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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Never Shut Up #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Never Shut Up #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

 The Voice That Wouldn't Stay Silent

 "But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." Acts 4:19-20

Richard Wurmbrand spent fourteen years in Romanian communist prisons for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Three of those years were in solitary confinement thirty feet underground. The communists tried everything to break him, torture, starvation, psychological warfare, but they couldn't stop him from speaking about his Savior.

When they released him in 1964, you might think he would have quietly lived out his remaining years in peace. After all, he had already paid a tremendous price for his faith. But that's not what happened.Instead, Wurmbrand wrote "Tortured for Christ" and began traveling the world, telling everyone about the underground church behind the Iron Curtain. Here was a man who had every reason to be bitter, every excuse to give up on ministry, but instead he said something that has stuck with me: "The cruelest thing you can do to a Christian is to make him comfortable."Wurmbrand understood what Peter and John understood in our text. When you've experienced the life-changing power of Jesus Christ, when you've seen what God can do in the darkest circumstances, you simply cannot keep quiet about it. It becomes like fire shut up in your bones.

Sometimes we American Christians get too comfortable. We worry about what people might think if we share our faith. We're afraid we might offend someone. But if we've truly experienced God's grace, if we've been rescued from sin and death, how can we not tell others?Wurmbrand suffered more for his faith than most of us ever will, but he never stopped speaking about Jesus because he understood that the gospel is too good to keep to ourselves.What's keeping you quiet today? We have the greatest news in the world to share. People are dying without hope, and we have the answer. We simply cannot keep quiet about what we've seen and heard.

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Never Give Up #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Never Give Up #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

 The Persistent Widow

A lesson in not giving up

 "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint." - Luke 18:1

Jesus told a story about a widow who kept pestering a judge for justice. This judge didn't care about God or people, but he finally gave the widow what she wanted just to get her to leave him alone. Jesus' point was simple: if a corrupt judge will respond to persistence, how much more will our loving heavenly Father respond to our prayers?

This reminds me of a story I heard about Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China. He was trying to raise support for his mission work, and he had been praying for a specific amount of money for months. One day, he received a letter with a check for the exact amount he had been praying for. The letter said, "I have been carrying this check in my pocket for three months, and God keeps telling me to send it to you, but I kept making excuses. Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore."

God had answered Taylor's prayer three months before Taylor even knew it, but it took persistence on both ends to bring it to pass.

You know, I think one of the biggest reasons we don't see more answers to prayer is that we give up too soon. We pray once or twice and when we don't see immediate results, we assume God isn't listening or isn't going to answer.

I've learned this in my own life, sometimes the hard way. There have been things I've prayed about for years before seeing any movement. There have been people I've prayed for who seemed to get harder instead of softer toward God.

But I've also learned that God's delays are not God's denials. Sometimes He's working behind the scenes in ways we can't see. Sometimes He's preparing our hearts for the answer.

The persistent widow teaches us that we shouldn't give up. Keep praying, keep believing, keep trusting that our God hears us and will answer in His perfect timing.

Is there something you've been praying about that you're tempted to give up on? Don't quit. Keep knocking, keep asking, keep seeking. Our God is faithful, and He rewards those who diligently seek Him.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be persistent in prayer like the widow in Your story. When I'm tempted to give up, remind me that You hear every prayer and answer in Your perfect timing. Give me faith to keep believing even when I can't see what You're doing. Amen.

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The Unlikely Missionary #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Unlikely Missionary #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

The Unlikely Missionary God:

uses ordinary people

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." (1 Corinthians 1:27

William Carey was just a shoemaker. He had little education, came from a poor family, and worked with his hands for a living. But he had a heart for the lost and a desire to take the gospel to places where it had never been heard.When Carey shared his burden for missions with his fellow ministers, one of them famously said, "Young man, sit down. When God pleases to convert the heathen, He will do it without your aid or mine." But Carey wouldn't sit down. He kept studying, kept praying, and kept preparing.In 1793, Carey sailed for India where he would spend the next 41 years without ever returning home. He translated the Bible into Bengali, Sanskrit, and parts of 35 other languages. He started schools, fought against the practice of widow burning, and saw thousands come to Christ. He became known as the "Father of Modern Missions."But it all started with a shoemaker who believed God could use him.

I love Carey's story because it reminds me that God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. He doesn't look for the smartest, the most talented, or the most educated. He looks for the willing.Think about it: God used a shepherd boy named David to defeat a giant. He used a teenage girl named Mary to bring the Savior into the world. He used fishermen to become apostles. He used a former persecutor of the church named Paul to become the greatest missionary who ever lived.And He wants to use you too, right where you are, with whatever skills and abilities you have.Carey's motto was "Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God." 

He expected God to work through an ordinary shoemaker, and God did extraordinary things.What's God calling you to attempt for Him? What burden has He placed on your heart? What need have you seen that you keep thinking someone should do something about?Maybe that someone is you. Maybe God wants to use your ordinary life to do something extraordinary for His kingdom. Don't disqualify yourself because you feel unworthy or unqualified. God specializes in using unlikely people to do impossible things.After all, history is just HIS story, and He's looking for ordinary people who are willing to let Him write their chapter.

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The Turnaround #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Turnaround #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

The Turnaround 

The story of John Newton

"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)

John Newton was about as far from a minister as you could get. He was a slave trader, a profane man who lived a rough life on the seas. His mother had taught him about God as a child, but he had long since forgotten those lessons. He was, by his own admission, a wretch.

But on March 10, 1748, everything changed. Newton's ship was caught in a violent storm off the coast of Ireland. As the ship was taking on water and it looked like they might not survive, Newton cried out to God for mercy. They made it through that storm, and Newton's life was never the same.

He left the slave trade, studied for the ministry, and eventually became a pastor. But his greatest contribution might have been a hymn he wrote that told his story: "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see."

That hymn has probably done more to spread the gospel than any sermon ever preached. It's been translated into dozens of languages, sung by believers around the world, and has brought comfort to countless people in their darkest hours.

Here's what amazes me about Newton's story: God didn't waste any of his past. All those years at sea, all those experiences with difficult people, all the hardships he had endured, God used them to make him a more effective minister. His past gave him credibility with people who might have never listened to someone who had lived a sheltered life.I think sometimes we believe that our past disqualifies us from being used by God. We think our mistakes, our failures, our poor choices have put us on the bench permanently. But that's not how God works. He's in the business of redemption, of taking the broken pieces of our lives and making something beautiful out of them.Maybe you're sitting there thinking your past is too messy, your failures too great, your mistakes too many. Let me remind you of something: if God could use a slave trader to write "Amazing Grace," He can use you too. Your comeback story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.God is still in the business of amazing grace, and that grace is sufficient for you.

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Life's Beautiful Rhythm #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Life's Beautiful Rhythm #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

Life's Beautiful Rhythm

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance." - Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4

My friend shared something with me recently that hit me right between the eyes. She said, "Life is amazing. And then it's awful. And then it's amazing again. And in between the amazing and awful, it's ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary."

That got me thinking about how we need what I call a theology that's sturdy enough for the awful and stimulating enough for the ordinary, so we can make it back to that oh so satisfying amazing.

You know, I've been around long enough to see this rhythm play out in my own life and in the lives of countless people I've pastored over the years. Too soon old and too late smart, as they say, but I've learned that life really does come in seasons, just like Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes.

Let me tell you about a man named Horatio Spafford. In 1871, this successful Chicago lawyer lost almost everything in the Great Chicago Fire. Two years later, he sent his wife and four daughters ahead of him to Europe while he finished up some business. Their ship, the Ville du Havre, was struck by another vessel in the middle of the Atlantic. His wife survived, but all four of his precious daughters drowned in those dark, cold waters.

When Horatio received the telegram with just two words, "Saved alone," his world crumbled. This was awful beyond imagination. But as he sailed to meet his grieving wife, passing over the very spot where his children had died, he penned these words: "When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul."

Now that's a theology sturdy enough for the awful.

But here's what I've learned in my years of walking with folks through their valleys and mountaintops: God doesn't just show up in the dramatic moments. He's there in the ordinary Tuesday morning when you're drinking your coffee and wondering what the point of it all is. He's there in the mundane moments when you're folding laundry for the hundredth time this month. He's there in the routine that sometimes feels like you're just going through the motions.

The apostle Paul knew something about this rhythm. He wrote, "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:12-13).

See, Paul had a theology that worked in prison and in palaces, in shipwrecks and in success. He understood that the amazing seasons are gifts to be treasured, the awful seasons are classrooms for character, and the ordinary seasons are where we learn to find God in the everyday rhythms of life.

History is just HIS story, and we're all part of this beautiful, messy, amazing narrative that God is writing. Some chapters are breathtaking, some are heartbreaking, and some are just the steady, faithful plodding that gets us from one chapter to the next.

So today, wherever you find yourself in life's rhythm, remember that God is with you. If you're in an amazing season, breathe it in deep and give thanks. If you're holding on through something awful, know that this too shall pass and God's grace is sufficient. And if you're in one of those ordinary, routine stretches, look for God in the small moments, because He's there, preparing you for whatever comes next.

After all, we serve a God who turns water into wine, mourning into dancing, and ashes into beauty. And sometimes, He does His most important work in the quiet, ordinary moments when nobody's watching but Him.

Prayer: Lord, help us to trust You in every season of life. Give us eyes to see Your hand in the amazing times, strength to endure the awful times, and faith to find You in the ordinary times. Remind us that You are writing a beautiful story with our lives, even when we can't see the next chapter. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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The Friendship Factor

The Friendship Factor #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

The Friendship Factor

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17:17)

One of the most beautiful friendships in all of Scripture is the friendship between Jonathan and David. Here were two young men who should have been rivals. Jonathan was the king's son, next in line for the throne. David was the shepherd boy who had been secretly anointed as the future king. By all rights, they should have been enemies.

But instead, the Bible tells us that "the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." They made a covenant of friendship that lasted through some of the darkest days of David's life.

When Saul was trying to kill David, it was Jonathan who warned him. When David was hiding in caves, it was Jonathan who encouraged him. When David felt like giving up, it was Jonathan who "strengthened his hand in God." Now that's the kind of friend we all need.

I've been blessed with some Jonathan-type friends over the years. Friends who stuck with me when I made mistakes, who encouraged me when I was discouraged, who told me the truth even when it was hard to hear. These friendships didn't just happen overnight, they were built through shared experiences, through being there for each other in the good times and the bad.

You know, we live in a world that's more connected than ever, but somehow we're lonelier than ever. We have hundreds of friends on social media, but we struggle to find someone we can really trust with our hearts. We've substituted likes and comments for real conversation, and emojis for genuine empathy.

But God designed us for real friendship, for deep connection. He wants us to have people in our lives who know us, really know us, and love us anyway. People who will strengthen our hands in God when we're ready to give up.

Maybe you're thinking, "Pastor, I don't have friends like that." Well, here's something I've learned: if you want a friend, you have to be a friend. Jonathan didn't wait for David to prove himself, he took the initiative. He saw something in David and invested in that friendship.

Look around you today. Is there someone who needs encouragement? Someone who's going through a hard time? Someone who just needs to know that somebody cares? Be a Jonathan to them. Reach out, invest in that relationship, strengthen their hand in God.

Because at the end of the day, it's not about how many friends you have, it's about being the kind of friend that others can count on when life gets hard.

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Get A Clue #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Get A Clue #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

Get A Clue

Scripture:"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6

You know, sometimes we get our English words from the most interesting places. Take the word "clue," for instance. Most folks use it every day without knowing where it came from, but it's got quite a story behind it.

Way back in ancient Greek mythology, there was a young hero named Theseus who had to face the Minotaur, a monster that was half-man, half-bull, trapped in a massive, twisting labyrinth. This wasn't just any maze, mind you. Nobody who went in ever came back out. The passages twisted and turned, doubled back on themselves, and led to dead ends that would leave you wandering in circles until you died.

But Theseus had something the others didn't have. A wise princess named Ariadne gave him a ball of yarn, called a "clewe" in those days. As he made his way deeper into the labyrinth, he unrolled that yarn behind him. After he defeated the monster, that simple thread became his lifeline back to safety and freedom.

Over the centuries, that Greek word "clewe" became our English word "clue," meaning evidence that guides us in the right direction.

Now, I've been walking with the Lord for enough years to know that life can feel like a labyrinth sometimes. We face situations where we can't see around the next corner, and we honestly don't know which way to go. Maybe it's a health scare, a broken relationship, or financial troubles that keep you awake at night.

But here's the beautiful thing about following Jesus: He's given us something better than a ball of yarn. He's given us His Word, His Spirit, and His promises to guide us through every maze life throws at us. When we "trust in the Lord with all thine heart," we're not wandering around in the dark, hoping we'll stumble onto the right path.

I've learned over the years that God's guidance isn't always dramatic. Sometimes it's as simple as a verse that jumps off the page at just the right moment, or a sense of peace about one decision over another. The Lord leaves us clues everywhere if we'll just pay attention.

Unlike that ancient hero who had to fight alone, we don't have to face our battles by ourselves. Our God has already won the victory. He's not just giving us a thread to follow out of the maze, He's walking with us every step of the way.

So when life gets confusing and you feel like you're lost in your own labyrinth, remember: God has given you every clue you need. His Word is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. Trust Him with all your heart, and He'll direct your steps safely home.

Prayer: Lord, when life feels like a maze and I can't see the way forward, help me to trust You completely. Give me eyes to see the clues You've placed in my path, and help me follow You faithfully through every twist and turn. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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The Power Of Self Talk #RTTBROS

The Voice In Your Head #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

The Voice in Your Head

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." - Philippians 4:8

You know, there's a voice that talks to you more than any other voice in your life. It's not your spouse, not your boss, not even your mother-in-law. It's that voice inside your own head, the one that never seems to take a break. The question is, what is that voice saying to you?

I heard about a study once where researchers found that the average person has about 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day. Now that's a lot of chatter going on upstairs! But here's the kicker, they discovered that about 80% of those thoughts are negative, and 95% are repetitive. That means most of us are like a broken record, playing the same discouraging tune over and over again.

I think about David in the Psalms. Here was a man who knew something about battling with his own thoughts. In Psalm 42, he's having a conversation with himself, asking "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?" But then he does something powerful, he preaches to himself: "Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."

You see, David understood that sometimes you've got to take charge of that voice in your head. Sometimes you've got to be your own preacher and remind yourself of what's true instead of what you're feeling.

I learned this lesson the hard way years ago when I was going through a particularly difficult season in ministry. Every morning I'd wake up and that voice would start in on me: "You're not cut out for this. You're failing these people. You should just quit." It was like having a bully living rent-free in my brain.

But then I started doing what David did. I began to talk back to those thoughts with Scripture. When the voice said "You're a failure," I'd counter with "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." When it whispered "Nobody cares about you," I'd remind myself that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son."

The truth is, we all struggle with negative self-talk. Some of us are harder on ourselves than we'd ever dream of being on our worst enemy. We'd never let someone talk to our children the way we talk to ourselves. But here's what I've learned, too soon old and too late smart: you have more control over that inner voice than you think.

Paul gives us the game plan in Philippians 4:8. He doesn't say "try not to think negative thoughts." Instead, he tells us what to fill our minds with: things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. It's like changing the radio station from a talk show full of criticism to beautiful music.

Friend, that voice in your head doesn't have to be your enemy. With God's help and His Word, it can become your greatest encourager. Start today by asking yourself: what am I saying to me? Then choose to speak truth over your life, because history is just HIS story, and you're honored to be a part of it.

Prayer: Father, help me to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ. When my inner voice speaks discouragement, remind me to speak Your truth instead. Fill my mind with thoughts that honor You and build me up according to Your purposes. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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The Power Of One Voice #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Power Of One Voice #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

The Power of One Voice

Based on the story of Fanny Crosby

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)

When Fanny Crosby was just six weeks old, a doctor's mistake left her permanently blind. Her grandmother could have focused on what Fanny couldn't do, but instead she taught her to see the world through other senses. By age eight, Fanny was writing poetry. By her death in 1915, she had written over 8,000 hymns, including "Blessed Assurance" and "To God Be the Glory."

Here's what gets me about Fanny's story, she never saw her blindness as a limitation. She once said, "It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation." Now that's a transformed mind right there.

You know, most of us spend our time focusing on what we can't do instead of what we can do. We look at our limitations, our circumstances, our past mistakes, and we let them define us. But God wants to transform our thinking. He wants us to see our lives through His eyes, not the world's eyes.

I've learned this the hard way over the years, too soon old and too late smart as they say. When I was younger in ministry, I thought I had to be perfect, had to have all the answers. But God has shown me that He often uses our weaknesses, our struggles, even our failures to reach others in ways our strengths never could.

Fanny Crosby couldn't see with her physical eyes, but she saw clearly with her spiritual eyes. She saw God's goodness, His faithfulness, His love. And because of her transformed perspective, millions of people have been blessed by her hymns for over a century.

What limitation in your life do you need to surrender to God today? What circumstance has you thinking you can't be used by Him? Remember, God isn't looking for perfect people, He's looking for willing people with transformed minds. He wants to take what the world sees as a disability and turn it into His ability working through you.

Don't let the world tell you who you are or what you can accomplish. Let God transform your thinking, and watch what He can do through a yielded life.

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Theolology To Doxology #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Theolology To Doxology #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

Listen to this beautiful and profound statement from Gordon Fee.

"The proper aim of all truth theology is doxology"

 It really captures something essential about the nature and purpose of theological inquiry, that all genuine study of God should ultimately lead us to worship and praise rather than mere intellectual exercise.Fee's insight reflects a deeply biblical understanding where knowledge of God isn't meant to puff up but to humble us and draw us into wonder. When we truly grasp who God is through careful theological reflection, the natural response isn't pride in our understanding but awe at God's character and works. It's the difference between studying God as an object to be mastered versus encountering God as the One who transforms us.This quote also speaks to the integration of heart and mind in faith. Theology without doxology becomes dry scholasticism, while worship without theological grounding can become shallow emotionalism. Fee suggests they belong together, . that rigorous thinking about God should fuel our praise, and our worship should be informed by truth.It reminds me of how the Psalms weave together deep theological truths with passionate worship, or how Paul's letters often break into spontaneous praise right in the middle of doctrinal exposition. The goal isn't just to know about God but to know God in a way that moves us to worship.

 

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The Eight-Cow Heart #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Eight-Cow Heart #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

The Eight-Cow Heart: When Love Transforms Worth

"We love him, because he first loved us." - 1 John 4:19 (KJV)

There's an old story that has stuck with me for years, one that cuts right to the heart of what it means to truly honor the people we love. It comes from a tale called "Johnny Lingo's Eight-Cow Wife," and every time I think about it, I'm reminded of just how powerful our love can be in transforming another person's life.The story goes like this: On a small Pacific island, there lived a young man named Johnny Lingo who was known throughout the region as a shrewd trader and successful businessman. When it came time for Johnny to choose a wife, everyone expected him to marry the most beautiful woman on the island. Instead, he chose Sarita, a plain, skinny, shy girl who kept her head down and barely spoke above a whisper.Now, on this island, it was customary for a man to pay the bride's father a dowry in cows. Most wives went for two or three cows, maybe four if she was particularly attractive or came from a good family. A five-cow wife was considered exceptional. But when Johnny Lingo approached Sarita's father, he offered something that left the entire village speechless: eight cows.Eight cows! People thought Johnny had lost his mind. Why would anyone pay such an extraordinary price for such an ordinary girl?Years later, a visitor to the island met Johnny and his wife, and he couldn't believe his eyes. Sarita had been transformed into one of the most beautiful, confident, graceful women he had ever seen. Her shoulders were straight, her chin held high, and there was a sparkle in her eyes that seemed to light up the entire room. When the visitor asked Johnny about his unusual choice, Johnny smiled and said something profound: "I wanted an eight-cow wife, and when I paid eight cows for her, she became one."You see, Johnny understood something that too many of us miss in our relationships. He knew that when you treat someone as invaluable, they begin to see themselves that way. When you love someone as if they're worth eight cows, they start carrying themselves like an eight-cow person.This reminds me of how God loves us. Scripture tells us "we love him, because he first loved us." Before we were lovable, before we had anything to offer, before we even knew we needed Him, God looked at us and said, "You're worth my Son." He paid the ultimate price, not eight cows, but the life of Jesus Christ, to demonstrate our value in His eyes.And just like Sarita, when we truly understand how much God values us, it changes everything about how we see ourselves and how we move through this world.But here's where it gets personal for all of us: How many cows do the people in your life feel they're worth?When your spouse makes a mistake, do they feel like they're worth eight cows to you, or do your words and actions make them feel like damaged goods? When your children struggle or fail, do they walk away from conversations with you feeling treasured and valued, or do they feel like they need to earn your love and approval?I've been married long enough to know that it's easy to start treating the people closest to us like we got them at a discount. We get comfortable, we take them for granted, and before we know it, we're making them feel like two-cow people when God designed them to be eight-cow treasures.I think about all the times in my own life when I've been too quick with criticism and too slow with affirmation. Too focused on what needed fixing and not focused enough on what was already beautiful. I've learned, too soon old and too late smart, as they say, that people tend to become what we consistently tell them they are.If you want to see transformation in your relationships, start treating the people you love like they're worth eight cows. Speak to them with honor. Look for opportunities to build them up rather than tear them down. Choose to see their potential rather than fixating on their problems.Because here's the beautiful truth: when we love people the way Johnny loved Sarita, when we love them the way God loves us, we're not just changing how they feel about themselves. We're participating in the kind of love that transforms lives from the inside out.After all, history is just His story, and sometimes we get to be the instruments He uses to remind someone of their true worth in His eyes.That's eight-cow love in action, and it's the kind of love that changes everything.

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When Freedom Rings #RTTBROS #Nightlight

When Freedom Rings #RTTBROS  #Nightlight 

When Freedom Rings 

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."  Galatians 5:1 (KJV)

There's something stirring about the Fourth of July, isn't there? The smell of barbecue smoke drifting through neighborhoods, the sound of children's laughter echoing from backyards, and later tonight, those brilliant fireworks painting the sky with colors that make your heart skip a beat. It's a day when we celebrate freedom, political freedom, the kind our forefathers fought and died for.

But as I was thinking about this holiday this morning, sipping my coffee welcoming the day, I couldn't help but think about a deeper kind of freedom. The kind that doesn't depend on governments or constitutions, though I'm grateful for both. The kind that can't be taken away by tyrants or lost in elections.

You see, our nation was founded on some pretty radical ideas for its time. The notion that people could govern themselves, that rights come from God rather than kings, that ordinary folks could chart their own course in life. Those founding fathers, for all their flaws and struggles, understood something profound about human dignity and freedom.

But here's what strikes me as I've gotten older and hopefully a little wiser, too soon old and too late smart, as they say, the external freedoms we celebrate today only work when people have internal freedom. Political liberty is wonderful, but it's hollow if we're still enslaved to fear, bitterness, addiction, or despair.

Paul knew this when he wrote to the Galatians. He wasn't talking about Roman occupation or political oppression, though those were real concerns. He was talking about the yoke of bondage that weighs down the human soul. The kind of chains that no revolution can break, no declaration can dissolve.

I've seen it in my years of ministry, people who live in the freest nation on earth but are imprisoned by guilt over past mistakes. Folks who have every constitutional right but feel trapped by circumstances beyond their control. Citizens who can vote and speak their minds but can't seem to break free from patterns that keep hurting them and the people they love.

That's where the gospel comes in, friends. Christ offers a freedom that goes deeper than any political system. It's the freedom to be forgiven, to start over, to be transformed from the inside out. It's the liberty that says your past doesn't have to define your future, that God's grace is bigger than your worst day, and that His love is stronger than whatever chains have held you down.

But what I am saying is this: the freedom Christ offers makes all other freedoms possible. When people are free in their hearts, they can build free societies. When individuals know their worth comes from being children of God, they can treat others with the dignity every person deserves. When folks understand grace, they can extend mercy. When people have hope, they can work for justice.

So as we celebrate this Fourth of July, let's remember both kinds of freedom. Let's thank God for this nation, with all its imperfections and possibilities. Let's honor those who've served and sacrificed for our political liberties. But let's also remember that true freedom, the kind that lasts for eternity, comes from the One who said, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:36, KJV).

That's the freedom worth celebrating, today and every day. That's the liberty that no earthly power can take away, because it's rooted not in human documents but in divine love.

Happy Fourth of July, friends. May you know both kinds of freedom, and may you live in the joy of both.

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The Unsung Heroes#RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Unsung Heroes

#RTTBROS #Nightlight

"And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward." Matthew 10:42

I've been thinking a lot lately about heroes. Not the kind you see in movies or read about in history books, but the quiet heroes who walk among us every day. This month, I've had the privilege of celebrating the lives of three such heroes, church ladies who spent their lives serving others in ways that rarely made headlines but always made a difference.

These women understood something that our culture often misses: that true greatness isn't found in the spotlight, but in the shadows. It's not measured by applause, but by the quiet satisfaction of a job well done for the glory of God. They were the ones who showed up when showing up mattered most.

They were there when families faced crisis, arriving with casseroles and comfort in equal measure. They were there during church work days, with cleaning supplies and willing hearts. They were there for baby showers and bridal showers, for Sunday school parties and vacation Bible school, for committee meetings and prayer meetings. They were simply there, consistently, faithfully, lovingly.

You might not have known their names if you were visiting from out of town, but you certainly felt their influence. They were the ones who made sure the church felt like home, who created an atmosphere where strangers became family and burdens became lighter simply because they were shared.

Jesus spoke about the reward that comes to those who give even a cup of cold water in His name. These precious women spent their lives offering cups of cold water, literally and figuratively, to anyone who needed refreshment. They understood that ministry isn't just what happens from the pulpit on Sunday morning; it's what happens in the fellowship hall, the kitchen, the nursery, and the parking lot throughout the week.

They were the unsung heroes of the faith, the ones who made it possible for pastors to pastor, for programs to run smoothly, for visitors to feel welcome, and for the church to truly be the body of Christ in action. They didn't serve for recognition or reward; they served because they loved Jesus and His people.

As I stood at their gravesides this month, I couldn't help but think about the passage in Matthew where Jesus says, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matthew 25:21). If anyone deserved to hear those words, it was these faithful church ladies.

Their legacy lives on in every person they served, every life they touched, every act of kindness they showed. They may have considered themselves ordinary, but in God's economy, their faithful service was extraordinary indeed.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the unsung heroes of the faith, the church ladies who served with such dedication and love. Help us to follow their example of quiet faithfulness, to serve without seeking recognition, and to love Your people with the same selfless devotion they showed. May we honor their memory by continuing their legacy of faithful service. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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God's Will + God's Grace = Your Peace #RTTBROS #Nightlight

God's Will + God's Grace = Your Peace #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

"The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you."

These words ring with profound truth that every believer needs to hear, especially when facing uncertain paths or overwhelming circumstances. Paul's thorn in the flesh teaches us this very principle, God's grace proved sufficient even in his deepest struggle.

When the Lord calls us forward, whether into ministry, difficult relationships, challenging seasons, or unfamiliar territory, we can trust that His enabling grace will meet us there. His will and His grace are perfectly aligned. He never sends us on assignments without equipping us with everything we need to walk them out.

Consider the heroes of faith: Moses stammering before Pharaoh, David facing Goliath, Esther approaching the king unbidden, Mary receiving news of her miraculous pregnancy. Each faced situations that seemed beyond their natural capacity, yet God's grace proved more than adequate.

The same is true for you today. That calling He's placed on your heart, that difficult conversation you need to have, that season of uncertainty you're walking through, His grace is already there waiting. Where His will leads, His grace has already prepared the way.

"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." James 4:6

Prayer: Father, when I feel overwhelmed by what You're calling me to do or where You're leading me, remind me that Your grace is sufficient. Help me trust that You will never take me where Your grace cannot sustain me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Tight Spots #RTTBROS #Nightlight From Tight Spots to Wide Places: God's Gift of Freedom

Tight Spots #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

From Tight Spots to Wide Places: God's Gift of Freedom

 

"And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room." Psalm 31:8 (KJV)

Have you ever felt trapped? Perhaps by circumstances beyond your control, by the weight of poor decisions, or by enemies who seemed determined to corner you? David knew this feeling intimately. As he penned these words, he reflected on God's faithful deliverance from situations that felt suffocating and hopeless.

The phrase "shut me up into the hand of the enemy" paints a vivid picture of confinement. It's the image of being handed over, surrendered to those who wish us harm. Yet David declares that God has done the opposite, He has refused to abandon His people to their adversaries.

But notice the beautiful contrast David presents. Not only has God kept him from enemy hands, but He has "set my feet in a large room." The Hebrew word here suggests a broad, spacious place - somewhere with room to breathe, move, and flourish. God doesn't just rescue us from tight spots; He brings us into places of freedom and possibility.

This divine pattern of deliverance appears throughout Scripture. When the Israelites were trapped between Pharaoh's army and the Red Sea, God didn't merely provide escape - He opened a pathway through the waters and brought them into the wilderness toward the Promised Land. When Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, God didn't just protect him from the beasts - He elevated him to even greater prominence in the kingdom.

Perhaps you find yourself in a "tight spot" today. Maybe it's financial pressure, relationship conflict, health concerns, or spiritual dryness. Remember that our God specializes in making ways where there seem to be none. He takes delight in setting captives free and giving them room to thrive.

The "large room" God provides isn't always a change in circumstances, though it often is. Sometimes it's an expansion of our faith, a broadening of our perspective, or a deepening of our trust in His goodness. When we can't see the way out, He sees the way through.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that You do not abandon Your children to their enemies. When we feel trapped and overwhelmed, remind us that You are the God who sets feet in large rooms. Help us to trust in Your deliverance, even when the pathway isn't yet clear. Give us faith to believe that what feels confined today can become spacious tomorrow in Your perfect timing. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Reflection Questions:

- What "tight spots" in your life need God's intervention today?

- How has God provided you with "large rooms" in the past?

- What would it look like to trust God's deliverance even while still in difficult circumstances?

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