Nothing is quite as painful for a parent as watching a child struggle. How many times have we said—or heard someone say—“I just want my child to be happy”?

That’s the God we serve—He takes what seems empty, insufficient, or broken and fills it to overflowing.

Anything worth having is worth fighting for. We know this in so many areas of life—whether it’s health, relationships, or goals we’ve set for ourselves. Why would we think that faith, with all its promises and benefits, would come without a struggle?

Today, right where you are, God is at work. Not just someday in the future. Not only in the past when you can look back and see how He carried you through. Right now—in this moment, in this place—He is who He says He is.

Our first “yes” to Jesus is life-changing—it sets us on the path toward our true destination: life everlasting with Him.

Without repentance, sin always circles back. It returns again and again—repeating, ruining, eroding our lives and the lives of those we love. That’s the nature of unrepentant sin: it doesn't stay still, and it doesn’t stay private.

Tomorrow is my birthday—and not just any birthday. I’m stepping into a new decade of life. Milestones like this invite reflection. They help me pause, look back with gratitude, and look ahead with faith.

Amid the chaotic world around me daily, I am invited to take my place at the table of the gracious host of heaven. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies.

Zacchaeus wasn’t just physically small. He was morally compromised, socially rejected, and spiritually starved. Scripture tells us he was a chief tax collector and very wealthy—rich, but not full. The kind of wealth he had came at the expense of others. He wasn’t just viewed as a traitor; he likely carried within him the shame and bitterness of his own choices.

After God gave Gideon a calling to save Israel from Midianite oppression (Judges 6:14), He led Gideon and just 300 men to a miraculous victory over a vast Midianite army. Though the initial battle had been won, the mission wasn’t yet complete. Gideon and his men were still in pursuit—exhausted, but determined to finish what God had started through them.

Are you settling for less than what God has given or promised you? Maybe it’s in your calling, your relationships, your purpose. Maybe you started strong but now feel worn down by resistance, setbacks, or delays. The temptation to settle grows when the battle feels too long.

When I’m empty, hungry, weak, uncertain, or overwhelmed, I’ve learned where to go: the Word. When I consume it—really take it in—it nourishes me. His faithfulness fills the emptiness. It strengthens what’s weak. It reminds me of what’s true. And it helps me recall all the ways He’s come through before.

It’s not enough to hear. It’s not enough to be moved emotionally. The Holy Spirit may use someone to plant the Word in your heart, but unless you allow Him to grow deep roots of truth within you, you won’t endure.

You can map out your plans and organize your schedule—but God always has the authority to interrupt and redirect. The wise learn to hold their calendars loosely, asking not just what to do next, but why.

Learning to be led by God—to hear His voice, to walk in step with the Spirit—is essential. It doesn’t happen all at once. It’s shaped over time as we respond in obedience, trust when we don’t understand, and learn to stay close to His presence.

God meets us right in the middle of our responsibilities. In the stress. In the strain. And He offers something we desperately need: clarity and wise counsel.

Everything in your life changes when you become a mother. That's a fact. How you respond to that reality will impact everything, especially the opportunity for God to work His life in and through you, influencing your children's faith in Him.

Lack of understanding is often the reason we give for neglecting Bible reading, avoiding being part of a Bible study, or pulling away from church. Maybe you’re on the other side of things—teaching a class, leading a small group, preaching a message. You’ve prayed, prepared, and poured out truth from God’s Word only to be met with blank stares or polite nods. “I don’t really understand what you’re talking about,” they say.

You are fully forgiven. Deeply loved. Completely His.

Being in Christ changes everything.

Think of Noah and the ark. When the rains came, those inside the ark were safe. Those outside—even those clinging to it—were lost. Proximity to Jesus is not enough. We must be in Him.