The Postman's Lantern #Nightlight #RTTBROS

The Postman's Lantern #Nightlight 

#RTTBROS 

The Postman's Lantern

Isaiah 52:7 - "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"

Back in the 1800s, before we had email and cell phones and all the ways we stay connected today, mail carriers were the lifeline between isolated mountain communities and the rest of the world. These brave men would load up their horses with leather saddlebags full of letters, newspapers, and packages, then set out on treacherous journeys through narrow mountain passes that could take days to complete.

When winter storms hit and the paths became dangerous, when snow covered the familiar landmarks and darkness fell early, those postmen would light their lanterns and press on. They knew that in those remote cabins scattered across the mountainsides, families were waiting. A mother hadn't heard from her son who'd gone to find work in the city. A young wife was expecting news about whether her husband had survived the war. Children were hoping for a letter from grandparents they hadn't seen in years.

That flickering lantern light meant everything to those isolated folks. When they saw it bobbing along the mountain trail in the distance, hope stirred in their hearts. Someone was coming with news from the outside world. Connection was on its way. They weren't forgotten after all.

You know, friend, we live in a world that's more connected than ever before, but people are still isolated in ways that matter most. They're waiting for someone to bring them good news, real news, news that can change everything.

That's where you and I come in. We're like those postmen with their lanterns, carrying the greatest news ever delivered. We carry the good tidings that God loves them, that Jesus died for them, that they don't have to walk through life's dark valleys alone.

The beautiful thing about Isaiah's words is that God calls our feet beautiful. Not because we're perfect, but because we're willing to go with His message of hope.

Your lantern might be a kind word to a discouraged coworker or simply living with such peace that people wonder what makes you different. You might not think it's much, but to someone sitting in darkness, your little light looks like the most beautiful thing they've ever seen.

So keep that light burning bright. People are watching for your lantern in the distance, and the message we carry isn't just news, it's the Good News. And that's worth every difficult step up the mountain.

Prayer: Lord, help me remember that You've entrusted me with the greatest message ever delivered. Give me courage to carry Your light into the dark places where people are waiting for hope. Make my feet beautiful as I go with Your good tidings. Amen.

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe, it helps get the word out. https://linktr.ee/rttbros

How Do We Respond? #Nightlight #RTTBROS

How Do We Respond? #Nightlight 

#RTTBROS 

Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a conservative activist, was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University in what officials have called a "political assassination." (Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Assassinated at Utah University   

John 1:5 from the Amplified Bible: "And the Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it]"

here are some positive Christian responses to help maintain equilibrium and character in the face of this tragedy:

Christ-Centered Responses to Darkness.

Pray for justice to prevail and that the perpetrators are brought to Justice. God is not only a God of love he is also a Holy God and justice is a vital part of the heart of God. 

 Stand Firm in Truth's Victory 

Remember that light has already conquered darkness through Christ. No act of violence can extinguish the eternal truth Charlie championed. The Light that shines in you cannot be overcome by any earthly darkness.

Channel Grief into Greater Gospel Witness.

Transform sorrow into a renewed commitment to share Christ's love boldly. Let Charlie's dedication to reaching young people inspire you to engage more deeply with those around you who need hope.

Strengthen Unity in the Body of Christ.

 Use this moment to draw closer to fellow believers across denominational lines. The darkness seeks to divide, but light reveals our common bond in Christ's love.

 Intensify Your Love for Those Who Disagree.

 Respond to hatred with increased compassion for those who oppose your values. Show them the character of Christ through your gracious response to tragedy.

Anchor Your Hope in Eternal Perspectives. 

Remember that Charlie's work continues in heaven and through the lives he touched. Death is not the end for those who belong to Christ - it's a transition to perfect light.

Guard Against the Poison of Bitterness. Refuse to let anger or vengeance take root in your heart. The light of Christ must shine through you unmarred by the darkness that surrounds this event.

 Double Down on Speaking Truth in Love. Don't retreat from difficult conversations. Continue Charlie's legacy by engaging respectfully but boldly with those who challenge your faith, knowing light dispels darkness.

Trust God's Sovereign Plan.

 Rest in the knowledge that even this evil will be used by God for good. His light shines brightest when contrasted against the deepest darkness.

Live with Fearless Faith.

Let this tragedy remind you that every day is a gift to serve Christ boldly. Don't let fear silence your witness, the Light within you is greater than any threat from the world. The darkness could not comprehend or overcome the Light in Christ, and it cannot overcome the Light that shines through His people today.

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe, it helps get the word out. https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Encores #change #Growth #Nightlight #RTTBROS #Communication

Encores, Not Leftovers: The Power of Words #Nightlight 

#RTTBROS #WordsMatter #ChooseJoy

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Proverbs 18:21 (KJV)

I heard a man say something that stopped me in my tracks. He said, "We don't have leftovers at our house. We have encores. Encores are the chance to eat excellent food one more time."

That got me thinking about the power of words. This same fellow mentioned that he doesn't call his wife "my old lady." He calls her "my bride." And you know what? I do the same thing. Every day, I call my wife "my beautiful bride."

Here's what struck me: the words we choose don't just describe our reality. They actually shape our experience of it. When that man calls Tuesday night's meatloaf an "encore," he's training his heart to see abundance where others might see routine. He's choosing gratitude over grumbling.

Scripture tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. When I call my wife "my beautiful bride," I'm reminding myself of the wonder of our covenant. I'm choosing to see her through the lens of love. I'm speaking life over our marriage every single day.

We're constantly narrating our lives to ourselves. Are those challenges "overwhelming problems" or "opportunities for God to show His faithfulness"? Are we dealing with "leftovers" or celebrating "encores"?

The person who learns to speak life over the ordinary moments discovers extraordinary joy. They're not living in denial. They're living in hope.

Maybe today you need to change some words. Instead of "I have to go to work," try "I get to provide for my family." Instead of "another day, same old routine," perhaps "another day, another chance to see God's faithfulness."

Your words matter more than you think. They're not just describing your life. They're helping to create the atmosphere in which you live it.

Prayer:

Father, help me to speak life over my circumstances and relationships. Give me wisdom to choose words that reflect Your goodness. Let my tongue be an instrument of blessing. Teach me to see encores where others see leftovers, and to speak hope where others speak complaints. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe - it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Acceptance with Joy #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Acceptance with Joy #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

Acceptance with Joy: Trading Our Plans for God's Gifts #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)

I've been thinking lately about something C.S. Lewis once wrote: "We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be." That really gets to the heart of it, doesn't it?

We spend so much energy gripping tightly to our plans, our expectations, our vision of how life should unfold. We clutch them like precious treasures, afraid to let go. But here's what I've learned through my years of stumbling around this life: sometimes God's got something better in His hands, and we can't receive it until we open ours.

I remember when my ministry path took an unexpected turn. I had it all mapped out, where I'd serve, how things would grow, what success would look like. When doors started closing instead of opening, I fought it hard. I held onto my plans with white knuckles, wondering why God wasn't getting with my program.

But you know what happened when I finally loosened my grip? When I stopped wrestling with what wasn't and started accepting what was? I discovered gifts I never knew God had waiting for me. Opportunities to serve I'd never imagined. People to love and learn from that weren't in my original blueprint.

Paul says to give thanks "in every thing," not just the good things, but in everything. That's a tall order for folks like us who like our ducks in a row. But here's the secret sauce: acceptance with joy isn't about pretending everything's perfect. It's about trusting that God's love is perfect, even when His plan looks nothing like ours.

When we release our death grip on what we wanted, we free up our hands to receive what God's actually giving us. And more often than not, His gifts are wrapped in packages we never would have chosen but end up being exactly what our hearts needed.

Maybe today you're holding onto something that's keeping you from receiving something better. A relationship that ended, a job that didn't work out, a dream that took a detour. What if, just what if, God's got something even better waiting, but you can't pick it up because you're still clutching what used to be?

Prayer: Father, help me loosen my grip on my plans and trust Your heart for my life. Give me the grace to accept with joy what You've placed in my path, knowing that Your love never makes mistakes. Help me see Your gifts, even when they're wrapped differently than I expected. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe, it helps get the word out. https://linktr.ee/rttbros

The Best Question Ever! #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Best Question Ever #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

The Best Question Ever

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10

The other day on our ride to church, my son asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks. "Dad," he said, "when you get to heaven, what's the first question you're going to ask God?"

Now, I've been asked a lot of questions over the years, but this one had me reaching for the brakes on my thoughts. I had to pause and really think about it. What would I want to know first when I finally stand before the throne of grace?

But before I could even formulate an answer, my boy continued. "I know what mine would be," he said with the kind of certainty that only comes from a young heart seeking truth. "I'd ask God, 'What was my purpose?' So I could see if I lived up to what You had planned for me with the life I lived."

Friends, I've heard some profound questions in my years of ministry, but I told him right then and there, "Son, that might just be the best question ever."

You see, too many of us spend our lives like a duck on a pond, calm on top but paddling furiously underneath, wondering if what we're doing really matters. We get so caught up in the daily grind, the bills that need paying, the responsibilities that keep piling up, that we forget to ask the most important question of all: Am I living the purpose God designed for me?

Paul tells us in Ephesians that we are God's workmanship. The word there in the original language is "poiema," which means a work of art, a masterpiece. You're not some mass-produced widget rolling off heaven's assembly line. You are a carefully crafted, one-of-a-kind creation with a specific purpose that God ordained before you took your first breath.

Now, I don't think we have to wait until we get to heaven to know our purpose. God's given us His Word, His Spirit, and the gift of prayer to help us discover why He placed us here. But here's what struck me about my son's question, it wasn't just about knowing his purpose, it was about whether he had lived into it.

That's the difference between head knowledge and heart application. It's one thing to know God has a plan for your life. It's quite another to surrender to that plan and walk faithfully in it, even when the path gets rocky and the destination seems unclear.

As I've gotten older and hopefully a little wiser, I've learned that God's purpose for us isn't always some grand, earth-shaking calling. Sometimes it's as simple as being faithful in the small things, showing kindness to a stranger, or raising children who love the Lord. History is just His story, and each of us gets to play our part in His grand narrative.

So here's my encouragement for you today: don't wait until you're standing before God to ask about your purpose. Ask Him now. Seek Him in His Word. Listen for His voice in prayer. And then, with whatever understanding He gives you, live boldly into that calling.

Because when we finally do stand before Him, the question won't be whether we had the perfect plan figured out. It'll be whether we trusted Him enough to walk faithfully in the purpose He gave us, one day at a time.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to seek Your purpose for my life and give me the courage to live faithfully in whatever calling You place before me. May my life be a reflection of Your workmanship, and may I hear You say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." In Jesus' name, Amen.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

High Water Mark #RTTBROS #Nightlight

High Water Mark #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

Reaching Your High Water Mark

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." 2 Peter 3:18

If you've ever spent time around a reservoir or lake, you've probably noticed those distinct rings etched into the shoreline. Each ring tells a story of where the water once reached, but there's always one that stands out above the rest, the high water mark. It's a permanent reminder of that lake's greatest potential, when it was filled to capacity.

This idea came to me years ago while hunting near a lake, and it has always stuck with me. The water was probably twenty feet below that highest ring, and I found myself wondering what it looked like when the lake was at its fullest. Then it hit me, we all have spiritual high water marks in our lives too.

Maybe yours was during that mission trip when you felt so close to God you could hardly contain it. Or perhaps it was during a season of intense Bible study when Scripture seemed to come alive on every page. It might have been that period when your prayer life was so rich and meaningful that you actually looked forward to your quiet time each morning. Those were your high water marks, moments when your spiritual life was full to overflowing.

But here's what I've learned over the years. It's easy to live below our spiritual potential, looking back at those rings of past experiences instead of pressing forward to new levels of intimacy with Christ. We can get comfortable camping out at yesterday's high water mark instead of believing God for today's fullness.

The apostle Peter understood this. He knew that spiritual growth wasn't a one-time event but a lifelong journey. When he wrote "grow in grace," he used a word that means to keep on growing, to never stop increasing. It's like that reservoir during the spring runoff, constantly being filled by fresh streams flowing down from the mountains.

Friend, God doesn't want you living on spiritual memories. He wants today to be your new high water mark. He wants your walk with Him to be fuller, richer, and deeper than it's ever been before. Those past experiences weren't meant to be monuments to admire, they were meant to be foundations to build upon.

So let me ask you, are you living at your spiritual high water mark today, or are you camping out somewhere below it? Are you growing in grace and knowledge, or are you just maintaining? Remember, a reservoir that's not being filled is slowly evaporating. 

The good news is that God's supply never runs dry. His grace is new every morning, His mercies are fresh each day, and His desire is to fill you to overflowing. Don't settle for living below your potential when God wants to bring you to new heights in Him.

Let today be the day you stop looking back at where the water used to be and start believing God for where it can go. After all, your greatest days with the Lord aren't behind you, they're ahead of you.

#HighWaterMark #GrowInGrace #SpiritualGrowth

God's Perfect Timing #RTTBROS #Nightlight

God's Perfect Timing #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

God's Perfect Timing

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

There's an old saying that goes "too soon old and too late smart," and sometimes I think that applies to how we view God's timing in our lives. We want answers now, solutions yesterday, and miracles on our schedule. But God's providence, His loving care and guidance over our lives, operates on a different clock than ours.

Let me tell you about a young preacher named Charles Spurgeon. In 1856, when he was just twenty-two years old, he was preaching at the Surrey Music Hall in London to a crowd of over 10,000 people. Suddenly, someone in the balcony shouted "Fire!" There was no fire, but panic spread like wildfire. People stampede toward the exits, and seven people were killed in the crush, with dozens more injured.

Spurgeon was devastated. He blamed himself, fell into deep depression, and seriously considered quitting the ministry altogether. He couldn't understand why God would allow such a tragedy to happen during what should have been a time of great spiritual blessing. For weeks, he struggled with doubt and despair, wondering if God had abandoned him.

But here's the rest of the story. That terrible night became a turning point, not just for Spurgeon, but for thousands of lives. The incident made headlines across England and beyond, bringing Spurgeon's name and ministry to international attention. More importantly, it broke something in his heart that needed to be broken. The young preacher who had perhaps relied a bit too much on his own gifts and eloquence learned to depend completely on God's grace.

From that dark season came some of the most powerful preaching the world has ever heard. Spurgeon went on to become known as the "Prince of Preachers," leading thousands to Christ and establishing an orphanage, a college, and countless other ministries. He would later say that God used that heartbreaking night to teach him that true ministry flows not from human strength, but from divine grace.

You see, God's providence isn't always comfortable, and it rarely makes sense in the moment. Like a master weaver working on the back side of a tapestry, we see all the knots and loose threads and wonder what in the world He's doing. But God sees the finished picture, and He's working all things together for good.

Maybe you're in one of those seasons right now where nothing makes sense. Bills are piling up, relationships are strained, health is failing, or dreams are crumbling. You're wondering, like that young Spurgeon, if God has forgotten about you or if He's even paying attention.

Let me remind you of something: God is never late, never early, and never absent. His timing is perfect, even when it doesn't feel perfect to us. Sometimes He's preparing us for something greater than we could imagine. Sometimes He's protecting us from something we can't see. And sometimes He's simply reminding us that we're not in control, but He is, and that's actually the best news we could hear.

Today, whatever you're facing, remember that you serve a God who knows the end from the beginning. He's writing your story, and He doesn't make mistakes. Trust His timing, even when you can't see His plan. After all, history is just HIS story, and you're an important part of it.

Prayer: Father, help me to trust Your perfect timing today. When I can't see the path ahead, remind me that You can. When I'm tempted to take control, help me to rest in Your providence. Thank You that You're working all things together for good. In Jesus' name, Amen.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Our Forerunner #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Our Forerunner  #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Christ Our Forerunner

The Harbor Pilot

In the ancient harbor of Alexandria, when great ships approached the treacherous waters near the port, small pilot vessels called prodromos would sail out ahead of them. These swift little ships knew every hidden reef, every shifting sandbar, every safe channel through the dangerous shallows. They would guide the larger vessels safely home, having run before them to show the way.

How beautifully this pictures our Lord Jesus Christ, who has gone before us as our prodromos, our forerunner.

The Advance Guard

The Roman legions had an elite unit called the prodromoi,  advance scouts who rode ahead of the main army. They cleared obstacles, secured safe passage, and prepared camps for those who would follow. These brave soldiers faced the unknown dangers first, ensuring a safe path for their comrades.

Christ Jesus is our divine prodromos our heavenly advance guard who has gone before us into glory.

The Promise in Scripture

"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
Hebrews 6:19-20 (KJV)

The word "forerunner" here is the Greek prodromos, the same word used for those harbor pilots and military scouts. Jesus has entered the heavenly sanctuary not for Himself alone, but "for us" - as our representative and pathfinder.

As Night Falls

As darkness settles around us tonight, we can rest in this blessed truth: wherever we are going, Jesus has already been there. Every trial we may face tomorrow, He has already conquered. Every fear that troubles our heart, He has already overcome.

Like those pilot ships that safely guided vessels through Alexandria's harbor, our Lord Jesus guides us through the treacherous waters of this life toward our eternal home.

Like those Roman scouts who prepared the way for their army, Christ has prepared a place for us in His Father's house, securing our eternal dwelling.

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
-John 14:2-3 (KJV)

Prayer

Lord Jesus, our faithful forerunner, as this day ends and darkness falls, I thank You that You have gone before me into every tomorrow. You have prepared the way, cleared the path, and secured my eternal destination. Let me rest tonight in the confidence that my anchor holds within the veil, where You have entered as my representative. Guide me as surely as those ancient pilots guided ships to safe harbor. In Your precious name, Amen.

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

The Prepared Path #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Prepared Path #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

You know, there's a story about a young woman named Amy Carmichael that has always stuck with me. Back in 1895, she was praying about whether God wanted her to go to Japan as a missionary. She was walking through a garden when she came across a sundial with these words carved into it: "I will make all thy ways prosperous." It was from Joshua 1:8, and she knew in that moment God was calling her to the mission field. What she didn't know was that God wasn't calling her to Japan at all, but to India, where she would rescue thousands of children from temple prostitution and spend fifty-five years without a furlough.

Amy thought she knew where God was leading, but He had a different path prepared, a better path.

Listen to what God told Joshua: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Joshua 1:8).

Now, I've learned something in my years of walking with the Lord, God's idea of prosperity and success isn't always what we think it should be. Amy Carmichael never got rich, never got famous in her lifetime, never even got to come home. But she prospered in ways that mattered eternally. She saved lives, she served faithfully, and she finished strong.

You see, God doesn't just know the path we're on, He's already prepared the path we need to be on. Sometimes that path takes us through valleys we never expected to walk, sometimes it leads us to mountaintops we never dreamed we'd climb. But here's what I've discovered, and this is important: when we're walking in His Word, meditating on His promises, doing what He's called us to do, we're going to find ourselves exactly where He wants us, even when it doesn't look like what we planned.

I think about all the times I thought I knew what God was doing in my life, only to find out later He was working something completely different, something better than I could have imagined. 

God's ways aren't our ways, friends. His thoughts aren't our thoughts. But when we trust His Word, when we meditate on it day and night, when we're determined to live it out no matter what, we can rest assured that He's making our way prosperous in the ways that really matter.

So today, wherever you find yourself on the journey, remember this: God has already been where you're going. He's prepared the path, He's provided what you'll need, and He's promised to be with you every step of the way. That's not just good news, that's great news.

Let's pray. Father, help us trust Your path even when we can't see around the bend. Help us find our prosperity in pleasing You and our success in serving You faithfully. Thank You for preparing the way ahead of us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

The Other Matrix #RTTBROS #Nightlight #eisenhower #timemanagementtips #Priorities

 Other Matrix #RTTBROS #Nightlight

 "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." - Psalm 90:12

General Dwight Eisenhower had a problem. As Supreme Allied Commander during World War II, he was drowning in decisions. Urgent telegrams, important strategic planning, critical supply issues, and countless other matters competed for his attention every single day. The weight of the free world, quite literally, rested on his shoulders.

It was during this pressure-cooker time that Eisenhower developed what we now call the Eisenhower Matrix, a simple but powerful tool for managing priorities. He divided all tasks into four categories: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important. This simple framework helped him focus on what truly mattered when the stakes couldn't have been higher.

You know, I think old Moses would have appreciated Eisenhower's wisdom. When Moses penned Psalm 90, he was dealing with his own overwhelming responsibilities, leading a nation through the wilderness for forty years. But in verse 12, Moses gives us perhaps the most practical piece of wisdom in all of Scripture: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

When we truly number our days, like Moses asked God to teach us, we start to see life through Eisenhower's matrix. The urgent but unimportant things, those fires that demand our immediate attention but don't really matter in the long run, they start to lose their grip on us. We begin to focus on what's truly important, even if it's not screaming for our attention today.

I've learned this the hard way, friends. Too soon old and too late smart, as my grandfather used to say. I spent years putting out urgent fires while the truly important things, time with family, investing in relationships, seeking God's heart, those got pushed to the back burner.

But here's the beautiful thing about God's grace. When we ask Him to teach us to number our days, He doesn't just give us a math lesson. He gives us wisdom, the ability to see what really matters from His perspective. He helps us understand that people matter more than projects, that eternity matters more than the temporary.

Friends, we're all flying away sooner than we think. The question is, are we spending our numbered days on what truly matters? Today, let's ask God to teach us what Moses learned. Let's apply our hearts unto wisdom, focusing on what will matter not just today, but for eternity.

Because in the end, it's not how many days we had that matters, it's how we numbered the ones we were given.

Prayer: Father, teach us to number our days. Help us see through the clutter of urgent demands to focus on what truly matters. Give us wisdom to invest our limited time in things that will last for eternity. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

The Dyslexic's Discovery #greenscreen #nightlight #RTTBROS #Dyslexic #agathachristie

The Dyslexic's Discovery #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

The Dyslexic's Discovery: When Weakness Becomes Wonder

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

In the rolling hills of Devon, England, a young girl sat frustrated at her school desk, tears threatening to spill as letters danced mockingly before her eyes. The words seemed to flip and twist, refusing to hold still long enough for her mind to grasp their meaning. Her teachers shook their heads in disappointment. Her classmates snickered. Reading aloud was agony, and writing felt like trying to capture lightning with her bare hands.

That little girl was Agatha Christie, and she was discovering what millions of dyslexic children know all too well, the crushing weight of being different in a world that demands conformity.

The Prison of Perceived Failure

Dyslexia wasn't even recognized as a learning difference in Christie's era; she was simply labeled as slow, lazy, or unintelligent. The very foundation of education—reading and writing, felt like an insurmountable mountain. While her peers effortlessly decoded words on pages, Agatha's brilliant mind was trapped behind what seemed like an impenetrable barrier.

How many of us carry similar wounds? Perhaps your "dyslexia" isn't with letters but with numbers, social situations, or physical coordination. Maybe you stutter when you speak, struggle with anxiety, or feel awkward in your own skin. The world has a way of making us feel broken, doesn't it? Like we're missing some essential piece that everyone else seems to possess naturally.

The Divine Paradox

But here's where God's economy differs radically from the world's accounting system. Paul discovered this truth when he pleaded with God to remove his "thorn in the flesh", some unnamed struggle that caused him constant difficulty. Instead of healing, God gave him something better: a revelation that would echo through the centuries.

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

Perfect. Not adequate. Not acceptable. Perfect. The Greek word for perfect here means to complete, to bring to full development, to achieve the intended purpose. God wasn't just making the best of a bad situation, He was revealing that weakness is the precise condition where His power operates most effectively.

When Disadvantage Becomes Divine Advantage

Christie's dyslexia forced her to develop compensatory skills that would revolutionize mystery writing. Unable to rely on traditional reading and writing methods, she learned to:

Think in pictures and sounds rather than words, creating vivid mental movies of her stories

Develop exceptional memory to compensate for reading difficulties, allowing her to keep complex plot threads straight without extensive notes

Hear dialogue internally with perfect pitch, making her characters come alive through their voices

Approach problems from unique angles, since conventional thinking patterns weren't available to her

What appeared to be a devastating weakness became the foundation of her genius. Her brain, wired differently by necessity, created stories so intricate and compelling that she became the most widely published author in history, with over two billion books sold worldwide.

Agatha Christie's dyslexia wasn't overcome, it was transformed. Her weakness became her wonder, her struggle her strength, her disability her distinctive calling. The same God who worked that miracle in a confused little girl in Devon is ready to work a similar miracle in you.

Your weakness isn't your disqualification; it's your divine appointment. Your disadvantage isn't your downfall; it's your doorway to discovering that His grace truly is sufficient, and His strength truly is made perfect in the very places where you feel most inadequate.

The world may see limitation. God sees limitless possibility. And that makes all the difference.

"The very thing that makes life harder for you might be exactly what makes you irreplaceable to God's purposes."

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

The Hidden Hook #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Hidden Hook #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

 The Hidden Hook: Why Satan's Best Bait Comes with Invisible Consequences

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:14-15 KJV)

A wise pastor once asked his congregation a simple yet profound question: "Why do fishermen bait their hooks?" The answer, of course, is to hide the hook. If the fish could see the sharp metal beneath the enticing morsel, no amount of bait, no matter how appealing, would entice them to bite.

This illustration perfectly captures the nature of temptation in our spiritual lives. Satan doesn't present sin with a warning label or a list of consequences. Instead, he carefully conceals the "hook" of judgment and destruction beneath attractive bait.

David's Fatal Bite

Consider King David, who fell prey to this very strategy. When he gazed upon Bathsheba's beauty, he saw only the alluring bait. He couldn't see the hidden hook, the devastating consequences that would follow: the death of their child, violence in his household, rebellion from Absalom, and a lifetime of family turmoil.

David was drawn away and enticed by what he saw, but the hook was hidden beneath the surface.

Satan's Strategy

The enemy's strategy hasn't changed since Eden. He presents sin as immediately gratifying while hiding the long-term pain, seemingly harmless while concealing the spiritual damage. If we could see the full cost, the broken relationships, spiritual deadness, separation from God, we would flee like a fish from a visible hook.

Our Defense

How can we protect ourselves? God's Word serves as our spiritual eyes, helping us see beneath temptation's surface.

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." (Psalm 119:11 KJV)

When we saturate our minds with Scripture, we learn to ask: What will this cost me spiritually? How will this affect my relationship with God? Is temporary pleasure worth permanent consequences?

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV)

God provides a way of escape from every temptation. Often, that escape is simply seeing the situation from His perspective rather than being blinded by the enemy's bait.

Don't let the enemy catch you with hidden hooks. Stay alert, stay in the Word, and remember, if it seems too good to be true, look for the hook.

#HiddenHook #TemptationTrap #SpiritualWarfare

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

The Refugee's Restaurant #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Refugee's Restaurant #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

 

Scripture: "And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you" (Isaiah 46:4).

Colonel SandersTheme:

It's never too late for God's plan 

At age 62, Harland Sanders was broke and living on Social Security checks of $105 a month. His gas station restaurant had failed when the interstate bypassed his town. But instead of accepting defeat, he loaded his car with his secret chicken recipe and drove across the country, sleeping in the back seat, getting rejected by over 1,000 restaurants. Finally, a restaurant in Salt Lake City said yes to his "finger-lickin' good" chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken was born when most people would have been settling into retirement.

You know, I've pastored a lot of folks who felt like life had passed them by. They'd look at me with those tired eyes and say, "Pastor, I think I missed my chance. I think God's plan for me got derailed somewhere along the way." I used to think that way myself at times, wondering if my best days were behind me, if I'd somehow fumbled away God's purposes for my life. But here's what I've come to understand about our heavenly Father, and Colonel Sanders helps us see it clear as day. God doesn't punch a time clock. His plans for you don't expire when you hit a certain birthday. That 62-year-old man sleeping in his car wasn't a has-been, he was a about-to-be. All those years of failure and setback weren't wasted time, they were preparation time

Application: God's plans for your life don't have an expiration date. Sometimes the best chapters are written when we think the book is almost over. If you're feeling like you've missed your moment, like it's too late for God to use you in any significant way, I want you to remember Colonel Sanders driving those back roads with nothing but a recipe and a dream. Your greatest contribution to this world might still be ahead of you. Don't let the calendar convince you that God's calendar has run out. He's still got plans, and He's still got time.

 

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Leave The Past #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Leave The Past  #RTTBROS  #Nightlight 

Don't Let Your Past Control Your Future

You know, there's a story in First Samuel chapter 16 that has always grabbed me by the collar and given me a good shake. It's about a prophet named Samuel who was sitting around having himself a pity party. Now, Samuel was no lightweight, he was a prophet, a priest, and a judge all rolled into one. But here he was, mourning over King Saul like a man at a funeral that wouldn't end.

God had rejected Saul as king because of his disobedience and division he'd caused, and Samuel just couldn't seem to get past it. He was stuck like a duck on a frozen pond, going nowhere fast. That's when the Lord spoke up with some words that ought to make all of us sit up and take notice: "How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons" (1 Samuel 16:1).

Now think about what God was asking Samuel to do here. He wanted him to fill his horn with oil, walk right past the current king who was still sitting on the throne, and go anoint the future king. Talk about some bold faith! God was telling Samuel to anoint his future while his past was still breathing and taking up space.

That's exactly what God was telling Samuel, and I believe it's what He's telling some of us today. You see, we have a choice to make. We can keep sitting there mourning over our past, or we can get up, fill our horn with oil, and go anoint our future. We can meditate on what went wrong, or we can meditate on Scripture. We can keep talking about the hurt, or we can talk about God's goodness.

You know what? You're not going to overcome your past by remaining in your past. Sometimes you have to make no apologies for what God is doing in you, even when others don't understand it. God is doing a new thing, and that's a good thing.

So here's my challenge for you today: don't allow what God has rejected to control your life. Fill your horn with oil and walk right past that thing that's got you stuck. Your future is waiting to be anointed, but you've got to get up from that pity party and move toward what God has prepared for you.

Remember, as we used to say back home, you're "too soon old and too late smart" to waste any more time mourning over what God has already said no to. He's got something better waiting, but you've got to be willing to leave the past where it belongs and step into His new thing.

---

May God bless you as you choose to anoint your future instead of mourning your past.

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

A Powerful Prescription #RTTBROS #Nightlight

A Powerful Prescription #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

In the Sweet By and By" 

"There’s a land that is fairer than day,

And by faith we can see it afar;

For the Father waits over the way

To prepare us a dwelling place there.

Refrain:

In the sweet by and by,

We shall meet on that beautiful shore;

In the sweet by and by,

We shall meet on that beautiful shore."

In heaven, we will be with God forever!

"Revelation 21:3 KJVS - And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God" (Revelation 21:3)

Looking at this beautiful hymn and its story, I'm struck by how God can use the simplest moments to create something that touches hearts for generations.

Back in 1868, pharmacist Samuel Fillmore Bennett was working in his drugstore when his friend Joseph Webster walked in looking particularly blue. Joseph was a local musician who sometimes battled depression, and on this day his face was long with discouragement. When Samuel asked what was wrong, Joseph replied, "It's no matter, it will be alright by and by."

Those words hit Samuel like a flash of inspiration. He sat down at his desk and began writing as fast as he could, the words coming almost instantly. When customers entered the store, Samuel was too absorbed to help them - they just visited with Joseph by the old stove while Samuel scribbled away.

Finally, Samuel handed his friend the paper and said, "Here is your prescription, Joe. I hope it works." Joseph read the words aloud, and instantly a tune came to him. He picked up his fiddle, played the melody, and suggested they try singing it as a quartet. Just as they finished, another customer walked in and declared, "Gentlemen, I've never heard that song before, but I think it will be immortal."

He was right. In less than thirty minutes, in an ordinary drugstore, God used one man's discouragement and another's inspiration to create a hymn we've been singing for over a century.

Here's how we can apply this to our lives:

Look for God in ordinary moments. Samuel didn't need a cathedral to write an immortal hymn. He needed a friend, a piece of paper, and a heart tuned to heaven. God's still working in everyday places today.

Turn your struggles into stepping stones. Joseph's blues became the catalyst for a song of hope. Your difficult season might be exactly what God wants to use to bless someone else walking the same path.

Speak hope into discouragement. When you see someone struggling, don't just say "hang in there." Point them to the eternal perspective. Sometimes people need reminded that this isn't all there is.

Live with eternity in view. If we really believe heaven is our destination, it ought to change how we handle today's troubles. They're real, they hurt, but they're temporary.

So the next time you're feeling discouraged, remember that your "by and by" moment might be just around the corner. After all, heaven's gonna be sweeter than we can imagine, and until we get there, we've got work to do and hope to share.

 

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

A Fixed Heart

A Fixed Heart #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

A Fixed Heart 

Psalm 57:7 - "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise."

You know, I was reading about those guided missiles the other day, and it got me thinking about something David said in Psalm 57. These modern missiles have what they call a "guidance system" that locks onto a target and stays fixed on it no matter what tries to throw it off course. Wind, weather, even enemy countermeasures can't shake it loose once it's locked on.

Now, David was hiding in a cave when he wrote these words. King Saul was hunting him like a wild animal, his own people had turned against him, and everything in his world seemed to be coming apart at the seams. But right there in verse 7, David makes this remarkable declaration: "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed."

I love that he said it twice, don't you? It wasn't just a casual comment, it was a determined declaration. His heart was locked onto God like one of those guided missiles locked onto its target.

You see, David understood something that took me way too long to learn in my own life. When everything around us is shaking and shifting, when circumstances are changing faster than we can keep up with them, we need something fixed, something steady to anchor our hearts to. And that something isn't a plan, it's a Person.

David wasn't saying his circumstances were fixed, he was saying his heart was fixed. His situation was still a mess, Saul was still after him, but his heart had found its target and locked on.

The word "fixed" here means established, steady, prepared. It's the same word used when builders talk about a foundation being fixed in place. When a foundation is truly fixed, the house can weather any storm.

Here's what I've learned: when our hearts are truly fixed on God, we stop being spiritual weather vanes, spinning with every wind that blows our way. Instead, we become like those old oak trees that bend in the storm but never break because their roots go deep.

David's heart was fixed on God's character, fixed on God's promises, fixed on God's plan even when he couldn't see how it would all work out. And because his heart was anchored, he could sing and give praise right there in that dark cave.

Friend, whatever cave you might find yourself in today, whatever Saul might be chasing you, remember this: you can fix your heart on the One who never changes, never fails, and never gives up on His children. When your heart is truly fixed on Him, you'll find that you can sing praise songs even in the darkest places.

As that great old hymn says, "On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand." Fix your heart there, and watch how steady life becomes, even when the storms are raging all around you.

Let's pray: "Lord, help us fix our hearts on You today. In a world that's constantly shifting and changing, anchor our souls to Your unchanging love and faithfulness. Help us to sing Your praises even in the caves of life. In Jesus' name, Amen."

 

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Don't Worry I Got This #greenscreen #Nightlight #RTTBROS

Don't Worry I Got This #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

 Jesus said in Matthew 6:26, "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?"

You know what I love about that verse? Jesus is reminding us that God doesn't abdicate His throne when we're going through tough times. He's still on the job, still taking care of His kids, still working behind the scenes in ways we can't even see.

I've learned over the years that most people are doing the best they can with the knowledge and understanding they have, and that includes us when we're struggling financially or emotionally. But here's what I've also learned, God sees it all. He knows when we're at the end of our rope, when we're wondering how we're going to make it through another day.

And friend, if you're in one of those seasons right now, let me encourage you. God hasn't forgotten about you. He hasn't abandoned His post. Sometimes His provision comes through unexpected friends, sometimes through opportunities we didn't see coming, and sometimes through simply giving us the strength to take one more step.

The next time you're feeling overwhelmed, remember those little birds Jesus talked about. They don't have retirement accounts or savings plans, but they wake up every morning singing because they know their Father will provide what they need for that day.

And if God takes care of the sparrows, how much more will He take care of you?

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

The Name #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Name #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

 The Weight of a Name

"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." Exodus 20:7

I remember growing up in a home where words mattered. My grandmother, God rest her soul, would gently correct us kids if we said "gosh" or "golly," reminding us that even these seemingly innocent expressions were ways of tiptoeing around the sacred name of God. At the time, I thought she was being overly strict. Now, with a few more years under my belt and hopefully a little more wisdom, I understand what she was trying to teach us about reverence.

There's a story that's always stuck with me about the great missionary Hudson Taylor. When he was serving in China, he noticed that the Chinese people would bow deeply whenever they mentioned the name of their emperor, even in casual conversation. This got Hudson thinking about how carelessly he and other Christians often threw around the name of the Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, without so much as a pause or a moment of reverence.

You see, when we take God's name in vain, we're emptying His name of its meaning and power. The Hebrew word for "vain" literally means "empty" or "worthless." It's like taking a precious family heirloom and using it as a doorstop.

David understood this when he wrote, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7). For David, God's name was a fortress to run into, a source of strength when everything else failed.

How we treat God's name reveals how we view God Himself. His name represents His character, His faithfulness, His love, His power. When we call on His name in genuine prayer, we're connecting with the very heart of heaven. Let's treat His name with the honor it deserves.

Prayer: Father, forgive us for the times we've treated Your holy name carelessly. Help us to remember that Your name is precious, powerful, and worthy of our deepest reverence. May we honor You not just with our words, but with our hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Wait And See #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Wait And See #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

 Wait and See 

"God is at work in this. I need to wait and see what He does."

These profound words from my Father-In-Law, Jesse Dunn, a nearly 90-year-old saint carry the weight of deep spiritual wisdom. In our instant gratification world, this experienced believer has discovered a truth many struggle to embrace: God's apparent silence is not His absence, but His active presence working in ways we cannot yet see.

The Wrestling of Unanswered Prayer

How often do we echo the psalmist's cry: "How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever?" (Psalm 13:1). We pour out our hearts in prayer, expecting swift answers, only to be met with what feels like heavenly silence. Our natural response is frustration or doubt.

But my wise father in law has learned what many never discover: unanswered prayer is not unheard prayer. Every sincere petition reaches the throne of grace, and our sovereign God responds according to His perfect will and timing, not ours.

Divine Timing and Trust

The prophet Isaiah reminds us: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord" (Isaiah 55:8). God operates from an eternal perspective while we see only the present moment. What appears as delay may actually be divine preparation.

Consider Lazarus. When Jesus received word that His friend was ill, "he abode two days still in the same place" (John 11:6). Mary and Martha wondered why their urgent message seemed ignored. Yet Jesus had a greater purpose not merely to heal sickness, but to demonstrate His power over death itself.

Expectant Waiting

There's a profound difference between passive resignation and active, expectant waiting. Jesse's words reveal not defeat, but faith filled anticipation. He has learned to say with the psalmist: "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart" (Psalm 27:14).

This waiting acknowledges that our loving Father is always at work, even when we cannot trace His hand. It trusts that He "worketh all things after the counsel of his own will" (Ephesians 1:11) with purposes that transcend our understanding.

The Wisdom of Age

There's something beautiful about hearing such words from someone who has lived nearly a century. This man has witnessed world wars, upheavals, and countless trials. Through it all, he has learned that God's track record is perfect, even when His methods are mysterious. His patient faith comes not from naivety, but from a lifetime of seeing God work in unexpected ways and perfect timing.

Living in the Meanwhile

Today, as you bring your requests before God, remember this godly patriarch's wisdom. When the heavens seem silent and your prayers appear unanswered, choose to declare: "God is at work in this. I need to wait and see what He does."

Let your heart find rest knowing that "the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me" (Psalm 138:8). Trust that the God who numbers your hairs is intimately aware of your situation and working with perfect wisdom on your behalf.

In the waiting, worship. In the silence, trust. In the mystery, marvel. For our God is always at work, and His timing is always perfect.

"Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

The Midnight Hour #greenscreen #Nightlight #RTTBROS

The Midnight Hour #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

 The Midnight Hour

When God's timing seems all wrong

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." (Acts 16:25)

There's a story that happened on July 16, 1969, that most people have never heard. While the whole world was watching Apollo 11 launch toward the moon, a maintenance worker named Frank Borman was working the night shift at NASA's Mission Control. Around midnight, all the computer systems started showing errors that could have ended the mission before it really began.

Frank had been working double shifts for weeks, he was exhausted, and honestly, he was tempted to wake up the day shift supervisor and let someone else handle the crisis. But something told him to stay with it. For the next four hours, he worked through every possible solution until he found the problem, a tiny loose connection that was causing all the chaos. His midnight diligence helped save the mission that would put the first man on the moon.

Sometimes our most important work happens at midnight, when nobody's watching, when we're tired and discouraged, when it would be easier to quit than to keep going.

Paul and Silas understood this. They had been beaten with rods, thrown into prison, and locked in stocks. It was midnight, literally and figuratively, the darkest hour of their circumstances.

But instead of complaining, they prayed and sang praises to God. And here's what gets me about this story, the other prisoners were listening. In their darkest hour, Paul and Silas became a witness to people who desperately needed hope.

Then God showed up. An earthquake shook the prison, the doors flew open, and everyone's chains fell off. The jailer ended up getting saved along with his whole family. What looked like the worst thing that could happen became the setup for God's greatest work.

I've learned over the years that our midnight hours often become our ministry hours. During my own dark seasons, when the church was struggling or criticism was heavy, I learned things about God's faithfulness that I never could have learned in the sunshine seasons.

You know, it's easy to praise God when everything is going well. But the real test of our faith comes at midnight, when the bottom drops out, when the diagnosis is bad, when the relationship fails.

The question isn't whether you'll face midnight hours, you will. The question is: what will you do when they come? Will you complain and give up, or will you pray and sing praises like Paul and Silas?

Maybe you're in a midnight hour right now. Let me encourage you with this: keep praying, keep praising, keep trusting. God does some of His best work at midnight, and your midnight hour might be setting the stage for God's morning miracle.

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

The Foundation #Anxiety #Care #worry #Limitations #Hope #God #HolySpirit #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Foundation #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

I heard about a young man who was told by his teachers that he'd never amount to much in school. They said he was slow, couldn't keep up, and frankly, some of them thought he was just not very bright. But that young man had something his critics didn't see, he had a foundation of curiosity and determination that wouldn't quit. Years later, Albert Einsteins theories changed how we understand the universe itself.

Sometimes what looks like weakness is actually the foundation for something amazing.

Jesus told a story in Matthew 7:24-25 that goes right to the heart of this: "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock."

You know what I've learned in my years of ministry? It's not the storms that determine whether you'll make it through, it's what you're built on. And friend, if you're built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and His Word, you can weather anything life throws at you.

I've seen people who looked like they had it all together on the outside, but when the first real storm hit their lives, everything fell apart because they were built on sand. And I've seen folks who didn't look like much by the world's standards, but when the hurricanes of life came roaring through, they stood firm because they were anchored to something eternal.

The difference wasn't in their circumstances. The difference wasn't in their intelligence or their bank account or their connections. The difference was in their foundation.

See, when you build your life on God's Word, when you make Jesus Christ the cornerstone of everything you do, you're not building on shifting sand. You're building on the Rock of Ages. And that foundation has never failed, not once in all of human history.

So today, let me ask you, what are you building on? When the storms come, and they will come, what's going to keep you standing? Is it your job? Your relationships? Your own strength and wisdom?

Or is it Jesus?

Because everything else is sand, friend. Everything else will shift and crumble when the pressure gets great enough. But the Word of God endures forever, and the One who spoke that Word into existence is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Build on the Rock. Everything else is just sand waiting for the next storm.

Care Casting #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Care Casting 

Main Passage: Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 55:22 (KJV)  

Main Point: When life's burdens become too heavy to bear, Jesus offers us His rest and invites us to cast our cares on Him.

 I. Introduction: The Weight of Worry

Opening Illustration: I read about a family helping their college-bound son move into his dorm. They were loading his car with everything he thought he'd need for his freshman year. He kept adding more and more stuff - extra blankets, another lamp, three different coffee makers (because you never know, right?), books, clothes, decorations. Finally, when they tried to close the trunk, it wouldn't budge. The car was so loaded down it could barely move. His mother looked at him and said, "Son, you can't take everything. You've got to decide what's really necessary." That's exactly what worry does to us. We keep loading up our hearts with one concern after another until we can barely move forward.

Key Verse: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28, KJV)

Rhetorical Question: How many of you have ever felt like you were carrying more than you could handle? Like the weight of your worries was just too much?

Transition: Jesus knew that life would sometimes feel overwhelming. That's why He gave us this beautiful invitation.

 II. Understanding Our Heavy Loads (Matthew 11:28, KJV)

Key Word Study:

• "Labour" - means to work to the point of exhaustion, to toil under a heavy burden

• "Heavy laden" - picture a pack animal loaded down with more weight than it should carry

• These words describe both physical and emotional exhaustion

The Sources of Our Heavy Loads:

• Health concerns - Our bodies aren't what they used to be, and that's scary

• Family worries - Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren making decisions we can't control

• Financial pressures - Fixed incomes, medical bills, wondering if we'll have enough

• Loneliness - Friends and family members who've passed on, feeling forgotten

• Fear of the future - What will happen to us? Who will take care of us?

• Regrets from the past - Things we did or didn't do, words we said or should have said

Modern Example: Think about how we used to have rotary phones attached to the wall in the kitchen. One phone, one location, and when you left the house, you left your problems there too. Now we carry these smartphones everywhere, and every worry, every piece of bad news, every family crisis follows us wherever we go. No wonder we feel overwhelmed.

Personal Touch: I've read about pastors who've been ministering for decades, and they say the heaviest burdens aren't always the obvious ones. Sometimes it's not the big crisis that breaks us down - it's the accumulation of all the little worries that we keep picking up and carrying around like that overpacked car.

 III. Jesus's Personal Invitation (Matthew 11:28-29, KJV)

Key Verse: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29, KJV)

The Nature of the Invitation:

• "Come unto me" - This is personal. Jesus isn't sending us to a program or a system; He's inviting us to Himself

• "All ye that labour" - No exceptions. It doesn't matter what kind of burden you're carrying

• "I will give you rest" - This is a promise, not a suggestion

The Paradox of the Yoke:

• A yoke seems like more burden, not less

• But Jesus's yoke is different - it's designed for two

• When we're yoked with Jesus, He carries the heavy end

• His yoke is "easy" (well-fitting) and His burden is "light" (not crushing)

Illustration: I read about farmers and learned something interesting about oxen. When you have a young, inexperienced ox, you don't yoke him with another young ox. You yoke him with an older, stronger, experienced ox. The older ox does most of the work while the younger one learns. The load doesn't get lighter, but the work becomes manageable because the stronger partner is doing the heavy pulling. That's exactly what Jesus offers us.

 IV. The Nature of God's Rest (Psalm 55:22, KJV)

Key Verse: "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved" (Psalm 55:22, KJV)

What "Casting" Means:

• The Hebrew word means to throw or hurl with force

• It's not gently placing our burdens down; it's actively throwing them onto God

• Picture throwing a heavy pack off your shoulders after a long hike

• It requires a deliberate decision to let go

What God Promises to Do:

• "He shall sustain thee" - He will support and maintain you

• "Never suffer the righteous to be moved" - You won't be shaken loose from His care

• This doesn't mean we won't have problems, but we won't be crushed by them

Personal Story: I heard about a pastor who was visiting a lady who was caring for her husband with Alzheimer's. She was exhausted, overwhelmed, and felt guilty every time she got frustrated with him. She looked at the pastor and said, "I don't think I can do this anymore." He asked her, "Have you been trying to do it alone?" She nodded. They prayed together, and she literally pictured herself throwing her burden onto Jesus. Two weeks later, she called to tell him that her church family had organized a care schedule, her daughter had found a day program for her husband, and most importantly, she felt peace for the first time in months. Same situation, but now she wasn't carrying it alone.

 V. Practical Steps to Finding Rest

Daily Casting:

• Make it a habit to "throw" your worries onto God each morning

• When a worry comes back (and it will), remind yourself: "I already gave this to God"

• Use Psalm 55:22 as a daily prayer

Learning Jesus's Heart:

• He's "meek and lowly in heart" - gentle with our weaknesses

• He understands what it's like to be human (Hebrews 4:15)

• He's not impatient with our struggles

Accepting Help:

• Jesus often sends His rest through other people

• Don't be too proud to accept help from family, friends, or church

• Sometimes God's yoke includes the hands and hearts of His people

Focusing on Today:

• Jesus taught us to ask for "daily bread," not weekly or yearly bread

• Most of our overwhelming feelings come from trying to solve tomorrow's problems today

• "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Matthew 6:34, KJV)

 VI. Application 

For Residents:

• Your worth isn't determined by what you can or can't do anymore

• God's invitation to rest includes rest from the burden of feeling useless

• Your prayers, your example, your gentle words are still ministry

• Let others help you - it's not a sign of weakness, it's accepting God's provision

For Family Members:

• You can't fix everything for your loved ones, and that's okay

• Carry your concern to God, not just in your heart

• Your presence is often more valuable than your solutions

• It's okay to feel overwhelmed - that's when you need God's yoke most

Closing Illustration: There's a beautiful old hymn that says, "What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer." Friends, we forfeit peace and bear needless pain when we try to carry alone what God designed us to share with Him. His yoke is easy, His burden is light, and His invitation is always open: "Come unto me."

 VII. Call to Action and Prayer

Challenge: What burden are you carrying today that you need to cast on the Lord? Is it worry about your health? Concern for your family? Fear about the future? Regret about the past? 

Prayer of Casting: "Lord Jesus, I've been trying to carry this load alone, and I'm tired. I cast my burden of _________ onto You. I accept Your yoke and ask You to teach me Your gentleness. Help me rest in Your care and trust Your timing. Amen."

Reminder: This isn't a one-time transaction. Every day, we need to come to Jesus with our burdens. Every day, we need to accept His yoke. Every day, we can find rest for our souls.

The Clues #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Clues #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

 

The Clues 

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

At the end of each day, I empty my pockets onto the bed, a ritual that reveals more about me than any resume ever could. There's the putty knife and safety glasses that mark my custodial work, the box cutter that speaks to deliveries received, and the ever-present pen and note cards where I capture fleeting thoughts for sermons and podcasts. A handkerchief for persistent sinus troubles, breath drops for an ongoing battle, and safety gloves that protect my hands as I serve.

These pocket contents are like spiritual fingerprints, they tell the story of how I spend my hours, what matters enough to carry with me, and where my heart truly dwells. A stranger rifling through these items could piece together not just my profession, but my priorities.

The same is true for all of us. Walk into someone's office, their car, their home, and you'll find evidence of what captures their attention and affection. In my office each morning, an open Bible rests beside a steaming cup of coffee, both essentials for starting the day right. The Psalms beckoning, the caffeine awakening, but more importantly, the quiet moment with God grounding everything that follows.

What evidence do we leave behind? When others observe our daily rhythms, our spaces, our conversations, what do they deduce about our walk with the Lord? Do they see a Bible worn from use or pristine from neglect? Do they hear prayers whispered throughout the day or only complaints about circumstances? Do our priorities reflect kingdom values or worldly pursuits?

Jesus reminded us to seek first His kingdom and righteousness. When we do, everything else finds its proper place, including the contents of our pockets, the state of our desks, and the testimony of our daily lives.

Our lives are open books, read not just by God who knows our hearts, but by a watching world that needs to see authentic faith lived out in the ordinary moments. The question isn't whether we're leaving evidence, we always are. The question is: what story is that evidence telling?

Prayer: Lord, may the evidence of my daily life—from the items in my pockets to the priorities in my heart—testify to Your transforming presence. Help me to seek Your kingdom first in all things, both great and small. Amen.

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Limitations #RTTBROS #nightlight

Limitations #RTTBROS #nightlight 

The Preacher Who Lost His Voice

"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." 1 Corinthians 2:4

Charles Spurgeon was known as the "Prince of Preachers," a man whose voice could fill the largest auditoriums of his day without amplification. For over thirty years, he preached to thousands every Sunday at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. But in his later years, something happened that would have devastated most preachers, he began to lose his voice.

It started gradually. His throat would get hoarse after long sermons. Then it became harder and harder for him to project his voice to the massive crowds. Doctors told him he needed to rest, to take breaks from preaching, but Spurgeon felt the weight of responsibility for his congregation.

I can only imagine how he must have felt. Here was a man whose entire ministry was built on his ability to communicate God's Word powerfully, and slowly but surely, that gift was being taken away. It would be like asking Michelangelo to sculpt with his hands tied behind his back.

But you know what Spurgeon discovered during those difficult days? He learned that God's power doesn't depend on our eloquence. Some of his most powerful messages were delivered when his voice was just a whisper, when people had to lean forward and strain to hear every word.

In one of his final sermons, barely able to speak above a whisper, he said something that has stayed with me for years: "I would rather speak five words from the heart than five thousand words from the head." The man who had been known for his booming voice discovered that sometimes God speaks loudest when we speak softest.

Paul understood this principle when he wrote to the Corinthians. He wasn't trying to impress anyone with fancy words or clever arguments. He was depending on the Holy Spirit to take his simple message and make it powerful in the hearts of his hearers.

Friend, maybe you feel like you don't have the gifts or abilities you think you need to serve God effectively. Maybe you feel like you're not eloquent enough, not smart enough, not talented enough. But remember what Spurgeon learned: God's power is made perfect in our weakness.

It's not about having the loudest voice or the smoothest delivery. It's about having a heart that's surrendered to God and allowing His Spirit to work through our simple, humble efforts. Sometimes the most powerful sermons are preached not from pulpits, but from hospital beds. Sometimes the most effective witnesses are those who can barely whisper, but whose lives speak volumes about God's grace.

Don't let your limitations become excuses. Let them become opportunities for God to show His strength through your weakness.

Prayer Revival #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Prayer Revival #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

 

The Man Who Prayed Down Revival

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

Back in 1830, a young man named Jeremiah Lanphier was hired as a missionary to downtown New York City. The area was rough, filled with businesses and boarding houses, and seemed like the last place you'd expect to see God move in a mighty way. Jeremiah looked around at all the spiritual darkness and felt overwhelmed by the task before him.

But instead of giving up, he did something simple but powerful. He put up a little sign that read: "Prayer Meeting from 12:00 to 1:00. Stop 5, 10, or 20 minutes, or the whole hour, as your time admits."

On September 23, 1857, Jeremiah climbed those stairs to the little room he had prepared, spread out his handkerchief, and knelt down to pray. For thirty minutes, he prayed alone. Then he heard footsteps on the stairs. One man came in, then another, and then another, until six men were gathered together in prayer.

Now, I've been in plenty of prayer meetings that started with just a handful of folks, and let me tell you, it's easy to get discouraged when you look around and see more empty chairs than full ones. But Jeremiah didn't let that stop him. He kept that prayer meeting going every day at noon.

The next week, fourteen people came. The week after that, twenty-three. Within six months, over ten thousand people were gathering daily for prayer in New York City alone. The revival spread like wildfire across the nation. In two years, over one million people came to Christ in what historians call the "Prayer Revival of 1857."

All because one man believed that prayer could make a difference. All because Jeremiah Lanphier understood what James teaches us in our verse today: when righteous people pray with passion and persistence, much gets accomplished.

Maybe you're looking at your church, your family, your community, and you're thinking, "Lord, this place needs a move of God." Well, friend, it might just start with you. It might start with you deciding to take prayer seriously, to gather a few others together, and to seek God's face with all your heart.

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros