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A father is a man that has two or more souls to save or lose. —Austin O’Malley

That line stops me in my tracks.

It speaks to the weight of influence that a father carries—not just over his own soul, but over the souls entrusted to him. His children. His household. His legacy.

But it’s not just fathers. Every one of us carries influence. Every life touches others. Whether you're a parent, a teacher, a spouse, a mentor, or a friend,—someone is watching. Someone is following.

A person may think their choices are their own, that their actions and their faith are a private matter. But that’s never quite true. The ripple effects of a life don’t stay contained—they resonate. They shape hearts. They echo into the future—for good or for ill.

The esteemed pastor Robert Murray McCheyne once said, “The greatest need of my people is my personal holiness.” I believe the greatest need of a home, a friendship, a community—is the same. We need people who are holy. Not perfect, but earnest. Not proud, but humble. People willing to pause and reflect, to examine their lives—to grow, to lead, and to become who God is calling them to be.

When I was fourteen, my dad woke me up one Sunday morning and said, “Get up—we’re going to church.” It came out of nowhere. We weren’t a churchgoing family. But that morning, my dad, my mom, and my sister went to church—and I went with them. That decision changed my life. My parents gave their lives to Jesus Christ, and a few months later, so did I. That was over forty years ago, and Jesus has been my King, my help, and my portion ever since (Psalm 119:57–58).

Not long ago, I asked my dad what led him to get us all up that Sunday morning and take us to church. He said, “It hit me—you were heading into high school, and I realized I only had a few years left with you under my roof. And I had failed to give you the most important thing in life. Your mom and I weren’t living for the Lord, but deep down, I knew better. I knew—from the faith of my mother and grandmother—that God was what mattered most. So, we went to church.”

My dad thought about it and he took action. He turned to God, and it changed everything.

That’s what happened to the Prodigal Son. Broken and starving in a pigpen, he came to his senses, remembered his good father, got up, and went Home (Luke 15:17).

That’s what happened to Zacchaeus. He climbed a tree to see Jesus—but Jesus saw him first, locked eyes with him, and called him by name. Zacchaeus responded—and became a new creation (Luke 19:1–10).

And then there’s God the Father. He saw the brokenness of His children. He made a choice and sent His Son to die on a cross for the world. And it changed everything.

A holy life—and holy choices—matter. Immensely.

Joshua put it plainly:

“Choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15, ESV).

The moment you choose to reflect and turn toward God doesn’t just shape your story—it shapes the stories of those around you. My dad made one decision. And it saved my life. The choice you make today may rescue more than just your own soul.

Think about it—and turn to Jesus.

Are You Water or Wine?

“The wine supply ran out during the festivities…” (John 2:3, NLT)

Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine. That wasn’t random—it meant something.

I used to teach fifth graders the difference between living and non-living things. It sounds simple—until it isn’t. Without getting too deep into the weeds, we’d define the difference like this: living things can sustain and reproduce life. Non-living things can’t.

Then we’d start sorting examples:

Trees, animals, humans, bacteria, mushrooms—living.

Rocks, air, their desk, pencil, and plastic water bottle—non-living.

And then we’d get to water… and things would get murky. I’d explain that water is non-living. And without fail, my students would push back: “But water moves! Fish live in it! It helps plants grow! It’s so important for life!”

And they’re right—water is essential for life. But it isn’t alive.

Water is a simple, inorganic compound—just hydrogen and oxygen. No carbon chains. No cells. No metabolism. No life processes. It doesn’t grow, reproduce, or change on its own. It can hold life, but it doesn’t possess life.

Wine, on the other hand, is the result of fermentation. It’s made through a living process—one that uses microscopic, living organisms called yeast to convert sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The liquid literally changes at the molecular level and it becomes something new. Wine is organic. Complex. Alive.

And for Jesus’ first miracle, He turned water into wine.

He didn’t just add flavor or sparkle to the liquid in those water jars. He didn’t drop in some electrolytes or mix up a batch of ancient Kool-Aid. No—He turned what was non-living into something living. He took what was dead and made it alive. It was more than hospitality. It was resurrection. It was a miracle—and a metaphor. That’s what Jesus does.

The wine shortage at the wedding in Cana wasn’t just a party problem. It was a sign—a glimpse of the gospel and the Kingdom to come. Where Jesus is present, lifeless things don’t stay that way.

The wedding celebration was about to fall flat, and Mary, Jesus’ mother, nudged Him to do something. She knew who He really was. He told her His time hadn’t come.

But then… it did. And Mary told the servants: “Do whatever He tells you.”

They followed His instructions—fill the jars with water, draw some out, take it to the master—and somewhere in the midst of their obedience, the miracle happened. The water became wine. The dead became living.

That’s the way the Kingdom works. Paul says it clearly in Ephesians 2:1:

“You were dead in your trespasses and sins” (CSB).

We all start there. Like water, we are moving, present, even helpful—but frankly, dead. And then Jesus steps in—not just to improve us, but to transform us. Not to give us a better version of ourselves, but to make us alive.

Are you water or wine? Let Jesus do His work in you. Listen for His voice. Do what He says.

And watch the miracle unfold.

See Others Rightly

One of the greatest mistakes in the world is to tell yourself what a man is like; you do not know what he is like. The only One who can teach you how to deal with the various specimens around you is the Holy Spirit. — Oswald Chambers

I’ve spent a lot of my life around people—in classrooms, committee meetings, boardrooms, churches, and living rooms, both in the States and overseas. You’d think that after so many meetings, meals, and moments with people—from Idaho to Indonesia—I’d be better at knowing how to love them well. But the truth is, I still get it wrong more than I’d like to admit.

Some folks are easy to love. Others? Not so much. They’re draining. Difficult. Sometimes even deceptive. I’ve picked up a few instincts over the years—how to read a room, spot a red flag, or protect myself when needed. I used to call that wisdom. Sometimes it probably was. But often it was just guardedness dressed up in church clothes.

We live in a world that normalizes suspicion and applauds cynicism. We scroll past headlines, posts, and comments that make it easy to write people off before hearing their story. And without even realizing it, I’ve learned to do the same. I told myself I was just being careful—discerning. But in the process, I stopped being compassionate. I labeled people in my mind before I looked them in the eye.

Jesus didn’t do that.

He saw the heart. He knew what people were really like—but He didn’t turn away. He engaged with love. He never sidestepped the truth, and He didn’t shut down when things got messy. He stayed open, even when it hurt. That kind of love is foreign in a world like ours.

And honestly? I don’t know how to do that—not on my own. I want to protect myself. I want to be safe. I want to be right. But the Spirit keeps whispering, “Let Me show you another way.”

And so I’m slowly and imperfectly learning that discernment doesn’t have to be defensive. That wisdom can still be warm. That the Holy Spirit sees more than I ever will—and can teach me to see people not just for who they appear to be, but for who they really are… and who they’re becoming.

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, ESV)

I want to see others like that—like Jesus does. I want to trust the Spirit to show me how.

This world pulls us toward judgment—snap decisions, sharp edges, and guarded hearts. But the call of Christ is different: to love God and to love your neighbor. The two are bound together. Which means when I close my heart to people, I’m also closing my heart to God.

I need help.

“The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace-loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others.” (James 3:17, NLT)

That’s the wisdom I want. That’s the posture I need to take.

Holy Spirit, help me to see others rightly.

 

Commas Matter

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me … [to] proclaim the year of the Lord's favor …" (Isaiah 61:1–2, ESV)

Have you heard the joke about the panda with punctuation problems?

He walks into a café, eats a sandwich, pulls out a gun, fires two shots, and heads for the door. When the staff demands an explanation, he points to a wildlife guide that says:

“Panda: eats, shoots and leaves.”

A single comma turns a peaceful lunch into a crime scene.

Commas matter.

They may be small, but they shape meaning. A well-placed comma isn’t the end of a sentence—it’s a pause. A breath. A moment that slows the pace and lets something meaningful settle in.

Pauses like that can bring clarity. But they can also bring discomfort.

Waiting is the name we give to that kind of pause—leaving things uncertain, unfinished, unresolved. Whether you're stuck in traffic, waiting for food to arrive, or listening to the eighth menu option on a customer service call, time moves in slow motion. The minutes drag on, and it seems like nothing is happening. But then, suddenly—the light changes, the food arrives, someone picks up the line—the wait ends, and everything falls into place.

Waiting on God can feel a lot like that.

Suffering lingers. Injustice roars. Prayers echo back in silence. And we start to wonder: Where are You God? Why don’t You act?

But Scripture tells us—He is working. Even in the pause.

When Jesus stood in the synagogue in Luke 4 and read from Isaiah 61, He declared His mission: good news for the poor, release for the captives, healing for the broken, and “the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then… He stopped. Closed the scroll, and sat down

But the passage He was reading doesn’t end there. The next phrase says: “…and the day of vengeance of our God.” Jesus left that part out—on purpose. Theologians call that pause “the longest comma in history.” It’s the gap between His first coming in grace and His second coming in judgment.

And here’s the thing: we are living in that comma.

We live in a moment where injustice still reigns, wrongs persist, and God seems quiet. But this isn’t divine neglect—it’s divine mercy.

As 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us:

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (NIV).

The longest comma in history isn’t an inconvenience—it’s a gift. A holy pause. In the Lord, when it feels like nothing is happening, something is happening. He’s always working. And sometimes, His work takes time.

“Since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!” (Isaiah 64:4, NLT)

One day, what feels unfinished will be complete. What’s broken will be made whole. Every injustice will be answered. Every tear wiped away. And Jesus will return.

So we wait—with hope and trust. Jesus is the Author who knows how to punctuate our lives. His pause is mercy. His timing is grace.

Commas matter.

 

Singing at Midnight

“About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." (Acts 16:25, NIV)

Is there any darker moment than the "midnight hour"? The silence is suffocating, the path unclear, and hope is all but gone. It's the hour of waiting—when nothing changes, when prayers feel unanswered, and when suffering simply lingers.

Yet, in Acts 16:25, we find Paul and Silas—wounded, bound, and waiting. And what are they doing?

They're singing.

Not because their chains had fallen off. Not because morning had come. But because Christ was with them in the dark. Their joy wasn’t tied to release or relief—it was rooted in the presence of the One who never leaves. That’s the kind of joy the way of Jesus calls us to—a joy that does not deny suffering but sings through it.

I have heard that song before.

One of the greatest privileges of my life was spending four spring breaks at a children’s home in Bangalore, India. The children there had very little—simple meals, few possessions, no shoes—but their hearts overflowed with the love, joy, and peace of Jesus. Each evening, we gathered for worship, and oh how they could sing! Their voices rang out—strong, unwavering, full of faith.

Electricity there was rationed, and at some point each night, the lights would flicker and fail, plunging us into thick darkness. But the singing never faltered. If anything, it soared. There was no hesitation. Just voices rising and ringing out, cutting through the night with unshaken praise. Then, from the shadows, a child would speak: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” Another voice would follow: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Then another, and another. Scripture wove through the dark like a golden thread, stitching faith into the night.

Years later, I can still hear their singing. It is a melody of faith that lingers in my soul.

The Christian life isn’t about avoiding the shadows. It’s about walking through them with Jesus, the Light of the world. When we trust in His presence we find the strength to rejoice—not because life is easy, but because He is near.

At midnight, Paul and Silas sang. The prisoners listened. So did the guards. And now, centuries later, we do too.

Faith in the darkness isn’t just for us—it’s a testimony to the world around us. Will we be people who sing at midnight? Will we walk the way of Jesus—joyful, fearless, and trusting that He is greater than anything we face?

Whether it's midnight or midday, no light shines brighter than Jesus. When the lights go out and the darkness falls—sing! Let the melody of your hope shine forth, because someone is always listening.

 

Call Out to Jesus

“The LORD is near to all who call on him.” (Psalm 145:18, NIV)

I’ll never forget the day Becca broke her arm.

We were at the elementary school playground near our house. She was in first grade—full of energy and confidence—climbing on the monkey bars and calling out, “Watch this, Daddy!” I was close by, watching and “oohing” and “aahing.”

Then it happened.

Becca slipped off the bars and fell to the ground. Instinctively, she put her hand out to break her fall and landed on her arm. As I ran toward her, she looked up and cried, “Daddy!” I can still hear her voice—shaky, scared, and full of pain. It pierced my heart.

I helped her immediately. I gently cradled her hurt arm in my hands and calmly told her that everything was going to be OK. I held her close as we walked home and assured her that her mom and I were going to take her to the doctor. Two hours later, Becca’s tears and pain were replaced with a good story and a fancy blue cast—and I was the first person to sign it.

“Daddy!” … I'll never forget the sound of her cry. Even before she called out to me, I was running to help—because I love her.

How much more does our Father in heaven love us

He longs for us to call out to Him—and a cry is all it takes. When it comes to prayer, God isn’t picky. He wants to hear from us and help us, because He loves and delights in us—just like a parent delights in their child.

The instinct to cry out to God isn’t just a child’s response on a playground—it has been a part of the human story since Genesis.

“To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.” (Genesis 4:26, ESV)

To “call on the name of the Lord” means to cry out—to place your hope and trust in Him. This is the first moment in Scripture where people began to pray—really pray. And here’s what’s remarkable: Seth’s line leads all the way to Jesus.

Seth was Adam and Eve’s third son (remember the whole Cain and Abel situation?). And it was through his lineage—the one where people first began to call on the Lord—that God would one day send the Savior. Genesis 5 traces that line: from Seth to Noah, then to Abraham, David… and finally to Jesus (Luke 3:38).

Jesus is both the fulfillment of prayer and the one who makes it possible. Prayer began in His lineage—and through His life, death, and resurrection Jesus opened the way for all of us to call upon God freely, confidently, and without shame. There is no access to the Father apart from Him. He’s the reason our prayers are heard. He is the way to the One we cry out to.

When we pray—when we call on the name of the Lord—we’re not just speaking into the air. We’re stepping into a story that began in Genesis and finds its fulfillment in Jesus.

So don’t hold back. Whether it’s a shout of faith or a whisper of desperation—He hears you. And He’s already running toward you.

Call out to Jesus. 

 

Keep Seeking Him

The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, "Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin." (Exodus 34:6–7, NLT)

Have you ever read something in the Bible that didn’t sit right? A friend of mine recently did. He’s sincerely seeking the Lord and told me he’s reading through the entire Bible for the first time. As we talked, I watched his face grow serious. He was reading the Word to be inspired—but instead, he ran into something that unsettled him—something that made him flinch.

“Why would God command the Israelites to destroy entire cities when they entered the Promised Land?” he asked. “Honestly, it feels… harsh.”

Maybe you’ve felt that too. You come across something in Scripture—or in life—that doesn’t line up with the God you thought you knew. And in those moments, it’s easy to define God by what you don’t understand. But that’s exactly when you need to keep seeking—and remember what He says about Himself.

When God introduced Himself to Moses, He didn’t lead with a title or a resume. He revealed His very nature: “The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.”

This wasn’t a passing comment. It was a defining declaration. He is mercy, love, and faithfulness. And that thread runs through the whole story of Scripture—proclaimed by the prophets, embodied in Jesus, and poured out on the cross.

The destruction of sin has never been arbitrary. It’s holy, just, necessary… and bloody. The same God who commanded judgment in Canaan bore that judgment on a cross at Calvary. He didn’t overlook evil—He confronted it, and then took it upon Himself.

The cross stands outside of time, and from it, God’s mercy flows forward into the future and backward into the past—even into the stories we still struggle to understand. His methods may vary—and sometimes confuse us—but His mission of love and mercy never changes.

Just ask Elijah.

In 1 Kings 19, the prophet Elijah was exhausted and afraid, hiding in a cave. Then God said, “Go out and stand on the mountain, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Elijah braced himself. He knew the stories—the ways God had shown up before: in a whirlwind, an earthquake, and in the burning bush. So he waited. The wind howled, the earth shook, and the fire blazed.

But God was in none of it.

Then came a whisper. God hadn’t changed. He showed up in a way Elijah didn’t expect—not with spectacle, but with stillness. No matter the context, God’s character is the same. He’s still mercy, love, and compassion—and He’s still speaking and showing up in unexpected ways—even in hard things like a cruel Roman cross.

So if something in Scripture—or in life—makes you pause… or flinch… don’t walk away. Don’t define God by what you don’t yet understand. Trust what you can’t yet see. Remember who He says He is—compassionate, merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love.

And keep seeking Him.

 

Dabbling or Diving

This is my endlessly recurrent temptation: to go down to that Sea (I think St John of the Cross called God a sea), and there neither dive nor swim nor float, but only dabble and splash, careful not to get out of my depth and holding on to the lifeline which connects me with my things temporal. — C.S. Lewis

What Lewis confesses here isn’t just hesitation—it’s a lack of trust. A spiritual tug-of-war. And it’s where most of us live. We want God, but we resist losing control. We feel the pull of the eternal, but the comfort of the familiar keeps us in the shallows.

I can relate.

I still remember swimming lessons and the thick rope that stretched across the pool, dividing the shallow end from the deep. I clung to that rope for dear life. One side was safe—I could stand, splash, and stay in control. But the deep end? It was mystery. Risky, wide, and wild… and it scared me.

We’re all tempted to play it safe—to cling to the rope of comfort, to hold tightly to the safety lines of routine, relationships, and a rational version of faith. These lifelines give us a sense of control. But they also keep us tethered to the shore—away from the unknown, away from risk, and away from going too deep with God.

But here’s the thing: God didn’t send His Son to die so we could merely dabble.

In John 21, after the cross, the resurrection, and Peter’s denial, we find the disciples in a boat—back to what’s familiar. They return to fishing—something they can control, something that doesn’t require faith. But their nets are empty—and so are their hearts. Peter is stuck in the shallows of his guilt, shame, and failure—clinging to the strands of a former life.

Then, from the shore, a voice calls: “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

They don’t recognize Him at first. But when the miraculous catch happens, John whispers, “It's the Lord.”

Peter doesn’t hesitate. He throws on his outer garment and jumps. He’s not testing the waters. He’s all in—plunging into the grace, restoration, and life Jesus offers. Peter went from dabbling to diving. And so must we.

Jesus said, “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” (John 10:10, MSG)

Jesus didn’t come and die so we could splash around in the shallows, clinging to the lifeline of what’s familiar. He calls us into the depths of His love, where control ends and faith begins.

He calls us to surrender—to let go and lose the life we think we need—so He can give us the life we were truly made for.

Jesus is calling. Let go of the rope. Dive in.

It Went So Fast

This moment contains all moments. — C.S. Lewis

“I can’t believe I’m graduating in just a few days. It went so fast.”

This is the season when those words echo through hallways, campuses, and classrooms. High schoolers say it as they pack up their lockers. College students say it as they finish that last final.

It went so fast?… Really?

Scores of exams, practices, papers, and projects. Years of growing pains, late nights, hard conversations, and last-minute laundry. Every day full—sometimes too full—and yet now, on the edge of what’s next, it all feels like a blur.

This is the strange tension of life—long seasons feel short once they’re behind us. Moments that once seemed endless now feel like they slipped by in a breath.

We all graduate—from stages, seasons, and versions of ourselves. A toddler becomes a teen. A young couple becomes a family. A home once brimming with laughter and life is now quiet. One day you’re in it, and the next you’re looking back saying, “It went so fast.”

Fast? After all those long nights, hard days, awkward moments, and tearful prayers? Yes—because when it’s over, it all feels like a breath.

The psalmist captures it this way:

“Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath.” (Psalm 39:5, ESV)

A breath is fleeting and often unnoticed—until it’s gone. Try holding yours and you’ll quickly realize that every single one matters.

That’s how life is. Moments rush past, ordinary days pile up, and then suddenly they’re behind us—transformed into memory, nostalgia, and the ache of “the good old days.”

Andy from The Office put it well:

“I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.”

Even Moses, looking back on 120 years filled with calling, adventure, wandering, and walking with God, confessed:

“The years… quickly pass, and we fly away.” (Psalm 90:10, NIV)

And then he prays:

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12, NIV)

To “number our days” isn’t to count them—it’s to live them. To stop long enough to see that today is a gift. To love the people around us. To be awake to the presence and goodness of God in our lives.

Days and breaths are too numerous to count, but both are so important. Don’t waste them or wish them away. Number them aright—not by counting them, but by making them count.

For you can be sure that the day, the event, the challenge, the goal, the dream—and even the four-year college experience—will be over and done with before you know it. And you’ll find yourself saying:

“I can’t believe I’m graduating in just a few days. It went so fast.”

 

Are You Dead or Alive?

“The path of life leads upward for the wise; they leave the grave behind." (Proverbs 15:24, NLT)

There are 31 chapters in Proverbs, one for every day of the month, and for over 25 years, I’ve read a chapter a day. They never get old. The timeless words of wisdom speak, guide, convict, and challenge me to live an abundant life. And yet—what strikes me is how often Proverbs talks about death.

The death Proverbs alludes to isn’t just what follows our last breath—it’s a death we live in, fully functioning yet far from truly alive. Throughout its chapters, Proverbs contrasts wisdom and folly: wisdom leads to life, while folly leads to death. Beneath this contrast lies the piercing question: 

Are you dead or alive?

This question isn’t about our final heartbeat—it’s about the choices we make every day. Proverbs 8:36 says, “All who hate me love death.” The “me” refers to the wisdom of God. To reject wisdom is to walk away from the path of life.

King Solomon, the author of Proverbs, traveled this path. Though gifted with immense wisdom, he allowed folly to take root in his life. In his later years, he grew complacent, disobeying God’s commands—most notably by marrying multiple foreign wives, which led both him and Israel into idol worship. His choices unraveled his life—for generations—and set the stage for Israel’s division and decline. By turning from wisdom, Solomon led the people into spiritual death.

We don’t drift into this living death—we choose it. Not in one dramatic moment, but through small acts of apathy, pride, self-centeredness, compromise, and resistance. Over time, life deteriorates—not because God caused it, but because we’ve traded His wisdom for death.

But here’s the hope: We can truly live!

Ephesians 2:5 says, “…even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ.” Jesus—the very wisdom of God—is the way, the truth, and the path to abundant life. He offers us a resurrected, whole new life—now and forevermore.

So, the question remains: Are you dead or alive? 

We make a choice every day. 

Choose Wisdom. Choose Life. Choose Jesus.