What about Tomorrow?

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Then Jesus said to his disciples: Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Luke 2:22-24 NIV

What about tomorrow? Chances are, we have all asked or been asked that question at some point. We meet someone and talk about having lunch, maybe tomorrow. We know we need to do something, maybe tomorrow. We have a new place we want to go, but tomorrow never comes. We forget, get busy, or decide on something else. “Your actions reveal how badly you want something. If you keep saying something is a priority, but you never act on it, then you don’t really want it.” (James Clear, Atomic Habits)

Jesus talks about tomorrow and what is important. Two brothers tried to pull him into their sibling quarrel over their share of an inheritance. Instead of lecturing them, he tells them a story. “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ (Luke 12:16-19 NIV)

This man assumed he would have a tomorrow. He planned as if he always had tomorrows. He accumulated many material things and found himself with an abundant crop. What could he do? You notice his focus was on his own needs and what would benefit him. He had total control over how to use the abundance, but he did not control tomorrow. He completely left out the One who controls tomorrow. Jesus brings the story to a climax: “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ (12:20).

Contentment has always been found at a crossroads you have to choose. One road sign lists things like wealth, bigger houses, and food delicacies. Nothing is inherently wrong with these things, but they can easily shift the focus to the self as the center. Jesus ended his story with the timeless truth, “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God” (12:21).

At the crossroads, Jesus points us to the other road. It may not look as inviting at first, but in the end, it brings joy and contentment. As we align our money with faith, our world expands beyond our needs to include how we can impact God’s Kingdom. “Spend your money on the things money can buy. Spend your time on the things money can’t buy.” (Haruki Murakami)

It takes little time to watch a television show, read a magazine, view a reel on Facebook, or use any other media outlet to find the world’s answer to contentment. We are told we can find contentment in a product, activity, or service we must buy. Norwegian writer Arne Garborg writes, “You can buy food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; soft beds, but not sleep; knowledge, but not intelligence; glitter, but not comfort; fun, but not pleasure; acquaintances, but not friendship; servants, but not faithfulness; grey hair, but not honor; quiet days, but not peace.”

What about tomorrow? If having, doing, and going are the answer, we should be the most content, happy, and well-adjusted generation in history. We live in the most prosperous, affluent era in history. There are more Solomons in terms of wealth, not wisdom, than at any time in history. So, what happened?

“Christianity observes that we’re discontent because our lives are disordered. It’s not that we love our work, our spouse, or other things too much; it’s that we love God too little in relation to those other things. The problem isn’t the intensity of our loves; it’s the order…Reordering love means we do not need to love things less, but love God more than anything else.” (Tim and Michael Keller, The Stories We Live By)

Jim Carrey, an actor and comedian, is known for roles such as The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, The Truman Show, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and many others. He has, without a doubt, achieved a certain level of success both materially and in terms of recognition. Yet in a commencement address at MIU, he spoke candidly about status. He said, “I’ve often said that I wish people could realize all their dreams in wealth and fame so that they could see that it’s not where you’re going to find your sense of completion.”

What about tomorrow? The man in Jesus’ story had made good, well-thought-out plans for tomorrow, but like so many, he failed to keep the focus on what is important. The man’s goals, and ultimately his contentment, rested on what would make his life easy. He was already thinking about what he would eat and drink, and what would make him merry.

Paul was writing to the gathered believers in Philippi, and his words are ones we can appreciate in our cultural context today: “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13 NIV)

What about tomorrow? Let God build the storeroom!

God is great!

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What You See Is Not the Full Story

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He told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches. Matthew 13:31-32 NIV

The only plants that grow faster than the Moso bamboo are the weeds in my flower beds! Under the right conditions, the Moso can grow up to 3.3 feet in a single day. Yet that growth comes through stages of dormancy and change as a seed. Even with rapid growth from 40 to 90 feet, it will still take 5 to 7 years to reach maturity for use.

Though the growth you can see is spectacular, the real miracle takes place underground. As it shoots up rapidly, it aggressively sends out a vast network of underground runners that can extend 15 feet or more in a single season.

“We want things to happen at the speed of light, but in the kingdom of God, things generally happen at the speed of a seed. News flash: Seeds still grow at the speed of Eden. They have to take root before they can bear fruit.” (Mark Batterson from Gradually Then Suddenly p181).

It doesn’t matter how young or old we are; we like to see things happen quickly, especially when it comes to our lives. We enjoy the 3.3 feet of spiritual growth per day, but we also learn to wait for the runners to spread out, which gives us strength and usefulness. “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.” (Robert Louis Stevenson).

The Moso bamboo’s use has often been described as “nearly endless” (Master Garden Products). From the bamboo harvest come products for building houses, flooring and decking, furniture, kitchenware, textiles, paper products, musical instruments, skateboards, environmental products, and the list goes on.

God tends to plant seeds rather than transplant full-grown plants. Our spiritual growth, like a seed, takes time to germinate before it sends out the first visible shoot, yet the variety of impact could be described as nearly endless.

God planted a seed of greatness in Abraham’s heart that seemed to make no sense given his circumstances. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” (Gen 12:2). Abraham was already 75, had no living heirs, and left his home for parts unknown. This was not exactly the way to build a great nation, yet God did.

God planted a seed of freedom for Israel in Moses’ heart. The problem: Moses got ahead of God. “Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand… When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian.” (Exodus 2:12, 15). It took years for his soul to gain the spiritual maturity to hear God say, “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (Ex 3:10). The once-young and brash leader had matured enough for God to use him.

God planted a seed of hope in a refugee camp. The once-great nation of Israel was left beaten and destroyed, with the people living in exile. The future did not look very bright until God planted that seed in their hearts: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). It was a seed that sent out runners, sustaining them for 70 years.

God planted the greatest seed ever, still growing toward maturity and sending out runners throughout the world – a seed of redemption and of his forever presence. That seed came as a baby, born in a manger, fully human and fully God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1,14).

God is planting seeds and will continue to do so until the final chapter. “The church needs writers, performers, artists, speakers, politicians, businessmen, and workers in every craft and trade. I envision a whole generation of roaring lambs who will lay claim to these careers with the same vigor and commitment that sent men like Hudson Taylor to China.” (Bob Briner, Roaring Lambs: A Gentle Plan to Radically Change Your World).

What seed has God planted in your soul? Is it a new seed of vision to move; a seed to go to the mission field; a seed to break a lifestyle issue that has held you captive for years; or a seed of change in how you do life? We can rejoice and seek to experience God in every moment, place, and circumstance of every day. “There are no unsacred places; only sacred places and desecrated places.” (Wendell Berry).

God is great!

A weekly devotional thought offering encouragement, hope, and purpose

The Right Content for Change

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Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praise-worthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV

“What makes the desert beautiful, said the little prince, is that it hides, somewhere, a well.”  Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Death Valley is famous as the hottest place on Earth and the driest place in North America. Temperatures frequently exceed 120°F in the summer and set a world record in 1913 of 134°F. Average rainfall is less than 2 inches, a fraction of what most deserts receive, according to the National Park Service.

The harsh conditions create a barren landscape of survival. Yet within this lifeless wasteland, over 1000 plant species exist, each adapted to the conditions, with many dormant for years until the right conditions prevail. The winter of 2004 brought record rainfall, nurturing the earth and awakening this normally bleak landscape with a spectacular spring display of color. This incredible “Superbloom” reminds us of the hidden beauty that emerges when conditions are right.

Within each of us are the desert and the well, places in our souls that respond to the conditions we put them in each day. What you feed your soul is what you will get out. “The bucket that is sunk into the depths of the ocean is full of the ocean. The ocean is in the bucket, but also the bucket is in the ocean, surrounded by it.” (A.W. Tozer)

God made our minds to enjoy new experiences, excitement, knowledge, and information. He made our bodies, minds, and souls to be intertwined, responding to different stimuli in different ways, both positive and negative. It is one reason we can spend hours scrolling through social media.

You are probably familiar with “doomscrolling,” the habit of continually scrolling through negative, disturbing, or alarming news and social media content. You keep scrolling even though it increases your anxiety or hopelessness and decreases your well-being. The average person spends roughly 42% of their waking life on screens, about 6 hours 45 minutes a day. Social media is the single largest category, more than streaming and gaming combined (DataReportal’s Digital 2026 Global Overview).

Media consumption spans every generation, with Gen Z leading the way. Gen Z spends 2.6 times more time on screens than Boomers but is 1.5 times more likely to recognize it as a problem. Younger users want solutions, while older users may use screens less but are less concerned about it. It is a global concern, with average usage at 6 hours and 45 minutes per day. Geographically, developing nations such as South Africa, Kenya, and Brazil lead the statistics, with the United States coming in at 10th place.

The opposite of doomscrolling is a new term I learned this week: “bloomscrolling.” Instead of letting the algorithm feed you doomscrolling content, bloomscrolling means intentionally seeking uplifting content, like nature videos, heartwarming stories, hobbies, or anything that brings encouragement and purpose. You still use social media, but you stay in control of what you see.

 “Bloomscrolling is intentionally looking at online content that makes you feel good rather than constantly consuming negative or stressful information.” (Sanam Hafeez, neuropsychologist). “While genuine real-life interactions are the ultimate antidote to digital fatigue, bloomscrolling is a much healthier habit than the alternative… Bloomscrolling can help make your relationship with social media feel a little more balanced and less emotionally draining.” (Nandini Maharaj)

We may have strong opinions about social media, but we live in a technologically connected world, and simply saying “quit social media” doesn’t always work. Screen time serves multiple needs, from keeping us connected to helping us work more effectively. We must recognize the dangers while learning to use it without letting it destroy our souls and minds. “You don’t drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.” (Edwin Louis Cole)

You can ask yourself what you hope to find in your hours on social media. I have found it a great tool for research, staying in touch with others, and gaining information, but one thing I have found severely lacking is wisdom. If you think you can find wisdom on the internet, just read some of the comments!

Solomon had all the wealth, power, and influence the world could fathom, but the one thing he emphasized most was “Get wisdom.” He wrote, “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you…(Proverbs 4:5-8ff).”

James wrote centuries later about the importance of seeking wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5) James wrote long before the advent of social media, yet he fully understood the nature of our hearts, regardless of the vehicle. The world’s wisdom offers envy, selfish ambition, disorder, and every evil practice (3:16). Compared to the world’s list, look what God offers: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” (3:17-18).

We may not like social media, AI, or whatever else, but they are here to stay. The question for followers of Jesus is: how will we use them for good, not evil? “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” (Francis of Assisi).

God is great!

A weekly devotion offering encouragement, hope, and purpose

Keep Running, Don’t Stop

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Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

Keep running; it is not over yet! This should have been my mantra when I was running marathons. I needed that mantra because the elite runners had already collected their medals, showered, and were heading to the next race as I came into view of the finish line. I may never have finished first, but I was never last.

I am so thankful for runners like Shizo Kanakuri, who make my 4-plus hours look pretty good. Kanakuri finished the 1912 Stockholm Olympics in 54 years, 8 months, 6 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes, and 20.3 seconds, beating my records. Kanakuri holds the Guinness World Record for the slowest time in any Olympic marathon and will likely hold it for many years.

He started the race on July 14, 1912, and crossed the finish line on March 20, 1967, at age 75. During those years, Sweden listed him as missing, and a legend was born.

So where did he go? The race day was hot; only 34 of the 68 runners finished. Kanakuri became disoriented, stopped at a Swedish family’s house, and fell asleep from heat exhaustion. When he woke up, the race was over, and embarrassed by his failure, he silently returned to Japan without notifying race officials.

Kanakuri turned his failure into a new story. The next day, he wrote in his journal, “It’s the morning after my defeat. My heart is aching with regret for the rest of my life. It was the most significant day of my life. But failure teaches success, and I can only wait for the day with fair weather after the rain so that I can clean up my shame.” (Katja Vujic, Runner’s World).

 He chose to tell his story in ways that would make a difference. For the next fifty years, he kept training, ran other Olympic races, taught other long-distance runners, and finally finished the race he started in 1912. When interviewed at the end of the race, he simply said, “It was a long trip. Along the way, I got married, had six children, and ten grandchildren.”

Failure is not, and has never been, God’s plan for us. “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.” Proverbs 24:16 NLT.

“We all have our time machines, don’t we? Those that take us back are memories…And those that carry us forward are dreams.” (H.G. Wells)

Finding your new story after failure is a recurring theme in Scripture. We read the stories of those who got lost along the way, only to see God’s hand editing and rewriting their story. These are stories of second chances, and occasionally even more. They are stories woven through with God’s grace and concern for us. If you stop at failure, you will not find redemption. Failure will become the mark of life, which is not the way God intended.

Failure forces us to look within and ask who we are and what we can do now. It is easier to stay hidden, yet in those times God’s word becomes critical to our story. “Do not trust what you feel, but rather trust what God says about you. Hold to God’s declaration over you.” (Robby Dawkins). God has no illusions that we will not fail, but He will be there to pick us up. “The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” (Psalm 37: 23-24)

Peter, who became a patriarch of the early church, failed miserably by denying Jesus three times. He was so devastated that he went into hiding and could have remained a failure, but the very one he denied restored him (John 21:15-17). Jesus took his brokenness and rewrote his story: “Feed my Sheep.”

David, who became known as a man after God’s own heart, failed morally, ethically, and legally by committing adultery, murder, and an attempted cover-up. God used Nathan to help David rewrite his story of failure. (2 Sam 12).

Adam had it all until he wanted more and failed because of disobedience and deception. All would have been lost for him except that “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). God took him and Eve to help them rewrite their broken stories of failure.

John Mark’s story would have been that of a deserter and a failure if not for Barnabas, who helped him rewrite it. “Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him because he had deserted them in Pamphylia…They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus…” (Acts 15:37-39). Later in life, Paul wrote Timothy asking for John Mark.

“God is the God of second chances—it’s never too late to be who you might have been. And God can resurrect opportunity like He can everything else. But every opportunity has a shelf life—some shorter than others.” (Mark Batterson)

God is the ultimate author of our stories. Others may see failure, but not God when we give Him the pen to write it. I am grateful that he never gave up on me, nor will He on you. He keeps writing and rewriting, even if it takes 54 years, 8 months, 6 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes, and 20.3 seconds!

God is great!

Was It Really Cooler?

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There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV

Was last Tuesday just a bit cooler? Did the calendar date marking the beginning of autumn fool you into thinking the temperature had changed? Maybe it was just our imagination, or that Dunkin’ Donuts pumpkin donut you just ate, but after 90s and 100s all summer, it felt different. 2026 has officially become the hottest year on record for the contiguous United States and Europe, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The summer of 2026 beat all other 132 years of record-keeping.

Unfortunately, the heat index may not have noticed that autumn is on the calendar, but nature has. Trees are starting to drop their leaves, birds are flying south, and the annual monarch butterfly migration has begun. These beautiful, unmistakable butterflies, with their bold orange-and-black patterned wings dotted with white spots, are beginning their 3,000-mile journey from north to south.

Monarch butterflies are a beautiful symbol of survival through the seasons. Most monarch butterflies live only 2-5 weeks as adults, but one generation of monarchs lives 6 to 9 months. This super generation of monarchs, also known as the Methuselah generation, benefits from the life-giving contributions of previous generations. Three generations help the one finally reach its destination. Sounds a little like our lives!

We welcome the seasons for the unique contributions they bring to the land and to us. We may not like some of the changes, such as heavy snow in winter, tornadoes in spring, blistering heat in summer, or the slow browning of the landscape in autumn. Yet each season brings what the earth needs, just as we face changes in our lives.

These changing seasons gently remind us of our limitations, our adaptability, and our need for others. The seasons invite reflection on where we are in life. We navigate the unique transitions of our lives in many of the same ways the seasons do. Scripture reminds us how fragile and temporary life is. “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:6-8

The seasons point us to God, who is ultimately in control. “He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.” Psalm 104:19. We realize we can do nothing to alter the timing of the seasons. All we can do is make plans, adjust to the season we are in, and celebrate where we are in life.

The seasons paint a vivid picture of how God carefully sets everything in motion. “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:22. We can rest in the rhythm of God’s motion without having to do anything on our part to effect change.

The seasons reflect the importance of being deeply planted. “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:3. The tree bears fruit in the spring, provides shade in the summer, its leaves fall to the ground in autumn, and it goes dormant in the winter. As the tree goes through many changes, so do we. We change and adapt, yet when planted in God’s word and purpose, we remain vibrant, no matter the season.

The seasons awaken a deep sense of awe as we enjoy the changing scenery. We are never bored in nature, simply because of the mysteries we can see when we are open to them. We see the old giving way to new seedlings and growth. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

“Nothing good in our humanity is lost. The memory of a body that works in health is more than recollection: it is now anticipation. The ache of true love once known but now sundered will be filled with glorious reunion. The feeling of the distant memory of Beauty, the ideal of Truth in a fallen world, the longing for Goodness that surfaces amidst the choking thorns of our wickedness, all these will find fulfillment when the first fruits come to harvest.”  Gerrit Scott Dawson, Jesus Ascended.

Tomorrow is assured because of God’s love. God’s fingerprints are evident in creation’s design, as seen in the changing seasons, a beautiful reminder of His creativity and presence. We know that as autumn comes, winter, spring, and summer will follow because of God’s enduring presence. Let each season reflect God’s presence in your life.

“It is she that has got all Narnia under her thumb. It’s she that makes it always winter. Always winter and never Christmas; think of that!” (C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe). Unlike Narnia, where it was “always winter and never Christmas,” we can find a future because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

I don’t know how many seasons you have celebrated, but what a great assurance we have that we can “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

God is great!

Prayer Safari: A weekly devotional post to offer encouragement, hope, and purpose.

Faith-Crisis-Courage

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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 16:7b

History books are filled with world-changing events that forever alter the course of nations and peoples. 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of one of those events, forever etched in the minds and hearts of those who witnessed evil on full display. On the morning of September 11, 2001, four planes ripped the façade of invulnerability from a nation. Yet for a brief moment, a nation turned to God for comfort, reassurance, and help. Churches were packed, prayers were offered, and people looked to God. Out of the rubble and ashes came stories of personal valor, compassion, and faith. We saw ordinary people who displayed extraordinary courage and character.

One of those was Rick Rescorla, Vice President of Corporate Security at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. in New York City. He understood his job well: to keep people safe. He assessed situations and identified vulnerabilities. He had led the evacuation in 1993, when a bomb exploded in the World Trade Center parking garage, leaving six people dead. Rick was determined this would not happen again, and for the next eight years, all 2,700 employees went through quarterly evacuation drills: no exceptions, no excuses.

Rescorla did not let up: practice, rework the plan, practice again. He heard all the jokes, complaints, and moaning, but it didn’t stop him. He wasn’t just running escape plans; he was conditioning their minds and bodies to react without thinking. Then came the morning of September 11, 2001. It started like any other day, until 8:46 AM, when American Airlines Flight 11 flew into the North Tower.

The South Tower PA system announced that everyone should stay calm and remain at their workstations. Perhaps it was Rescorla’s military background and war experience, but he ignored the announcement and quickly ordered an evacuation of all Morgan Stanley employees. He barked, “Everyone out, this is not a drill.” No one mocked the drill, complained, or hesitated that morning. At 9:03, the second plane hit the South Tower. Floor after floor of employees fled the building; some remember Rescorla’s calming voice singing “God Bless America” over a bullhorn. All but 13 of the 2,700 Morgan Stanley employees made it out alive. Rick Rescorla  would not leave until he made sure everyone was out when the South Tower collapsed on him.

“God compels us to go where we cannot see the way, and we say—‘I will wait till I get nearer the big crisis.’ If we do not do the running steadily in the little ways, we shall do nothing in the crisis.” Oswald Chambers understood that our faith does not happen at the moment of crisis but in the ordinary, common days of life.

Rescorla understood that you prepare not in the crisis but before it. He showed unwavering commitment to plan and practice what no one could imagine, so everyone would be ready when the crisis came. That’s the way of character. If we wait for character when the crisis comes, we will not be ready. Day-to-day trust in God builds the faith muscles to respond to whatever life brings.

“We imagine we would be all right if a big crisis arose; but the crisis will only reveal the stuff we are made of; it will not put anything into us… Crisis always reveals character. The private relationship of worshipping God is the great essential of fitness.” (Oswald Chambers)

Abraham Lincoln addressed the United States Congress on December 1, 1862, as the nation was divided by civil war. He addressed Congress one month before signing the Emancipation Proclamation into law. President Lincoln faced the perils of war with resolve, faith, and character. His final remarks that day laid the foundation for the nation’s future after the war:

“The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew…. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the latest generation…We shall nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of Earth.”

Character doesn’t develop in the midst of crisis; it’s nurtured by the small, seemingly meaningless actions that shape who we become. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)

Character is defined by how we respond to a crisis. It is easy to run from a crisis, but often we are called to run toward it to help. 412 first responders died on September 11 when they were called to action. They could have mitigated their risk, but they chose to go where it was most dangerous.

Character didn’t just show up on that Tuesday morning for Welles Crowther. This 24-year-old equity trader put on his signature red bandana, which he had carried since childhood, and began guiding injured people to safety. He carried a badly wounded woman to safety, then went back into the building that took his life.

Character had long defined Todd Beamer before the crisis aboard United Flight 93 and his shout to his fellow passengers, “Let’s roll.” This Wheaton College graduate had lived a life grounded in faith and was ready. Classmate Mike Schauer said of Beamer, “He was heroic in small ways long before 9/11 happened. He was a mentor to a lot of us. And he had those characteristics that came out on 9/11 long before that moment.” (NBC Chicago News).

We remember 9/11 for the loss of life, the sacrifices made, and the empty seats in thousands of homes. Yet we also remember and share stories of valor, courage, and character. The next crisis will come for all of us, but the choices we make today will define us when it arrives. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith…” (2 Peter 1:5-7)

God is great!

Labor Day — Past and Future

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Hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon, and parades are just a few of the things that mark the final celebration of summer. Labor Day does not come with as much fanfare as Thanksgiving and Christmas, unless you are in the market for a new mattress or furniture. Unfortunately, it is unofficially the end of summer. So, is there anything spectacular about Labor Day? Without a doubt, yes.

Labor Day may not have the pageantry of other holidays, but this one day (or weekend) pays tribute to those who labor paycheck to paycheck to provide goods and services to the nation.  We do enjoy the day off now, but for millions in the 1800s it gave honor and dignity to those who labored long hours, often seven days a week. The stroke of President Cleveland’s pen did not just create a holiday; it gave workers legal status and provided a safety net against exploitation. “Labor Day honors the common American workers who helped change the way our country views its workforce, allowing for economic freedom and liberty.”  (Josiah Soto)

Labor Day reminds us of the importance of work and its impact on society. It highlights the contributions, achievements, and economic gains made by a dedicated and committed labor force. It does not matter the job; all facets contribute. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”

Yet long before Labor Day, God reminded us of the creativity of work. Through creation, He modeled for us in the first verses of Genesis the beauty and life that come from creation. “Let there be … and there was.” Throughout the creation process, God took interest in each and every detail until “God saw that it was good.” His final task was to create humankind. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen 1:27). Then God put them to work to take care of his creation and to give us meaningful work. (Gen 1:28-30, 2:15).

God reminds us that work gives meaning to our souls. “A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ecc 2:24-25). Generations later, President Theodore Roosevelt would acknowledge the importance of work, saying, “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”

The American, as well as the global, workforce has undergone many changes since June 28, 1894, when Labor Day became an official holiday. Travel that once took days can now be completed in hours. A handwritten note that would take weeks to reach its recipient can now be sent in seconds. Massive calculations that once took mathematicians days or even weeks can now be completed in a couple of hours.

Yet the man who helped put a computer on every desk and, ultimately, a computer in your hands now has reservations about the future he helped create. Bill Gates, in a recent essay, warned of the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI). The technology will rapidly transform the U.S. labor market and put millions of jobs at risk. Why hit the AI panic button? He feels that the speed of AI’s advancement, without a proper response from government and tech leaders, has crossed a critical point. “AI is changing the economy much faster than previous technological revolutions, at a mind-blowing rate, leaving less time to prepare for employment disruptions. It will hit these industries rapidly, over the course of a decade rather than a few generations.”

The Industrial Revolution of the 1700s and 1800s transformed a mainly agrarian and craft-based society into an urban and industrial society. It brought economic growth and new opportunities but also left behind environmental, health, and safety hazards, giving rise to squalid living conditions and urban congestion.

Workers who came from the countryside had to adjust to a very different rhythm of life. Greed drove industrialists to exploit children as young as 7, forcing them to work in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. The poor and uneducated were vulnerable to abuse. Family units no longer worked and did life together.

The dignity, beauty, and value of work, as God intended for His creation, had been manipulated and devalued. Workers were treated as disposable assets rather than as caregivers for God’s creation. Positive changes did come, but only after several generations of people seeking improvements. Laws were finally passed to protect children, ensure workers’ safety, and safeguard the environment.

“Although God’s original design for work was perverted by sin, God will one day restore work without the burdens that sin introduced…Work is of no value except when God is in it.” (author unknown). “No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.” Isaiah 65:22

Will artificial intelligence cause a similar upheaval in society? The obvious answer is yes. Every job, industry, and worker will be affected. Bill Gates added, “I am very concerned…If we don’t step up, the negatives will substantially outweigh the positives.”

Do we, as followers of Jesus, need to be concerned? Yes. Do we, as followers of Jesus, need to become overwhelmed by the prospects and give up? The answer that has endured every major societal, cultural, and governmental upheaval is a resounding no. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10. Will things get messy? Probably. Will it ever be hopeless? Never, because “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son…” How much more hope do we need than that?

Celebrating Labor Day and the future.

God is great!

What’s In A Name

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Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. 3 John 12 NIV

November elections are coming fast; just watch 30 minutes of TV! We have the privilege of voting, but we must endure the endless campaign ads. If it is bad in your state, think about your friends in Alaska. Dan Sullivan endorses Dan Sullivan to beat Dan Sullivan in their Senate race! How does one endorse yourself to run against yourself? It’s all in a name. The sitting senator, Dan S. Sullivan, has been endorsed by former Anchorage mayor Dan A. Sullivan in his run against Dan J. Sullivan. One name, three men, and I thought it was confusing in Georgia. NBC News has reported that “state and federal prosecutors in Alaska were investigating whether the race could be part of a conspiracy to confuse voters.” (Raquel Coronell Uribe, NBC News).

What’s in a name? For those in Alaska, it’s everything. For all of us, it’s everything, even if for different reasons. When a name is mentioned, you immediately form an opinion about that person. You picture all kinds of scenarios when you hear their name. You form your thoughts based on personal interactions, stories from family or friends, historical facts, political commentators, social media, or countless other sources. Think of a person’s name: politician, TV star, local celebrity, or family member; what is your first thought?

None of us has any input into the name we are given at birth, but we have every responsibility for what that name comes to represent. We can tarnish our names through the choices we make, the attitude we display, the friends we keep, or the lifestyle we live. Proverbs remind us that “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” (21:1 NIV).

When you hear the name Mother Teresa, people think of caring, compassionate, and concerned. The name Abraham Lincoln brings to mind conviction, determination, and courage. When you think of Billy Graham, you picture an evangelist, a fiery preacher, and a devoted disciple of Jesus. You picture Queen Elizabeth as refined, dignified, and committed. Each of them made a decision that “a good name is more desirable than great riches.”

The opposite extreme is those who chose power, greed, and riches over a good name. You only have to mention Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Ahab and Jezebel, or Judas Iscariot to begin the list of bad names. Among those names, you will find Mao Zedong. His name is associated with revolutionary change in China, achieved through ruthless power and murder, leaving a legacy of turmoil. Historian Frank Dikötter wrote: “The true dimensions of what happened (in China) are only now coming to light thanks to the meticulous reports the party itself compiled during the famine…What comes out of this massive and detailed dossier is a tale of horror in which Mao emerges as one of the greatest mass murderers in history, responsible for the deaths of at least 45 million people between 1958 and 1962.” (from Unbreakable Courage, Max Lucado).

Unfortunately, an oft-repeated phrase in First and Second Kings was “He did evil in the eyes of the LORD.” It was applied to Israel’s leaders who failed God and the people, leaving a disgraced name. Historians could have used this same phrase thousands of times throughout history for leaders who forgot that “Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all” (Pr. 22:2).

What legacy will your name leave for others? What does your name evoke? Proverbs again reminds us, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man” (Pr. 3:3-4).

The New York Times ran an article in 2019 with the headline, “Is There Anything We Can All Agree On? Yes: Dolly Parton.” On Tuesday, August 25, this bigger-than-life powerhouse singer and entertainer died at age 80. There are very few celebrities most people know and like. Dolly Parton grew up in extreme poverty but left a vast fortune. Her name could have been linked to glamour and wealth, but she never forgot how important it was to care for others. Her love for God was on full display throughout her career. “Every single day, before I do anything, I wake up, and I thank God. I always pray that he’ll let me uplift mankind and glorify him.”

In his weekly post, Jim Denison wrote, “Today we can all agree that her passing Tuesday is a true cultural moment.” Throughout her recording career, she recorded 90 Top 40 country hits, sold more than 160 million records worldwide, and wrote more than 3,000 songs. Dolly was equally known for her generosity, including giving more than 300 million books to children through her Imagination Library.

There is seldom a week when I do not read a story about a pastor, Christian leader, or influential person whose lifetime of work is destroyed by a single bad decision that becomes public, by careless lifestyle choices, or by an inflated ego that elevates self over God. They failed to protect their greatest asset: their name. “A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.” (Ecclesiastes 7:1).

How critical it is to never forget your name. G.K. Chesterton wrote: “Every man has forgotten who he is. One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God; but thou shalt not know thyself. We are all under the same mental calamity; we have all forgotten our names. We have all forgotten what we really are.”

Do we value a good name more than great riches? Criminals know the value of a name, since identity theft occurs every 4.9 seconds in the United States. They may know the monetary value of names but not their true worth. Do we share the same concern for the value of a good name? “The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot.” (Proverbs 10:7).

God is great!

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Be a Job, Not an Eliphaz

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Then he fell to the ground in worship. Job 1:20b NIV

Would you pay $906,000 for a $1.50 life jacket? That’s what an unidentified bidder paid for a life jacket worn by Laura Mabel Francatelli, a first-class passenger who survived the RMS Titanic’s 1912 sinking.

The RMS Titanic was a British luxury passenger ship that set sail from Southampton on April 10, 1912, on its maiden voyage to New York City. The ship was the largest ever afloat and was billed as unsinkable. Yet on April 14, the ship hit an iceberg and sank in the early hours of April 15, carrying an estimated 1,500 passengers and crew to their deaths.

Francatelli and 11 others survived in the ship’s lifeboat No. 1, which was launched despite having a capacity of 40. Its failure to pick up survivors from the frigid water became a source of controversy. (CBS News on Google, April 18, 2026).

“I promise I will never let go, Jack. I’ll never let go.” These are the words from one of the most unforgettable scenes in the 1997 Oscar-winning movie Titanic. I am sure those who know the movie better than I do would list other incredible moments, but I think this scene captures the power of love and commitment as Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet) hold onto each other, trying to stay afloat in the icy waters as the massive ship breaks in half.

The historical romance film features two characters from vastly different social and financial backgrounds who find love! This emotional scene shows Jack clinging to the drifting door panel while Rose lies on top of it. Jack encourages Rose, telling her, “You’re going to get out of here. You’re going to go on, and you’re going to make lots of babies, and you’re going to watch them grow. You’re going to die an old, an old lady, warm in her bed. Not here, not tonight, not like this. Do you understand me?” It’s a powerful exchange between two people in a hopeless situation. The scene ends with Rose being rescued and going on to live the life she was promised, though Jack did not survive.

We all enjoy stories of heroes and heroines who battle the odds to save others, to bring light to a dark situation, or simply to encourage others. Most of us would admit that the world seems a bit short on swashbuckling heroes. Yet we might be surprised that it does not take a massive Superman moment to change someone’s situation.

“Faith don’t come in a bushel basket, missy. It comes one step at a time. Decide to trust Him for one little thing today, and before you know it, you find out He’s so trustworthy you be putting your whole life in His hands.” (from Candle in the Darkness, Lynn Austin).

You find Job clinging to a sinking door, in need of rescue. His children have been killed in a horrible storm; his vast wealth is gone, his livestock destroyed or stolen, and he now has a host of physical ailments. So what does he do? “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship.” (Job 1:20).

Job did not know he was a character in a cosmic drama of good and evil being played out, nor did he realize he was part of the storyline. Then along came his three good friends who knew him well. For them, the storyline went something like this: bad things don’t happen to good people, so you need to repent. Job was not buying that narration.

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar had the opportunity to be Job’s encouragers, but in chapter after chapter they became his adversaries. Eliphaz gets the first chance: “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” (Job 5:17). Then Bildad challenges Job, “How long will you say such things?…Surely God does not reject one who is blameless or strengthen the hands of evildoers.” (8:1a, 20).

Dismayed and broken, Job waits as Zophar speaks; surely he understands. “If you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by” (11:14-15).

Job could have related to those drowning in icy waters as an empty lifeboat sailed by them. Friends who had come to comfort became his tormentors. Yet he had one thing that would not sink: His faith in God. “Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (19:23-27).

The story ends with a major rebuke from God to everyone. Job’s friends had misinterpreted the whole story, placing the blame on Job, and they receive a major reprimand from God. Elihu is completely dismissed. Job, who had blamed God and wanted a face-to-face meeting, comes to realize how foolish he was.

Job never fully knew the plot behind the story, but he did come to realize that God had never left him. “Though he seemed silent or even absent, God was no mere spectator of Job’s suffering. He had been with Job through the entire experience.” (NIV Quest Study Bible)

You may not know someone’s full story, but take time to be a Job, not an Eliphaz, in their life. “You are a house of prayer. A living gateway between heaven and earth. Go forth. Carry His presence into every space. Let His light shine through you. The world is waiting. Heaven is ready. And God is with you.” (Eric Celerier).

God is great!

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Looking to God not the Thorn

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I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. Psalm 25:2-3 NIV

What comes to mind when you are at the top of the highest mountain on earth? I have no idea, and I am never going to find out, but 63-year-old American Eva Steinwald did last year. She climbed the 29,031 ft, 8 ½ in. Mount Everest, a sub-range of the Himalayas. It was not her goal to become the oldest American woman to summit Mount Everest, but she was, at least for a few days, until another American woman took the title at 66.

Why climb?  Her motivation to climb was part of her healing journey after her husband of 26 years died unexpectedly. Steinwald’s first climb was Mount Borah, the highest summit in Idaho.  “It was like a fire in my belly, because I felt alive and I knew that’s what I wanted, and it was a way to honor my husband.” (KTVB7 Idaho interview)

Steinwald said the push to the Mount Everest summit was challenging, but she was determined. “We saw dead bodies along the way, so you realize how serious this mountain is. It can be deadly.”

“Take time to mourn, but then step forward, because the only time we have is right now. We don’t have what we had yesterday; we don’t know what we will have tomorrow. We all have our Everests; whatever your Everest is- if it’s getting your college degree or going back to school, or running a 5k. Whatever it is, believe in your dream. Don’t listen to naysayers; believe in your heart. Baby steps, little goals, and you can get there. I give myself grace; you need to give yourself grace, too.” She said she wants to inspire others to conquer their own Mount Everest.

Steinwald’s mantra on her mountain climbs, as well as life, is “One breath. One step. Just don’t stop.” Her goal, by the time she reaches 70, is to have climbed all seven summits, which are the highest mountain for each of the seven continents.

What is your Mount Everest moment in life? How do you get over your mountain of loss, disappointment, or tragedy? Does it feel as if God has forgotten you?

Ms. Steinwald had guides to help her navigate the treacherous paths to the summit. Who better to guide us on our own epic journeys than Paul? He was an apostle, missionary, writer, teacher, and committed follower of Jesus who understood what it felt like to climb mountains.

Paul had an impressive record of the hardships he endured. “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 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 a day in the open sea…I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” (2 Cor. 11:23b-25,27).

We may not particularly enjoy some of the difficult seasons, but through God’s grace we find a way. However, Paul’s greatest help for us comes in those areas where we are totally lost and in confusion. The clouds have rolled in, and we cannot see ahead. Those are the areas where God seems absent or where we cannot hear. Paul offers us help from his own story when, three times, he asked God to remove a mysterious “thorn in his flesh.”

“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  (2 Cor 12:7b-9.)

Whether three times or fifty times, we come to realize that God does not always answer our prayers the way we asked. The “thorn” continues to fester within us. However, what we do learn is that we can trust God to help us live and even thrive with the thorn. Paul came to accept the no as what was best for him. “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 12:10). Can I always accept the no as what is best for me?

What we think of God when things are in chaos, whether physical or spiritual, reveals much about what we truly know of God’s character. It is in the darkest periods of our lives that we reveal our true understanding of God. What we can know is that God welcomes our repeated prayers yet gently reminds us that his “grace is sufficient.”

“His purpose in the cloud is to simplify our belief until our relationship to Him is exactly that of a child—God and my own soul; other people are shadows…Is the relationship between myself and God getting simpler than ever it has been? There is a connection between the strange providences of God and what we know of Him, and we have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God. Unless we can look the darkest, blackest fact full in the face without damaging God’s character, we do not yet know Him.” (Oswald Chambers)

Lord, thank you that you invite me to cast my burdens on you. I give you the things that are weighing on my mind today. I ask you to take them from my hands, but if not, let me live totally in your grace, which is sufficient for today.

God is great!

Prayer Safari: A weekly devotion to offer encouragement, hope, and purpose found in Jesus