All that matters in life is to have the presence and blessing of God and to know you have them. With that knowledge comes the opportunity to interact with the power that comes with Him. Power to will and do His good pleasure and discover His to be ours.
“But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” Gen.39 Conversations Within” ts 6/3/26
I heard a bit of news about someone that put them in a bad light, and was on the edge of sharing it with my spouse. Before I did, the Spirit of Jesus poked me, so to speak, and caused me to ask what benefit would it bring to her if I did. I decided to keep it to myself. Keep nudging me in the right direction Lord.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your
Love for God will enrich all other loves. We properly love Him above everything and everyone, and when we do, we do not love others less, we love them more. C. S. Lewis put it this way. "When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now."
“Love the Lord with all of your heart…” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 6/1/
The Good Book tells us that people generally do what is right in their own eyes. This is one of the reasons Jesus cautions us to pay close attention to how we view the world. Most would say be true to your own conscience, but we should be equally concerned that our
“One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.” Rom.14 Conversations Within” ts 5/3126
I want only one key to open the door of my heart, one principle to govern my thoughts and actions. Does it mirror the dynamic of the love of Christ?
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Ps.119 ESV Conversations Within” ts 5/3026
Does my life give evidence of the resurrection of Christ? I may not have been an eye witness, but I am a witness none-the-less. The manner in which I live, the values I espouse, my words, and actions either attest or deny that the living Christ lives in me or not.
“And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts
A tour guide was leading and speaking about an historical event that had taken place in the Holy Land. What impressed one person on the tour is that he spoke of what happened in the first person as though he himself was personally there. This is the connection every child of God should have when speaking of the Red Sea crossing. Think about it!
“For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea..” 1Cor.10
Live with divine purpose, and you will need to live forever to accomplish it. The good news is that God will accommodate such a life with all that is needed.
“Not that I have already
I can make peace with the fact that I do not always like someone as long as it does not interfere with loving them. Liking is a feeling. Loving is an action.
“Love never fails.” 1Cor.13 Conversations Within” ts 5/25/26
It is one thing to live “in” the moment and another to live “for” the moment. The first is perfect focus, the latter is a kind of nearsightedness--the inability to see beyond now. One of the most important reasons to give myself fully to this moment is that there are other moments to follow, and what we do now will follow us.
“Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 5/23/26
After offering a few qualifications, AI's answer was John 3.16. I thought this was worth sharing. Loving God is the greatest commandment. But as important as it is that we love God, it is infinitely more important that He loves us. We love Him because He first loved us.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3.16 Conversations Within” ts 5/22/
I wake up many times a day. I find myself looking at something and realize that I have fallen asleep to life’s wonders. The wind brushes my face. I look up and see its movement in the trees. I catch a whiff of a magnolia bloom in the breeze. My Father whispers to me, "Wake up and join me in the moment. Don’t miss
“Wake! Why are you sleeping?” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 5/22/26
I often find that my resolve at the beginning of the day is not nearly as resolved at the end of the day. Perhaps I should begin my days in the evening. Someone suggested that if you want to establish a new habit, attach it to something you already do every day. Since I already see my resolve dwindle in the evening let me use it to re-resolve that very moment.
"My strength is made perfect in weakness."
Learning how to let go of things outside your control is of great value if we want joy in life. Recognize the futility of trying to change what cannot be changed. Accept matters for what they are, and the wisdom that comes from trusting God's hand in all things.
"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your
Time is one, if not our most important resource. Who is not guilty of spending it foolishly and wastefully. I can do nothing about past purchases, but I have everything to say about how I spend my time today. Time spent loving people is one of the few activities that is never wasted.
“Redeem your time because the days are evil.” Eph.5
It could happen anytime. It could happen today. When it happens, the only way I know to be prepared is to be found living in the fullness and freedom of Christ, this moment. Turn my thoughts of tomorrow into beneficial attitudes and actions right now.
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,”
Blessings do not come from knowing, but from doing. The purpose of wisdom is to direct our actions not cripple us by the false confidence of just knowing. Be a doer, it is the final measure of success or failure.
“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do
My wife and I once chased a tornado after it touched down on a nearby highway. We followed its path, but rain, heavy wind, and hail obscured our view. After stopping briefly for safety, we rounded a bend to find a destroyed home and a truck tossed into a tree. Storm chasers indeed!
“The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.” Nahum 1 Conversations Within” ts 5/16/
Only when we die to our own designs can we begin to discover God’s. Then and only then will we accomplish anything of lasting value. Surrendered, even the smallest act can produce a harvest of enduring joy. The seed must be buried in order to become; we must die to self before we can be resurrected.
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 5/16/26
It is good to remember that apart from my divine connection to Christ, I have nothing, I am nothing, and I can do nothing of lasting value. It is our vital connection to Him that makes life, life--valuable, and
“Apart from me you can do nothing.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 5/14/26
The morning me wonders why the midday me gets off track, and the evening me is often too tired to practice being the person I want to be. "Lord, hear my voice, my present voice I mean, Not that which may be speaking an hour hence. ” C. S.Lewis
“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” Heb.12 Conversations Within” ts 5/13/
Live gracefully with imperfections, even while trying to correct them in yourself. Nothing or no one is perfect in this place. Learn the gentle touch, which comes from the gentle and humble heart. Approach all of life with grace, gentleness, and goodness.
“We all stumble in many ways.”
I can foolishly try to stand on my own flawed record when I face judgement, or rest secure on the perfect record of Christ. The invitation of Jesus is to stop trusting my own efforts, and start trusting Him. Why build a castle in the sand?
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the
I do not mind if emotions accompany a decision, but I do not want my feelings to be the main reason I decide to do something. Feelings can be, and often are deceptive. When I decide something let me make my decision based on what is good, right and true not on some euphoric something or other in my gut.
“Jesus…went about doing good…for God was with him.” Acts 10 Conversations Within” ts 5/9/
Pilgrims Progress depicts sins like a burden on the back weighting the soul down in guilt, fear and misery. It is this burden that Jesus offers to take from us. Some of the most beautiful words in the Scriptures offer this encouragement, “But there is forgiveness with You.” Blessed is He!
“Your sins and iniquities I will remember no more.” Heb.8 Conversations
I am so grateful for drone footage put to music. It is the magical way I begin each day. Someone has called it aerial poetry. What a gift to float above the earth and be transported to places all over the world. I feel privileged to have lived long enough to fly over forests and fields, mountains and glacier lakes.
“The LORD looks down from heaven and sees all mankind, watching all who live on earth and considering everything they do.” Ps.33 Conversations Within” ts 5/8/26
Much of life unfolds in stages. The hike to the summit may mean that we first traverse a lowland swamp. Learning to navigate each stage may be more important than the destination we have in mind. Find God's peace and wisdom as you experience today.
“By faith Abraham, when called to
The wisdom that can be found in affliction mirrors the wisdom of God designing life to unfold this way. The lessons learned, and character built teaches me the value of appreciating times of hardship as much as seasons of ease--maybe more so.
“It was good for me to be afflicted so that
I can only live one moment at a time. My best life is realized, not in my past or future, but in the choice before me now. Be this moment. Give yourself fully to it. If it is my last, in this place, I want to make sure I am satisfied with it?
“Be where you are. Whatever your hand find to do, do it with all of your might.” ” Ecc.9 Conversations Within” ts 5/5/26
Forgive my arrogance Lord, I am prone to think that I am always on the right side of things. Incline me to seek Your side of everything. Experience has taught me that I have been wrong many times. Keep my heart humble before You, and others. Lead me on the right path for Your name's sake.
“Who is on the LORD’s side?” Ex.32
I have known some sweet moments of grace. I witness my Father’s hand in nature, or watching someone showing kindness, or listening to an artist sharing their music. I certainly experiencing His grace when I feel His restraining hand over my mouth when I almost say something I know has no value.
“May the grace of our Lord
Beside being a future home, Heaven is also an attitude--one that delights in God’s pleasure. And, nothing pleases God more than when we aggressively love Him, and the people in our lives. I fall short every day. Still, I try to work out the Grace He is working in me. The canvas is always wet.
“The Kingdom of God is within you.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 4/
There are natural rewards for doing good. For instance, eating healthy promotes health. You would think that it would be easy to do good, but humans find it hard simply because we struggle saying “no” to what is bad. Embrace the struggle for what it is--the revelation that we need God’s grace.
“When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” Rom.7 Conversations Within” ts 4/29/26
If I resolved to do something good yesterday, I will probably need to resolve to do it again today. Resolve is a daily activity, not something we do just once. The “re” in the word resolve means “again”. Keep at it until it is accomplished. Keep running the race. Run until the race is
“Let us run with endurance the race set before us.” Heb.12.1 Conversations Within” ts 4/28/26
I believe that we will work in Heaven, not in the sense of toil, but rather living fruitful lives. Someone said that if you enjoy what you do, you will never work a day in your life. Accept what God has entrusted to you, and embrace every task as a form of play.
“So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot.” Ecc.3 Conversations Within” ts 4/27/26
I know there are good addictions just as there are bad ones. According to the Good Book, what comes out of my mouth is a good indicator. It is better not just to hold in check, judgmental, critical, and unwholesome talk, but to purposefully speak only what encourages, and builds up.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according
In one sense, my struggle with sin can’t be won, only practiced every day. In another sense, I suppose that struggling against sin is a form of winning, because it is clear evidence of Jesus living and working in my heart.
“For the flesh desires what is contrary
I find myself smiling all through the day. There is so much to appreciate in life. Father has scattered beauty everywhere. My soul is drawn to share in the wonder of all He has made, and continues to perform in creation.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;
A healthy or unhealthy life is found in small decisions: hundreds of them, every day. Thoughts, words, actions, all make a contribution not just to my life, but also my tribe. Pause before giving expression to every desire, and ask if it contributes only goodness.
“I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live“ Deut.30.19 Conversations Within” ts
We see the world as God sees it when we look with eyes of compassion. The overall message of the Bible teaches that God has very little interest in condemning people, but has great interest in helping us. May God's love and compassion rule my every thought, word and deed.
“Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes.” Matt.20 “Conversations Within” ts 4/22/
Of all the things we do not understand about Judgment Day, one thing is absolutely certain, we will all be there. I know that for the Christian, there is no condemning judgment, but the fruitfulness of my life will be decided. The Spirit of Jesus impresses upon me that I should prepare to meet my maker.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done
