The Postman's Lantern #Nightlight #RTTBROS

The Postman's Lantern #Nightlight 

#RTTBROS 

The Postman's Lantern

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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How Do We Respond? #Nightlight #RTTBROS

How Do We Respond? #Nightlight 

#RTTBROS 

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

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

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

Christ-Centered Responses to Darkness.

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

 Stand Firm in Truth's Victory 

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

Channel Grief into Greater Gospel Witness.

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

Strengthen Unity in the Body of Christ.

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

 Intensify Your Love for Those Who Disagree.

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

Anchor Your Hope in Eternal Perspectives. 

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

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

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

Trust God's Sovereign Plan.

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

Live with Fearless Faith.

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

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Encores #change #Growth #Nightlight #RTTBROS #Communication

Encores, Not Leftovers: The Power of Words #Nightlight 

#RTTBROS #WordsMatter #ChooseJoy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer:

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

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Acceptance with Joy #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Acceptance with Joy #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The Best Question Ever! #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Best Question Ever #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

The Best Question Ever

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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