Of Breath and Sighing
Your God knows what it is to sigh. He knows what it means to be troubled beyond words. He hears your groaning and even your sighing, and He understands. He is YHWH.
Grand Blanc Attack
Pray for and grieve with those who are hurting and grieving. As you do so, resist the urge to be anxious or fearful. The brokenness of our world is in plain view, and we can be assured it will continue to be present. You can be equally assured of a peace that passes all understanding when your mind is stayed on Jesus (Philip. 4:7).
Rate Cut
The policy decisions of the world’s superpower matter. That includes economic decisions such as the federal funds rate. These are issues worth understanding, and in some cases worth factoring into your decision making.
They do not, however, impact your eternity, and this reality should dictate your level of fixation on them (translation: the federal funds rate should have no impact on your peace).
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philip. 4:7).
Love Your Enemies
Justice and vengeance belong to the Lord (Rom. 12:19), and the perpetrator of this horrible act will face earthly justice. But you and I, my friend, are called to love and forgiveness. That is a difficult calling. It requires us to be open to our enemies turning from evil even after inflicting evil upon us.
Will you embrace that level of love for your enemies? It will truly set you free.
The Preteen Messiah
Your God is unchanging. He is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13:8). But He shows up in the most unexpected ways.
He shows up in what seems to be both victory and defeat.
He shows up in mountaintop moments and in times of immense grief.
He is seated forever at the righthand of God the Father. But he was first a pre-teen from the neighborhood.
Have you recognized Him? Have you noticed His presence in your everyday?
There is great strife in our world today. But your God is in the midst of it all, and He is who He claims to be. He is the Messiah!
Shutdown Looming
This story continues to be on loop. While the two major U.S. political parties have divergent priorities, including on matters of spending, shutdown politics has become ubiquitous across all versions of partisan control. In every variant of partisan control, Congress and the White House have been unable to fund the government under anything close to regular order.
The result is perpetual government shutdown watch. We have said it before—when one deal is reached to avoid a shutdown, it is really just setting the date on which you can expect the next shutdown threat.
So how should you as a Jesus follower—knowing the facts above—interact with a story like this?
Resigning Prime Ministers
This week, no matter your prime minister, president, or earthly king, allow your status as an eternal citizen of heaven to inform the way in which you “seek the peace and prosperity of [your] city” (Jer. 29:7).
Department of War
The policies and actions of the U.S. military carry enormous consequence. As the world’s most powerful and sophisticated fighting force, the actions—and even the posture—of the department responsible for overseeing that force are of immense importance.
Bolsanaro Sentenced
Governments of men—and their leaders—are fallible, and their reign will come and go (Dan. 2:21). All of them. This is a challenging truth to grasp when our preferred leaders are in power, but it is one that is essential for both flourishing and the preservation of our own sound thinking (2 Tim. 1:7).
Block Everything
Everyday life in France was significantly disrupted last Wednesday as nearly a quarter million people took to the streets to “Block Everything.” The protests and unrest are in response to President Emmanual Macron’s selection of Sebastien Lecornu as the new prime minister. Hundreds were arrested, and it is likely that additional demonstrations will happen in the days ahead.
Depleted
Have you ever been—or are you now—totally depleted? Do you know what it means to come to the end of yourself and yet look around at how much more is required of you? It can be an overwhelming feeling, wouldn’t you agree?
Charlie Kirk Assassinated
Charlie Kirk, 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated while speaking at an event on the campus of Utah Valley University last Wednesday. Kirk leaves behind a wife and two young children. Four days before he was killed, Charlie posted on X, “Jesus defeated death so you can live.”
Herald on the Run
Your task is to simply be attentive enough to hear clearly what God is asking, and humble enough to articulately prepare the message for the herald on the run.
You are the vessel not the Message. The Word God is speaking to you may not be for you or even intended to be delivered by you. But it is for someone, and it is to be delivered. Will you be faithful to carefully and plainly record it?
Kevin and Rick
Have you set boundaries in your life? Have you established reminders to help you avoid crossing into places that would bring about destruction? Do you have support around you to remind you of those limits? It is easy to think of these boundaries as restrictive, but in truth they are life-giving and life-preserving!
Shooting in Minneapolis
Each of us is not only intentionally designed by a loving God but also called by name and claimed by God.
There are many variations of losing touch with this clarion call on our lives, but your mission and mine includes reminding those around us they are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14), and intentionally designed for a specific purpose (Eph. 2:10).
Earthquake in Afghanistan
You are to be an agent of comfort and compassion when tragedy strikes those around you (2 Cor. 1: 3-4). As you pray for those who are living under Taliban rule and are now facing the devastation of an earthquake, ask your loving heavenly Father to show you how to best serve in this trying moment.
To Do or Not to Do
Go. Wait. Do. Don’t. The answer is yes to whatever He asks, because your path is wherever He leads.
Change the Rules
You, as a Jesus follower, are almost certain to at times find yourself aligned with the majority party or a pending nominee, and at others unaligned with one or both. Regardless of your current status, you should seek a multitude of godly counsel (Pr. 11:14) and expect the same of your elected leaders.
Dr. Dobson Dies
Dr. Dobson’s life changed the world for many, and it did so through faithful service. It is a legacy worth pursuing.
Protests and a Ceasefire
God’s Word repeatedly reminds us to persistently pursue peace because true and lasting peace will not be fully attained until eternity. That does not reduce our tenacity in pursuing it (we should aim to model the Prince of Peace), but it should provide a bulwark against discouragement when peace proves to be elusive.