Today is the Day

For though I am away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong...continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him , and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow...and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:5-7


I take great delight in writing this blog and hearing from those who have read my books and tell me they are learning to know God better. I am thrilled by your response because that's why I write them. I enjoy writing and telling stories, but if no one is touched by the message, much of the joy is lost.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul makes a great point when he speaks of faith being an ongoing process. Following Christ is a daily journey that is intended to last a lifetime. Letting your roots grow into Him and building your life on Him isn't something that happens overnight. It involves years of learning, growing, and living a life of faith and transformation. But it always begins with today.

Whether you have been following Jesus for as long as you can remember, or it's a new thing for you, today is the day to take the next step. It might be as simple as doing what you did yesterday, or maybe some changes are needed. But either way, Jesus is ready and waiting to lead you.

Paul makes another interesting point about where the path will lead when he says following Jesus leads to thankfulness. You know what that tells me? Following Jesus leads to good things! He gives us much to be thankful for. Whether it involves learning to appreciate how He has already blessed you, or whether you need to get off the road you're on and make some new choices; His ways are good. His blessings are real.

What steps do you need to take today? Where is He leading you? If you don't know, ask Him. That could be the step you take, just asking Him what He wants to show you, how He wants to bless you, and what you can do to receive His love.

Or maybe you know exactly what He wants you to do, but you're resisting. Today could be the day you say, 'Yes, Jesus. I will follow you in this.' Or you might say, 'I'm having a hard time following you in this, please help me.'

Perhaps you are following Him each day and today is another day of doing what you know is right, but you're feeling discouraged because of difficult circumstances, you are concerned for others, or you feel alone. Take some time to think about how far you have come and all the good things that have come from the changes you have made and the steps you have taken to follow Him. Do you have more peace, more joy, more love for others? Do you see your value in God's eyes more than you used to? Do you have a better view of God? Are you more patient and forgiving? Are you overflowing with thankfulness? Sometimes I get so focused on my circumstances or on those around me, I forget to look inward and rejoice in what God is doing in my heart and being thankful for where He has brought me.

Wherever you are today in your journey with Jesus, whatever steps you need to take, or if you simply need Him to carry you, don't wait until tomorrow, dear one. Today is the day.



Keep on seeking and you will find.
(Matthew 7:7)

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

The Narrow Road

Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. (Psalm 25:4-5)


Do you know what road you're on?

The Bible talks about two different roads in life. There's the path of blessing and the path of destruction. Have you ever thought about the path you are following?

A path is a series of choices. One mistake, one poor thought, one negative act: those are steps. Not much damage can be done with a single step; but a series of mistakes, poor thoughts, and negative acts can land you in a heap of trouble or a pit of misery. Likewise, one good choice, one good thought, one good deed is a step in the right direction; and continuing on the right path will take you to good places.

Every day is a series of choices. Some people make a lot of bad choices every day. Some make a lot of good choices. And some dance around a lot. A good step here, a bad step there—they mostly go in circles.

When we think of following a specific path in life, we often think in terms of big goals and destinations. Making the team. Winning the championship. Being popular. Getting good grades. Getting into college. Having a great career. We have a goal in mind and take the necessary steps to get there. We would never consider doing the opposite.  We don't settle for going in circles. We're focused. We have a destination and take the best path.

But when it comes to daily life, to living a path of blessing or one of misery and pain, we don't think so much about the road we're on. We often end up somewhere, look around, and think, 'How did I get here? This isn't the kind of life I want to be living, so why am I?'

Jesus talked about the "narrow road" and the "wide path". (Matthew 7:13-14) The wide path is easy to follow but leads to places you don't want to be. It's easy to go along with the crowd. It's easy to do what your friends are doing. It's easy to speak an unkind word here and ignore a need there. It's easy to lie or break the rules or do whatever feels good.

But the narrow road leads to life, blessings, and happiness. It's harder because a lot of good choices are necessary. It's easier to hate than to love. It's easier to hold a grudge than to forgive. It's easier to be mean than to be nice. It's easier to ignore the truth than to listen. It's easier to think you're right than to admit you're wrong. It's easier to complain than to have a helpful attitude. It's easier to give in than to stand your ground. It's easier to give up than to hope for better days.

But here's the good news. The narrow road is so much better, and we don't have to walk the path alone. In Psalm 25, David cried out to God this prayer: Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

It's a life of blessing and joy. If that's what you desire, you can have it. Jesus will show you the right steps to take every day. He will give you specific instructions. He will lead you. He will teach you. He will save you when you're tempted to go another way. He will help you to make the harder choice. All day long you can put your hope in Him, and He will be there every step of the way. Even to pick you up when you fall. Even to carry you when you can't take another step.


He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths. (Psalm 23:2-3)

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

Small Beginnings

Happy 2013! Did you make any New Year's Resolutions?

If you did, how is it going so far? Did you make it through the first week? The first day? The first hour? Sometimes our lofty goals are short-lived, aren't they? We have the best of intentions. We tell ourselves we can do it. We're committed beforehand, but when the day of truth arrives, we fail miserably. Or maybe we make it for a few days, or weeks, but somewhere along the way we lose our momentum and before we know it, we've stopped our progress forward and have begun to fall back into our old habits and ways.

The problem with having goals and dreams is they require more than positive thought and good intentions. They require action. They require tough choices, perseverance, and faith. They don't come easily, but their results can be worth it. In the end our goals and dreams are often dependent on how much we want what we're hoping for.

In the Old Testament, God's people faced a time when they had a huge goal to accomplish. After being driven from their homeland because of their parents' and grandparents' disobedience to God, they were set free to return to Jerusalem and begin to rebuild the Temple of God that had been destroyed. They were committed and had the resources to accomplish the task. They got to work as soon as they were settled, and they successfully rebuilt the Altar and laid the Temple foundation just as they set out to do.

But they weren't finished, and at some point between completing the foundation and reaching their ultimate goal, two things happened to stop their progress: discouragement, and fear. Some of those who remembered what the old Temple had been like were disappointed it could never be as grand as it once was, so they either gave up trying or brought so much negativity to the project they caused others to lose heart. (Have you ever been around people like that?) Many also gave in to fear: Fear of their enemies who were threatening them and frustrating their plans, and fear for their own livelihood. They became concerned with meeting their own needs rather than trusting God and giving their resources for the restoration project.

No matter what our goals and dreams may be, we will face similar obstacles. Just to focus on one for now, I think discouragement is the biggest one I've faced when I've wanted something enough to put forth a serious effort. Discouragement can come from within, from my own heart and mind; and it can come from others. When the results aren't coming fast enough or aren't as grand as I hoped, it can be easy to give up and stop altogether. And when others don't understand or believe what I'm doing is important or possible, their words of negativity can derail me so quickly.

After progress on the Temple had stopped, God sent His messengers to speak to those who had laid the work aside. He rebuked them for their fear and lack of obedience, but He also encouraged them to keep going. He reminded them what they were doing was important and they weren't alone. He was with them and would help them. There was a lot to do, and it wasn't going to be easy, but they could do it. And it wasn't so much about accomplishing the goal as it was about believing in who they were and what they had been called to do.

"It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty." (Zech. 4:6 NLT)

I do not know what God has called you to do, and you may not yet either, but I know you are precious to Him. Start there with that belief and see where it takes you. Apply that truth to your day. How does it affect your mind and heart? Apply that truth to your goals and dreams. How does knowing God is with you and can help you change your strategy?  

Trying to accomplish things in our own strength, wisdom, willpower, and resources rarely works. At some point we fall short and fall into discouragement and frustration. If that's where you are now, how can believing you are precious to God get you out of the dumps? Or, if you're well on your way toward accomplishing what you have set out to do, how can His love keep you going?

One thing I find helpful is to focus on the next step I need to take. Goals and dreams often take time to come together, and expecting everything to change overnight will lead to discouragement. But if I focus on what I can do today to get me one step closer, I will feel accomplished even if I still have a long way to go. If your goal is to get better grades, what homework needs to get done today? If your goal is to be a better friend, who can you encourage this week? If your goal is to read your Bible more, have you asked God for help to stick with it?

However God is leading you, what's the next step? Take heart and do it! That one small step may take you places you never dreamed.

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin." (Zechariah 4:10 NLT)