Category: Catalyst (Page 8 of 35)

A catalyst is one that sparks something. The catalyst speaks from experience and enables others to move forward more freely. These articles are written to act as a catalyst in your life.

Embrace Truth, Don’t Dilute It

March 18, 2025 / / 1 Comment

In a world obsessed with bite-sized content, instant gratification, and comfortable ideologies, the Church faces a crucial question: Have we traded the hard, soul-refining truth of God’s Word for something more palatable—something easier to swallow but ultimately less powerful?

It seems more and more that Christianity has been reduced, in many circles, to a moral code and a weekly gathering. Be kind. Be generous. Don’t judge. Go to church. These are all good things—but they’re not the gospel. Somewhere along the line, we’ve started watering down the wild, world-turning truth of Jesus to fit into modern attention spans and emotional comfort zones. We’ve gone from preaching repentance and transformation to offering motivational soundbites and vague spiritual encouragements.

We’ve diluted the Law to avoid offending anyone. We’ve softened the Gospel to make it more inclusive. But in doing so, have we actually robbed it of its power?

Let’s be honest: following Jesus was never meant to be easy or safe. It was never meant to be a set of manageable morals or feel-good messages. It was meant to be a complete and total surrender—a radical reordering of our lives around the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus. Look Jesus didn’t say, “Follow me when it’s convenient.” He said, “Take up your cross and follow me.” That’s not palatable—it’s costly. A cross means a willingness to die. Does that describe the Christianity you’re pursuing?

And yet, when the church begins to focus more on making truth easy to accept than empowering people to truly understand it, something gets lost. We stop discipling and start entertaining. We stop equipping and start appeasing. We give people inspirational fluff instead of deeply rooted theological formation. And the result? Shallow faith, spiritual confusion, and churches full (and that’s being generous) of people who are vaguely moral but hardly missional.

The truth is not always simple. Actually it rarely is simple! It is often messy, challenging, and deeply uncomfortable. But it is also liberating. Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Not the abridged truth. Not the adjusted truth. The full, fierce, life-changing truth.

Truth that exposes our sin, not to shame us, but to heal us. Truth that confronts our idols and invites us into transformation. Truth that demands we not just believe in Jesus but become like Him.

If a doctor does tests to determine the cause of that lump you found but tries to soften the blow a bit by not telling you it really is cancer. Is that helping you? Does it help when we don’t call a sin a sin? No it lets us go on living as if nothing is wrong when it actually is!

So why have we traded the truth for something easier?

Maybe we fear that people will walk away if the message is too strong. Maybe we’re afraid of being labeled judgmental or outdated. Maybe we’ve bought the lie that we need to compete with culture instead of simply being the light in the midst of it.

But the early church didn’t grow because it blended in—it grew because it stood out. They lived differently. They loved boldly. They held firm to the teachings of Jesus, even when it cost them their comfort, their reputation, or even their lives. That’s what real discipleship looks like.

It’s time we reclaim that kind of faith. One that embraces truth in all its grit and glory. One that teaches people how to think deeply about God’s Word, not just what to think. One that moves beyond shallow slogans and into the depths of Scripture, Spirit, and sanctification.

The world doesn’t need another watered-down version of Christianity. It needs followers of Jesus who are so transformed by truth that their lives become a living testimony. It needs a church that doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff but leans into it—because the hard stuff is often where the healing begins. The hard stuff is where people live every single day.

Let’s stop simplifying truth to make it more palatable. Let’s start raising up disciples who can chew on meat, not just sip on milk. Let’s teach people that the gospel isn’t just about behavior modification—it’s about heart transformation.

Because in the end, it’s not about comfort. It’s about Christ.

And He’s worth every ounce of the truth.

Mic Drop in Nazareth

March 17, 2025 / / 0 Comments

There’s something electric about firsts. The first word of a child. The first speech of a new government official. The first sermon of a preacher. In Luke 4:16–30, we get the unforgettable moment when Jesus delivers what many believe is His first recorded sermon—and it’s a mic drop moment that left His hometown stunned, offended, and ultimately enraged.

We start with Jesus returning to Nazareth, His hometown, where He had grown up and was known as “Joseph’s son.” On the Sabbath, He steps into the synagogue, as was His custom, and is handed the scroll of Isaiah. He opens it and finds a passage we now recognize as Isaiah 61—a prophetic vision of God’s justice, mercy, and liberation.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
(Luke 4:18–19)

Then, with the eyes of everyone fixed on Him, Jesus calmly declares:

“Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21)

Mic. Drop.

He’s not saying, “This passage points to a future event.” He’s not saying, “Someday God will do this.” He’s saying, “It’s happening. Right now. In me.”

This is Jesus’ inaugural sermon, and He doesn’t ease into it. He claims to be the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. He says He is the one bringing good news to the poor, freedom to the oppressed, and sight to the blind. This is not the soft launch of a nice hometown boy turned spiritual leader. This is a bold declaration that the long-awaited kingdom of God is bursting onto the scene—through Him.

At first, the people are amazed. But then things quickly shift.

Jesus anticipates their skepticism: “You’ll say, ‘Do here what you did in Capernaum.’” He calls out their expectation that He should do miracles to prove Himself. Then, He reminds them that prophets aren’t accepted in their hometowns, and that God’s blessings in the Old Testament often came to outsiders—like the widow in Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian.

Now the room turns. The people who were amazed are now furious. Why? Because Jesus isn’t just announcing good news—He’s redefining who the good news is for. He’s telling His hometown crowd that God’s grace is bigger than their boundaries. It’s for the outsiders too. The foreigners. The poor. The broken. The ones they didn’t expect—and maybe didn’t want—included.

That’s the power of this sermon. Jesus sets the tone for His ministry right here: radical grace, bold truth, and a boundary-breaking love that refuses to be boxed in.

It was offensive then, and honestly, for many still stings today. Jesus doesn’t play to our comfort zones. He doesn’t stay safe or small. He preaches a kingdom that flips the script and rattles the status quo.

Luke 4 reminds us that the gospel was never meant to be tame. It was—and is—a mic drop moment that demands a response.

So… how will you respond?

I Think We’ve Been Doing It Wrong

March 12, 2025 / / 0 Comments

There’s a line that haunts me and should do the same for the modern church:
“We’re more well known for what we’re against than what we’re for.”

The reason it’s so haunting is because it’s true! Somewhere along the line, curiosity died. We stopped asking how God might be moving in the world and settled for condemning anything that didn’t fit neatly into our religious categories.

We traded wonder for war. And the gospel doesn’t need more gatekeepers—it needs witnesses.

It’s time for a reset.

Curiosity Isn’t Compromise

Let’s get this straight: being curious is not the same as being soft on truth. We don’t elevate curiosity to avoid conviction—we elevate it to avoid arrogance.

The problem isn’t that we care about truth. The problem is that we’ve started thinking we are the creators of truth.

Truth belongs to God. We are stewards, not bouncers. We hold the truth with courage, but we share it with compassion.

That means instead of blasting everything we don’t like in culture, we start asking better questions:

  • Where’s the image of God breaking through here?
  • What ache for redemption is underneath this trend?
  • How can we point people to Jesus from this exact place?

That’s exactly what Paul did in Acts 17. Standing in the middle of a city drowning in idols, he didn’t light it up with condemnation. He opened his mouth with curiosity.

“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.”
(Acts 17:22, ESV)

That’s not flattery. It’s insight. Paul noticed their hunger. Instead of condemning them for having it all wrong, for worshiping other gods, for condemning them for not wearing the right clothes or using page 5 or 15 in their hymnals – he found common ground. He leaned in with curiosity. He found their altar “To the unknown god” and said, Let me tell you who He is.

“What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”
(Acts 17:23, ESV)

That’s bold. That’s missional. That’s curious without being spineless. He didn’t snub his nose at them nor did he crumble under the pressure to be relevant. He leaned in with gospel curiosity and God opened a door for His Word to shine through.

We Need a Curious Church Again

A curious church is a dangerous church—in the best way possible.

Because curiosity opens doors that criticism slams shut.
Curiosity engages. Criticism alienates.
Curiosity listens. Criticism lectures.
Curiosity builds bridges. Criticism burns them down.

Jesus never backed down from truth, but He constantly asked questions that unlocked people’s hearts.

“What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51, ESV)
“Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15, ESV)
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46, ESV)

Jesus wasn’t afraid of hard questions. So why are we?

If we want to reach people, we need to stop lobbing grenades at culture and start sitting at tables. Remember Zaccheus anyone? If we want to represent Jesus well, we need to stop treating curiosity like a threat and start seeing it as a tool of the Spirit.

Let’s Be Known for What We’re For

Here’s the challenge: what if we became known again—not for what we boycott—but for what we build?

We’re for truth.
We’re for grace.
We’re for families, students, single parents, skeptics, and strugglers.
We’re for justice and mercy and life in Jesus.
We’re for the kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven.

We don’t need to run from culture or rage against it. We can walk into it—eyes open, Bibles in hand, hearts on fire.

The church doesn’t need to be louder.
It needs to be deeper.
More curious.
More Spirit-led.
More like Jesus.

Let’s stop critiquing from the sidelines and start engaging from the streets. Let’s be like Paul in Athens—deeply rooted, wildly curious, and bold enough to speak truth wherever and whenever we find an altar to the unknown.

Because maybe… just maybe… God’s already there, waiting for someone to connect the dots.

Top 5 Cultural Trends the Church Can’t Ignore

March 11, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Culture is shifting faster than Vin Diesel in one of the Fast and Furious movies! And all too often, the church is late to the conversation—showing up with a cassette tape when the world has moved to streaming. If we want to reach people where they are, we can’t just critique culture from a distance; we need to engage it with biblical wisdom. Throwing a bible verse across the driveway at your neighbor who doesn’t see the world the same way as you isn’t working! Here are five cultural trends the church must pay attention to and how we can respond in a way that reflects who Jesus has called us to be.

1. The Rise of Digital Community and Loneliness

People are more connected than ever—but at the same time more isolated than ever. Social media, gaming communities, and online forums have created digital spaces for virtual relationships, yet depression and loneliness are at all-time highs. The world is craving deep, meaningful connection. While these apps and digital media program allow us to interact with dozens, if not hundreds, of people on a daily basis – they’re not giving us the meaningful connections we need to thrive.

How the Church Should Respond:
Stop treating online engagement like a second-tier ministry. Jesus met people where they were, and today, that means showing up in digital spaces. Try investing in online small groups, using social media to build engagement (posting more than mere announcements), and equip people to be digital missionaries. Most importantly, cultivate a church culture where in-person relationships thrive. Make church feel like family.

I’ve seen far too many churches water down their digital content in an effort to force people to come closer. But it’s having the opposite effect! They’re leaving your live stream for a place where they can connect before they fully embrace in person life. And that whole digital missionary bit…my son actually asked me the other day how to plant a church on a digital platform. So guess what! That’s next on the to-do list – starting a fully virtual church for people disconnected from in person situations. His goal is to start with military and see where we go from there.

2. Changing Views on Identity and Belonging

From gender and sexuality to political and racial identity, people are searching for a place to belong. Many are defining themselves by labels, movements, and ideologies because they’re desperate to know who they are and where they fit. If the church avoids these conversations, culture will answer them.

How the Church Should Respond:
Preach biblical identity with compassion. The answer to the identity crisis isn’t a set of rules—it’s a person: Jesus. Instead of reacting in fear or outrage, create a space where people can wrestle with their questions. Instead of condemning or condoning, take time to listen to what’s at the heart of the struggle. Show them that their deepest identity isn’t found in cultural labels or national trends. It’s found in being a child of God. Be a church that welcomes people first and disciples them with truth second.

A question we wrestle with in the congregation I serve, and in a network with which I’m associated, is can we help people belong before they believe? And the answer is YES if you’re willing to try!

3. The Demand for Authenticity and Transparency

People today can smell a fake from a mile away. They’ve seen leaders fall, institutions crumble, and scandals rock the church. They’re not looking for polished performances—they want real, honest faith.

How the Church Should Respond:
Ditch the facade man! Pastors, share your struggles. You’re not a superhero so stop trying to put out the image that you’re perfect. Your special shirt or white robe don’t make you better than anyone but that’s what many people feel you’re saying.

Churches, acknowledge failures and commit to integrity. Jesus never pretended to be something He wasn’t—He was real, raw, and completely truthful. The more we embrace authenticity, the more people will trust that the gospel is real, too. Let people enter with all the fears, failures and false statements. It’s ok if they don’t get it perfect right away. The church is for the screwups not the self-righteous.

4. The Decline of Institutional Trust (Yeah Churches Too!)

Let’s be real—many people don’t trust institutions anymore, and sadly, the church has lost credibility in many circles too. Scandals, hypocrisy, and a lack of accountability have made people skeptical at best! If we ignore this, we risk pushing even more people away and potentially losing an entire generation.

How the Church Should Respond:
Rebuild trust through transparency and action. Don’t just say you care—show it. When you tell someone that you’ll pray for them, DO IT! Right there. In that moment, just offer a simple prayer. Then check up on them later so you can revisit that prayer connection.

Be open about church finances, hold leaders accountable, and prioritize integrity. When people see a church that actually lives out what it preaches, trust is quickly restored. The gospel is trustworthy; our leadership should be, too.

5. The Growing Hunger for Purpose and Meaning

Despite all the distractions of modern life, people are starving for something deeper. Self-help books, meditation apps, and hustle culture are booming because people are searching for purpose. The question is: Will the church step in with real answers?

How the Church Should Respond:
Stop making church about just attending a service. Teach people that following Jesus means living with radical purpose. Help them see how their work, relationships, and daily life are part of God’s mission. Give them a vision for faith that’s bigger than Sunday morning. When people discover that their lives have eternal significance, they won’t settle for anything less.

Does your church have an intentional set of values, mission statement, and vision that’s compelling? If not, then we need to talk! I have a resource we used that has totally changed the landscape of this local congregation!

Engage, Don’t Escape

The church was never meant to hide from culture—it was meant to influence it. Instead of standing on the sidelines, let’s engage the world with truth and grace. The trends will keep changing, but the gospel remains the same. If we listen, learn, and lead with wisdom, we won’t just keep up with culture—we’ll transform it from the inside.

It’s time to step up. Let’s be the church the world needs today.

Stop Hiding Behind “Faithfulness”

March 10, 2025 / / 1 Comment

Let’s just rip the Band-Aid off:
The size of your church is not a spiritual scoreboard.
And no, your small attendance doesn’t automatically make you more faithful than the megachurch down the street. The same is true the other way around and we’ll address that one in a future post, but for now hang with me.

I’ve heard the quiet grumble all too often: “Well, we may be small, but at least we’re faithful.” It’s the humblebrag of dying churches. It’s what pastors whisper to themselves after another Sunday where it feels like the only thing multiplying is the empty chairs.

Here’s the hard truth: Faithfulness and fruitfulness are not enemies. Go ahead and read that again. They were never supposed to be. But we’ve turned “faithfulness” into a security blanket to shield us from the sting of ineffectiveness.

Not too long ago when talking with a brother pastor, I was asked, “What are you all doing that’s causing the congregation to grow? My reply was simple, We’re teaching the Bible man. That’s really all we’re doing right now. And God is just blessing it. The look on his face was one of sheer amazement. Then I was shocked by his reply “There’s no way that just preaching the gospel can draw people to the local church.”

Umm…What?!?! If we’re using anything other than the gospel to bring people to the church, then we’re doing it WRONG!

Let’s be clear—faithfulness does matter. Of course it does. God calls us to be faithful. Faithful in preaching the Word. Faithful in prayer. Faithful in loving people and making disciples. But faithfulness isn’t an excuse for fruitlessness. If your church hasn’t baptized anyone in years, if your community doesn’t even know you exist, if your idea of outreach is a potluck for people who already know Jesus—maybe it’s time to stop blaming “culture” and start asking better questions.

Sometimes we wrap our lack of impact in the language of purity. We say ridiculous things to excuse our laziness. Things like:
“We’re not about numbers.”
“We’re not here to entertain.”
“We’re not going to compromise to attract people.”

Sure. Fine. But are you actually reaching people? Are lives being changed? Is the Gospel going anywhere outside your four walls? Because Jesus didn’t say, ‘Go therefore and preserve a faithful remnant of the already converted.’

He said make disciples. Of all nations. That’s movement. That’s growth. That’s multiplication. As much as we may not like to admit it, Jesus was about growing the church! He wants heaven to be one heck of a family reunion for a family that’s growing larger everyday.

On the flip side, just because a church is big doesn’t mean it’s healthy. You can pack a room with smoke machines and still be spiritually bankrupt. A full building doesn’t always mean full hearts. But let’s not pretend that size automatically means compromise, either. Some churches are big because they’re faithful—faithful to the Word, faithful to the mission, and faithful to reaching people where they are.

We do not have to compromise the teachings of the faith in order to reach our community. We don’t have to give up the ghost for our churches to grow (wider and deeper).

God doesn’t grade on a curve based on attendance, but He does expect fruit.

Jesus cursed the fig tree not because it was small, but because it had no fruit. Let that sit for a minute. If you and the church you attend were that fig tree, what would Jesus do to you? I’m sorry if this sounds convicting. The reality is we’ve all grown a little complacent with just making it. But that’s not at all what God had in store for his church!

So what do we do with this?

We stop playing the comparison game. Get a group of pastors in a room and ask them how church is going. The first answer is generally the size of their worship on Sunday. That was not the question.

We stop idolizing bigness and romanticizing smallness. I talk to a lot of pastors these days and I hear this more often than I would like to admit. Not only is it a sheer numbers issue for them, it’s also a comparison game. Whether they’re not as big as the box church who has all the programs and young people in attendance. Or they just love how intimate they are so that no one gets lost in the crowd. Neither are the point of the church in the New Testament!

We stop blaming the world for not listening and start asking if we’re actually speaking their language. Why is the world and the culture around us not listening? It’s because we’re not saying anything they want or need to hear. We’re ignoring their biggest needs and preaching about our pet peeves. We start programs and ministries that we want, and totally ignore the main hurts present in our community.

And maybe—just maybe—we stop using “faithfulness” as a polite way to avoid talking about the fact that we’ve grown largely complacent – aka comfortable with not growing at all.

Being small isn’t a sin. But staying small while ignoring the Great Commission might be.

Let’s kill the pride that masquerades as humility. Let’s stop hiding behind noble-sounding phrases that excuse our lack of vision, creativity, or effort. Let’s be faithful—and let that faithfulness drive us to innovate, to risk, to adapt, to stretch, and to expect that the Holy Spirit might actually move when we do.

Because here’s the deal: God’s kingdom is not stuck. It’s advancing. And if we’re standing still and calling it faithfulness, we might just be missing the point.

Faithfulness isn’t passive. It fights. It moves. It multiplies.

So stop hiding. Own where you are. Repent if you need to. Dream again. Risk again. Plant seeds. The church of Jesus Christ is meant to grow. Not always in numbers. Not always overnight. But always in reach. Always in depth. Always in Gospel impact.

Small or large—be faithful. But don’t use that word to cover up what Jesus is actually calling you to do.

Let’s be faithful and fruitful. The world is too broken and Jesus is too worthy for anything less.

Top 3 Ways to Overcome Doubt and Strengthen Your Faith

March 4, 2025 / / 0 Comments

If we’re being honest, everyone wrestles with doubt at some point. Whether it’s questioning God’s timing, His goodness, or if He’s even listening, doubt creeps in when life throws curveballs. Maybe your prayers feel unanswered, or the world seems too broken to believe God is in control. Here’s the good news: doubt isn’t the enemy of faith—doubt can actually deepen faith when you face it head-on.

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure, you’re not alone. The Bible is filled with people who questioned, doubted, and struggled… and the cool part is God met them right there. Here are three practical ways to overcome doubt and strengthen your faith when life gets a little shaky.

1. Bring Your Doubts to God (Yes, He Can Handle Them)

You don’t need to hide your doubts from God. He already knows what’s on your mind, so you might as well be honest. The Psalms are full of raw prayers like, “How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1). God doesn’t get offended by your questions. In fact, He invites them.

When doubt creeps in, talk to Him. Say, “God, I don’t understand this. I’m struggling to trust You right now. Help me see what I’m missing.” That kind of honesty builds a real relationship. Doubt isn’t a sign of weak faith; pretending everything’s fine when it isn’t is what holds you back.

Pro tip: Write your doubts in a journal. Sometimes putting them on paper helps you see things more clearly—and you might notice how God answers over time.

2. Surround Yourself with People Who Build Your Faith

Doubt thrives in isolation. When you’re left alone with your thoughts, negativity and questions can and likely will spiral. That’s why community matters. Surround yourself with people who encourage you, pray with you, and point you back to God when you can’t see Him clearly. Sitting alone or pushing friends away in moments of fear or weakness rarely works to your benefit!

This is where being part of a church family, a growth group, or youth group (if you’re a student) makes all the difference. Sometimes you need someone else to carry the faith for you when yours feels weak. We weren’t meant to do this journey alone.

Bonus tip: Ask a trusted friend or mentor how they’ve navigated their own doubts. You’ll be surprised how common it is—and how their story can strengthen yours.

3. Look Back at God’s Faithfulness (Your Past Reminds You of His Track Record)

When doubt starts to take over, it helps to remember where God has come through in the past. Think about challenges you thought you’d never get through… but you did. That wasn’t by accident. Often God uses your past struggles to set you up for what you’re going through today.

God has a proven track record of faithfulness. Recalling how He worked in your life (or in others’ lives) fuels trust for the future. In the Old Testament, people would build altars or memorial stones to remind themselves of God’s help. You might not have a pile of rocks in your yard, but you can keep a list of answered prayers or moments when God showed up.

Encouragement: When you can’t see what God is doing now, look back on what He’s done before. His character doesn’t change—if He was faithful then, He’ll be faithful now.

Doubt doesn’t disqualify you from faith. It’s a part of the journey. What matters is what you do with it. Bring your questions to God, lean on your community, and remind yourself of how He’s come through before.

Faith isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about trusting the One who does. And guess what? He’s got you. Even in the doubt. Even in the questions. Keep pressing in. You might just find your faith growing stronger than you ever imagined.

The Grass Is Greener Over the Septic Tank

February 28, 2025 / / 0 Comments

We’ve all heard it: The grass is greener on the other side. That phrase has led people to quit jobs, walk away from marriages, leave churches, chase trends, and uproot their lives—only to realize too late that “the other side” was just an illusion.

Ok, so let’s talk about real grass for a second. Ever drive through the country and see a yard where one patch of grass is noticeably greener than the rest? Guess what’s underneath it? It’s probably septic tank. Yeah, all that lush, vibrant green grass is being fed by, well… crap.

That should tell us something.

Fertilized by the Mess

Life stinks sometimes. You go through betrayals, failures, disappointments. You get blindsided by heartbreak, struggle through a dead-end job, or feel stuck in a season where nothing seems to be going right. It’s easy to look at someone else’s situation and think, If only I had what they had. If only I could start over there.

But what if the very thing you’re going through right now—the hardship, the pain, the “crappy” season—is the fertilizer for the best growth of your life?

The Bible is full of people who found the best endings from the worst circumstances:

  • Joseph went from being betrayed and sold into slavery to running Egypt.
  • Ruth lost everything and became a widow but ended up in the family line of Jesus.
  • Paul got thrown in prison and wrote some of the most powerful letters in Scripture.

They didn’t run to the “greener” grass. They stayed where God had them and let Him use even the worst situations for something powerful.

Stop Chasing Illusions

The grass isn’t greener on the other side. It’s greener where it’s watered and fertilized.

People leave jobs, churches, and relationships thinking something better is out there, but they’re bringing the same unhealed heart, the same bad habits, and the same discontentment with them. The problem isn’t always the location—it’s the lack of cultivation. It’s a failure of motivation. It’s a void of initiative.

So, what if instead of chasing after some idealized version of life, you started watering where you are? What if you saw your tough season as an opportunity instead of a curse?

The Best Growth Comes from the Worst Mess

God is in the business of redeeming the garbage (crap) of our lives. He takes what stinks, what’s broken, what looks hopeless, and turns it into something beautiful.

So, the next time you’re tempted to think the grass is greener somewhere else, remember: The greenest grass is often growing over the biggest mess. Maybe, just maybe, God is using your current situation to grow something you never expected.

Don’t run. Dig in. Water where you are. Watch what He does next.

Busy Is the New Lazy

February 24, 2025 / / 0 Comments

“I’d love to help, but I’m just too busy.”
“I really want to get more involved…but life is crazy right now.”
“I know I should spend more time with God, but there’s just so much going on.”

Sound familiar?

We’ve all said it. Life moves fast—work deadlines, family commitments, kids’ activities, social obligations. There’s always something demanding our attention. But here’s the truth: Busyness, while understandable, can easily become an excuse to not try.

If we’re not careful, being “too busy” becomes the reason we stop serving, stop growing, stop connecting, and stop worshiping.

Busy Isn’t the Problem—It’s our Priorities

The hard reality? We make time for what matters most to us.

We rarely “forget” to eat or skip our favorite shows. We carve out time for what fills us—whether that’s entertainment, hobbies, or scrolling through our phones. So why does time with God, serving others, or gathering for worship so easily get pushed to the bottom of the list?

Jesus lived a full life. Crowds followed Him, people constantly sought His help, and His mission was nothing short of saving the world. Yet, He still made time to step away, pray, and prioritize His relationship with the Father (Luke 5:16).

If Jesus needed that space, how much more do we?

Busyness Can Quietly Erode Your Spiritual Life

We tell ourselves, “It’s just a busy season—it’ll slow down soon.” But if we’re honest, another season of busyness always follows. The enemy doesn’t always need to tempt us with obvious sin; sometimes, he just keeps us distracted enough to prevent spiritual growth.

Think about it:

  • How often do you say, “I just don’t have time to pray,” yet find time to scroll social media?
  • How many weekends fill up with activities, while worship and community with believers take a backseat?
  • How often do good things—work, family events, hobbies—crowd out the best thing: time with God?

These are hard questions, not to induce guilt, but to invite reflection. Life will be full—but is it full of the right things?

Let’s Be Honest

We all juggle responsibilities. No one’s asking you to neglect work or family. But what if being “too busy” for God actually points to misplaced priorities rather than a packed schedule?

What if, instead of saying, “I don’t have time,” we just simply admitted, “It hasn’t been a priority”? It’s uncomfortable—but it’s also freeing. When we’re honest about what matters most, we can make meaningful changes.

Jesus asked, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36).

Busyness might help us achieve goals, advance careers, or keep our families entertained—but if it costs us intimacy with God or the Spiritual wellbeing of our kiddos, is it really worth it?

Parents: Your kids notice what you prioritize. Making time for worship and spiritual conversations speaks louder than any lecture.
Professionals: No promotion is worth spiritual exhaustion. Your faith life will be there far after your new raise.
Students: Your schedule feels packed now, but forming good habits today shapes you for a healthy future.

Let’s Get Practical

You don’t need a complete life overhaul—just a few intentional steps:

✅ Reflect on Your Time: Where do the hours go? (Check your screen time or your calendar—you might be surprised.)
✅ Prioritize Worship: Sunday worship isn’t just another item on the to-do list—it’s soul-filling fuel. Missing periodically should be just that, periodically. I have to commend those people who I see come on Sunday even though they have to leave early. Making worship a priority, even if you have to scoot before it’s over, is a huge step in the right direction!
✅ Say “No” So You Can Say “Yes”: Not everything deserves your “yes.” Protect space for what truly matters. I heard one time that every yes represents a no somewhere else. By saying “yes” to this one thing, what are you also saying “no” to?
✅ Schedule God-Time: Put Scripture reading and prayer on your calendar like any other important appointment.

Let’s Not Miss What Matters

One day, the meetings, practices, and deadlines won’t matter. But your relationship with Jesus—that one’s gonna last forever.

Being busy isn’t a sin—but being too busy for God robs you of joy, peace, and even purpose. Let’s not settle for lives so full of “stuff” that we miss the fullness of life in Christ.

So here’s the gentle challenge: What’s one thing you can adjust this week to make more room for God?

You’ll never regret putting Him at the center of all you do.

Control What You Can, Drop the Rest

February 13, 2025 / / 0 Comments

You’re stressing over things you have zero control over. And it’s killing your joy. It’s thwarted your productivity. And your peace of mind is anything but peaceful! You’re worried about what people think of you, the economy, the weather, the political climate, the price of eggs, the latest social media drama—things that are completely out of your hands.

It’s time to stop. Right now.

Instead, focus on the one thing you can actually do something about: YOU.

What’s In Your Control?

We need to be totally honest about what’s actually within our power. You have 100% control over:

  • Your attitude – Nobody forces you to be bitter, resentful, or negative. That’s a choice. So is gratitude, positivity, and resilience. Choose wisely!
  • Your actions – You decide if you’re going to show up, follow through, and be consistent. No one makes that decision for you.
  • Your honesty – Telling the truth isn’t just moral; it simplifies your life. Lies pile up. Integrity is simple.
  • Your time management – Being on time isn’t about traffic, kids, or circumstances. It’s about priorities and respect. Plan ahead. Set alarms. Leave early. Be on time!
  • Your health habits – What you eat, how much you move, when you go to bed—these are all choices you make. No one is forcing you to eat garbage, skip workouts, or doom-scroll until 1 AM.
  • Your discipline – Success isn’t about motivation; it’s about discipline. You won’t always “feel” like doing what needs to be done. Do it anyway. Doing the hard thing when you don’t want to is often the time you grow the most.

What’s NOT In Your Control?

Here’s where people lose their minds—obsessing over things that will never be in their control:

  • Other people’s opinions – Listen closely. You could be the most perfect, kind, talented human on the planet, and someone will still dislike you. Ever heard of Jesus? Yeah they killed him because he was too kind! Stop living for approval that will never fully come.
  • The weather – Complaining about it won’t change it. Dress accordingly and move on. Grab an umbrella. Put on a sweatshirt. Turn on the fan.
  • Traffic – You’re not parting the Red Sea anytime soon. Plan for it or accept it. People won’t drive like you so complaining won’t matter. You could always just move to a location where your biggest traffic concern is a combine or three ladies riding horses down the road – that’s exactly what I did.
  • The past – Regret changes nothing. Learn from it, own your mistakes, and move forward. Failure does not have to be fatal if you learn from it and make the necessary adjustments.
  • Other people’s behavior – You can’t make people kinder, smarter, more considerate, or more rational. That’s their business, not yours. If people cross your values, you can easily love them from a distance.

The Cost of Trying to Control the Uncontrollable

When you waste energy on things you can’t change, you rob yourself of energy for the things you can. Your mental bandwidth is limited. Do you really want to use it worrying about someone’s comment on Facebook or whether it’s going to snow in Ohio…in January?!

When you hyper-focus on things beyond your reach, you become frustrated, anxious, and exhausted. Meanwhile, the things you CAN control—your habits, your mindset, your discipline—they all fall apart. That’s how you wake up one day feeling stuck, bitter, and overwhelmed.

Freedom

You want peace? Focus on what’s in your hands. When you take ownership of what you can control and release the rest, life gets simpler. You have more clarity, less stress, and a deeper sense of purpose. You start making real progress because your energy is spent on things that actually move the needle forward.

So today, right now, make the decision:

  • Stop obsessing over things you can’t change.
  • Start owning the things you can.
  • Be on time. Eat well. Exercise. Drink your water. Tell the truth. Get to bed at a decent hour. Show up for yourself and others.

That’s the stuff that changes your life.

Everything else? Let It Go Elsa!

The Power of Rest

February 10, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Life moves fast, especially for busy families. Between work, school, sports, and endless errands, we often feel like we’re sprinting from one thing to the next, barely catching our breath. In the middle of this chaos, Jesus speaks a powerful invitation in Matthew 11:28-30:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

These words may sound simple, but they hold the key to experiencing the grace of Jesus in a way that transforms our everyday lives.

The Grace Found in Rest

Many of us think of grace as something we receive when we first believe in Jesus—a gift that forgives our sins and promises us eternal life. And while that’s true, grace is so much more. It’s also the unearned, constant presence of Jesus in our lives, sustaining us and guiding us through every moment.

But here’s the catch: we often miss that grace because we’re too busy striving. We think if we just work a little harder, do a little more, or hustle a little faster, we’ll find peace. Instead, Jesus tells us to stop and rest.

Real grace is found when we rest in the completed work of Jesus—not in our own efforts. On the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished.” That wasn’t just a declaration of victory over sin; it was an invitation to stop striving and start trusting.

What Rest Looks Like

Rest doesn’t just mean taking a nap (though sometimes that helps too!). True rest is about leaning into Jesus, trusting His leadership, and letting Him carry the weight of our worries.

When Jesus talks about taking His yoke upon us, He’s using an image from farming. A yoke is a wooden frame that binds two animals together so they can pull a load together. By taking His yoke, we’re choosing to walk alongside Jesus, letting Him guide us and carry the bulk of the weight.

The beauty of this yoke is that often in farming this was a training method for newer animals to the farm. They would yoke a mature and experienced animal with a younger, immature one. The mature and experienced beast would keep the immature one on task and teach them how to do the job correctly. So perhaps we too need to be yoked to someone who is more mature and experienced than we are?

Here are a couple of suggestions that I have considered in my own life:

  • Intentional Quiet Time: Even 10 minutes of prayer or reading Scripture can reset your mind and heart.
  • Letting Go of Control: Hand over your worries and responsibilities to Jesus through prayer.
  • Saying No to Overcommitment: Sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is create margin in your schedule.
  • Living in Community: Being part of a church family helps remind us that we don’t have to carry life’s burdens alone.

The Light Burden of Jesus

Notice that Jesus doesn’t promise a life without burdens—He promises a light burden. That’s because His grace changes how we carry things. When we rest in Him, we stop striving for perfection, stop carrying guilt over our shortcomings, and stop trying to control outcomes that only God can handle.

Instead, we begin to experience the joy and freedom that come from knowing we are already fully loved and accepted by Jesus. That’s grace—unearned, abundant, and freely given.

Living Restfully as a Church Community

At Living Word Galena, we’re committed to helping busy families experience this kind of grace. That’s why we prioritize being a community where people can find refreshment in worship, grow in supportive relationships, and discover the peace that comes from resting in Jesus.

We believe life works best with Jesus—not because He adds more to your to-do list, but because He invites you to lay down the heavy burdens and walk in His light and easy way.

So today, take a deep breath. Hear the voice of Jesus calling you to rest. Stop striving, and let grace meet you right where you are. His arms are wide open, and His promise is sure: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

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