Walking With Jesus

The Beauty of God’s Kingdom

“We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.” (2 Corinthians 6:6 NLT)

What is the most attractive, appealing, yes, most beautiful aspect of God’s Kingdom to you? Realizing God’s Kingdom is God’s sovereign rule over all creation, both in the present and in the future, encompassing His authority, righteousness, and active involvement with humanity, it may be hard to put our finger on which aspect of His rulership over us is most meaningful and compelling.

But when we think of His Kingdom being comprised of those who have yielded their life and allegiance to Jesus, what is it about your relationships with those you know in the Body of Christ that stimulates your mind and encourages your heart? Surely there are breathtaking views of God’s creation that few if any human eyes have seen that would be awe inspiring and open to us an avenue of appreciation of our Heavenly Commander and Chief, but what of the beauty of the person who sets near you in church, who serves with you or attends your small group?

One group of people who have risen to the top in my appreciation are those who labor as Pastors, leaders and volunteers of our congregations. Men and women of God who daily work selflessly, not to promote themselves, but to exalt the Lord Jesus and bless His people – you and me. The more I get to know them, the more I love and thank the Lord for them, the more the Lord reveals His beauty in and through them.

Yes, of course, there are some shysters, but by and large, the men and women God has chosen to lead our churches are godly servants who serve selflessly to the honor and fame of their Savior. Are they perfect? Are you? Am I? Anytime someone tends to want to speak too highly of me I simply tell them to first run that by my wife.

No one except Jesus is perfect, so none of us are chosen because of who we are, but for who we can become when submitted to the Lordship of our Savior. That’s the beauty of God’s Kingdom, seeing through His eyes His imperfect, redeemed children. We’re in this journey together and the sweeter our company, the sweeter the journey.

We labor together in the fields of God’s choosing to glorify and honor Him, but also, to grow in our love for and appreciation of those with whom we labor. Ray Majoran captures the heart of this idea as he prays: “As we stand in the fields You have prepared, steady our steps and deepen our joy for the work before us. Shape us into people who serve with humble hearts, support those who feel discouraged, and rejoice in the compassion of the Master who calls us His own. May our lives bear witness to Your kindness so that others would see the beauty of Your kingdom.” (See The Vineyard – 11-26-25)

The beauty of God’s Kingdom can be seen in and through the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus, and through nature, of course, but among the most impactful displays of the Lord’s beauty is revealed through His children living, loving, and working together to extend His eternal Kingdom on earth. When I think of the most compelling reasons I’m a child of God, it’s because of the key people the Lord has put in my life along the way. And here’s the best part – He’s continuing to put them in my path…and YOURS!

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

When Eternity Touched Earth

“So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” (John 1:14 NLT)

As “the glory of the Father’s one and only Son” is celebrated today, please take a moment to reflect on what Jesus’ birth means, not only to the world, but to you. Where might you be today if not for Jesus? How has His holy birth, life, death, and resurrection changed, not only your eternal destination, but your life’s journey? How will you give Him honor, praise, glory, and worship today, not just for family, gifts, this special day, but for the gift of Himself?

Yes, of course, celebrate family, friends, and the gift of hope we now have only because of His willingness to enter the stream of human life on this planet, but let’s not forget to celebrate the reason for this day when eternity touched earth and it was never the same.

“Used by permission, © Ray Majoran, GlimpseOfInfinity.com” “When Eternity Touched Earth”

We now have a hope that is alive, real, life-sustaining, and enduring. We can live with joy regardless of our circumstances because our hope isn’t in this life alone, but squarely in the new life made available to us through our trust in the Child of Bethlehem.

You may not have any gifts this Christmas, not even a tree to put any under, or anyone with whom to celebrate, but if you have Jesus, you have reason to celebrate and rejoice on this special day. Rather than wallow in self-pity and bemoan all you have for which to be sad, lift your heart and head to Jesus and give Him thanks for the gift of His life and love given on your behalf. He’s the only reason we need to rejoice and be glad. He is with us and for us like no other friend can be. Please don’t push Him away because of those you’ve lost.

Ray Majoran’s prayer for this day is exceptional and really blessed me. So, I just had to share it with you today. May it bless and encourage you as it did me.

“Creator of Light and Life, on this Christmas day, we marvel at the miracle of eternity touching earth. You, the infinite Word, stepped into our fragile world, wrapping Yourself in flesh to dwell among us. The glory that hovered in heavenly realms came near, full of grace and truth, illuminating the darkness (John 1:5). You are Emmanuel — God with us — not distant, but present, walking the roads we walk.

We stand in awe at the wonder of Your arrival; You left heaven’s majesty to bring light to our shadows. Like the shepherds under the night sky, may we be filled with awe at the announcement of Your birth. And like the wise men, may we bow our lives in worship, offering all that we are to the One who gave everything for us (Matthew 2:10-11).

On this day of celebration, let our hearts carry the hope of Your coming. As the Word made flesh, You revealed the depth of the Father’s love and invited us into the fullness of joy. Help us to shine as reflections of Your light in a world longing for the peace only You bring.

Thank You for the gift of Your presence, the gift of Yourself. Glory to You, now and forever.”

Have a blessed and enjoyable Christmas celebration,

With love and appreciation for you and yours on this special day, Ed 😊

Wishing You a Christ-centered Christmas!

“Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.’” (Luke 2:13-14 NLT)

Is God pleased with you this Christmas? Are you at peace? Or are you scurrying around like a chicken without a head? Peace can be a very alluding entity when our mind is so focused on everything but Jesus. Isn’t it ironic how little time we focus on the Lord on the day we celebrate His birth? Have you ever wondered why that is?

Could it be the gift on which we’re most focused isn’t Jesus, but something we want for ourselves or to get for someone else. And there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. In this season of my life, I have little to no expectation of receiving anything other than a card. I’ve told my kids not to waste their money buying me anything, I’d rather they spend it on coming to see me or getting themselves something they’d enjoy.

But I certainly remember the times, especially when the kids were small and money was scarce when Christmas was a little scary. Gratefully, they had Grandparents who loved them and lavished them with gifts, but we had little to give in those days in the way of material blessing. But the Lord always provided, as He will for you this Christmas.

Money and gifts aren’t the issue. The Wise Men from the East didn’t show up at the Manger with their gifts, as some pictures depict, until later (See Matthew 2:11). Mary and Joseph had nothing but each other and what few supplies they could muster from that smelly barn. Jesus’ birth wasn’t glamorous. It was in just about the worst conditions imaginable. We have to assume that Joseph helped Mary with the delivery, managed to get the umbilical cord cut and tied and rounded up some scraps of cloth to wrap Him in.

Yet, in spite of all of that they were rejoicing and celebrating this new life that had been promised them – the same life that was promised us! HE’s the reason for the season! HE’s the reason for celebration! We don’t need anything else – no money, gifts, family, friends, comforts of any kind to enjoy the gift of the Christ child born for us in this holy season.

If you miss this opportunity to rejoice in HIM, not in your circumstances, you’ve blown an opportunity to prove He exists, that He’s God, that His birth changed the trajectory of human history. Think of the blind man begging by the side of the road who we read about in Luke 18:35-43. He had nothing, but after Jesus healed Him, though he still had nothing but his sight, notice what he did in verse 43: “Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God.”

Yes, of course, gaining our sight is certainly worthy of praise, but we have our sight, what’s holding us back? Please don’t let anything hold you back from rejoicing and celebrating the birth of our Savior who lives in our heart and guides our life. Hopefully, there’s not a day that passes that you don’t celebrate who Jesus is and what He’s done for you. He IS WORTHY!

Please, let’s stay focused on Him this Christmas as we celebrate His birth and life!

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Saddest Words in a Christmas Carol

“I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27 NLT)

Christmas was not a happy time for this man. His country was embroiled in a war he hated, from which his son had returned home with severe wounds. He grieved deeply for his wife, who had died after a freak accident two years before. And so, on Christmas Day in 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem called “Christmas Bells.”

The poem eventually inspired the hymn we know as “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” and contains what may be the saddest words ever written in a Christmas carol: “And in despair I bowed my head; ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said; ‘For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!’”

Perhaps there’s never been a more fitting time for those words to apply. Hatred, wars, murders, crimes, unrest on an unprecedented scale, yet, the Lord Jesus, born in the midst of turmoil and many challenges is still alive, still on His throne, still reigning as King of kings and Lord of lords. Are there reasons we could choose to despair? Are there circumstances in our lives on which we could focus that could steal our joy and cause us to miss the real reason for this season?

Of course there are, but peace is a choice! It’s a gift given that must be received, cherished, guarded, and enjoyed. We don’t have peace in spite of any given negative circumstance, we have peace because of an ongoing relationship we have with the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ. HE IS OUR PEACE, and He doesn’t tuck tail and run every time things get tough in our life.

Are you struggling this Christmas? As we age the number of loved ones who have died around holidays mounts, which can increase our sorrow and struggles, but that can also be a reason to rejoice, especially as is the case with my precious sister, who went from agony and pain to the loving arms of her Savior. That’s something worth celebrating!

But even as I write, I realize that many have lost loved ones and friends, as have I, who didn’t know the Lord and won’t be in heaven. Do we allow Satan to rob us of our peace because of something over which we have no control? Our loved ones and friends have the same free will we have and if they reject Jesus, sadly, that’s on them.

Yes, of course, we do all within our power to point them to the Lord, but ultimately, it’s their decision. Does our heart break when they reject Him? Of course, but that doesn’t lessen the intensity of our love for and devotion to Him. His peace is a gift that once received will not be withdrawn. Yes, we can ignore it, walk away from it, pretend it’s not real or doesn’t exist, but the Lord of Creation stands behind His word when He tells us clearly in Hebrews 13:5 (quoting from Deuteronomy 31:6) “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

Please know you are not alone this Christmas. You may not be in another human being’s presence, but you ARE in God’s presence and on many levels, His presence is all that matters. I can be in a crowded room, but if I’m not sensing the Lord’s presence I can feel very alone.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Born in a Barn

*Today’s article by Janel Breitenstein not only helps us see the Christmas story more clearly but enables us to better understand it in the context of our personal lives, especially if we’re married. Blessings, Ed 😊

I grew up on a small, tidy farm. There was a rustling green for acres, the mottled red of apple trees, the streaked pink of rhubarb. Farms have their own simple beauty.

I doubt my parents saw it as simple. Seven days a week there were animals needing care and feeding. Go on vacation, and you’re hiring someone to do it for you.

And then there were the smells and sounds. As I picture entering our barn, I think of stamping and restlessness, crusted fur, the earthy hay. My mom, aka “My Love Language Is Cleanliness,” had a protocol for my dad and his rank clothing and boots after chores.

So I find a redolent metaphor in Jesus being born in a stable, laid to rest in a feed trough. Our God is not aloof. He doesn’t say, “Sorry, you and your marriage happen to be too disgusting for me.” Or, “I’ll just stay out here.” He didn’t even glide into an idyllic farm with cute chicks and carrots that taste best right out of the ground. He chose the filth.

As God entered the world from a screaming, sweating, grunting woman’s body, He came into our mess.

Manure can be scraped or hosed away; it’s much harder to reconcile the damage we do to each other. Francis Spufford describes in his book Unapologetic our “active inclination to break stuff, ‘stuff’ here including … promises, relationships we care about, and our own well-being and other people’s.”

Like a marriage, God was saying, “Your mess is my mess. You needed me, so I came all the way into this.”

Maybe this Christmas finds you or your marriage feeling distant from God. It could be your deep suffering. Or maybe you think God likes “clean” people. Allow me to introduce you to The God in the Mess. The God Who Relates to Every Rank Bit of It.

Or, as He called Himself, Immanuel, “God With Us.”

This Christmas, lean in. He’s ready for your mess.

*Read “7 Ideas for Making Your Holidays ‘Holy Days.’”

THE GOOD STUFF: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

ACTION POINTS: Take a minute. What are some of your biggest hurdles to feeling close to God? To feeling like He is “with” you? How does the truth of Jesus answer your mind’s questions?

*I want more Family Life Devotionals like this one in my inbox

God’s Presence Carries Purpose

“I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-8 NLT)

Everything we do for the Lord has purpose if it’s done with the right motive and with the right attitude. We can do things for the right reasons, but with a lousy attitude and it negates our efforts for the Lord. He gets no glory and we get no joy.

There’s a sense in which when we opened our heart and life to the Lord, He planted a seed of faith that has, ideally, continued to grow and has blossomed into a strong tree that continues to bear fruit that glorifies and honors our Savior. However, trees don’t grow without sunshine, rain, and the proper nutrients offered as their roots grow deep into the soil in which they are planted.

Unless our faith “roots” are continuing to receive proper nutrition through regular “feedings” from God’s Word and continual “watering” through time alone with the Lord, our roots will wither and our fruit will be useless. The Lord’s presence, as the light of the sun, will warm, heal, nurture, and infuse us with strength to carry on.

His presence gives us strength to carry out our purpose that can never be accomplished in the energy of the flesh. We must be dependent on the Spirit’s anointing presence to fill, empower, and enable us to do what the Lord has called and equipped us to do. The powerful words of Ray Majoran’s prayer inspire and encourage me when He prays:

“Many of us feel stretched, worn, or uncertain of what our work produces, yet You welcome us into the field with the same compassion You revealed to those who arrived late in the day (Matthew 20:9). Teach us to trust that every moment in Your presence carries purpose, and that the labor You give us is never wasted. By the power of Your Spirit, shape our hearts so that what we offer reflects Your goodness, and help us find rest in knowing that You are the One who brings the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7).”

“As we stand in the fields You have prepared, steady our steps and deepen our joy for the work before us. Shape us into people who serve with humble hearts, support those who feel discouraged, and rejoice in the compassion of the Master who calls us His own. May our lives bear witness to Your kindness so that others would see the beauty of Your kingdom.” (See The Vineyard – 11-26-25)

We cannot bear witness to what we haven’t seen and experienced in our own lives. Unless and until we’ve invited the Lord of power to control our lives, we’ll have no witness to others of the potential He can have in their lives. God’s presence only carries purpose in the lives of those whom He has called to be invested and involved in the accomplishment of His eternal Kingdom.

My sense is, if you’re reading these words today, He’s calling YOU to be invested in fulfilling His eternal purposes. If you haven’t begun your journey with Jesus, please go to The Bridge to God by clicking the highlighted link and allow Ron Hutchcraft to guide you in understanding how to get your journey with Jesus started. Only then will you experience for yourself the power of His presence that produces purpose.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Where to Find Peace of Mind This Christmas

*Please be blessed and inspired by this powerful message by Pastor Rick Warren.

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him.” (Romans 15:13 NLT)

Where do you go for peace if you don’t have God in your life? Where do you find rest if you’re not connected to God on a moment-by-moment basis?

Jesus Christ has an incredible offer for you. He says, “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 CEV).

I like that verse because it says the exact opposite of what most people think God will say to them. People imagine that God might say, “Come to me and I will give you rules. Come to me and I will give you regulations. Come to me and I will give you restrictions. Come to me and I will give you religion. Come to me and I will give you rituals.”

But God doesn’t say any of those things. He says, “Come to me and I will give you rest.”

If you’re feeling tired and stressed all the time, it may be because you’re trying to live your life on your own power. God never meant for you to do that.

The Living Bible paraphrase says, “He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak” (Isaiah 40:29).

And Colossians 1:11 promises, “God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come” (NCV).

If you’ve been feeling a little down, a little anxious, a little fatigued, a little worried this Christmas season, come home to God. He’s the one who made you, who’s watched every moment of your life, who knows everything about you and still loves you, who forgives you.

And he’s inviting you to come home to his peace and strength. When you do that, you’ll have real peace of mind.

Talk It Over

In what ways are you trying to live life in your own power?
What have you feared that God might say when you come to him with your worries, your fatigue, and your sin?
How does it feel to know that God is saying, “Come to me and I will give you rest”?

When We Set Our Face Towards God

“Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying His commands…Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.” (Psalm 112:1; 6-7 NLT)

What does it mean to set our face towards God? It means to walk with focus on Him in every detail of our life. Why do we get out of bed? Why do we live, love, laugh, work, play, or even care? If not for Jesus, none of it would matter? Why not? Because He IS life and without Him there would be no value or meaning in anything else we did or in which we participated.

It implies intentionality, determination and purpose. To set our face towards God implies focus on the carrying out of His desires and the accomplishment of His holy will, not a side consideration that we’ll get to if we have time. It’s a process that involves careful thought, planning, and will ignite our love for the Lord and our desire to please and honor Him.

A by-product of that commitment is an overwhelming sense of peace and confidence that nothing the devil throws at us can shake or harm us. J. C. Ryle writes: “The world, the flesh and the devil can never overwhelm the weakest person who sets their face towards God.” How can that be? Because the devil can’t tempt us unless and until he gets our attention. So, if we’re so focused on pleasing, honoring, and obeying the Lord, we’ll not be sidetracked by the schemes of the devil.

How do we learn how to live a life like that? Honestly, it takes time fueled by desire. We have to want it more than anything else, literally! If we really want God, but want even a little bit of the world, it can hold us back. Jesus said, “Above all else!” (Matthew 6:33). Does that negate any interest we have in family, friends, church, and many other good things in which we can invest ourselves as a Jesus follower?

No, of course not. But if our focus is on Jesus everything else falls into place behind Him. He’s our priority and everyone and everything we love should give us opportunity to reflect Him and His love. If He’s flowing in and through us, doesn’t it stand to reason that everyone and everything we touch should leave evidence of His life and love?

Why would it? Because that’s our intention! We WANT to leave His fingerprints on everything we touch; otherwise, we’ll simply be leaving our own, which does no eternal good. With every person I meet I want to do one of a couple things. First, I want to point them to Jesus. I want them to see evidence of His life in and through my life. If His Spirit isn’t evident in the way I interact with another person, why not?

And, no, that doesn’t necessarily mean we share the Gospel with them, at least not in words, but it does mean we should allow the Spirit to open their heart to Him, preparing them for the next time we meet, or they meet someone like us who loves Jesus and loves them. But what if I might be the last person they speak with before they meet the Lord?

Unless the Lord alerts us to that, we have no way of knowing, but we should always be open to and alert to opportunities to share the Gospel whenever we can. I’m just saying that casual conversation in a checkout line or doctor’s office waiting room may not give us that opportunity unless we sense a specific leading. That’s part of the process in setting our face towards the Lord, being ever sensitive to His leading.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What Do You Want?

“I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19 NLT)

If an angel of the Lord appeared to you, just like in the Bible, and he said to you: “The Lord has sent me to give you your heart’s greatest desire. Whatever you want most is yours for the asking!” For what would you ask? Something material? Millions, maybe billions of dollars? A house or maybe more than one house? A fleet of Ferrari’s so you could give them away to all your friends?

How about that special person with whom you could build a happy life? A child or children? A happy family? The perfect job, or maybe your own company? How about perfect health or healing for you, a loved one or friend? The list is very long, perhaps endless of things for which we could ask, but do you not realize that whatever “that” is for which you most long to have will be a guiding force in your life, whether you ever actually have it or not?

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

Since many of you who read this blog regularly are believers in the Lord Jesus, might I expect that some of you most want the intimacy with God that results from a Spirit-filled and Spirit-led life? As I ponder my own heart, I want most to be like Jesus. No, not His acclaim. I don’t want to be worshipped or adored by my loving followers, I want my life to reflect His character, His love, His devotion to the Father, His trust in God’s Word, His selfless giving of Himself in the pursuit of helping others.

When someone sees me I want them to see evidence that I walk with Jesus, that I’m not selfish or self-focused, but so devoted to the Savior that my heart beats with His blood pumping through it. I’m reminded of A. W. Tozer’s words when he wrote: “Most Christians want a thrill or joy, but do not want holiness or the purity of a Spirit-filled life.”

Are you fed up with your unholy attachment to the things of this world? Do you long to put behind you the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life? (1 John 2:16) Have you grown content to sit at the feet of Jesus and let the entanglements of sinful habits be stripped away? There’s nothing this world offers, even the air I breathe, that appeals to me more than knowing, loving, serving, and longing for an eternity with Him.

Ultimately, we’re going to have Jesus or something else. If our life’s ambition is to follow, honor, and learn to walk in submission to Jesus’ Lordship, that’s what we’ll have, but if we want anything else and miss Jesus, it doesn’t matter what it is, it will be like a heap of trash from eternity’s perspective.

Please determine today to not only allow, but long for the Lord’s Spirit to reign and rule in your life. Open your heart to Him and let Him give you what you really want in the core of your being – love, peace, joy, fulfillment, mission, purpose, and a life dedicated to helping others, not to satisfy or honor you, but Him.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

As the Day Begins

“Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You.” (Psalm 143:8 NLT)

How do you begin your day? Startled by the alarm, do you jump out of bed without giving the Lord a thought? I sure hope not. In this season of my life the Lord is waking me early so I can spend time with Him before I get out of bed. Why is that so important?

The Psalmist thought it was important for several reasons. First, a devotion to Scripture. How better to “hear of Your unfailing love each morning” than to let our mind feast on the words of His holy Word? Foundationally, what we think about comes about, so, what better way to fill our mind with positive, God-honoring thoughts than through reading, meditating upon, and memorizing God’s Words.

Why would we do that? Because of our trust in the Bible’s Author. The Psalmist declared “for I am trusting You.” Trust is built on relationship. No trust, no relationship. If we have any kind of meaningful relationship, you’ll trust what I tell you to be true. How much greater confidence can we have in the authenticity and truthfulness of the words of God.

We can build our life on His words knowing He loves us and He doesn’t lie. But thirdly, we need to listen to the Lord’s directions and instructions through prayer. The Psalmist wrote: Show me where to walk.“ Yes, of course, the Lord speaks and shows us where to walk through His Word, but the intimacy that grows out of regular seasons of conversation with Him gives clarity and personal detail that His general instructions in the Bible reveal may not offer.

His personal guidance and instruction will parallel and never contradict His Word, but by His Spirit we’re able to see more clearly how His Word can be applied and lived out in our life. Which relates to the fourth insight the Psalmist gives us when he writes: “for I give myself to You.”

Giving ourselves to the Lord is very personal, but it’s also very important. But how? Until I understand the Lord has specific instructions for me that apply to my life, my circumstances, my schedule, my plans, my outcomes for any given day, I’ll miss His still, small voice that guides, guards, informs, equips, and enables me to hear His voice and walk in His way during any given day.

Maybe that homeless guy outside the gas station is an “ornament” you’ve grown accustomed to seeing every time you pull in for gas, but maybe this time rather than seeing a familiar “object,” you see a human being in need of a kind word, a warm smile, and maybe a sandwich or a bottle of water. When we’re able to see God personally involved in our life, it’s much easier to understand our mission as we navigate our day is to represent Him well in the interactions we have with others.

Ray Majoran’s words inspire and challenge me as he prays: “As we entrust this day to You, help us recognize the strength found in meeting You early, not as a ritual of obligation but as the place where our souls realign with what is good and lasting. Give rest to those who wake feeling worn, peace to those who rise with burdens already forming, and encouragement to those who long for hope to break through. Let the first moments of this day draw us into Your presence so that everything that follows is shaped by the grace You have already given.”

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊