Joy At The Door

,

Habakkuk 3:18 — I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

There’s nothing like when “Dada” comes home.

Most evenings, it’s just me and Lennox. The toys are scattered, dinner plates sit half-finished, and you can feel it… He’s getting tired of me. Not in a harsh way, just in a toddler kind of way.

My husband Chris works another evening job, and I’m grateful for it. I really am, but when that door unlocks at the end of the day and Lennox sees Chris, everything changes. His eyes light up. He shouts for joy, and just like that, he’s gone.

There’s no hesitation and no dragging his feet. His whole body is basically saying, “See ya Mom, I’m going to my dad.”

It’s not because anyone told him to, but because something deep inside my son knows— Dada’s arms are where I belong.

I believe we were made for that kind of response. It is God-given.

Somewhere along the way, though, we learn to hesitate. We get distracted. We carry disappointments, responsibilities, and burdens that weigh us down. Sometimes life doesn’t feel joyful at all.

And yet, the invitation hasn’t changed.

Habakkuk wrote those words during a season when everything around him seemed uncertain. Yet he made a choice: “I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.”

Not because life was easy, but because God was still good.

God is our Father, and He is near. What would it look like to turn towards Him with that same instinctive joy? To rejoice in the God of your salvation and to drop whatever you’re holding to let love—not obligation, fear, or routine—be the thing that moves you?

And maybe faith, at its core, isn’t as complicated as we’ve made it. Maybe it looks a lot like that small pair of feet hitting the floor, heart wide open, running toward the Father who just walked in the room.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What tends to distract you from experiencing joy in God’s presence?
  • When was the last time you felt excited to spend time with God?
  • How does Lennox’s instinctive response to his father challenge your view of faith?
  • Are there circumstances in your life right now that make rejoicing difficult?
  • What would it look like today to turn toward God with trust, delight, and expectancy?
/by

Forgiveness Finds A Way

,

Matthew 18:21-22 — Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!”

Have you been carrying around bitterness and anger because of a falling out with someone… maybe someone in your own family?

Maybe you will relate to Michael’s story.

He hadn’t spoken to his dad for a very, very long time. A painful falling out drew a line neither of them crossed for nearly a decade. I mean, they missed holidays, birthdays, milestones—all of it. And the silence… it became normal. But even when silence feels normal, the hurt never really leaves.

One Sunday, after hearing a sermon on forgiveness, Michael sat in his car a little longer than usual. The engine was off, but his thoughts weren’t. And he prayed, “God, I don’t know how to forgive my dad. I don’t know how to do it, but I know You’ll help me. I’ll try with Your strength.”

It wasn’t polished. It wasn’t confident. But it was a step.

And then—his dad called.

There was no warning. No buildup. Just, “I don’t know why, but I felt like I had to call.”

So, they met for coffee. And what began as a tense conversation, started to shift. The edges softened. Voices cracked. Tears came. Apologies followed. Hugs were shared, and forgiveness was given. And slowly, they began rebuilding what had been broken, one small step at a time.

Michael says, “Only God could have softened these two hardened hearts and turned years of silence into a fresh start.”

And I believe him.

Because somewhere in that moment, one willing heart made room for more than just a single act of forgiveness.

When one heart turns toward God, He can begin healing wounds that once felt impossible to touch.

So, I wonder… is there someone in your life who has hurt you? Maybe more than once.

It would be easy to let bitterness settle in and let silence become your normal. But Jesus invites us to a different way.

Seven times seventy, right?

Not because the hurt wasn’t real. Not because trust is automatically restored. But because forgiveness frees your heart from carrying what God never intended you to carry alone.

Maybe today isn’t about having all the right words.

Maybe it’s simply praying the same prayer Michael prayed:

“Lord, I don’t know how to forgive, but with Your help, I’m willing to take the first step.”

And sometimes that’s where healing begins.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Is there someone you have struggled to forgive?
  • What emotions surface when you think about extending forgiveness to that person?
  • How does Michael’s simple prayer challenge or encourage you?
  • What is the difference between forgiving someone and pretending they didn’t hurt you?
  • What would taking one small step toward forgiveness look like for you today?

CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO on YouTube

SEVEN TIMES SEVENTY TIMES by Chris August

I’ve been living in this house here
Since the day that I was born
These walls have seen me happy
But most of all they’ve seen me torn
They’ve heard the screaming matches
That made a family fall apart
They’ve had a front row seat
To the breaking of my heart

7 times, 70 times
I’ll do what it takes to make it right
I thought the pain was here to stay
But forgiveness made a way
7 times, 70 times
There’s healing in the air tonight
I’m reaching up to pull it down
Gonna wrap it all around

I remember running down the hallway
Playing hide-and-seek
I didn’t know that I was searching
For someone to notice me
I felt alone and undiscovered
And old enough to understand
Just when I’m s’posed to be learning to love you
Let me doubt again

7 times, 70 times
I’ll do what it takes to make it right
I thought the pain was here to stay
But forgiveness made a way
7 times, 70 times
There’s healing in the air tonight
I’m reaching up to pull it down
Gonna wrap it all around

I lost count of the ways You let me down
But no matter how many times You weren’t around
I’m all right now

God picked up my heart and helped me through
And shined a light on the one thing left to do
And that’s forgive you, I forgive you

7 times, 70 times
If that’s the cost I’ll pay the price
7 times, 70 times
I’ll do what it takes to make it right
I thought the pain was here to stay
But forgiveness made a way

7 times, 70 times
There’s healing in this house tonight
I’m reaching up to pull it down
Gonna wrap it all around
Yeah, I’m gonna wrap it all around

I’ve been living in this house here
Since the day that I was born

/by

Faith That Falls Forward

,

Psalm 57:10 — For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

I have a distinct memory of learning how to ride my bike. I was ready to race down the driveway the moment my dad removed the training wheels.

Instead of reaching the speed of a cheetah, I lost my balance and started to fall. But the moment before I hit the ground, I felt these tree trunk-sized arms catch me and lift me back onto my bike.

It was my dad. There he was, blocking the sun out of my face while looking down at me, smiling. He laughed and said, “Try again.”

In seconds, I was pedaling off, only to fall again. Each time, my dad was there, catching me at just the right moment, over and over. Of course, as a little girl I was afraid of falling, but I also trusted that when my dad was near, I would be okay.

I had faith he would catch me.

Since learning to ride my bike, I’ve fallen down a lot in life.

Growing up in church, I learned that God is a faithful Father. Even so, there are still moments when I wonder if He’ll really come through for me. What if He’s tired of picking me up? What if He’s frustrated that I keep making the same mistakes?

Thankfully, God isn’t that way.

His faithfulness isn’t based on my performance. His love doesn’t run out when I stumble. It stretches farther than I can measure—higher than the heavens and steadier than my footing has ever been.

But you and I are in good company because God’s got us.

When I find myself in a season of doubt, I often think about the story of Peter walking on water to meet Jesus. Even though Peter’s faith wavered, God was still faithful. The same God who reached for Peter in the middle of the waves is reaching for you in the middle of yours

So, when you feel unsteady, remember this:

God’s faithfulness is not fragile.

It isn’t shaken by your doubts, your questions, or your repeated falls.

Just like my dad standing behind that bicycle, God is closer than you think.

He’s steady when you’re not.

He’s faithful when your faith feels small.

And He’s still teaching you how to ride.

— LeAnna Crawford

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • When life feels uncertain, what helps you remember God’s faithfulness?
  • Have you ever worried that God might be frustrated or disappointed with you? Why?
  • How does the image of a loving father teaching a child to ride a bike change the way you view God’s relationship with you?
  • Where do you need to trust God’s steady presence in your life right now?
  • What is one way God has shown His faithfulness to you, even when your faith felt small?

Lyrics:

I try to pray but the words aren’t coming out the way they used to
Did I lose my faith God do I still trust You (mmm)
I try to worship but when I lift my hands it all just feels so empty
Is it the heavy of the world or is it just me (mmm)
Though I’ve sung a thousand times
You’re perfect and You’ll never leave leave my side

Can I be honest
I just wanna know that You still got this
When all I’m holding onto is a promise
God You promised
That You’ll never leave me
When I’m scared of the dark You’re right there with me
Your kindness never fails, it’s always reaching after me
But right now, God all I need
Is to be honest

Oh I’ve heard stories of you showing up when it was least expected
Every time you prove your timing always perfect – and the wait was worth it
Again and again and again – see your power coming through
You bring life to what is dead – no there’s nothing You can’t do
I believe you did it then – so won’t You do it now

Can I be honest
I just wanna know that You still got this
When all I’m holding onto is a promise
God You promised
That You’ll never leave me
When I’m scared of the dark You’re right there with me
Your kindness never fails, it’s always reaching after me
But right now, God all I need
Is to be honest

Is Your breath when I can’t breathe
Your eyes when I can’t see
An anchor as the waves crash all around
Be my heart when I can’t feel
And show me something real
Just one taste of heaven here and now

Can I be honest
Can I be honest
I just wanna know that You still got this
When all I’m holding onto is a promise
God you promised
That you’ll never leave me
When I’m scared of the dark You’re right there with me
Your kindness never fails, it’s always reaching after me
But right now, God all I need
But right now, God all I need

/by

Planning What Matters Most

1 Corinthians 16:14 — Let all that you do be done in love.

My dad has retired, but he hasn’t stopped. I got to catch up with him on vacation.

And he was talking about how… “Yeah, I’m not working eight to five anymore, but I’ve scheduled in time in my day to help others.”

He said, “Maybe it’s somebody in my community who needs a ride somewhere. Maybe they need help moving. I don’t know, whatever it is, I prioritize it and schedule it in my day.

That really touched me.

He didn’t just retire. He reorganized his life around people.

And I thought, “Okay… that is a whole new definition of being the hands and feet of Jesus.”

It’s not serving spontaneously or only when it’s convenient. It’s not squeezed in if there’s extra time.

No, it’s chosen. It’s planned. It’s built in.

It’s letting everything you do be shaped by love.

Because following Christ doesn’t just change what we believe. It reshapes what we prioritize. It changes what makes it onto our calendars, into our budgets, and into our everyday lives.

My dad understands something that can be easy to miss: love isn’t just a feeling. Love is an action. And sometimes the most loving thing you can do is make room for people before they ever ask for your help.

So maybe today is a good day to ask yourself: Who has God placed in my life that I can serve?

Maybe it’s a neighbor who needs a hand. Maybe it’s a friend who needs a phone call. Maybe it’s someone who’s been carrying a burden alone.

Whatever it looks like, don’t wait for someday.

Make room for love today.

Because when love becomes a priority instead of an afterthought, people notice.

And so does God.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Who has God placed in your life that may need encouragement or practical help right now?
  • Do you tend to view serving others as something spontaneous or something worth planning for?
  • What would it look like to intentionally build acts of love into your schedule this week?
  • How has someone else’s consistent kindness impacted your life?
  • What’s one practical way you can let “all that you do be done in love” today?
/by

Shame Says Run & Grace Says Come

,

Psalm 103:13 — The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.

I have an uncle I adore. His name is Uncle Wayland.

Yeah, kind of like Waylon Jennings, if you will, right? And if I did something I shouldn’t have as a kid, he didn’t yell at me or lecture. All he had to do was look at me and say, “Denise, I am so disappointed.”

That was it.

Instant tears. Every single time. I’m a 54-year-old woman, and if he said something like that to me, I’d still be sobbing.

It’s because when you love somebody, and they’re disappointed in you… oh man, that hits deep.

We tend to project that same disappointment onto God when we fall short. I think we imagine Him talking to us the same way. Like when we mess up or lose our temper or doubt or just feel like we’re not doing life very well, we picture Him shaking His head saying, “Ugh, I expected better out of you.”

But that picture of God isn’t actually the one we see in Jesus.

Because that’s not the way Jesus responds to people in the Bible. When people were struggling or failing or exhausted, He moved towards them, not away. And not with crossed arms or a heavy sigh, but with something steadier… something that feels a whole lot more like a good father kneeling down, softening his voice, and pulling his child in close instead of pushing them away.

God doesn’t respond to our failures by pushing us away. Instead, He meets us with compassion and invites us closer, even when we feel least deserving of it.

So, if today feels like one of those days when you’re convinced God must be disappointed in you, remember this: the voice of shame pushes you away, but the voice of Jesus always calls you closer.

And maybe the next time that old, familiar feeling creeps in, you don’t run the other direction like you used to. Maybe you stay. Maybe you lean in just a little.

Not because you’ve got it all together, but because you’re beginning to believe that He already knows you don’t.

And He loves you still.

He hasn’t stepped back an inch.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • When you make a mistake, what do you tend to assume God is thinking about you?
  • How does Jesus’ treatment of struggling people in the Gospels challenge that assumption?
  • Is there an area of your life where shame has made you pull away from God?
  • What would it look like to move toward Him instead of away from Him today?
  • How does seeing God as a compassionate Father change the way you approach Him?
/by

Not Too Late Now

,

Ecclesiastes 3:11 – Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

Addiction is never easy. It’s not easy for the person struggling. It’s not easy for the family. It’s not easy for the friends who love them.

It’s painful for everyone.

But God.

Here’s a story about a father overcoming addiction. It’s set on the day of his son’s birthday.

“I almost didn’t send the card.

It felt too small. After everything I’d missed—his birthdays, his games, so much of his life—what could one little birthday card possibly do?

’90 days sober.’

That’s what I wrote inside.

‘And happy birthday. I’m proud of you, son.’

Because I am. I am proud of him.

Even if I haven’t been there like I should have. Even if I don’t know whether he’ll believe a word I say.

But recovery has taught me something. It’s never too late to tell the truth. It’s never too late to take a step toward healing. And it’s never too late for grace.

Even when addiction and regret have created distance, God’s grace still makes room for new beginnings.

So I prayed over that envelope.

I asked God to do what I can’t.

I asked Him to bridge the distance between my son’s heart and mine. To take what feels broken and unfinished and begin making something beautiful from it.

I don’t know if he’ll write back.

I don’t even know if he’ll open it.

But I sent it because healing has to start somewhere.”

I love that.

Because sometimes healing starts smaller than we’d like.

It’s one honest conversation. One apology. One phone call. One card dropped in the mail.

One faithful step.

And often, we can’t see what God is doing with those small acts of obedience. We can’t see the whole story from beginning to end.

But He can.

That’s why we keep trusting Him with the pieces.

Maybe today you’re carrying something that feels broken, distant, or beyond repair.

Take the next faithful step.

Offer the apology. Send the message. Have the conversation.

And trust God with what happens next.

Because He has a way of making beautiful things from places that once seemed hopeless.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Is there a relationship in your life that needs a first step toward healing?
  • What small act of obedience might God be asking you to take today?
  • Where have you been tempted to give up because you can’t see the outcome?
  • How does it encourage you to know that God sees the whole story, even when you can only see a small part of it?
  • What would it look like to trust God with the next step instead of the entire journey?
/by

From Dusty Bibles to Daily Bread

, ,

Matthew 4:4 — But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

There’s something haunting about the phrase “dusty Bibles.”

Like… I can remember to charge my phone every night, but my Bible can sit untouched on a shelf for weeks. That image is what sparked Josiah Queen’s song “Dusty Bibles.”

And the song isn’t really condemning technology. After all, social media helped launch Josiah Queen’s career. Instead, it asks a harder question: what has our attention?

Because attention is never neutral.

Whatever consistently fills our minds eventually starts shaping our hearts. And that’s why so many people feel exhausted right now—not just physically tired, but spiritually drained.

You know what I mean. Constantly connected. Constantly consuming. Constantly scrolling… yet still somehow hungry for peace.

Maybe that’s why this song has resonated with so many young adults. Underneath all the noise, there’s still a hunger for something real.

Jesus once reminded people that life is more than bread. Human beings carry a deeper hunger—one that food, success, entertainment, or distraction will never satisfy. Souls were made for truth. Souls were made for the voice of God.

And here’s the tension: it’s possible to feed every appetite and still starve spiritually.

But the good news is this—God doesn’t wait for people to get it all together. He meets us the moment we turn our attention back to Him.

Not when we become perfect. Not when we finally “fix everything.” Just when we turn.

And the beautiful part is this: the moment we return our attention to God, we realize He never stopped giving His attention to us.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What tends to consistently capture your attention most throughout the day?
  • How has constant “consuming” (social media, news, entertainment, etc.) affected your peace or focus?
  • What would it realistically look like for you to give God your attention first—even in a small way this week?
  • Where do you notice a “spiritual hunger” in your life right now?
  • What might change if you believed God has been fully attentive to you all along?

LYRICS:

We got dust on our Bibles
Brand new iPhones
No wonder why we feel this way

Hey, how you been?
It’s been a while and I’m just checking in
I miss the way things used to be back in 2017
And I just miss my friend

Hey, I’ve been fine
I’ve been struggling to find some peace of mindFrom Dusty Bibles to Daily Bread
It’s the problem of our nation and in our generation
We’re too busy and can’t find the time
Are we busy or is it all a lie

We got dust on our Bibles
Brand new iPhones
No wonder why we feel this way

We walk with our eyes closed blind leading blind folks
I’m done with those idols and dusty Bibles

We only get this one life
I don’t want to sit and watch it pass me by
I’m so done being complacent
There ain’t no replacement
For a life in the light of your way
Oh I’m done, had enough of my way

/by

Fly Higher, Together

,

1 Peter 4:10 — God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

I still think about those backyard trampoline days. They were something else.

The neighborhood kids would come over, and before long we were making up games or playing classics like “crack the egg”—you know, the one where everyone bounces around trying to get someone tucked into a roll.

But if I had to pick a favorite part of those afternoons, nothing beat the feeling of getting “double bounced.”

You know what I’m talking about.

Because at just the right moment, your bounce would meet your friend’s bounce, and suddenly you were flying twice as high. It felt like you could touch the sky.

Now, if you were the friend doing the bouncing, it didn’t feel quite as magical. Your timing had to be right, your legs took the strain, and your own jump got interrupted. You were absorbing impact so someone else could go soaring.

But it worked because you knew the rhythm would shift. At some point, it would be your turn to rise.

And then there were days when no one was outside. No games. No timing. No lift. Just me jumping alone—no rhythm, just effort.

And honestly, that’s where life can start to feel like too.

We start believing we’re meant to do everything on our own.

“Me and Jesus, that’s all I need.”

But Scripture paints a fuller picture than that.

That’s what Peter is talking about here. God has given each of us gifts—not for isolation, but for building one another up.

Life with God was never designed to be solo jumps in an empty yard. It was designed for community, where what He placed in you strengthens someone else, and what He placed in them strengthens you.

Because if we’re honest, living alone can start to feel like that solo jump—no rhythm, no lift, just effort. But God never intended us to stay there.

So stay in community.

Because in God’s design, no one was meant to jump alone.

And sometimes, the very thing you need is someone willing to help you rise again… and sometimes, you’re the one God is calling to lift someone else.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Where in your life are you trying to “jump alone” instead of leaning into community?
  • Who has God used to “lift you higher” spiritually, emotionally, or practically?
  • What gift has God placed in you that could strengthen someone else right now?
  • Are you more comfortable being lifted—or being the one who lifts others?
  • How might God be inviting you to participate in someone else’s growth this week?
/by

Lifted Up With Love

,

Psalm 40:2 — He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

Three teenagers were riding bikes when they heard faint cries coming from a storm drain below them. Most people would have just kept on going, but not these guys. They stopped, they listened closer, and they discovered a scared little puppy trapped below.

My heart would have been breaking watching that.

Well, these teen boys worked together using their hands, a stick, and a lot of patience to get that little pup to safety. And when they finally pulled him out, the animal just looked at their faces in pure joy.

That moment when fear turns into relief… even the smallest things feel beautiful.

And I can’t shake what that picture does in me. We don’t get rescued because we’re strong. We get rescued because Someone stronger stops, hears, and reaches down.That’s what Psalm 40 is describing—God drawing us up, not leaving us where we fell.

SAnd maybe you’ve felt that too—stuck in a place you didn’t plan for, wondering if anyone even sees you there.… stuck in life’s storm drains, buried under the weight of stress and anxiety and everything closing in. It’s the kind of place where it’s dark, where it feels like nobody notices, and where your voice sounds small even to yourself.

But what gets me most is this. Those boys didn’t just hear something and move on. They leaned in. They got low. They stayed, and little by little, they pulled that puppy up out of the muddy pit into something solid again.

Even when we feel trapped or overlooked in life’s darkest places, God sees, hears, and gently rescues us with compassion and faithful care.

That’s who He is. He doesn’t pass by. He hears what others miss, and He steps into the miry mess with a patience that doesn’t give up.

And I don’t know what you’re sitting in right now, but maybe there’s something here for you too… a quiet reminder that you are seen, heard, and not forgotten in the pit—and that God still knows how to bring people out of places they can’t climb out of themselves.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have you ever felt “stuck” in a season where you didn’t know how to get out?
  • What does it mean to you that God doesn’t just notice your struggle but draws you out of it?
  • Who has God used in your life to “reach down” and help you in a hard season?
  • How does Psalm 40:2 change the way you see your current circumstances?
  • Where might God be trying to set your feet back on solid ground today?
/by

From Compassion to Checkmate

,

1 John 4:11 — Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.

It started with a chessboard and an almost-missed moment.

I have a really good friend named Martina—she lives in Shreveport—and one day she went out to coffee at her favorite spot. There was a guy there who was sitting outside playing chess by himself, and he looked up and said, “Hey, do you want to play?”

She thought, “Not really.”

But then something inside her nudged her heart, and she said, “You know what? Yes!”

She sat down, and they moved the pieces back and forth. Little by little, he started opening up. You could hear the disappointment in his voice. As they played, he started opening up. He told her he’d drifted away from Jesus after his great-grandmother passed away. Somewhere in his grief, he’d stopped believing altogether.

And listen, grief is grief. It doesn’t matter how old someone is or how long you’ve had them. Loss hurts. But what struck Martina was that this woman had lived to be 112 years old. What had been an extraordinary gift somehow felt, in his pain, like something had been taken from him.

But Martina didn’t argue. She didn’t preach. She just stayed and listened. She played another round, and by the time they said check mate, she already made the decision to come back.

Every week, she would make it her mission to play another round of chess with him. She knew his grief tried to rewrite the story about who God is, but she became determined to introduce him to God’s real love that tells a different story.

And not just her. She began pulling in a few friends and sending them to go and play chess too. To be community for this man.

And when Martina told me that story, I thought, “This is what love looks like.”

Love doesn’t always show up with the right words, but it always shows up.

Love shows up because we’ve already been loved first. As Christians, we’ve experienced the greatest love of all through Jesus.

So maybe it looks smaller than you expected. Maybe it’s coffee. Maybe it’s a park bench. Maybe it’s you and a couple friends deciding to keep showing up for someone who’s silently drifting.

And somewhere between the first move and the next, a person who thought God had abandoned him might begin to see that God was pursuing him all along.

All because someone pulled up a chair.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Who in your life may need someone to simply show up and listen?
  • When has someone else’s kindness helped you see God’s love more clearly?
  • Are you waiting for the perfect words when God may simply be asking you to be present?
  • What “chessboard” opportunity might God be putting in front of you right now?
  • How can you intentionally reflect the love you’ve received from Christ this week?
/by