To walk “by” the Spirit is to allow Him to teach us a new way of walking. Use His enlightenment to determine your next right choice. Use His encouragement to keep in step with Him. Use His enabling power to stay on the path.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Gal.5 Conversations Within” ts 10/
It is very good news to realize that God wants us to know a life of joy. He desires that we seek it, and offers to bless us with it. And where do we find it, but in His word, His friendship, and the faith He gives to us.
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 10/16/
There are many things outside our control, just as there are many things we can control. I do not have to read divisive social media posts or listen to the negative rhetoric of political news. Take charge of what you allow into your dwelling, and you take charge of the energy flowing into and from your heart.
“Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Phil.4.8 Conversations Within” ts 10/15/25
There are many ways that a Christian can war against darkness, and all of them involve bringing in the light of truth. We may rebuke a demon to leave the oppressed, or possessed, but once gone, the delivered person must choose to accept God’s love, and love Him in return. There is no neutral ground. We either walk in the light of truth or the darkness of deception.
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person…it returns, finds the house empty…goes and brings with it seven other spirits… they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. ” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 10/13/25
It is easy to focus our attention to physical struggles-- health, losing weight, staying in shape, making ends meet. It sometimes seems that our struggle is against flesh and blood, but this is only because our real enemies have duped us into fighting on the wrong turf. The enemy's intention is not just to destroy our body, but to destroy our soul. Only the weapons of faith will win the real battle.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but….against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Eph.6.12 Conversations Within” ts 10/12/
Incline my heart toward action sweet Lord. Obedience to your word is the only way I can be prepared for your return. It is also the only way to be ready if you come for me at any moment.
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,” Conversations Within” ts 10/11/25
“No ifs, ands, or buts about it, God has declared where His favor rests. I want to be on the right side, which is to be seated on the right hand of God. Jesus sits there, may God grant that we sit with Him. It is not earned. It is a gift that God grants to all who ask for it.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph.2.8-9
Bring it down to now. Attend, abide. Forget what has passed. Do not waste energy worrying about the future. Stop overthinking. Calm your thoughts. Embrace this moment. The one who calls Himself the "I Am" invites you to join Him. Be!
“Be where you are, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has
It should not surprise me that God would send an encouraging message to me on some social media app. I have gotten text messages from Him as well. God speaks! His voice is everywhere. He speaks to the listening heart. Jesus did say, “Seek and you will find.”
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.“Ps.19 Conversations
Lasting happiness is nurtured within, not found without. It begins when we wake to the reality of God’s presence in us, and through faith we embrace everything He desires to be for us. This action grounds us in the present moment and flows out of us in grateful praise.
"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy" Ps.16:11 Conversations Within” ts 10/5/
Turn every thought that stirs concern into a prayer that places it squarely into God’s hands. If the thought returns, simply do it again and keep doing it. Put everything that weighs you down, down. Let it go in childlike trust.
“Cast your cares on Him because He cares for you.” 1Pt.5.7 “Conversations Within” ts 10/4/
I am amazed at how quick I can lose the pleasant and peaceful focus that God’s word brings to me. This is because hearing the music and dancing to the music are two very different things. Get up and dance.
“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at their face in a mirror and, after looking, goes away and immediately forgets what they look like. James 1.23-24 “Conversations Within” ts 10/3/25
When we live each day spread too thin, we take away the joy of living wholeheartedly. Attending too many things, cramping an already full schedule will water down quality, vainly thinking that quantity is somehow more. Better a simple celebration, one that leaves time to truly enjoy it.
“It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To
I am amazed when I look back on the life I have been given. I am overwhelmed with gratitude that God has showered me with so many blessings. I do have thoughts about how short the ride has been, and sometimes find myself wondering about the future. I am reminded that He holds my future, and with Him the ride will never end.
“You have drawn the lines for me in pleasant places. I have a beautiful inheritance.” Ps.16 “Conversations Within” ts 10/2/
It is one thing to improve telling a story to make it better, and another to exaggerate or misrepresent the details, which basically make it untrue. Be a reliable witness, the truth doesn't need exaggeration.
“Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.” Prov.26.7 “Conversations Within” ts 10/1/
Share counsel in such a way that people listen. Something as simple as using fewer words, can help. Many good messages are never heard, simply because they’re too long. Others are ignored because we may be talking down to people, rather than with them.
“The heart of the wise
I know my time is coming. If I took a guess, I would say, I will not be the kind of person I want to be when it happens. The reason I say this is because today I am not that person, and today could very well be my last. If so, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.“
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." Eph.
We never know if today is the day. Christ may come today for us all. He may come for me. The day is appointed, and we need not concern ourselves with that, only that we are packed and ready when He does come.
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 9/28/25
I see the wisdom in this advice, but there is another wise consideration. Don’t look for inner peace outside you. Bring it with you whatever route you take. This peace comes from complete surrender to God’s purposes and desires for our life.
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” “Conversations Within” ts 9/24/25
#ScenicRoute
I am grateful that I wake up in nature most days, and spend more time outdoors than indoors. When asked where we live, my wife and I usually say, “Well today we live right here.” Such is van life; you camp as a lifestyle. Our daily life embodies a simple truth that reflects all life; we are all just passing through.
“So Abram moved his tent..by the oaks of Mamre…and there he built an altar to the LORD.” Gen.13.18 “Conversations Within” ts 9/24/
#van life, just passing through
The father of lies, as Jesus called the Devil, is cunningly attempting to hijack the love that Jesus exemplified. I am convinced that everything Jesus did was a reflection of true love, from eating with sinners, to turning over tables with a whip in hand. Once we choose to love as He loves, we need His wisdom to define its expressions.
“Greater love has no one than this, that man lay down His life for his friends. Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 9/23/25
#Don't let the Devil hijack true love
Love should be universally shared, but it is not universally understood. What one person sees as love, another may see it as hate. The love that Christ spoke of, and lived is not a love of liking someone ,or agreeing with them, but the love of beneficial actions towards them.
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 9/22/25
#Love in Action, Not Agreement
God has woven so much value into the fabric of creation. The universe is as much a revelation about who He is as it is the story of mankind. He encourages us to explore, to be inquisitive, and to learn from all that He has made. It would be hard to spend time in nature and not meet Him there. Sadly some do. .
"Look at the birds of the air. ” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 9/21/
#Meeting God in Creation
I find that timing is an important part of speaking gracefully. Sometimes saying nothing is the most gracious response. Sometimes the best comment is no comment. Pray for wisdom to always be gracious when using words.
“Let your
I recently walked down a favorite boardwalk to the beach. Looking out over the water, smelling the salt in the air, listening to the waves breaking on the shore, I felt a wave of refreshment after a week of poison on the internet. “Turn off the news, listen to some music.”
“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” Ps.23 “Conversations Within” ts 9/19/25
Social media can bombard us with poisonous rhetoric, and hateful words. The sad part is that I have exposed myself to it by just flipping through my phone. I recently realized that algorithms can feed me all the beauty in the world or all the ugly. I discover that when I deliberately seek out beauty, I find it. I now see wondrous beauty all over the world.
“Seek and you will find.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 9/18/
It is recorded that Mary Queen of Scots once said, "I fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe." Gracious Lord, I pray that seeking You in prayer is not my last resort, but my first.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power
What better way of seeing everything and everybody than through the lens of love. Discover new ways to see and serve everyone in your life, EVERYONE! Love teaches us to consider what we can do to improve the lives of others, and the world we live in. Love teaches us not only who people are, but who they can be with our support.
“Let love be your greatest aim.” 1Cor.14 “Conversations Within” ts 9/16/
We must not only stop the hate, we must spread the love, not only to those who love us, but even to our enemies.
"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all
I asked AI how someone could speak the truth in love and got these guidelines: “Pray for wisdom; Examine your motives; Be humble and patient; Choose the right setting; Listen before you speak.” I would say, Not a bad answer, not bad at all.
“Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all
This is the life I desire. I want to be the helping hand, to be useful to others, to be a listening ear, an understanding heart, a servant for goodness, an encourager and a true friend to the person in front of me.
“I have called you friends.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 9/10/
I have to remind myself everyday to ignore everything that distracts from what is really important. The best way to do this is to stay actively engaged in what is.
“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Gal.5.
All the commandments in Scripture are summarized by one, which is simply to let love be the governing dynamic in everything we do. I ask myself if this thought, this word, this action is an expression of love, for God, for another, for myself? This is the command I would give myself. I pray I keep it!
“The fruit of the Spirit is…self control.” Gal.
Whatever it is, use it. Use it for good. Use it to draw strength. Use it to get it done. We are assured that God is using it, using it for good in the lives of those who love and trust Him. We see life properly when we approach it in partnership with God and His purposes.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to
Political posts are a very good example of stress I don’t need in my life. Why step into an arena--a place of conflict, when you know that no problem will ever be properly solved in an arena? There is a better model instead of arguing. And, it is more than being the change I would see in the world, but the change that Christ wants to see.
"Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels." 2Tim.2.23 “Conversations Within” ts 9/4/
I am so grateful for this bit of wisdom. It has helped me argue myself out of fear, doubt, and worry so many times. The gospel is “good news” indeed, and when we embrace it in faith, we wake to the realities of all that God is for us in Christ.
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 9/4/
I make plans every day. I am sure Father will bless some of them, and blow others into the wind. I actually see value in what He blows into the wind.. He is teaching me His values, and where to spend my time and energy, and where not to.
“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his
It is sad, but in this world, someone can be hated even when they seek to love. I do not want to be persecuted for the wrong reason. But I should never be ashamed of sharing the truth claims of Jesus. I represent Him, not a religion, a political party, and certainly not myself.
“If they persecuted me, they will persecute you.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 9/7/25
In these days of AI generated content, it is becoming clear that a new tool to deceive and manipulate threatens. I am reminded not only to discern what is false, but to make doubly sure before I hit the share button that I am not spreading a lie.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” One of the big Ten “Conversations Within” ts 9/2/25
I don’t want kindness to be something I work at doing; I want it to be as natural as breathing. Still, I know I must work at it until grace transforms my efforts into my nature. I am grateful for all the people in my life who radiate it. Someone said, "If you can be anything be kind."
“Love is kind.” 1Cor.13 “
When my children asked me this I told them to look at the fruit of the person's life. Do their words match their life, and does their life line up with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, i.e. the fruit of the Spirit of Jesus. I trust Him living in them.
“By their fruit you will know them.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 8/31/25
