HOPE FOR THE STRUGGLER

HOPE FOR THE STRUGGLER

I'm reading a daily devotional book called "Stand Firm Day by Day: Let Nothing Move You: A Men's Devotional" by Walk Thru the Bible. Each morning it gives a Scripture and a short commentary and application on the verse. Monday morning's verse is/was: 

 “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” Romans 7:8

The Apostle Paul is writing about the struggle of the heart for those who are following Jesus. Paul had been following Christ for a couple of decades when he wrote this. He was being used of God in mighty ways: missionary, evangelist, church-planter, pastor, disciple-maker, and writer of Scripture. In spite of all of his successes,  he was still battling the flesh, and sometimes the flesh won. 

Paul is amazingly transparent here: though he desires to do what is right, his sinful nature still fights against him. It’s a reminder that even the most faithful are not immune the struggle. Paul’s words are about the conflict between wanting to live a holy life and falling short again and again. And for us "ordinary folk" who are trying to follow Jesus, it’s usually not that we aren't trying to live godly lives, it’s that, in our own strength, we simply cannot overcome sin. 

This realization shouldn't lead to despair but rather dependence on God. God never asked us to be perfect in ourselves. Instead, He offers us the power of the Holy Spirit to live differently. At the end of the chapter, Paul says, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom 7:24-25) 

And He will deliver us as well. 

Are you tired from trying to do what’s right and continually falling short? Lean on God’s grace and strength to bring you through the battle and walk in victory over not only the flesh, but the enemy also. Look to Jesus who is the author and finisher of your faith, and your will experience the victory in your struggles. 

FIVE in FRIDAY - August 1, 2025

   

 Five things that have inspired and encouraged me this week:

1. BIBLE PASSAGE I'M FOCUSING ON

"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Matthew 7:7-8 NLT

This passage is at the heart of prayer - asking, seeking, knocking. All of those are active words. Prayer isn't a passive activity, it is an act of faith to pray and trust God to deliver.  

2. BOOK I'M READING

Old Testament Wisdom Literature: A Theological Introduction

I will be teaching Wisdom Literature at our local prison this fall for Carson Newman University and I had to choose a textbook for this class. I've never taught this course before, and I don't remember what the textbook was when I took the class back in the dark ages, so this was my best guess for a textbook. I'm about halfway through and I really like it. Some of it is really academic, but much of it is solid interpretation and application. The authors, Craig G. Bartholomew and Ryan P. O'Dowd do a good job of weaving in the practical application with the academic information. I think it will be a helpful book to the students, and to anyone who wants to learn about this unique genre of literature in the Old Testament. 

3. BOOK I'M LISTENING TO

Get Out of Your Own Way: A Skeptic’s Guide to Growth and Fulfillment, by Dave Hollis

Dave is the the husband of Rachel Hollis, a best selling author and sought after conference speaker. Dave is also a former Disney executive who handled business deals for blockbuster movies. 

The book is his journey of victory over alcoholism, depression, mental frustration and anguish, and getting control of his life. He talks about the mental shifts,  resources, and the power of God that enabled him to take full responsibility for his health, life and future. He also teaches about the discipline it takes to not only get back on track and stay on track. 

4. QUOTE I AM PONDERING 

"You have to train your mind as much as your body." Venus Williams

That is a powerful quote from one of the greatest and most successful tennis players in history. For a great "mind-training" program, follow the instructions of Philippians 4:8, "Fix your thoughts (train your mind) on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

5. FRIDAY FUNNY!

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GOSPEL PRAYER

 

I shared this text with my Men's Text Group this week: 

A little encouragement from God's word this morning: 

Jeremiah 31:3 NIV The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." 

Several years ago I read J.D. Greear's book "Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary." In it he gives what he calls "The Gospel Prayer" which has four parts: 

1. There is nothing I have done that could make You love me less, and nothing I could do that would make You love me more. 

2. You are all I need for everlasting joy. 

3. As You have been to me, so I will be to others. 

4. As I pray, I’ll do so according to the compassion You’ve shown at the cross and the power You demonstrated through the resurrection. 

The first part really wrecked my world in a good way. All of my life I struggled to earn God's love and keep Him happy. I could never do enough and always felt like I was failing God. But God used the Gospel book, The Gospel prayer, and the above verse in Jeremiah to fundamentally change my life. 

It finally sunk in that God's love for me wasn't based on my performance, it was based on His character and promises. He loves me with an everlasting love that doesn't fluctuate based on my behavior. When that truth sunk in, my life changed.

 I pray it sinks into your life as well. 

Check out the video version of this devotional HERE

Praying you have a great week.

FIVE on FRIDAY - July 25, 2025

  

 Five things that have inspired and encouraged me this week:

1. BIBLE PASSAGE I'M FOCUSING ON

"Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”  Luke 21:27-28 NLT

I've been preaching through the Gospel of Luke since November of 2021. We've taken some breaks along the way and done some different sermon series, but we're still plugging away in Luke. These verses come from a section I will be preaching this coming Sunday, Luke 21:5-28. These two verses from that section have intrigued me so I want to spend a little more time meditating on and studying them. 

2. BOOK I'M READING

WIN THE DAY: 7 Habits to Help You Stress Less& Accomplish More

This is my second time through this book. (I'm listening to it on the Libby App as well as following along in a hard copy.) Batterson always inspires and challenges me, and this book is no different. He combines an emphasis on faith, prayer, and obedience with practical tools and common-sense applications to help the ordinary person serve and honor an extraordinary God with his/her life. 

Batterson shares a lot of his own life's journey in learning how to make the most of every day and moment that God gives. He has made some life-changing, sacrificial decisions, and overcome some incredibly difficult circumstances. He uses his story to inspire and encourage others in their quest to honor God and live out their God-given calling. 

It is a great read!

3. GAME I HAVE DOWNLOADED

Bible Word Puzzle - Word Games

I rarely play games on my phone. I have an addictive nature and I can easily get lost in a digital game world for hours, so I generally don't download games anymore. That being said, I came across an add for this game and it piqued my interest, so I thought I would give it a try. The game combines Bible trivia questions, with word formation puzzles and it sprinkles Bible verses throughout the game.  

The game page says, "[Bible Word] is a word connect game that you will learn Bible words, unlock Bible verses, pass Bible quiz and solve Bible puzzles with friends. Bible Word Puzzle starts as an easy word game but gets difficult as playing more word puzzle and Bible quiz challenges." 

So far I've enjoyed it and I have limited myself to only playing once or twice a week. 

4. QUOTE I AM PONDERING 

"I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages." - Charles Spurgeon

This quote is actually a chapter header in Batterson's Win The Day Book. Spurgeon was the long-time pastor of the modern world's first mega-church, the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London England. Despite being known, even in his day as the "Prince of Preachers" Spurgeon suffered a great deal emotionally and spiritually. He often fell into depression and would be unable to preach for weeks at a time. 

Over the years Spurgeon learned to cope with his bouts of depression by drawing deeper into his relationship with the Lord. He came to see the "waves" as gifts that caused him to rely more fully on Jesus; thus the quote! To "kiss the wave" is to embrace the hardships and challenges we face as gifts that drive us to Jesus. 

5. FRIDAY FUNNY!

Everyone who grew up in the 1970's and 1980's will get this one:

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FIVE on FRIDAY - July 11, 2025

 

It has been a couple of weeks since I've done one of these. I didn't have as much time on the computer as I thought I would while we were in Alaska. So here are Five things that have inspired and encouraged me this week:

1. BIBLE VERSE I'M WORKING ON

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

This verse was our theme verse for the Alaska Mission Team. In the book of Galatians, Paul is defending the gospel of grace against those who wanted to pull the believers in Galatia into a "hybrid" type of Christianity where faith in Jesus was important, but keeping the law and the Jewish rituals such as circumcision, were essential for salvation. Paul reminded the followers of Jesus that because of grace, they were not only free from sin, but also of religious trappings and rituals. But then he also reminded them that their freedom in Christ didn't mean they could live anyway they wanted to, but instead they were to use their freedom to humbly serve one another. (We just finished a study of Galatians on Wednesday nights, so its fresh in my mind. 

We had a portion of this verse printed on the back of our Alaska Mission shirts, and when we arrived at the mission house in Tok, Alaska one of the canisters on the kitchen counter had the verse on it as well (picture above). It was just one of the ways God affirmed our mission work while we were there. 

It's a great verse to quote, but a hard verse to live out - but I'm working on it. 

2. BOOK I'VE READ

The Power of a Praying Husband, Stormie Omartian

Two things I am working to improve in my life - praying and being a good husband. I've had this book on my shelf for a number of years but had never read it. The travel for the Alaska trip was a great opportunity to read. 

Omartian is a best-selling author, and her "The Power of a Praying" series has over 32 million books sold worldwide. In the "Praying Husband" she offers insight from the perspective of a wife, but also includes testimonies from her husband Michael as well as other husbands and pastors. The book provides very practical encouragement in praying for numerous areas of a wife's life and ministry. 

Omartian has a powerful testimony. Coming from an abusive childhood situation and suffering mental and emotional issues from her trauma, she now ministers to people worldwide through her writings and as a highly sought-after public speaker. God has done a remarkable work in her life and marriage, and is now using her to serve others. 
 

3. PODCAST I AM LISTENING TO 

Broke to Awoke, by Britnie Turner and Jeremy Newsome

I've been listening to this podcast for sometime now. The original title of the podcast was "Broke to Woke" but because of recent negative connotations with the word "woke", the hosts made a slight change to the title. Honestly, I think they were just tired of defending their use of the word woke. 

The podcast is hosted by Britnie Turner, an award-winning entrepreneur based in Nashville. She is the founder and CEO of Aerial Group, a Tennessee-based social enterprise company that provides real estate development, media production, education, motivational speaking, disaster relief, nation development, and other non-profit work. Her passion is seeing children and women set free from human trafficking and slavery, but she is also heavily involved in disaster relief worldwide, and personal development for individuals and companies that want to be a force for good in the world. 

The co-host is Jerremy Newsome, a best-selling author, and world-renowned educator on finance, investment strategy, and the markets. He is the founder and CEO of Real Life Trading, a stock market and wealth building education company. 

Both Turner and Newsome are serious followers of Jesus and their podcast focuses on their personal journeys from humble beginnings to entrepreneurial success. The podcast explores how to overcome setbacks, adopt a positive mindset, and become a "force for good" in the world. I highly recommend it! 

4. QUOTE I AM PONDERING 

"And, I just put my boots on, and I went out there, and I figured it out. So I want to encourage you. When things go wrong, put your boots on and get out there, and figure it out…" Britnie Turner

In a podcast interview with Joe Mccall, Turner talked about the challenges she faced when getting into real estate developing. At one point, after moving to Nashville, she lived in her car for about 9 months. Everything that could go wrong, did. But she didn't give up, she stayed determined and learned how to work through the problems. It made her tougher, wiser and successful. Now she is teaching these things to others. 

No matter what you do in life, there are going to be problems. Things are going to go wrong. But as the above quote says, when things go wrong, put your boots on and get out there and figure it out! I love it!

5. DAD JOKE I'M DIGGING

Thanks for checking out Five on Friday. Read my other posts at my website. 

TRANSFORMED BY DOING

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV 

Scholars tell us that this excellent piece of wisdom was written by King Solomon over 3000 years ago. It is a powerful passage that instructs us to put our full trust in God, relying on Him for everything, and He will guide our lives. It also warns us not to trust in our own thinking, feeling and understanding more than we do God and His word. I love this passage and it has helped me through a lot of hard and difficult times. 

Solomon was a wise man. Unfortunately he didn't always follow his own God-given wisdom. Though he started out as a man of great faith and trust in God, in the later years of his life, he turned away from God, trusted his own wisdom and even worshipped other gods. Though he succeeded from a worldly standpoint, he failed in the most important area of his life - his relationship with God. Want to know how bad things were for Solomon? Read the book of Ecclesiastes. 

The point is, just knowing the Bible and the wisdom of the Bible is not enough, we have to live it. We have to put God's word into practice ... Every. Day. 

Jesus taught, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, that God's blessings come not from just hearing His word, but from doing His word. As one of my former professors said, "The Bible wasn't given to us just for information, it was given to us for our transformation." 

We are transformed not by just knowing what the Bible says, but by doing what the Bible teaches. 

Read more posts at my site, High Places

ALASKA MISSION - DAY 1

 

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." Galatians 5:13

Alaska Mission 2025 got off to a great start. We left the church a little after 11am today and had an uneventful ride to Atlanta. We are staying her overnight and will be flying out tomorrow at 9:00am. We are very thankful to Tanya Taggart for driving us down, and Mikenna Thomas for being her travel buddy. Please pray for these ladies as they return home tomorrow. 

It was wonderful to see our team interacting with one another and hear conversations going on as they are building relationships. That is one of the blessings of participating in a short-term mission trip, you really grow closer to those you are serving with. While we are serving others, we are also strengthening our relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ.

Our theme verse is Galatians 3:15 above. On this team, we are brothers and sisters in Christ, and we are to use our freedom in Christ to serve others, and do it in humility. We have stressed several times these past couple of weeks that this mission trip isn't about us, it's really not even about the people in Alaska that we are going to serve. This trip is about the Lord, and bringing Him glory, and that will only happen of we serve in humility, pointing people to Him.

Please keep us in your prayers, not only for safe travels and fruitful work, but that our hearts will be right with God and we will serve in the right attitude. 

Be sure to check out updates and pictures at our church's Facebook page. 

FIVE ON FRIDAY - JUNE 20, 2025

 

Five things that have inspired and encouraged me this week: 

1. BIBLE VERSE I'M MEMORIZING

7 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. 8 “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”  1 Timothy 4:7-8 NLT

I am meeting with a young man once a week for discipleship and relationship building. Last week we committed this verse to memory. Our focus is on the word "train" which is where we get our word "gymnasium" from. It was a word used of athletes training for a competition. 

Paul tells Timothy to train himself to be godly. Often in my Christian life I have "tried" to be godly, but when I would fail (which I inevitably do), I would give up and give in. But "training" is not the same thing as "trying." When you train for something, you don't give up when you fail, you keep working at it, until you are equipped to be successful. My focus these days is training myself to follow Jesus, and when I stumble and fail, I don't give up, I get up and keep training. Memorizing this verse is part of the training that keeps me moving forward. 

2. BOOK I'M READING

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

If you have been reading my "Five on Friday" for a while, you are probably picking up that I am a pretty eclectic reader. Most of the things I read are Christian books, often related to ministry or spiritual growth, but I don't limit myself to one genre of literature. I am trying to grow as a person, so I want to gain as much information as I can to help me. 

I heard Rubin on a podcast recently and I've had her book on my shelf for a while, and decided to go ahead and give it a shot. Rubin is a lawyer turned writer who was happily married and mother of two children, but didn't believe she was as happy as she could be. She decided to take a year-long journey to see if she could make improvements in her life that would push her "happiness meter" a little higher. 

I'm not too far into the book, but I can say that it is less about "happiness" and more about working on yourself to be a better person. She focuses on the aspects of her life that she believes would bring her more happiness, if she improved in those areas. So far, it is a pretty good read, but I'll let you know. 

 

3. SONG I AM WORSHIPING WITH

What An Awesome God by Phil Wickham

Years ago, in my brief stint as a Youth Director in the late 1980's I also attempted to become a Youth Choir Director. If you've heard me lead the hymn on Wednesday nights you can probably guess what a disaster that was. However, there was one song that I felt we did pretty good on, Rich Mullins' classic "Awesome God." It is a powerful yet simple song, tailor-made for an aspiring choir leader. 

Recently Phil Wickham, alongside co-writer Jonathan Smith, created a new version built around Mullins' unforgettable chorus. It was released in a year that would have marked Mullins’ 70th birthday, a great tribute to his impactful legacy. 

I love the song because of the powerful lyrics, and the memories it stirs of a time when I thought I could sing 😊. Check out Wickham's "Sunset Walk" version. 

4. QUOTE I AM PONDERING 

"How is it possible to know you have great faith, humility, and love, unless God put you into great trials, that you may know whether you have them or not." George Whitefield

George Whitefield (1714-1770)  was a well-known evangelist during the Evangelical revival in England and America, and often a co-laborer with John and Charles Wesley. After being ordained to the ministry, Whitefield felt a great burden for those who  would never darken the doors of the church, so he took the gospel to them through "open-air preaching." He would go to fields or street-corners or anywhere people were, and preach the gospel of salvation. 

His success also brought enemies, from both inside and outside the church. Many people would come to hear him preach just to mock and ridicule him. But the more aggressive persecution came from pastors, bishops and other church leaders who despised his unorthodox methods and criticized his open-air practices. They believed him to be undignified and often sought legal means to stop him from preaching. He could speak first hand of persecution. 

One of his more famous sermons was titled, “Persecution Every Christian’s Lot.” In it he presented a biblical perspective on Christian suffering. His conclusion was that one of the reasons God allowed His servants to be persecuted, was to reveal to them their own faith, humility, and love. It was primarily in the context of suffering persecution that the true character of the servant of the Lord came through.

5. DAD JOKE I'M DIGGING

Thanks for checking out Five on Friday. Read my other posts at my website. 

FIVE ON FRIDAY - June 13, 2025

 

Five things that have inspired and encouraged me this week: 

1. BIBLE VERSE I'M MEDITATING ON

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.  Acts 20:24

This verse was highlighted for me when I read about a pastor who had this verse tattooed on his arm as a visual reminder to stay focused on his ministry to the end of his life. I'm not really a tattoo guy (though if I ever decided to get one, this verse would definitely be in the running), but I am committing this verse to memory. 

I think I may have some form of ADD of life because I get distracted so easily. It's usually good things that get my attention, but "good things" and "THE THING" are not the same thing. God called me to preach the gospel, and regardless of what else is going on in my life, I want to stay focused on that calling. I pray memorizing this verse will help. 

2. BOOK I'M READING

Prayer: Key to Revival by Paul Y. Cho 

Paul Cho was the founder and longtime pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea, the largest church in the world. He started the church in a tent with four other people, just after the Korean War. Today the church hosts services of some sort every day of the week, and has more than 800,000 registered members who meet in cell groups (LIFE groups) all over the city. Cho attributes the success of the church to one main thing - prayer. The church owns a mountain called Prayer Mountain and every morning at 5:00am thousands of people gather to pray. They have a 10,000 seat auditorium for corporate prayer meetings as well as some 250 "prayer grottos" where individuals can go to spend time with the Lord.  Prayer meetings continue in some form throughout the day. Though Pastor Cho passed away in 2021, the church continues to thrive and impact the world for Christ. 

Though I wouldn't agree with all of Cho's theology, I'm learning a lot from his teachings on prayer. From the cover of the book: 

"It has been historically true that prayer has been the key to every revival in the history of Christianity ... No man can schedule a revival, for God alone is the giver of life. But ... when the fullness of time has come and prayer ascends from a few earnest hearts, then history teaches it is time for the tide of revival to sweep in once more." 

Amen! Do it again LORD!

 

3. JOURNAL I'M TRYING OUT

 Moonster Leather Journal Refillable Notebook

I've been a "journaler" most of my adult life but I don't really have a regular, consistent way of doing it. Most recently I've just been journaling in Google Docs and printing them at the end of each month and putting them in notebooks (praying that after I am gone my family will want to know a little more about who I really was). But I've always like the feel of putting pen to paper, so I thought I would give this little journal a try. Been using it for about a week now and there are some good things I like about it: 

• It's compact - I didn't want a full size notebook, or a notecard sized one either. This is a good "middle of the road" size. 
• I love the classic look and the leather feel. It's soft, durable and comfortable in my hands. 
• It's refillable - this was the big thing for me. I've had leather journals in the past, but when you fill them up, you have to buy a whole new one. This one you can just replace the notebook inside, which is a pretty standard size. 

I'm looking forward to using it on our upcoming trip to Alaska

4. VIDEO I AM WATCHING 

 Speaking of the upcoming trip to Alaska, our mission team will be based in the village of Tok, Alaska. A couple of weeks ago I came across this video from "Backroads Buddies" who traveled to Tok and shared some beautiful pictures from the area around it, as well as some sights in the village. Check it out. 

5. DAD JOKE I'M DIGGING

Thanks for checking out Five on Friday. Read my other posts at my website. 

FOCUSED TO THE END

 

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy,  and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 

Acts 20:24 NKJV

Those words were spoken by the Apostle Paul as he was traveling to Jerusalem. He had been warned that trouble and suffering was waiting for him there, and many of his friends begged him not to go because of the danger. A prophet had even warned him that if he went, he would be bound and arrested. 

But Paul was a man of focus and he knew the Lord was sending him there, and for Paul, the most important thing in his life was doing what the Lord had called him to do. Nothing else mattered, not even his own life. 

That kind of focus is powerful and makes a difference! In my opinion, next to Jesus, no one else in history has done more for the kingdom of God than Paul. And God was able to use Paul in such a great way because he focused on the Lord and His call on his life. 

A famous quote that is often attributed to D.L. Moody "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him." This quote was actually spoken by Henry Varley to Moody. Moody then famously responded, "By God's help, I aim to be that man.” God certainly did great things through Moody, but he was following the example of the Apostle Paul who stayed focused on the task of preaching the Gospel of grace, to the end of his life. 

The above verse and Paul’s example of focus have been causing me to reevaluate my life and ministry. I know God has called me to “preach the gospel”; those were the words I heard, but I often allow myself to get distracted by other things, including “ministry” things. 

If you’ve read this far, I ask you to say I pray for me, that I may have the kind of focus to finish my calling of preaching the gospel for the rest of my days in this life. I want to be focused all the way to the end.

FIVE ON FRIDAY - June 6, 2025

 

Five things that have inspired and encouraged me this week: 

1. THIS SPECIAL DAY

Today we pause to honor the 81st anniversary of D-Day, one of the most pivotal moments in modern history. On June 6, 1944 the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare began. Part of a larger operation called Operation Overlord, Allies used over 5,000 ships and landing craft to land more than 150,000 troops on five beaches in Normandy, France. The landings marked a turning point in World War II, which ultimately would lead to the defeat of Germany and Adolf Hitler. 

In the invasion of Normandy, more than 4,400 allied troops were killed (2500 American) and more than 5,000 were wounded. Through strategic execution and sheer determination, the Allied forces overwhelmed the German lines to establish a foothold in Europe. What began on D-Day ended with the surrender of Germany less than a year later. 

We owe a debt of gratitude to the brave military personal who accomplished what few people thought possible. There aren't many D-Day veterans remaining today, but I am grateful for all who gave their all for freedom. 

2. BIBLE VERSE I'M MEDITATING ON

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

This verse came out of our last men's group as we were discussing how we sometimes fail to express ourselves in Christ-honoring ways when we are frustrated or angry. One of our Elders said this verse helps him keep a check on his tongue and attitude. I'm committing it to memory so that it will help me also. 

3. PRINCIPLE I AM PRACTICING

I finished reading Greg McKeown's book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. In his chapter on FOCUS, McKeown tells of Larry Gelwix, who served as the volunteer Head Coach of the Highland Rugby team in Salt Lake City Utah for 36 years. He established an unbelievable record of 418 wins and only 10 losses, and was the inspiration for the movie, Forever Strong. 

Gelwix's coaching (and life) philosophy centered on one primary word W.I.N. which stands for "What's Important Now." Gelwix taught his players to play in the moment, forgetting past mistakes and concentrating only on the present situation and the play they were on right now. Throughout the game, they were to always be thinking, "What is Important Now?" and focusing on what they were doing at the present moment to win. If they were thinking about past mistakes, or future possibilities, they would lose focus on what they were supposed to be doing now. 

"What's Important Now" is a great question to ask myself throughout the day. Though I don't think I have ADD or anything like that, I do find myself getting distracted by unimportant, non-essential things (like Social Media, and TV ). I've been asking myself this question a lot lately, and it has helped me stay focused on what is important in the present situation. It also reminded me of what Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, 

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Ephesians 5:15-16 NLT

We can W.I.N. everyday by focusing on making the most of every opportunity the Lord gives us. 

4. QUOTE I'M PONDERING

"In many cases, what you hope to learn by reading books or listening to podcasts can only be learned by attempting what you fear. Some knowledge is only revealed through action." James Clear

James Clear is the author of Atomic Habits and I subscribe to his weekly email 3-2-1 Thursday, which he calls "The most wisdom per word than any newsletter on the web." The quote is from his book, but came to me through the newsletter. 

I'm a reader, and I have often heard that if you read 10 books on one subject, you become and expert in that subject. I don't know if that is true, but I do know that I sometimes let reading be an excuse for inaction. 

One of the elements of my spiritual life that I have been convicted about is prayer. I've read more than 10 books on prayer and I can honestly say I am NOT an expert. In fact, I'm guilty of reading books on prayer instead of actually praying. 

James Clear is correct, there are some things you can only learn to do by doing them, and prayer is one of them. So Clear's quote has been motivating me to pray more. I'm still reading books on prayer (more on that next week), but I am also being more disciplined to actually pray as well. 

5. DAD JOKE I'M DIGGING

IN HONOR OF VBS WORKERS THIS WEEK!

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In our church men's group meeting last Thursday night we were discussing how we sometimes struggle with expressing our frustrations in ways that do not honor God. One of our Elders, JBob Dalton said Psalm 19:14 was a verse that had helped him a lot. He didn't quote the verse, just the reference so I had to look it up to see what it said.  Psalm 19:14 is part of a powerful prayer of David: 

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." 

In the previous verse, David prayed, asking God to keep him from "presumptuous sins," that is sins of pride and arrogance. Those are sins that don't often seem like to sin to us. Pride or arrogance are easy to see in other people, but hard to see in ourselves. But presumptuous sins are usually revealed by our words though. As Jesus says in Luke 6:45, "...for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."

So in v.14 David isn't just asking for outward "religion," he's praying for a transformed heart that produces pleasing words. He recognizes God as his "rock"—his solid foundation  in a chaotic world. And David calls Him his "redeemer"—the One who buys him back, who sets him free, who makes him new.

It's a beautiful picture, isn't it? When we truly grasp that God is our strength and our rescuer, it changes everything. Our words become an overflow of a heart deeply rooted in Him. Our thoughts become more aligned with His truth and grace.

The word that came to mind when I read v.14 was "ALIGNMENT" and I understood the verse as David saying, "Let my words and my thoughts, align with what pleases You, God." I'm working on memorizing the verse this week, and let that be my prayer - that my words and thoughts will line up with God's will and what pleases Him.

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FIVE ON FRIDAY - May 30, 2025

 

Five things that have inspired and encouraged me this week: 

1. BIBLE VERSE I'M MEDITATING ON

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11 NKJV

This verse speaks to our ability to defeat Satan by the power of God's provision (the blood of the Lamb) and through our testimony of God's grace and faithfulness, and by not loving our lives in this world. Jesus said in John 12:25 "Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity."  

Revelation 12:11 highlights the overcoming power of faith, the gospel message, and the sacrifice of Jesus. 

2. APP I'M USING

Remember Me. Bible Memory App

I've used this app for a few years now for Bible verse memorization. This free app allows you to memorize Scripture from any Bible translation easily, and provides lots of helps with games, strategies, reminders and more. I love it. 

3. BOOK I'M AUDIO READING

Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most, by Greg McKeown

I'm still reading McKeown's better known book, Essentialism, but I came across this book in audio on the Libby App. In Effortless he builds on the foundation he laid in Essentialism. His central idea is that we can accomplish just as much in life with balance and efficiency as we can by working ourselves to death. He highlights a lot of the issues we have with "burning the candle at both ends" and how we are more productive when we are rested and focused. 

"Getting ahead doesn’t have to be as hard as we make it. No matter what challenges or obstacles we face, there is a better way: instead of pushing ourselves harder, we can find an easier path. Effortless offers actionable advice for making the most essential activities the easiest ones, so you can achieve the results you want, without burning out." 

I'm about halfway through and it has a lot of practical helps to simplify life. 

4. QUOTE I'M PONDERING

"There is a peace passing understanding of which the politicians cannot deprive us." John Newton

Newton is most noted for being the author of the great hymn, Amazing Grace" but he also played a significant role in the British abolitionist movement by transitioning from a slave trader to a vocal critic and advocate against slavery, contributing to the eventual abolition of the slave trade. Newton became a close friend and advisor to William Wilberforce, the leading parliamentary figure in the abolitionist movement. Though it took them many years and many political battles, their collaboration was crucial to the success of the abolitionist cause. 

Newton faced a great deal of public scrutiny and criticism launched by political opponents, but he had a deep faith in God which brought him tremendous peace when the political fiery darts were being fired. 

His quote is a great reminder for followers of Jesus in our political climate today. 

5. DAD JOKE I'M DIGGING

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