This picture was taken at an Israeli desert oasis. A stream of water flows through this canyon that starts with a waterfall forming a small pool and then gathers water from the limestone rock seen here. 

This picture speaks volumes about living versus existence. How so? There are three Hebrew words for desert. 

One word implies there is water and land capable of agriculture. Thus, you can stay in one place and make a good living even in the desert!

Another word implies there is water only in oasis like this one. This means you would have to know where these oasis are and then move from oasis to oasis in order to exist. 

The last word means there is no water; thus no life, let alone existence.

Living in this world can be like a desert. It’s hot and cold and quite challenging, even in the best of times. 

And yet, Jesus didn’t come to give us existence, but life.

He said that in following Him we can know that our time on this planet has value and purpose despite its challenges. 

He said that we can make disciples or followers of Him no matter where we live or how we make our living.

Want to feel alive and not just exist? Take your Jesus given purpose seriously. Focus on helping others love, become like and share Jesus. 

As you do, you will feel fulfilled and at peace even in the desert.

I don’t know all the details of tomorrow, but I’m in the hands of One who does today.

I heard a poll that shows most Americans are not happy. In fact, they are pessimistic. Some of the factors were Covid, inflation, lack of trust in any political party, and a possible war in the Ukraine.

The first thing that came to mind was the power of hope. In a 1950 Harvard study, “Rats were dropped into a pool of water to test how long they could tread water before sinking. On average, it was 15 minutes.

“Right before they gave up due to exhaustion, they would be plucked out, dried off, given a few minutes rest, and then put back in for round two.

“How long do you think they lasted? 5, 10, maybe 15 minutes? Nope. It was 60 hours!

“The conclusion was that the rats believed that they would be rescued. It was this hope that allowed them to push past what they previously thought impossible.”

Who gives us hope? Jesus! He plucked us out of this world, washed us clean and gave us rest. He provides the hope needed for days like ours.

We, as children of God through faith in what Jesus has already done, have the ultimate life changer living inside us who will not only take care of us today, but also take us home tomorrow!

Stay focused on your source of hope, the one Who can get you through more than you ever thought possible. And then, be ready to share this hope with those in need of hope.

“On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.” Edward Motes

What I originally “saw” in this photo was a number of daggers. Then I looked closely and noticed they were the shadows of a number of rocks.

The rock was the reality and the shadow was merely the shape caused by the sun’s light blocked by the rock. No matter the position of the sun, the rock doesn’t change. The shadow does.

Religion is the shadow. It’s mankind’s attempt at being the rock that results in a series of rules that seek to either control your behavior or to conform Jesus into a shadow.

Jesus is the rock. He didn’t teach a set rules to control you, but a relational lifestyle that results in you being freed from sin’s damaging control.

Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will obey Me.” Notice He doesn’t say do this or don’t do that because He’s in charge.

No, He said love Him. This love is based in trusting Him to determine what is best for us to be and then do. And, if we actually love Him, we will then follow Him even when what we “see” differs from what He says.

A living breathing loving relationship with Jesus brings great stability to our lives – a feeling of safety and security for today, tomorrow and eternity.

Move beyond a rule based life. Learn to love Jesus, especially in the ever changing times in which we live.

“Sometimes God lets you hit rock bottom so you will discover that He is the rock at the bottom.”

Can you imagine what these rocks might say if they could speak? Think about this for a second.

God created these rocks, which over time have been beaten by storms, baked under the sun, eroded by water and wind, and fallen to the ground or washed down stream.

Time has changed them. Yet, Scripture tells us that rocks praise Him because the Father’s thoughts are higher than ours; His ways are better than ours; and, His purposes will always succeed.

Do we always see this in our everyday life? No. There are simply times, however, when we just have to praise Him by faith anyways, in who He is and what He can do, especially when we can’t see or feel it.

As we rejoice by faith and let go of life’s stuff, our God, who is ever present, shows up in ways we could never imagine (Phil. 4:4-7).

Rocks praise Him. Shouldn’t we?

Be like a rock and praise your Jesus today. It will elevate your attitude.

“The terrible, tragic fallacy of the last hundred years has been to think that all man’s troubles are due to his environment, and that to change the man you have nothing to do but change his environment. That is a tragic fallacy. It overlooks the fact that it was in Paradise that man fell.” Martin Lloyd-Jones

When it comes to making our lives better we often focus outwardly rather than inwardly. And yet, changing jobs, moving to another location, buying new clothes will not change us. That’s like rearranging the chairs on the deck of a sinking ship.

Lasting change starts by looking inside. And this is the job of the Holy Spirit. He knows exactly what lies are stored in our minds or the past hurtful events that are holding us back from becoming more like Jesus, the only One who can truly satisfy – now and forever.

Yet, can we disconnect from what we are doing in order to let Him do His job? Just something to think about.

“Surrender is series of choices, not a one off event.” Real life change starts with one step and then the next. Please take this journey – for your sake and the world’s.