You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

 At 19 months of age, Helen Keller became ill and lost her sight and ability to hear, but that didn’t stop her from becoming the first blind/deaf person to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree and go on to become a famous author and speaker. Stevie Wonder was born 6 weeks pre-mature and developed other complications that left him blind, but that didn’t stop him from learning how to play the piano and a world-famous musician. There are countless others who’ve suffered loss of their sensory organs, yet gone on to make a name for themselves. How did they do it?

 Medical research has confirmed that when one or more of the body’s sensors are lost, other sensors are enhanced, allowing the person to excel and achieve success they otherwise wouldn’t have accomplished if everything in their body worked. The human body is amazing, and when those sensory resources focus on the impossible, success is achieved.

 One thing this world lacks is peace, and if you kept up with the news over the past few days, you know that peace has illuded many in this country and around the globe. We live in a world where chaos and violence are the norm anymore and it leaves individuals with much anxiety and worry over the future. You might ask yourself how you can find peace in this troubled world?

 Today’s verse provides the time-honored solution to your peace problem. We expose ourselves to life’s troubles through various means, such as social media, watching the news, heck just leaving the house and driving across town anymore is a challenge to my peace. We must take steps to cut out the non-sense of this world and focus on the God of peace. How can it be done?

 Staying focused on God through prayer, bible reading, do a daily devotional, and withdrawing from those things that ignite anxiety, anger, resentment, hate, revenge, and other negative emotions. At first you might find it difficult to separate yourself from the world, but over time it will become easier and your relationship with God will grow into a steady stream of peace that will rule the day, even when there’s chaos all around you. Stay your mind on God today!

 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

 Have you ever asked God a favor, praying diligently with the hope that He’d respond in a positive way? The bible is full of stories of people requesting God for healing, wisdom, victory in battles, even requesting a child. With each request God responded in the most appropriate way according to His will and perfect timing. Some requests were provided an immediate answer, others were answered but it took time to come to fruition to align with the will of God.

 One of the many instances that I can speak of personally, my mother decided to sell her country house and move into town so she could be close to my grandmother to care for her and have all the amenities a town offers. We prayed for her house to sell and it was almost a year before we had someone interested. As my mother began to look for an intown home, one came up at just that moment and it was perfect for her and just one block from my grandmother’s house. Had she sold it sooner, who knows where she’d buy in town.

 Many years later, when my mother became disabled, we planned to move her into a nursing facility that could properly care for her medical needs. We had to sell her home quickly. I agreed to handle the sale of her house. That afternoon I contacted a realtor about her home to be sold. Early that evening the realtor called to say she already had a buyer and they put a down payment. God answered that request immediately because it was in His plan to have her taken care of properly.

 For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Matthew 6:8

 I share these stories to provide you hope that God does hear your prayers, and already has a plan to fulfill them. It’s your responsibility to trust Him completely with how He responds and the time it takes to respond. When you do, you can be encouraged to know you will get His very best for your life. Pray with confidence knowing God has already planned to fulfil your request! God bless!

 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. Genesis 6:14

 The biblical story of Noah is fascinating! God created man and everything in the world in Genesis, yet man turned wicked and everything they did centered around self. God decided He had enough of man’s wickedness, so He planned to flood the world. Noah was found in favor of God and He instructed Noah to build a huge ark to house himself, his family, and all the animals, that would save them from this great flood.  

 What’s interesting is the fact that this ark wasn’t near any body of water and there was no way to move it, water had to come to it. As God commanded the rain to fill the earth, flood waters lifted the ark and it floated for 40 days and nights until the water receded and anchored on dry ground. The only survivors were those on the ark, everyone else who mocked Noah for building such a big boat perished.

 Noah was favored by God because of his obedience. If Noah waivered in his obedience, he and his family would have perished in the flood. Historians estimate it took Noah 75 years to build the ark. That’s a long time to follow God’s instructions without any results, but Noah was faithful until the waters came and the fruits of his labor were on full display.

 Maybe God has called you into obedience to do something that is strange to other people, even your family or closest friends. You doubt God really wants you to do His bidding, but deep down there is a burden left unattended by your doubt. Don’t neglect God’s call for your life. Although your purpose hasn’t been truly fulfilled, it will when God is ready to put it on display for others to see, including yourself.

 Obedience in the dry times of life is necessary before God brings the water of blessings to your life’s purpose and Godly mission. Keep the faith and do as He’s called you! God bless!

 “Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house, or go up to the comfort of my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” Psalm 132:3-5

 Not too long ago you might have recited the Christmas story, where Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem to register for the census. At that time Mary delivered the baby Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who came to save mankind from their sins. Unfortunately, there was no room for them in the local Inn, so Mary gave birth to Him in a barn. Our Savior, born in a barn, if only the people knew who He really was and what He’d do for all of us.

 The author of today’s verses states that he would not sleep until he made room for the Lord of his life. Can you say the same for yourself? Have you made room for Jesus Christ in your life? He came not to demand your acceptance, but to offer you a free gift of unconditional love, grace, mercy and a forgiveness like no other. The purity of His love can’t be found in this world, only through Jesus Christ. Won’t you receive Him today?

 Pray something like this: Dear God, As I start this new year, I seek the forgiveness of my sins through the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ death, burial, and resurrection. I believe in Jesus Christ and what He did to save my soul. I ask Jesus to come into my heart, forgive my sins, as I commit this day and my life to Him. Amen.

 If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of God. I encourage you to begin your eternal journey by reading God’s word daily to learn more about Him through the life of Jesus Christ ministry on earth (New Testament), study the bible, and connect with a biblically sound devotional that will help guide you on your spiritual journey. Trust me, there is nothing like having Jesus Christ occupy the center of your life and heart! God bless!

 Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

 In a dark bedroom one night, my grandmother laid wide awake, watching every breath my grandfather took. His recent diagnosis of congestive heart failure had shortened his life expectancy, and my grandmother was worried sick each night would be his last. That night, my grandmother heard a voice inside her that said, “Be still and know that I am God”. An overwhelming peace calmed her soul, as she let go of her worries that night, and was able to sleep.

 The next day she consulted with her pastor about those words and he quickly referenced them as scripture in Psalm 46:10. Although my grandmother studied God’s word daily, she had never seen that verse and she knew deep in her heart God was assuring her that no matter what, He was in control, giving her the peace and comfort, knowing the outcome, God would be there to take her through each day.  

 Maybe you are in the process of losing a loved one and the worry about their passing is troubling your soul where you lack peace and understanding. As my grandmother experienced, I encourage you to let Psalm 46:10 be your rock as you go through the days, weeks, and months ahead. The Creator of your loved one has you in His loving hands and will calm the turbulent waters of your soul when you let Him into your heart and hear Him say, Be still, and know that I am God!  

 No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one, otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. Luke 5:36

 Years ago I replaced some rotten boards on a set of stairs to make it safe. After my work, I looked at my work and was disappointed I didn’t replace the old boards (although they were in decent shape) with new ones to match. It worked, but looked funny, and eventually those old boards would rot and need to be replaced sooner than the new boards I just put down.

 As we head into the new year, 2026, many of you will develop of list of new year’s resolutions to make improvements to your life. That’s a great idea, but they won’t come to fruition if you keep the same things in your life you want to either get away from or improve upon. Like trying to quit smoking won’t help if you keep a lighter in your pocket, lose weight but still visit the “all you can eat buffet”, stop gossiping but still connect with those who fuel that fire. There has to be an inward change in order to change your outward actions.

 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. Luke 5:37

 Maybe your desire is to come closer to God. I’m right there with you! In order to become more holy, you must accept the fact that all of your sins are hated by God and all efforts should be put forth to avoid them at all costs. Sacrificing your desires for Gods is paramount in your willingness to grow in holiness. Saying no to sin and do what is pleasing to Him will develop into a routine habit over time, and you’ll find yourself living more for the glory of God than for yourself. Blessings come in abundance when you live for God. And don’t you want to be blessed by God? I sure do. Let’s make a concerted effort to live for Him daily in this new year so others can see Christ in you. Happy New Year!

 When I was a youngster growing up on our farm, I'd always make a point to follow in my dad's footprints when walking through mud or snow. His big footprints made a safe passage for me as I traversed conditions less than favorable for my little feet. If I ever stepped outside those prints, I'd either slip and fall or get bogged down in the thick mud. 

I John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

1 John 2:6 tells us as God's children, we should stay in step with Jesus Christ. The Bible provides a perfect record of His ways, thoughts, and priorities, which should be the hallmark of your and my life. Granted, the steps of Jesus are much holier than ours could ever be, but that doesn't excuse us from not putting our best step forward in our everyday lives. 

When we try to live life by our own standards, we often find ourselves in a muddy mess. God allows us "free will” to choose how we walk, but those who choose a different path miss out on God's blessings, tarnish their witness, and can lead others astray in their walk…especially those who are closely watching. 

Ephesians 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 

Which path will you follow? Follow in the footsteps already laid out for you by Jesus Christ. He is the only way to your Heavenly Father.