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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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

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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.

 

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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.

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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.

 

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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."

 

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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?

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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.

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