Empty Hands, Full Heart

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Ephesians 3:8 — Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, He graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.

It was pouring rain the day I left the UPS Store. As I got into my car, I noticed a man sitting under the awning nearby. In that moment, I felt a strong nudge of compassion—one of those quiet impressions that settles in and refuses to leave.

I knew I was supposed to give him something.

The only problem was, I didn’t have any cash.

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had something to offer. I looked around my car and saw my Bible resting on the console.

I remember thinking, Surely not my Bible. There has to be something else.

So I searched again.

Nothing.

That’s when I realized the Lord was asking me to give a stranger my Bible.

I took out the notes and keepsakes tucked inside and walked over with it in hand.

His first words were, “Sorry, ma’am. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

I assured him he hadn’t. Then I explained that I didn’t have any money to give him, but what I was handing him was more valuable than money.

He smiled and told me he had reading glasses in his bag. Then he thanked me and said he was encouraged that someone had thought about him.

The rain kept falling. The moment passed. But on my drive home, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

How often do we disqualify ourselves because our hands seem empty?

We look at what we don’t have and forget what Christ has already given us.

Paul understood that. He knew he wasn’t deserving, yet God entrusted him with the endless treasures of Christ and sent him to share them with others.

The same is true for us.

You may not have all the answers. You may not have much to give. But if you know Jesus, you already carry the greatest treasure imaginable.

Sometimes the most meaningful acts of obedience aren’t planned or polished. They simply require us to trust that what God has placed in our hands is enough.

So the next time you feel that quiet nudge to notice someone, encourage someone, or stop and help someone, don’t rush past it.

The thing that feels small in your hands may become something far greater once it’s placed in God’s hands.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have you ever felt God nudging you to do something small that turned out to have a bigger impact than you expected?
  • What gifts or resources has God already placed in your hands that you may be overlooking?
  • Who in your life might need encouragement, hope, or the message of Christ today?
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Hard Talks and Healthy Hearts

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James 1:19 — Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

I think a lot of people hate the C-word.

Conflict.

If we’re honest, most of us would rather avoid it altogether.

But as believers, we can’t just ignore conflict and hope it disappears.

Now, I may be a little unusual. I don’t enjoy tension, but I’ve learned that healthy conflict often leads to healthier relationships. Things tend to get better on the other side of a hard conversation.

That doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Most of us would rather have an argument, let a little time pass, and then pretend it never happened. We grab lunch, change the subject, and hope the awkwardness fades away on its own.

But the Lord gives us a different path.

He tells us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.

There’s so much wisdom in that order.

Before we defend ourselves, we listen. Before we react, we pause. Before anger takes over, we seek understanding.

When we approach conflict that way, something changes. We can love the person in front of us while still standing for what is right and true.

That’s the Jesus way.

And maybe that’s the invitation today—not to rush in with louder words or stronger opinions, but to slow down enough to really hear someone.

Because healthy relationships require both courage and restraint.

After all, healthy conflict rarely hurts relationships.

Avoiding it often does.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Is there a conflict I’ve been avoiding instead of addressing with grace and honesty?
  • Am I approaching difficult conversations by listening first, or by preparing my response?
  • What would it look like to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” in one relationship this week?
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The Beauty in the Broken Road

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Psalms 103:2-4 — Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.

Have you ever driven through a construction zone and thought, This is such a mess. Who planned this?

Lanes suddenly shift. Orange barrels are everywhere. Traffic slows to a crawl. Dust is flying, and nothing looks finished. Then you come back six months later, and there’s a new road, fresh pavement, and a bridge where there wasn’t one before.

Suddenly, the mess starts making sense.

Peter Burton’s song “Where Would I Be” comes from a deeply personal place, and it reminds me of that kind of roadwork. He has talked openly about his struggles with mental health and how God walked with him through every step of recovery.

He calls the song his testimony—a reminder that Jesus changes everything, and even in the mess, God is still at work.

Maybe that’s why the song hits home for so many people.

It’s your testimony and mine too.

We all have chapters we’d rather skip. Seasons where you felt buried under shame. Choices you wish you could erase. Anxiety, fear, bitterness you didn’t know how to shake.

But then Jesus steps into the mess. He starts breaking ground, healing hearts, doing a deep work in us. And one day you look back and barely recognize who you used to be.

He’s that good.

He’s the God who forgives all your sins, heals your diseases, redeems your life from destruction, and crowns you with love and tender mercies. Don’t forget that.

Because those moments that felt like falling apart were often the very places God was quietly rebuilding you.

And somewhere along the way, you may find yourself asking what Peter Burton asks in the song:

“Where would I be? Where would I be if it wasn’t for the love of God?”

…and honestly, thank God we’ll never know.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What “construction zone” season of your life can you only now see God was working through?
  • Where do you need to remember (not just believe, but remember) that God has forgiven, healed, and redeemed you?
  • Is there a part of your story you tend to skip over or feel ashamed of—how might God be inviting you to see it differently?
  • How has your testimony changed as you’ve looked back and recognized God’s presence in the middle of the mess?
  • Who in your life might need to hear your story of how God met you in a difficult season?

Lyrics:

Standing where I stand now
I know that He’s the reason
I almost can’t believe it

Every wrong turn He turned around
and I can just imagine
If it didn’t happen
How it happened

Oh
Seeing how good He’s been to me
Oh
I can’t help but think

Where would I be if I didn’t have Jesus
Pulling me outta that grave
Where would I be if I didn’t have mercy
Pulling me away from my ways
I’d probably crash and burn
Stay stuck down in that dirt
Like a prodigal running from home
Where would I be if I didn’t have Jesus
Thank God, thank God, thank God
I’ll never know

I used to feel the weight
Of the chains that I was holding
Til my savior came and broke em

I used to walk with shame
I was living at a loss
Til he settled up my cost
At the cross

Oh
Giving His life so I could live
Oh
Didn’t leave me where I’ve been

Where would I be if I didn’t have Jesus
Pulling me outta that grave
Where would I be if I didn’t have mercy
Pulling me away from my ways
I’d probably crash and burn
Stay stuck down in that dirt
Like a prodigal running from home
Where would I be if I didn’t have Jesus
Thank God, thank God, thank God
I’ll never know

Thank God
I’ll never know

Where would I be if I didn’t have Jesus
Pulling me outta that grave
Where would I be if I didn’t have mercy
Pulling me away from my ways
I’d probably crash and burn
Stay stuck down in that dirt
Like a prodigal running from home
Where would I be if I didn’t have Jesus
Thank God, thank God, thank God
I’ll never know

Thank God
I’ll never know
Thank God
I’ll never know

Written by Peter Burton, Matt Armstrong, AJ Pruis

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Alone Was Never the Answer

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Genesis 2:18 — Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for Him.”

Call me crazy, but one summer I traveled to Europe alone.

Yep. I knew no foreign languages, had very little money, and already knew I would be high maintenance with my weird eating and sleep schedule. Not to mention, I had never traveled to a time zone that was seven or eight hours different from mine.

I got jet lag just flying to Atlanta and back. So I thought, “Well, I’m not subjecting somebody else to that. My crazy would probably make their crazy, crazier.”

Bless it.

But going alone, knowing nothing besides the King’s English, left me in quite a lurch. This was before smartphones could magically translate everything for you. So buying train tickets was hard, ordering food was hard, and even figuring out where I was supposed to be was hard.

I ended up broke, exhausted, and lonely, and my twenty-one day trip turned into a seven day trip.

Looking back, I think part of what made it so hard was simply this: I chose to do it alone. I made it about my schedule, my comfort, and my preferences, and I didn’t want anyone slowing me down. But I’ve learned something since then—life loses a lot of its sweetness when there’s nobody beside you to share it with.

From the beginning, God knew that. He looked at Adam in a world that was otherwise good and said, “It is not good for man to be alone.”

Human beings were never meant to carry life in isolation. We were created with room in us for community.

You don’t have to be married to live that out, but you do need people. Maybe that’s family, maybe it’s a church, maybe it’s new friendships, a small group, or even a place to start again.

Because who cares if you see the Eiffel Tower in person if you can’t turn to somebody and say, “Would you look at that?”

Experiences were meant to be shared. And no, scrolling through them later doesn’t quite count.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Where in your life are you currently trying to “do it alone” instead of inviting others in?
  • Who has God already placed around you that you might need to reconnect with or lean on more intentionally?
  • What is one simple step you could take this week to build or strengthen community—join something, reach out, or say yes to connection?
  • When was the last time you shared a meaningful moment with someone instead of just experiencing it alone or online?
  • How might your daily life look different if you truly believed that community isn’t optional—but part of God’s design for you?
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Packing Blessings Till They Overflow

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Luke 6:38 — Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

Recently I was reminded of Luke 6:38.

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

I’ve read that verse many times, but this time the phrase “pressed down, shaken together and running over” stood out. Honestly, I didn’t fully understand it, so I decided to dig deeper.

God tells us to seek, and we will find.

I discovered that in biblical times, when people bought dry goods, merchants would press and shake the contents to fit as much as possible into the container—so full that it would overflow into the buyer’s lap. That was considered a generous, abundant measure.

The first thing that came to mind when I learned this was getting an Icee.

I know. I know. Stay with me.

On a hot summer day, I would fill the cup halfway, shake it down, tap it on the counter, and pack it in tight. Then I’d keep filling it until it overflowed. Because isn’t that the goal? To fit as much as possible into the cup.

It made me think about what God is inviting us into.

He calls us to give freely—of our time, love, prayers, and resources—holding nothing back. And in return, He is not outdone in generosity. He fills our lives in ways we could never manufacture or contain.

So today, choose to give freely—whether it’s kindness, encouragement, or simple faithfulness in front of you. Trust that nothing poured out in love is ever wasted.

And God sees it. He is faithful to meet you again and again… pressed down, shaken together, and running over.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Where in your life are you tempted to hold back instead of giving freely—your time, kindness, patience, or encouragement?
  • When you think about God’s generosity toward you, does it change the way you approach generosity toward others? Why or why not?
  • Is there someone in your life right now who could be encouraged by something simple you already have to give?
  • Do you tend to see giving as loss… or as trust in God’s ability to refill what you release?
  • What would it look like today to live open-handed instead of tightly holding on?
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Mountain, Meet Your Maker

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Matthew 17:20 — He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

It’s easy to say you’ve got faith…until you face a mountain.

But we’ve got a bigger God. Can I get an amen?

I came across this devotional I want to share with you. It’s from In Touch Ministries, and it is so good. It says…

“Are you facing what seems like an insurmountable obstacle? It might be a problem too complex to solve, a task beyond your ability, a sin too tempting to overcome, or a situation over which you have no control.

Facing such things can make us feel weak, helpless and vulnerable, but always remember that we have an almighty God, and nothing is too difficult for Him.

There’s a story in the Bible, where a Jewish leader with 50,000 of his men returned to Jerusalem from being in captivity, and they were going to rebuild their temple. But the obstacles that they were facing were just too much, and Yet even with thousands of people, the obstacles seemed overwhelming.

Well, God gave His prophet Zechariah a vision so that he could go and encourage these men. The message that the Prophet gave was…”Remember, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord.

So, the same truth applies to you today. Maybe you’re staring at a mountain that feels impossible to move—a diagnosis, a broken relationship, a financial burden, or a struggle you’ve carried for years.

In your own strength, it may be too much. But Jesus never said mountains move because we are strong. He said they move because our faith is placed in a strong God.

Faith isn’t pretending the obstacle isn’t there. It’s choosing to trust God in the middle of it.

Sometimes God moves the mountain. Sometimes He leads you over it. Sometimes He walks with you through it.

But either way, you’re not facing it alone.

The same Spirit who empowered God’s people then is with you now, giving you strength, wisdom, peace, and courage for whatever stands in front of you today.

So don’t focus on the size of the mountain. Focus on the greatness of your God.

Even faith as small as a mustard seed becomes powerful when it’s placed in the hands of an almighty God.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What mountain are you facing right now that feels bigger than your faith?
  • Where might God be inviting you to trust Him instead of relying on your own strength?
  • How does remembering God’s power change the way you view your current challenge?
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Having Fun is Serious Business

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Nehemiah 8:10 — Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!

I think we need to get serious about having fun.

Somewhere along the way, adulthood started to feel like a slow stacking of weight. Things like bills, responsibilities, taking care of the kids, then our parents, deadlines, and expectations pulling at us.

Before long, it’s like life has quietly taken the life right out of us. Not all at once. Just little by little, until laughter feels like something we used to do.

Think about it for a second. What did you love to do as a kid? The kind of things you wouldn’t suggest doing now because it feels… a little childlike.

Maybe it’s a waterpark. Go-karts. Putt-putt. What about riding a horse?

Here’s the thing. You still could do those things!

It’s kind of sad that we feel like we have to carve out time on our calendars just to have fun, but the truth is, we were designed to live lives full of joy. We were meant to live with a childlike sense of wonder and joy.

Researchers say laughing is like “jogging on the inside.” It’s cardio for your core.

Researchers say laughing is like “jogging on the inside.” It lowers stress, engages your body, and reminds you that joy isn’t frivolous—it’s restorative.

Because joy was never meant to be separate from a faith filled life. It was meant to sustain it.

The strength you need from God won’t always come from pushing harder. It often comes from receiving the joy He gives. I’m not talking about a shallow escape or avoiding responsibility, but I’m talking about a steady, rooted gladness that reminds you God is still good in the middle of real life.

Because the God who calls you to faithfulness also invites you to joy. So maybe this isn’t about adding something extra to your life. Maybe it’s about returning to something you were never meant to lose.

Take the trip to the waterpark. Play a round of putt-putt. Laugh until your stomach hurts. Not because you’re ignoring life’s responsibilities, but because you’re remembering that God is still good.

And when you do, you may discover something surprising: joy isn’t a distraction from the life God has given you. It’s one of the ways He gives you strength to keep living it.

The joy of the Lord really is your strength.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What is something you loved doing as a child that brought you genuine joy?
  • Have responsibilities crowded out healthy joy in your life? What might God be inviting you to rediscover?
  • What is one simple, life-giving thing you can do this week to enjoy God’s goodness and be refreshed by His joy?
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Pause Before You Post

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Psalm 94:19 — When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is close the laptop.

You can feel it when it’s time. You’re halfway through typing a response on social media when you notice your jaw a little too tight and your head is hurting.

It’s easy to get that way. Online you see this group fighting against that group. Everyone is an expert. Everybody wants to be heard, and before long, you feel the urge to jump in, take a side, and say something too.

But sometimes I see it all unfolding and think, Lord… this is not the way.

Because when I’m overwhelmed, overstimulated, or frustrated, I don’t always say the best things. I speak too quickly. I react, and that doesn’t bring life.

So, I’ve learned, as unnatural as it feels, to just close my device and go spend time with real people. At home, in a coffee shop…it doesn’t matter. I’ve realized that a real conversation is better than a comment section.

Sometimes I’ll do that. Other times, I’ll open my Bible. Better yet, I’ll do both.

There is simply something about sitting with Jesus that brings peace. His word says, “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”

When your soul is shouting, wisdom sometimes sounds like stepping back instead of speaking up. It looks more like leaning in than lashing out.

If you’ve been overwhelmed lately, maybe it’s worth taking a day off the internet. Sit with someone you love. Say good things. Laugh at something simple and do something that’s actually good for your soul.

Because in the end, the noise online may not stop, but you can still choose which voices get to shape you.

And sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is close the laptop, open your Bible, and let the voice of Jesus be the loudest one in the room.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What kinds of situations tend to leave your heart feeling crowded with worry or frustration?
  • How can you tell when it’s time to step away from the noise and spend time with God?
  • What role does Scripture play in bringing peace to your mind and heart?
  • Are there voices competing for your attention that may be drowning out God’s voice?
  • What is one practical way you can make space this week for Jesus to be “the loudest voice in the room”?
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No Rebrand Required

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 Numbers 23:19 – God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change His mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?

So, I need to talk to you about my sweet puppy, Porsche, because apparently she is reinventing herself.

Out of nowhere—and I mean out of nowhere—this dog has decided she likes to bury bones. We’ve lived in this house for years. She’s had bones her entire one-year of existence. Never once has she thought, you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to act like a squirrel and prepare for winter. But this week? She’s outside digging.

I mean digging.

And I’m standing there, a full-grown, fifty-something woman, watching my dog have what I can only describe as a personality rebrand. She digs the hole, places the bone in it, covers it dramatically, steps back proudly, and then five minutes later, she forgets where she put it.

Now she’s pacing the yard like somebody betrayed her. Meanwhile, I am over here using the same casserole dish from 1998.

But there is One who doesn’t wake up reinventing Himself.

God doesn’t have mood swings or forget His promises like they’re buried somewhere out of reach. What He says stands. What He starts, He doesn’t abandon.

God is not like me or Porsche—He is steady.

And maybe that’s what you need to remember today.

Because life changes. People change. Plans change. Some days, even you don’t feel like the same person you were a week ago.

But God doesn’t change.

The same God who was faithful yesterday will be faithful today. The promises He made haven’t expired. The love He showed you hasn’t diminished. The grace He offered hasn’t run dry.

Numbers reminds us that God does not lie or change His mind. If He says He will be with you, He will. If He says He loves you, He does. If He says He is working, even when you can’t see it, He is.

If you’re anything like me, that’s comforting. Because while the rest of us are constantly changing, God never needs a rebrand.

He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What is something in your life that feels uncertain or constantly changing right now?
  • Why do you think God’s unchanging nature is such a source of comfort?
  • Is there a promise from Scripture you need to hold onto today?
  • How have you seen God’s faithfulness remain steady through different seasons of your life?
  • What would change if you truly believed God will always do what He says He will do?
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Daughter, I See You

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Ephesians 3:18-19 — 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.

Here’s a message from the Father’s heart to that busy girl.

“She thinks I don’t see her. The busy one, the strong one, and the one who smiles at meetings, answers every email, but cries in the car with the music turned up. She thinks her loneliness is invisible, but it echoes in my heart.

I saw her that morning she couldn’t get out of bed. I was with her that night when she wondered if anyone would notice if she disappeared, and I heard her when she finally whispered, ‘God, do you see me?’

Yes, daughter, I see you.  

I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. You are not just noticed. You are known, cherished, held, and loved even in silence.

Even in loneliness, I am near. I am not just God of the whole world. I am the God who sees you. Even when your strength runs out where no one else can see, my love does not shrink back. It stretches wider, longer, deeper, and higher than your thoughts can reach. You are not unseen. You are fully known and fully loved right here, in this moment.

So, when you feel hidden in your exhaustion or alone in the quiet, remember this: I am closer than you think, and My love has never left you.

My prayer for you this Father’s Day is that you would truly experience what Paul prayed for in Ephesians—that you would have the power to understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Christ’s love really is.

Not just know it in your head.

Experience it in your heart.

Because God’s love was never meant to be merely understood.

It was meant to be received.

Because when you begin to grasp even a small part of God’s love for you, everything changes.

May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really 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.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have there been moments when you felt unseen or overlooked by others?
  • Which part of God’s love—its width, length, height, or depth—do you most need to experience right now?
  • What keeps you from fully believing that God sees and loves you?
  • How does knowing you are fully known by God change the way you view yourself?
  • What is one way you can intentionally rest in God’s love this week?
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