Month: January 2026

There are a few things which are absolutely required for life.  We have other things which we need and probably want, but there are a few which are required.  One of the most important is water.  Without water, we perish.  Water is life.  Water gives life.  Water sustains life.  We continue to live because we have water.  So, it goes without saying water is vital.  

Water can also become important in our spiritual life.  The waters of baptism are a symbol of belonging, a symbol of family, and a cleansing of who we were before we were a part of this amazing family.  

In the Bible, Jesus came to his cousin, John, to be baptized.  John is hesitant, because John knows who Jesus really is.  But Jesus, understanding how John feels, reassures him this is the right thing at the right time – to move forward.  And so, John does what John has done many times before.  He prepares for baptism.  He wades out into the waters.  He readies himself to proclaim the mystery of death and life.  Except this time is different.  This is Jesus.  And this time, something miraculous and revealing takes place.  

As Jesus comes up from the waters, the heavens open up and the voice of God speaks.  The voice of God speaks just as the voice of God has spoken to Moses on the mountain.  The voice of God speaks as had happened to the people of Israel.  The voice of God speaks as it had done to prophets before.  The voice of God speaks but the message is one we must pay special attention.  This is my Son.  

Jesus was revealed to all people at his baptism.  But he was also setting an example for us as well.  He was showing us the way.  He was helping us to see this is a part of following.  This is a start on our journey of being a disciple as well.  

The waters of baptism not only show a cleansing, a redemption, and a sending forward.  They also show we belong.  We are part of a greater and bigger family.  We are welcomed into God’s great big family.  We are together with those who have gone on before us but have traveled these waters just like us.  We are with those who will come and be touched by these waters.  We are a part of a family where we may look different and talk different and think different, but we are united under the common following of God.  We are united in our calling to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.  We are united in our calling to love our neighbor as ourselves.  We are united in Jesus – the One who God reveals as his Son.

What a revealing it is.  Jesus continues to reveal himself in our lives if we pay attention.  Sometimes it is in the water.  Sometimes it is in other parts of his creation.  Sometimes it is through his Word.  And sometimes it is through our lives.  Jesus was revealed at his baptism.  May he be revealed to us today.

I was running…walking…suffering… enjoying nature at the Cliffs of the Neuse today.  It is an incredible day to be outside.  This type of day rarely happens in January.  It actually doesn’t happen that often in Eastern NC because it is usually hot or cold, not as much in between.  This is an in between type of day.  And it is a day to enjoy.  As I was making my way through the trails, I passed a couple of ladies and offered a hello.  They asked how I was and I asked the same.  At first, they said they were doing ok, then one woman said she lied, they were exhausted.  I told them not too much to go, to hang in there.  

They truly were only about a quarter of a mile from the parking lot (if they parked in that particular lot).  It was almost visible.  But a quarter of a mile can seem like a lot when you are exhausted and you don’t see the finish line.  I can relate –  when I would run races and people would tell me I was almost there and I still had 6 miles to go.  6 miles in the whole scheme of things may be minor.  But 6 miles when you are ready to be done feels like a lifetime.  It’s all about perspective.

It is hard to keep going when you don’t see any reprieve.  When you don’t know when this particular situation will end or at least get better, it can be overwhelming and defeating.  We really often want to quit right before we see the finish line.  We really want to throw in the towel when we just can’t see any resolution.  

That’s when we need to trust.  It is in these times trust becomes the only solution (because quitting can’t be).  Trust in what or who though?  For me, it is trust in God to carry me through to the moment I can take a break.  It is trust that God will guide me to the finish line (and maybe even drag me along if needed).  It is trust in God to know where the breakthrough will happen, even when I cannot see it ahead.  Trust really shows up when I cannot see the solution or the end for myself.  And that’s when trust counts.

It is easy to say I trust God.  But it is something entirely different to trust him when I cannot see the finish line. Whether it is a quarter of a mile or 5 years, I have to trust God will get me there.  Otherwise, I could end up quitting right before the breakthrough.  

May you trust, especially when the finish line is out of your view.

Proverbs 3, “⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not rely on your own insight.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.”

When you look in the side view mirror of your car, most of them have the words “objects are closer than they appear.”  In other words, if you think you have room, you might find you’ve hit the car next to you.  The mirror can be deceiving.  It is made to help you see around but not be exact.  It is a little distorted so you might have a different view to help you drive.  

I think many of our mirrors in our homes have distorted views as well.  I don’t mean we live in a home of fun house mirrors (wouldn’t that be interesting?).  I don’t even mean our mirrors are shaped weird or have odd contours.  I mean what we see in the mirror isn’t necessarily the truth of who we are.  

Many of us look in the mirror and see aging, problems, receding hairlines, and even things that just make us upset.  We see the extra weight or sagging skin we keep hidden from other people.  We see all the things we wish weren’t there, or at least we wish were there better.  We are often critical and harsh.  We nit-pick what is in the mirror, something we would not (and should not) do to someone else.  We even say mean things to ourselves, critical harmful things.  

Our mirrors are not telling us the truth.  Sure, what we may see could be technically there.  But it isn’t the whole picture.  It is our view of the truth.  What are we missing?  We are missing who we actually are – a beloved child of God.  We don’t always see how perfect we are in the eyes of our Creator.  We don’t usually see the light in us or the beauty inside.  We miss how we were shaped and molded by God who thought so much of us he made us just the way we are.  

Are there things we could do better?  Absolutely.  We can take care of this creation of God.  We can eat well, exercise, sleep better, and all the things to care for this life we are given.  But we can also take a moment to see who we really are, flaws and all – a gift of God.  That’s right – YOU are a gift of God.  

Maybe the next time you look in the mirror, stop focusing on all the things you would change and see who God sees – his child.  

Hear these words for you written in Psalm 139, ¹³ For it was you who formed my inward parts;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
    Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
¹⁵     My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book were written
    all the days that were formed for me,
    when none of them as yet existed.

Plans fail.  They just do.  We can work extremely hard to make sure everything is covered.  We can cross all the Ts and dot all the Is.  We can go over every detail until we are exhausted.  And we can execute our plan flawlessly.  With all of this, it can still fail.  We can still find ourselves at a loss.  Our plans can crumble right before us. 

This doesn’t mean we don’t plan.  It simply means we understand that sometimes plans will fail.  I have often found when my plans fail, God has other plans which are different, but better.  He sees a bigger picture.  He understands all the costs.  He knows our heart’s desires.  He sees you and me.  He knows all we have put into this.  And he has good things ahead, though sometimes really difficult.  

In the Bible, Joseph went through a disastrous time at the hands of his brothers.  But in the end, he tells them what they meant for evil, God meant for good.  Joseph had a plan.  His brothers had a plan.  And God’s plan prevailed in the end.  

Proverbs 16:9, “The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.”  I love the thought of God directing my steps.  I want to plan and work hard.  I want to give all I have to something important.  I want to provide value.  And I do this best with the Lord directing my steps.  He can show me where the potholes in the road are.  He can guide me when the road splits into multiple directions.  He can hold my hand when I face fear or disappointment.  He can and will guide my steps.  

Keep planning.  Keep dreaming.  Keep moving forward and working hard.  Just make sure God is directing your steps.  It will make all the difference.

The more time I spend in nature, the more I am in awe of all around me.  It causes me to stop and really admire many of the daily views I would normally pass by.  For instance, the sun casts an amazing light on a body of water which changes the entire view.  It could look like a swamp before the light pours in through the trees.  It is almost magical.  The way the leaves fall as trees shed for the winter.  The way a bud springs up, seemingly random in a field with none like it.  The way a rabbit checks out what is going on around him before scurrying off into the woods.  These are just a few of the glimpses into the majesty we get to live.  We miss this because we are so captivated by our phones or devices or whatever holds our attention.  But God is still creating.  We just aren’t always paying attention.

This gives me a new perspective as I consider God as Creator.  In Isaiah 40, the writer exclaims, “²⁸ Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.”  He is an everlasting God – no end to his goodness, his love, or his mercy and grace.  He is also the Creator of it all.  He created from the beginning and we get to be the audience of his magnificent work!  We simply get to enjoy the beauty, which should cause us to want to preserve and love what God has created.  

Maybe it is time we look around, realizing we are an audience of THE most incredible work ever created.  We are getting a show from the Creator every single day.  We didn’t need to buy a ticket or wait in line.  We only need to step outside.  What a gift!

Blessings as you step outside and admire the show.

It is easy to get distracted.  With our cell phones dinging, our laptop notifications, folks calling our name and general noise, it is no wonder distractions happen.  And now, since we are more “connected” to our devices, we are even more susceptible.  It seems we never have a moment to turn off and find peace.  It is never quiet.  It is almost as if we are fearful of the quiet.  We can find ourselves craving distractions and feel lost when we have a moment to just be. 

I don’t think that’s the way it was intended or the way our body actually functions well.  I think we are lost in a sea of noise (more like a tsunami of distractions).  We can only be found when we cut it out, if just for a moment.  I find I am most at peace outside, without my phone or any device, simply existing and noticing what is around.  The only “distractions” are the amazing creation all around.  It’s the best kind of distraction.

When we cut it all off, when we dismiss all the noise, we allow ourselves to be.  When I think of simply allowing myself to be, I think of the scripture from Psalm 46: “¹⁰ ‘Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.’ ¹¹ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”

The scripture speaks to me because it is telling me to be still, to stop, to surrender.  It is inviting me to simply be.  And I can do that because of God.  I can rest because God is my refuge.  I can breathe because God is THE God and I am not in charge.  I can simply be.  What a gift it is to allow God to slow us enough to put away the distractions – if but for a moment.

Blessings as you seek to “be” today.

I often find myself planning out my week and thinking so much about what I have to do that I forget today.  I forget today has gifts and beauty and joy.  I forget today is filled with experiences and sights and hope.  I forget because I am focused on what is to come.  So, in turn, I miss what is right before me.  I essentially think so much about the destination that I do not enjoy the journey.  

When I run in the dark, I have a light to help me see (and for others to see me).  If I shine that light too far out, I can see at a distance but I cannot see where I am running.  I can’t see where my foot will land.  I can find myself looking so far ahead that I trip or lose my balance right where my feet are.  

All of this to say, don’t miss today.  Don’t miss this day.  Pick your head up and look around.  Experience where your feet are, right now.  See the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  We don’t get to repeat this day (sometimes THAT is the gift).  We don’t get a do-over.  We simply get the opportunity to take advantage of what we have, right now.  

Today, let’s do what we are taught in the Gospel of Matthew:  “³⁴ ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”  I might even add, today’s gifts are enough for today.  Today is enough.  Don’t miss it.

Blessings to you as you see the beauty of today.

It can seem that Murphy may have been right sometimes.  You know the law…if something can go wrong, it probably will.  And it can feel like those times build one on the other.  Or, if you prefer, it can feel as though the things collapse one after the other until you are left in a rubble.  Either way, once it begins, it can feel as though this is just the way it is.  

I don’t necessarily think that’s the way it goes, but I definitely FEEL like this is the way it goes.  I think once something happens, we are more in tune and more sensitive to things which would not have bothered us otherwise.  Those other things may have happened and we wouldn’t have even cared.  But the fact they follow one seemingly major problem, it snowballs.  

What do we do when we get caught in this loop?  It is helpful to take just a moment and step back.  It is best if we can get a view from the outside, a glimpse at the reality of the situation.  Do things stink?  Probably.  Are we upset they happened?  Most definitely.  But is this the worst like we feel it is?  Probably not.  Most of the time, a new view or a glimpse of the whole situation helps us to see things are not as bad as they feel.

It also helps if we can write those things down.  Once we see them on paper, they aren’t nearly as daunting.  And they also don’t feel so defeating.  In the end, it is helpful to remember we are loved and cared for – even in the most difficult times.  Even if the situation really is overwhelming and things really are stacked against us, remembering we are loved can help to shift our perspective.  

No matter what, you are loved.  No matter what you may face, you will not face this alone.  No matter how difficult, the battle is not fought without God standing with you.  That really does change everything because God changes everything.  

Psalm 73

²³ Nevertheless I am continually with you;
    you hold my right hand.
²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterwards you will receive me with honour.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

We are not alone, friends.  No matter what we may face, God is with us.  May you find God holding your hand today.

I am an anxious person.  It just happens to be that way.  I work at keeping it to a minimum.  Exercise and eating well definitely help.  Breathwork helps.  Medication helps.  And prayer helps more than I realize.  

I’ve spend time studying the scriptures and there are many passages which really cause me pause.  There are some perplexing.  There are some convicting.  There are some comforting and full of love.  And there are some which I cannot believe are in there.  This is one of those (From Philippians):

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Why is this particular one cause me so much trouble?  Because it says to worry about nothing.  In my mind, I can only think…NOTHING?  I worry about everything.  What in the world?  

I appreciate the message of it.  I would love to live it out.  And please don’t tell me it’s because I don’t pray enough or trust enough or believe enough.  So what is the key?  I will share my insight:  

The issue with taking one verse is we don’t always consider the whole context.  This is a warning I often give.  And this particular text needs more.  And for me, it is found in the 4 words right before this verse.  And these 4 words clarify it all for me… The Lord is near.

That’s right – the key for being anxious about nothing is the fact that the Lord is near.  He is with us.  We are not alone.  We do not face the challenges alone.  We do not hurt alone or fear alone or deal with difficulty alone.  We do not live this life alone – even when we feel so very alone.  The Lord is near.  

Will I still be anxious? – Guaranteed.  But I am not anxious alone either.  I don’t have to worry simply because the Lord is near.  But if I do worry, he’s still near.  And he still loves me.  And he is with you too.  And yes, he loves you too!  

So just remember – the Lord is near.  May you feel his presence even stronger than before – beginning today.  Blessings my friends!