If social media has taught us anything, it is that you have more time than you realize.

Imagine if you were to stop doomscrolling, watching meaningless videos, reading through memes, and posting your opinions, how much more time you would have to use for something productive this coming year.

Whenever someone tells me they don’t have enough time to read, attend, or pray, they are really telling me it is not a priority for them.

The first step to improvement is to quit lying to yourself. You have the time, you simply don’t want to do it. Where there is a desire, you will find the time.

One of the great things about the Church as it exists today is that a Sunday morning worship program can be a fantastic entry point to faith. It is an excellent place for people who know nothing about Christianity to start their journey with Jesus.

The only catch is that most people will not start their pilgrimage alone. Few are those who get up on a Sunday morning all alone and go to a Church where they know no one.

On the flip side, estimates indicate that 70% or more will attend a Church if they are invited and accompanied by a family member or friend.

One goal for the ministry I lead is to foster a “culture of inviting.” We will be a community where it is natural to invite those we love to join us on Sunday morning. It is not because we believe that Church attendance is the sum total of being a follower of Jesus, but it is undoubtedly a great place to start.

Love is more than saying the words, “I love you.”

Real love makes you a meal when you are sick or struggling. It sends you pictures that will make you laugh or articles that will make you think. Love cares about your needs, wants, desires, and dreams. It buys gifts and always says, “Thank you.”

Love listens. It puts the phone down and offers our full attention. Love is responding to messages and answering calls immediately. Love exists in the way it communicates, not just in what content.

True love does not neglect work and pass it off to someone else. It shows up early and stays late to make sure everything is done. Love is doing the right thing.

Love is expressed not only in words but in a thousand seemingly insignificant actions that happen every day or every week.

This is not a post asking you to assess who really and truly loves you; rather, it is a call for you to consider your own actions and reflect on whether you are a person who talks about love rather than truly loving others.

In one of my social media groups, someone posted a simple yet profound question. They asked, “Where are the small places in your life where the light is breaking through?”

It had only been shared for a few minutes when I saw it, and there were no responses yet, but it got me thinking. There has been a lot of darkness in my life and ministry lately. Bad doctors’ reports, loss of loved ones, a miscarriage, and surgery have been sent daily, wanting me to pray. People I love have been experiencing job transitions, family tensions, and financial issues. Every day, it can feel like the darkness is winning and that there is little hope.

At times like this, it is an inspiring question to ask, “Where is the light breaking through?”

For every negative experience, there are often two or three positive ones, but the tendency, at least for me, is to let the darkness drown out the light. The truth is that light should chase away darkness. For that to happen in our lives, we need to stop and see the light.

Lately, there has been family time, a small break for the holiday, financial blessings, and at least a dozen other minor points of light. My life is wrapped in light, and I bet yours is too, despite all the darkness that currently seems present.

Every day, it’s worth considering, “Where is the light breaking through in my life?”

I have a meme that says, “Not one scar on my heart came from an enemy.” Some versions of the quote include the line, “they all came from people who ‘love’ me.” There are multiple variations and numerous possible sources, although none appear credible.

While we don’t know the exact source of this statement, the truth is real. The people who hurt us the most are the ones who claimed to care about us, or who we certainly loved. That is precisely why we got hurt; we opened ourselves up and became vulnerable, and they took advantage of us or honestly didn’t care.

I know this is true for me, and I bet it is true for you, too.

With this insight, we have two choices. We can stop opening ourselves up and being vulnerable. Or we could continue to put ourselves at risk. You can cut yourself off and never allow yourself the possibility of being hurt. Or you can keep putting yourself out there. We can let our hearts grow calloused and hard, or we can remain soft and open.

The choice is yours between numbness and the possibility of pain. You must be aware that when we continue to be vulnerable with people, there is also the opportunity for love. One challenge for everyone, especially followers of Jesus, is to keep a soft heart, a forgiving mindset, and a willingness to let people into your life, no matter how many times you have been hurt.

I am not saying it is easy; I am telling you that you will probably get hurt again, but a willingness to accept the possibility of pain is also the doorway to joy, love, and community.

Keep putting yourself out there; it is worth the risk.

It is Monday morning, and I have a whole week of work lying ahead of me. There will be scheduled activity, and there is always something unexpected.

I will start today and this week, as I have started a thousand times before. I will physically get down on my knees (I use a pad on the ground now) and I will pray. I will ask God to bless my family, forgive my mistakes, and guide my life and ministry so that I can make a positive impact for his kingdom.

Real and lasting impact on this world only happens when our efforts are met with God’s power. I would not want to start another week without first talking to God … and I hope you won’t either.

This week, my fellow pastors and I had the privilege of giving away $55,000 from a trust fund established years ago by a judge who never had children of his own. It’s the largest amount we’ve ever been asked to distribute, and at first, we wondered if we would have enough need to match the generosity. But when all the applications came in, the requests totaled more than $85,000.

Sorting through needs, weighing circumstances, and deciding how to share the funds is always stressful because there is no perfect way to divide limited resources. Still, we prayerfully do our best to discern what will truly help each family.

But here’s something I’ve noticed: I never stress about the money itself. It isn’t mine. The Ministerial Alliance receives these funds with one clear assignment: give it all away between December 1st and 24th. We’re not owners. We’re stewards. We hold it for a moment, then release it where it’s needed most.

And isn’t that the truth about everything God has placed in our hands? Our money, time, abilities, and opportunities ultimately are not ours to keep. Sooner or later, every possession we cling to will pass to someone else. What we call “mine” is only borrowed for a season.

When we see ourselves as stewards rather than owners, generosity stops feeling like a loss and becomes a sense of purpose. We begin to give freely, joyfully, instinctively because we know we’re simply passing along what was never meant to end with us.

So, during this holiday season and every season, take the opportunity to give away some of what God has blessed you with for now. Let His blessings flow through you, not just to you. That’s where joy is found.

I was about to start a project, and as I sat pondering the work, a straightforward question came to mind. “What do I hope to accomplish by doing this?”

Was I wanting to do it merely for the joy it produced?

Was I wanting to do it for the physical rewards it might bring?

Was I wanting to do it for the connection to other people it might include?

Was I wanting to do it because I felt guilty about something I should be doing?

Was I wanting to do it because I thought it would be productive for the kingdom of God?

What is the end goal? It is a question everyone must ask before starting any project. It is okay if you are doing it for a few minutes of joy, but be clear about that purpose. If you are doing it for profit, be clear about that too.

When you know the aim of your activity, it creates clarity in your actions and the logical response when you are finished. Pointless activity makes us busy and leaves us feeling empty or frustrated when the task is complete.

I sat there thinking about the work ahead, and I could not come up with any clear goal other than filling my time with something I felt I should be doing. Once I understood that, I got up and did something more productive with my time.

Our lives are the result of the choices we make. Good and bad decisions shape us, both in the near future and in the distant years.

We are also impacted by the decisions we didn’t make. The bad ideas we avoided and the opportunities that we let slip through our fingers.

One reason Christians should spend time in prayer is to ask God to help us make wise choices today and for our future. Ask God for wisdom and insight into things we have not imagined yet. Seek his will and respond to the ways we see him leading. 

If we want to change our lives and our futures, then we need to make better choices now. And prayer before we decide our next steps gets us on the path toward the life God desires for us

I laugh to myself every time I hear people clapping to a song. This could be at a concert or worship venue; location doesn’t really matter. Whenever people start clapping, I think to myself, “How long will they keep it going?”  Very rarely does the clapping ever last the whole song. Usually, it starts with a loud flurry as people are caught up in the moment, then the moment fades, and so does the enthusiasm until only a couple of people are still doing it. Eventually, everyone stops even as the song continues.

Good things are hard to keep going, even when they start with great excitement.

Recently, I posted a message on social media to our Church family asking them to please sit at the front during worship. A couple of families in the first program resisted, but most understood the impact this could have on guests and gladly did it. In fact, during the second program, I was sent a picture showing that the entire back row was empty to start. 

It was a great moment for me, and an exciting step for the people I lead. But the question that plagues me is, “How long will it last?” and “Is there anything I can do to keep it going?”

Over the last few months, I have listened to numerous podcasts and webinars by so-called “Church experts.” They talk about building better systems, praying more, and repeating the Church’s vision and mission. There is a long list of possible ways to keep the excitement going, but despite my best efforts, I know it will fade over time.

Perhaps that’s the point. Our goal shouldn’t be to manufacture endless enthusiasm or to try to stretch every moment of excitement as far as it will go. What truly sustains a Church isn’t hype but habits. It’s the quiet, steady devotion of people who show up, serve faithfully, love one another in little ways, and seek Jesus even when the moment doesn’t feel electric anymore.

Clapping may fade, but commitment doesn’t have to. When we choose to keep doing the simple things like sitting in the front, engaging in worship, and welcoming guests, we create an atmosphere where God can work in ways that outlast any surge of emotion.

When obedience becomes our rhythm, not just excitement, our connection to God doesn’t depend on our hands; it rests on our hearts.