“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” — Matthew 6:33 NIV Some of my fondest childhood memories are of playing hide-and-seek with my friends. There was the thrill of the search and the anticipation of victory. We could play for hours looking behind bushes, crawling under beds, and searching through closets. As adults, we can lose our zeal for the hunt even as the stakes are far higher. Many things are readily availab

We have all experienced unexpected circumstances. The thing about the unexpected is, true to its meaning, we do not see these events coming. We become that proverbial “deer caught in the headlights” and lose our way. This can bring great joy or profound concern, but either way, unexpected events can wreak havoc with our mind, heart, daily routines, and time.

My sister gave me two different pairs of sunglasses. Pair A is stylish with lightly tinted lenses and gold frames, aka Aviator glasses, because the outward-facing lens has a mirror-reflective coating. Pair B is promotional sunglasses with dark UV-coated lenses and frog-green frames. When I use Pair A, the world is golden- colored. I see the beauty of the landscape.

Many of us get excited when we see a rainbow—its vibrant colors and rarity make it a special sight. However, that rainbow belongs to Noah, as it symbolizes God’s promise never again to flood the earth. What about the storms in life? Have you ever counted your rainbows afterward? I mean those moments that remind you of times God has been merciful, spared you, or delivered you in impossible situations, as only he can.

Love. Joy. Peace. Kindness. Goodness. Gentleness. Self-control. Those words sound wonderful when life is going well. They are beautiful when embroidered on pillows, printed on bookmarks, and highlighted in our Bibles. But what happens when life gives us a reason to be angry? What happens when fear replaces peace, grief threatens joy, and someone’s actions make kindness feel almost impossible?

“A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” — Proverbs 16:9 NKJV I have a daily plan, a weekly plan, a yearly plan, plans for school, plans for church, and plans for work. Plans abound as we move through life. Yet for all our planning, when the boots hit the ground, events often fall apart or must be altered. It’s amazing how few plans work in real life. Still, we make plans. People like to organize. It gives us a feeling of control. We feel as though we

Haven’t we all succumbed to this lie at one time or another? Here’s a phrase that should put you on high alert: “If only.” It sounds something like this: “If only I had a new car, if only I could get the promotion, if only I had the latest cell phone, or if only I got a popular toy... then life would be perfect.”

Halfway through a four-hour return flight, Sara experienced a medical emergency. We gratefully accepted the caring help to get her through that in-flight ordeal. Sara then spent five days in the hospital.

After enduring numerous trials, recognizing positive events becomes challenging. Or maybe you've prayed repeatedly for something, yet it feels like God isn't responding. This can lead to discouragement, making you feel unseen by God. You become weary and then decide, "I'm going to take action, regardless of whether it pleases God." You seek to escape the sensation of helplessness or stagnation.

I grew up in a rural section of eastern North Carolina where miles of crops lined the curvy country roads. Although both my grandparents owned farms, our family lived in town, one block from East Carolina College, with its large, lush lawn and towering trees.

Whatever your setback may be, remember this: setbacks do not surprise God. He often uses the very things we would remove from our lives to shape us into the people He has called us to become.

God often gives us opportunities—quiet, ordinary moments that become “one of those days” where our words or actions make a real difference in someone else’s life, even when we may never fully see the impact. This isn’t meant to be a sentimental or overly warm reflection but something grounded and honest that we can all relate to. When we look to God’s Word, we’re reminded that meaningful impact is often found in simple obedience and everyday faithfulness.

My first experience rowing a boat was on vacation in Florida. I was about twelve years old. My parents and their friends watched me from the beach as I tried to maneuver the small vessel.

While we learn to walk through stressful seasons, we sometimes stumble for various reasons: perhaps weakness, selfishness, or a lack of faith in God. We lean on our own understanding rather than depending on God’s goodness and wisdom. But God knows our every need.

I’ve lived with depression for a long time. I used to feel ashamed of it. Like if I were a better Christian, maybe I wouldn’t struggle the way I do. Maybe I’d be stronger, happier, or lighter. But I’ve learned that struggling doesn’t cancel out faith. Struggling doesn’t make you less than. And God doesn’t wait until we’re perfect before he calls us his. This verse in 1 John doesn’t say that victory comes from our strength or our performance. It says that our faith is the vict

But the heart has other feelings. Hearts break, hearts weep, and hearts cry out for help. Hearts cling to the warm, fuzzy feelings of love, but they also hold on to profound loss, sadness, fear, and doubt. If we’re expecting our lives to look like the perfect Hallmark movie, the odds of that happening aren’t always in our favor.

Suddenly, uncontrollable tears streamed down my face as pent-up emotions surfaced. I reached for a tissue while tears flowed, and relief flooded me. God uncovered the dreadful memory of a critique where someone’s harsh criticism plunged me into deep despair. After forgiving her, I thought everything was well, but it didn’t erase the words stuck in my head.

When I hear the word unstoppable, I usually think of progress. Forward motion. Checking boxes and getting things done. I think of effort, determination, and pushing through no matter how tired I feel. But God has been teaching me that unstoppable does not always look like constant movement. Sometimes it looks like letting go and trusting him to take the lead.

When I look back at the seasons of my life marked by pain and struggle, I can see God’s hand gently at work, making me new. I may not have experienced instant healing, but I’ve experienced transformation.