for our sakes

For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
- 2 Corinthians 4:15 (NKJV)
 
Isn’t it amazing how God can take all things — even the parts of life that make zero sense — and somehow use them for our sake?
I was thinking about how grace doesn’t just touch one life; it spreads. It catches on like a spark in dry grass. Someone forgives you, and suddenly you find yourself quicker to forgive someone else. Someone shows kindness, and your heart softens enough to pass that kindness along. Before you know it, grace is multiplying, and thanksgiving follows right behind it.
This week, look at your life through the lens of grace. Even the hard moments have left something behind — wisdom, resilience, compassion. And when we recognize how God has woven grace through our story, thanksgiving naturally sounds louder in our hearts.
Thankfulness abounds when we realize He wastes nothing — not even the parts of our story we’d rather skip.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

 

mountains

For behold, He who forms mountains, And creates the wind, Who declares to man what his thought is, And makes the morning darkness, Who treads the high places of the earth— The Lord God of hosts is His name.
— Amos 4:13 (NKJV)
 
As we head into Thanksgiving week, most people turn to verses about giving thanks, singing praise, or entering His courts with gratitude. Those are beautiful, of course — but this year I found myself drawn to something different.
Amos 4:13 isn’t your typical Thanksgiving scripture. It doesn’t mention gratitude. It doesn’t say “be thankful.” It doesn’t even talk about blessings.
Instead, it talks about a God who forms mountains, creates the wind, walks the high places of the earth, and — this is the part that stopped me in my tracks — declares to man what his thought is.
In other words,
He knows us. Completely.
Every thought. Every fear. Every wandering place of the heart.
And He loves us anyway.
The God who carved out the mountain ranges with His hands and stirs up the wind with a whisper is the same God who leans in close enough to understand our thoughts before they ever reach our lips.
And that… that is something to be thankful for.
Thankfulness isn’t just about listing the good things in our lives. True gratitude comes from knowing the One who holds our lives, understands our hearts, and remains faithful even when we’re complicated, messy, emotional, distracted, or inconsistent.
He doesn’t just notice us — He knows us.
He doesn’t just see our actions — He sees our motivations.
He doesn’t just hear our words — He hears the things we’re too afraid to say out loud.
This week, while we celebrate with turkey, pie, and all the traditional things, I want to take a moment to thank God for something deeper:
I am thankful that the Creator of the universe knows my thoughts and still chooses to stay close.
He knows when my mind spirals into worry.
He knows when I’m distracted by things that don’t matter.
He knows when my thoughts turn negative, fearful, or tired.
He knows every corner of my heart — the good, the bad, the broken, and the healing.
And still, He walks with me.
Maybe you’ve had a year full of ups and downs. Maybe your mind hasn’t always been the calmest or the kindest place. Maybe your thoughts have wandered in ways you aren’t proud of. Mine sure have at times.
But Amos reminds us:
The God who shaped mountains can reshape our thoughts.
The God who creates the wind can breathe peace into anxious minds.
The God who treads the high places walks beside us in our lowest ones.
This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for many things… but today, I’m especially thankful for a God who knows my thoughts and still calls me His own.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

fall leaves

Then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.
- Psalm 91:4 (NKJV)
 
There is something so comforting about fall.
The crunch of leaves underfoot.
The cool, crisp air after a long, hot summer.
Pumpkins on porches.
Fields turning golden and ready for harvest.
Everything seems to whisper, “A change is coming—slow down and notice it.”
Growing up in Iowa, fall always meant harvest time. The fields were buzzing with tractors, combines, and trucks lining up to haul away the grain. The sky had that unmistakable golden tint that only happens in October, and the air smelled like corn, soil, and wood smoke.
But mid-November could also mean snow—sometimes a dusting, sometimes a full-on blizzard—so there was always this urgency to finish gathering the crops before winter decided to surprise us. Even as a kid, I remember thinking how unpredictable fall could be… and yet how faithfully the harvest always came.
That’s exactly what this verse in Deuteronomy reminds me of.
God promises to send rain in its season, so His people can gather what they’ve planted. Not too early. Not too late. Not too much. Not too little. Just enough… exactly when it’s needed.
Isn’t that the definition of His faithfulness?
Just like the turning seasons in Iowa—where one day you’re raking leaves and the next day you’re scraping ice—God knows exactly when to bring refreshing rain and when to let things rest. He knows when it’s time for us to gather the harvest He’s grown in us—spiritually and emotionally, not just physically.
As the leaves begin to change and fall, I can’t help but think of all the changes God walks me through as well. Some seasons are full and bright. Some are quiet and slow. Some are messy and painful—shedding old things I’ve hung onto for far too long. But every season has its purpose… and every season holds a reason to be thankful.
Fall encourages reflection.
It reminds me to look back over the last year—not with regret, but with gratitude:
For the prayers God answered.
For the storms He calmed.
For the blessings I didn’t expect.
For the things He asked me to release.
And for the faith He strengthened along the way.
Just like those Iowa fields, God brings each of us to moments where we can gather the good He’s grown in us—lessons learned, joy restored, peace renewed, and hope rekindled.
He gives the rain in its season.
He gives growth in its season.
He brings change in its season.
And He gives us reason to be thankful in every season.
As I breathe in the crisp fall air today, I’m choosing gratitude.
How about you?
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

on track

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
- Proverbs 4:25-27 (NIV)
 
Happy birthday to my amazing husband, Randy!
To celebrate his birthday, we took a train ride on the Arkansas–Missouri Railroad Saturday, and it was absolutely wonderful. There’s something about riding a train that settles you in a different way—maybe it’s the slow rocking, maybe it’s the steady rhythm of the wheels, or maybe it’s just the chance to step back and breathe for a minute.
One of my favorite parts was stepping out onto the back platform of the train car. I stood there watching the tracks disappear behind us, the wind brushing across my face, and I found myself thinking about how grateful I was that those tracks stayed right where they were supposed to be… especially as we crossed a few very tall trestles!
But of course, as my mind tends to do, it wandered to my spiritual life.
Isn’t it funny how a train can stay perfectly on track through hills, curves, and bridges—while I can slip off track over the tiniest little thing?
Have you noticed how easy it is to drift off course?
It doesn’t take a dramatic derailment—just one little distraction. One unexpected setback. One irritating comment. One worry I let simmer too long. And suddenly I’m spiritually wobbling all over the place.
I can start my day with the best intentions—Bible open, heart steady, coffee in hand—and somehow end up chasing everything but what God asked me to focus on. Meanwhile, that train stays locked onto its tracks no matter what comes around the bend.
This scripture reminds me that staying on God’s path takes intention.
God doesn’t say, “Glance ahead when you remember.”
He says, Fix your gaze.
Look straight ahead.
Stay steady.
Don’t drift.
Life will always tug at us—people’s opinions, stress, old habits, our own emotions that flare up out of nowhere. But when our eyes stay on Him, He keeps our steps firm, even when the path is narrow or the trestle is high and a little scary.
And just like a train engineer follows the rails laid out before him, we follow the path God places before us—trusting that He knows every turn and every crossing long before we get there.
Today, I want to be more intentional about where my eyes are.
Not on the distractions.
Not on the things that knock me sideways.
But straight ahead—toward God’s purpose, God’s voice, and God’s heart.
Because the more I focus on Him, the less likely I am to derail over something small.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

covered in feathers

He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
- Psalm 91:4 (NKJV)
 
Protection is a big deal in this day and age.
We’ve got home security systems that alert us if someone opens a window, if there’s motion in the driveway, or if the carbon monoxide levels shift even a little. We have keychains and phone apps to help keep our kids safe when they’re walking alone at night. We have devices for the elderly so they can call for help if they fall or feel chest pain. Everywhere you look, someone is selling a new form of security.
And don’t get me wrong—those things are wonderful blessings.
But none of them compare to the protection that God offers His children.
Psalm 91:4 paints such a tender picture—God covering us with His feathers, sheltering us under His wings. It’s not just safety; it’s closeness. It’s belonging. It’s the kind of protection that says, “You are mine. I’ll keep you safe.”
I don’t know about you, but there are days when I feel like I need that kind of shelter more than anything. Life can swing from calm to chaotic in the blink of an eye. One phone call, one message, one situation, and suddenly I’m searching for a place to hide—emotionally, mentally, spiritually.
But God offers a refuge that isn’t based on alarms, locks, buttons, or batteries.
His protection is steady. Personal. Ever-present.
He doesn’t merely guard us; He gathers us close.
Having God as your shield means you belong to Him.
It means He wraps you in His truth when the lies of the world try to overwhelm you.
It means He stands between you and the battles you don’t even know are happening.
It means you never face a storm alone.
I will gladly take shelter under His wings—every time.
How about you?
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

doorway

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.
- Psalm 100:4 (NIV)
 
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I catch myself rushing into prayer like I’m clocking in for a shift.
“Lord, here I am… okay, here’s what went wrong today, here’s what I need, here’s who needs help…”
And before I know it, my whole conversation with God is a list. A sincere list, yes — but still a list.
But Psalm 100:4 reminds me that I’m invited to enter His presence with thanksgiving first, not with panic, frustration, or a mental to-do list. Thanksgiving opens the door.
There’s something powerful about gratitude. Not the forced kind — not the “I guess I’ll be thankful because it’s November” kind — but the real, quiet acknowledgment that God has been faithful in a thousand little ways we forgot to notice.
Sometimes that “gate” is as simple as:
“Thank You for waking me up.”
“Thank You for getting me through another week.”
“Thank You for the people You’ve put in my life.”
“Thank You for Your patience with me — especially on the days when I’m not patient with myself.”
When we choose to enter His presence with thanks, our whole attitude shifts.
Suddenly what felt heavy becomes a little lighter.
What felt chaotic becomes calmer.
And the things that were stealing our joy don’t seem quite as loud anymore.
This week, I want to challenge myself — and you, if you want to join me — to start every prayer with one thing I’m thankful for. Big or small, meaningful or simple. Because gratitude isn’t just a feeling… it’s a doorway.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

content

 I am not saying I need anything. I have learned to be happy with whatever I have.
- Philippians 4:11 (NLV)
 
Have you noticed that it’s easy to be happy when everything is going well? When the bills are paid, the car is running, the kids are behaving, and life feels smooth—it’s simple to feel grateful.
But what about the moments when things fall apart? When the check bounces, the car breaks down, or a friend disappoints us? Paul’s words remind us that contentment isn’t tied to our circumstances. It’s something we learn—often the hard way.
I’ve known people who are never satisfied—always chasing the next best thing, no matter the cost. I’ve also known the quiet souls who can find peace with very little, and somehow their joy feels deeper. I think that’s the kind of contentment Paul was talking about—the kind that doesn’t depend on what’s in our hands, but on Who holds us.
I learned early in life that I let things bring me down too easily. It took time and a few hard lessons to realize that even in the worst moments, God can use those very things for good. We may not see it right away, but He is always working.
When we begin to see God’s hand in every circumstance—the good and the bad—thankfulness starts to take root. Gratitude grows where contentment is planted.
He is our comforter and our strength, and because of that, I can truly say: I am content. Can you?
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible