Ryan's Ramblings

Thorns and Nails They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31, KJV) The other day, I was talking with a friend who had recently undergone a serious heart procedure.…

 They Really Lived “Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved—to really live?” (Acts 16:30, MSG) One of my favorite movies is Secondhand Lions. It tells the story of two eccentric old uncles, Hub and Garth, who spend their latter days sitting on the porch, shooting at trespassing traveling salesmen, and bemoaning days…

Can God Trust You? Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart. (John 2:23-25, NLT)…

Scrolling Through Life "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like." (James 1:23-24, NIV) Scrolling is no longer just something we do on our phones…

Sour Milk “You cannot keep your milk sweet and yet let anything into your dairy; one dirty germ can sour an entire milking.” — J.H. Jowett Blessed is the man     who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners,     nor sits in the seat…

A Tale of Two Rivers When a dirty river and a clean river come together, the result is—dirty river. — William Stafford There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple … The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. ……

Paradise is Coming “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.” (Joshua 1:9, NIV) I recently started a new job, and I love it. But I’ve learned over time that no matter how good a situation seems, it won’t be perfect. Every job, relationship, or circumstance comes with its own set of obstacles. Why?…

Deadly Nearness "My Father God, save me from… deadly nearness." – J.H. Jowett "He came to Jesus at night…" (John 3:2, NIV) Some ironies are tragic. Nicodemus was so near to Jesus, yet so far from Life. We first meet him at night—a Pharisee, a seeker of truth—meeting Jesus under the cover of darkness. Respectful,…

The Perfect Picture “You’re nothing but a mist, a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing.” — James 4:14 (MSG) As a budding photographer, I’ve learned that fog is elusive—constantly shifting, moving, and vanishing. You have to act fast to capture the shot because with fog, it’s there one moment, and…

“Hangry” or Worse? Michal, Saul’s daughter, was barren the rest of her life.                                         (2 Samuel 6:23, MSG) The night should have been special. My wife, daughters, and sons-in-law were all gathered around the table—a rare moment when our busy lives aligned, giving us the chance to…