn’t need more information; their journey towards Christmas wouldn’t be complete until they saw the King of kings.

“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:9-11 NIV

These outsiders, seekers, scholars are a great example of those who understood the real meaning of Christmas. They willingly gave up comfort, prestige, and wealth to seek out the “one who has been born king of the Jews, the Messiah, the One who could bring real meaning to life.

“Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point—a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest—our best for His glory.” (Oswald Chambers)

What will you do with Christmas as we celebrate the arrival of 2026? Was it just another day that gets crossed off the calendar until next year? We can make our plans for 2026, and we should, but remember that they are subject to change often due to circumstances beyond our control. The one thing that remains certain is that God will be with us throughout 2026. “For to us a child is born…And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) There will be times in the coming year when these names and titles of Jesus will be our place of refuge and strength to face our challenges.

I pray that the hope, joy, and promise of Christmas continue throughout this year. Thank you for subscribing to and reading Prayer Safari each week.  I hope it offers a quick word of encouragement as we journey together on Safari. My desire is to honor God with each post.

Happy New Year!

God is great!

 

Due to technical problems post failed to send Monday