It's easy to underestimate the power of our actions. We often forget that every choice we make, every word we speak, and every act of love or kindness has the potential to set off ripples of impact that extend far beyond our immediate surroundings. Today, let us be inspired to embrace the truth that our actions, or lack thereof, ripple through our community and beyond.

It was a beautiful and sunny day at the beach. The air was crisp, the sand was hot, and the sea was blue. My daughter and I were catching waves on our boogie boards, laughing it up. She was little then, maybe 5 or 6 years old, and could only see the wave coming at us, nothing beyond. I, however, being much bigger than her, could see farther out and had a good view of other waves rolling in…

Throughout the stories in the Bible, the table plays a vital role, symbolizing something much more profound than just a piece of furniture. It's a powerful image communicating a sense of belonging, community, and shared ownership. Think about how, in the beginning, God welcomed humanity to the table by allowing them to enjoy the fruit of the garden. Even in the wilderness, when the Israelites were wandering, they received manna from heaven at their communal table.

From the outside looking in, Christianity can look like a farce that was conjured up to bring hurting people solace in their distress. Though, walking with God is not just comforting—it is challenging. God’s desires for us are often incongruent with what we desire for ourselves. He regularly commands us to do what we don’t feel like doing. Our instinct is to rush, rather than rest; hold onto bitterness, rather than forgive; to go our own way, rather than obey.

Life is a journey full of unexpected twists, isn't it? We face moments of joy that make us want to dance and times of challenge that leave us wondering where God is in all of it. But here's the key: Gratitude isn't just about what's happening around us; it's about what's happening within us.

In a world often enamored with self-promotion and personal gain, embracing humility through the lens of Jesus challenges us to live counter-culturally. By imitating His humility, we open ourselves to deeper relationships, authentic community, and a life aligned with the purpose God has for us.

Moments arise when our understanding falls short, and uncertainty shrouds our path. Life knocks us off our feet; circumstances don't turn out as we hoped, or we don't know which way to turn. We find ourselves with more questions than answers, uncertain of our next step. In these junctures, we're called to embrace the timeless wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6 and practice the spiritual habit of trusting in the Lord.

In a world that celebrates individualism, we are called to be countercultural. The Scriptures remind us that our faith isn't just "me and Jesus." It's about "us in Jesus." From the beginning, God intended to create a family, a community of believers who would support, challenge, and uplift one another. We are designed for connection because our Creator is a relational God. Connection begins with consideration.

Today, we'll consider how the transformation we desire involves looking outside ourselves and humbly serving those around us. It's easy to become consumed by our own needs and ambitions, allowing our hearts to shrink into a narrow focus on ourselves. Yet, as followers of Christ, we are called to break free from this self-centered mindset and let our hearts expand to embrace the needs and concerns of others.

Today, we want to reflect on the transformative power of embracing Christ's forgiveness. This incredible force unshackles us from the weight of guilt and offers a fresh start, a chance to rewrite our narrative. As we grasp the depth of His forgiveness, it triggers an internal healing, releasing us from our past blunders and infusing us with a sense of inherent value. This newfound perspective should ignite compassion and a profound desire to extend that same forgiveness to others.

Today, we direct our attention to a powerful weapon that pushes the darkness back to help us see beyond our circumstances and the emotions of our current situation: worship. Throughout the book of Psalms, the writers pour their hearts to God. Yet, amid their pain, worry, anger, and anxiety, worship springs up to refocus their eyes and refuel their hearts.

Today, we want to consider a spiritual habit that, at first glance, feels like an impossible task - thinking your thoughts. Our minds are constantly bombarded with noise, distractions, and negativity in this fast-paced world. It's easy to get caught up in the chaos and lose sight of what truly matters. But, we are called to live differently—to set our minds on things above.

Today, we’ll focus on our pursuit of wisdom and the immense value of studying Scripture. To grasp God's heart, it's essential to understand it. The Bible is the lens through which we can truly comprehend His character and ways. It's a collective story leading us to a compelling Jesus. Everything contained in its pages points to Him - His love, His pursuit of us, and the promise of redemption that runs through its pages. With this in mind, I invite you to read Colossians 3:16. As you do, pay attention and note any words, phrases, or themes that stand out to you.

Today, we begin by reflecting on the importance of stillness and nurturing daily conversations with God through prayer. Amid life's busyness, finding moments of silence is crucial for cultivating a deeper connection with our Creator. With this in mind, we invite you to read Matthew 6:5-7. As you do, pay attention and note any words, phrases, or themes that stand out to you.

What we see affects the condition of our hearts. Our heart is forged by what we encounter. For better or worse, our lives are always expressing what is inside. Yet, very few of us stop long enough to consider where our eyes focus. If we did, we'd notice that our gaze is continuously moving and doesn't stay in any spot for very long.

One of the things I love the most is coming home, walking up the steps, and seeing my wife and two daughters laughing in the kitchen through the window. Jenn can bake with the best of them (as my expanding waistline can attest). Over the years, she has been passing down the tricks of the trade to our daughters. Every recipe she teaches requires an extra helping of patience from Jenn due to our eager beavers, who want to do everything on their own.

In Joshua 6, God commands the Israelites to march around the city of Jericho. A little aside here: notice that God declares that He has already given Jericho to the Israelites. Translation: God’s perfect plan was not dependent on the obedience of the Israelites, but on the goodness of God.

The last thing you want to talk about on a Tuesday is rest. You’ve just dealt with Manic Monday. The upcoming weekend is still a long way off with a wealth of appointments, demands, errands and obligations standing in your way. Right now, rest is either the furthest thing from your mind or the only thing you can think about.

Every big journey starts with a single step. We get that in lots of parts of our lives. But when it comes to prayer, we sometimes want everything to be perfect right away – even if we don't realize it. We want to be prayer pros before we've even given it a try.

When considering our relationship with God, our beliefs might not pose the most significant threat to our faith. This doesn't negate the importance of our beliefs, as they indeed hold substantial significance. However, if these beliefs fail to influence our words and actions, another issue arises. Our beliefs transition from being a strong foundation to a mere novel concept. Instead of convictions, they remain intentions.