forgive

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
- Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
 
Sunday, we visited a new church. It was a small congregation, but the message was anything but small. The pastor spoke about forgiveness through the parable of the unmerciful servant, and I've been thinking about it ever since.
He shared an illustration that really stuck with me.
Imagine a friend says, "I have a 40-foot pontoon boat, and I want to give it to you. No strings attached."
At first, that sounds like an incredible gift. But then reality sets in. You have to insure it, store it, maintain it, fuel it, clean it, and repair it. Suddenly that "free" boat isn't quite as free as it first appeared.
Then the pastor compared that free boat to salvation.
Before we met Jesus, we owed a debt we could never repay. In the parable, the servant owed his master an amount so enormous that he could have worked his entire life and still never paid it back. When he begged for mercy, the master forgave the entire debt.
What should have happened next?
Gratitude. Humility. Mercy.
Instead, the servant immediately demanded payment from someone who owed him a tiny fraction of what he himself had just been forgiven.
How often do we do the same thing?
We hold on to harsh words, broken promises, betrayals, and old wounds, all while forgetting the immeasurable debt Christ has already forgiven in us.
Salvation truly is a free gift. We could never earn it, and we could never repay it. But receiving that gift changes us. When we begin to understand the depth of God's mercy toward us, we can't keep extending bitterness to others. We are called to extend the same grace we have been given.
Forgiveness is one of the hardest things we'll ever do. It doesn't excuse what happened, erase the hurt, or mean there are never consequences. Sometimes forgiveness is a process that takes time. But God never asks us to give what He hasn't already given us first.
Today, if there's someone you've struggled to forgive, remember the grace you've received. The cross reminds us that while forgiveness is costly, Jesus already paid the price.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

even if

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.
- Daniel 3:17-18 (NIV)
 
Have you ever noticed how much of life is spent saying, "I thought this would be finished by now?"
I thought the repair would be done, or this season would be over.
I thought the prayer would be answered and life would be a little easier by now.
Friday after work I picked up my vehicle, thankful to finally have it back. I didn't even make it out of the parking lot before I heard that familiar grinding noise coming from the front. Needless to say, it goes back to the shop today. It's disappointing, but if I'm honest, that's life. Things don't always happen on our schedule.
Friday night, my wonderful and amazing husband surprised me with a backyard date night. We watched I Can Only Imagine 2. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it. The movie hit a little close to home as Bart Millard, the lead singer of MercyMe, walks through his son's diabetes diagnosis while also facing a close friend's battle with cancer.
By the end of the movie, the song "Even If" takes on an even deeper meaning.
Faith isn't just believing that God can do something. Sometimes faith is trusting Him... even if He doesn't do it the way—or when—we hoped.
That reminded me of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Rack, Shack and Benny for us Veggie Tales fans!) in Daniel 3. Standing before King Nebuchadnezzar, they boldly declared that God was able to rescue them from the fiery furnace. But then they said something even more remarkable:
"But even if He does not..."
Their faith wasn't dependent on the outcome. They trusted God's character more than they trusted their circumstances.
That's a challenging kind of faith.
It's easy to trust God when the repairs are finished, the test results come back clear, the prayers are answered the way we hoped, and life falls neatly into place. But faith grows deepest when we can still say, "Lord, I know You are able... but even if things don't go the way I planned, I will still trust You."
Today, whatever your "even if" may be, remember that God's goodness isn't measured by whether everything works out according to our timeline. His presence, His love, and His promises remain faithful through every unexpected detour.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

holding both

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
- Romans 12:15 (NIV)
 
Well... we made it to Friday. The last two weeks have held a plethora of emotions. One day you're in a pool with your grandkids, laughing until your sides hurt. The next, you're praying over a friend with a difficult diagnosis. In between, you're dealing with everyday frustrations like car repairs and watching the weather radar.
Life rarely gives us a week that's all joy or all hardship. More often, it serves both at the same table.
The beautiful thing is that God is present for every conversation around that table. He celebrates with us when we laugh, and He sits beside us when we cry.
I think there are a couple of ways we can choose to live.
We can pretend everything is wonderful, putting on a smile while hiding the hard parts. Or we can become so consumed by life's struggles that we begin to believe everything is terrible.
Neither one tells the whole story. The better way is to hold both: gratitude and grief, hope and uncertainty, blessings and burdens.
Real faith doesn't require us to ignore pain, and it doesn't ask us to overlook the blessings either. It gives us permission to celebrate the good gifts God gives us while honestly bringing Him the things that break our hearts.
Wherever we find ourselves, it's important to keep the Lord at the center of our lives through every emotion. He doesn't ask us to have all the answers or to always understand His plan. He simply asks us to trust Him enough to walk with Him through it all.
As I look back on this week, I realize it wasn't perfect—and maybe that's the point.
There were cannonballs into the pool and conversations that broke my heart.
There were friends gathered around the table and storms rolling across the sky.
There were unexpected expenses and unexpected blessings.
Through every high and every low, God never changed. He was just as present in the laughter as He was in the tears, and that's the kind of faithfulness I want to remember.
As we head into a new week, my prayer is that we won't miss God because we're only looking for Him in one kind of moment. He is with us in the celebrations, in the waiting rooms, in the repair shops, in the storm shelters, around the dinner table, and in every ordinary day in between.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible
 

peace in the storm

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
- Mark 4:39 (NIV)
 
Growing up in Iowa, tornadoes weren't uncommon. They were always scary, but somehow they always seemed to happen somewhere else. Even though we lived on the edge of what was known as "Tornado Alley," my family was never personally affected by one of those devastating storms.
Then we moved to Northwest Arkansas.
According to the National Weather Service, the path of the most frequent and destructive tornadoes has been shifting eastward. States like Arkansas are now seeing more severe weather than they once did, and unfortunately, we've experienced that firsthand. Over the years, we've had storms that caused considerable damage to our own property.
Last week, another tornado tore through San Antonio, Texas. As I watched the news and saw the images of the destruction, my heart immediately went to several dear friends who live there. Before I knew anything else, I found myself praying. Thankfully, they are all safe.
As relieved as I was, it reminded me of something important. No matter how advanced our weather radar becomes, no matter how many alerts come across our phones, no matter how prepared we are, we cannot control the forecast.
The same is true in life. We can't control a diagnosis, we can't prevent every hardship, we can't stop every storm that comes our way.
We can prepare. We can be wise. We can have a plan. But some storms will still arrive without our permission.
When Jesus and His disciples were caught in a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples were terrified. Meanwhile, Jesus was asleep in the boat. After they woke Him, He simply spoke four words: "Quiet! Be still!" The wind stopped, the waves settled, and peace replaced panic.
I've often wished Jesus would calm every storm in my life that quickly. Sometimes He does, sometimes He calms the storm around us - other times, He calms the fear within us while the storm continues to rage. Either way, His presence is what makes the difference.
Whether we're watching the weather radar, waiting for a phone call from the doctor, or facing some other uncertainty we never saw coming, we can trust that the One who commands the wind and the waves is still in the boat with us.
And somehow... that gives me peace.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

let someone carry you

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
- Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
 
There are certain sounds you never want to hear while you're driving your vehicle: a squeal, a clunk; a grinding noise.
The worst part? Trying to explain that sound to a mechanic. Let's be honest, it's not always easy for a woman to describe a mysterious noise without feeling like she's being looked at as if she has two heads! I usually resort to making the sound myself... and somehow that never seems to help.
So, my primary method of transportation has been sitting at the mechanic's shop since last Wednesday.
Ugh.
One day I'm running my own errands, driving myself to work, and coming and going whenever I please. The next day I'm asking for rides, borrowing a vehicle, rearranging appointments, and depending on someone else. I don't like it.
I've worked hard these last several years to regain my self-sufficiency. After breaking my leg in 2019, enduring surgery, battling an infection, and nearly losing my life to pulmonary embolisms, simply getting back to where I could do things on my own again felt like a tremendous victory. My freedom wasn't something I took for granted anymore.
So having to rely on someone else—even for something as simple as getting to work—has been harder than I expected. Now, don't get me wrong. I truly enjoy the extra time I get to spend with my handsome husband as he chauffeurs me to and from work. Those extra conversations are a blessing I wouldn't have had otherwise.
But I still catch myself thinking, I hate feeling like I'm a burden. The truth is, I'm probably the only one thinking that. He's never complained. He's never made me feel guilty. He's simply adjusted his schedule because that's what people who love each other do.
Galatians 6:2 tells us to "Carry each other's burdens." We often picture that verse applying to life's biggest hardships—a serious illness, the loss of a loved one, or a financial crisis. But maybe it also applies to the everyday inconveniences. Maybe carrying someone's burden looks like driving them to work, picking up groceries, watching their kids for an afternoon, or simply being available when they're needed.
Here's the part God has been working on in me this week: sometimes being willing to accept help is just as important as being willing to give it.
Most of us don't mind helping others. In fact, we enjoy it. But when the tables are turned, we suddenly feel like we're inconveniencing everyone around us.
Maybe that's because we forget that allowing someone to help us gives them the opportunity to live out the very verse we're reading today.
One day my vehicle will be fixed, and I'll be back to driving myself wherever I need to go. Until then, maybe my lesson isn't about transportation at all.
Maybe it's about learning that sometimes God carries our burdens through the hands of the people who love us.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

a very present help

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
- Psalm 46:1(NIV)
 
Not every day is filled with joy. As much as we wish life could be one celebration after another, there are days when our phones ring with news we never wanted to hear.
Several years ago, a very dear friend was diagnosed with a horrible disease. By God's grace, through medications and treatment, my friend overcame it. We celebrated every victory, every good report, and every milestone that pointed toward healing.
Then came the news no one wanted to hear: the disease has returned.
I have to admit, I am overwhelmed with emotions. While I have every confidence that my friend will fight this battle with every treatment and every option available, there is a part of me that simply wishes I could make it all go away.
But I can't. I can't heal. I can't carry this burden for my friend. I can't change the diagnosis.
What I can do is pray. I can love. I can listen.  I can be there for whatever my friend needs.
Sometimes we feel like those things are too small, especially when we're facing something so overwhelming. We wish we had the right words, the right medicine, or the ability to fix what is broken. But maybe God never asked us to be the healer. Maybe He simply asks us to be faithful friends while He does what only He can do.
Psalm 46:1 reminds us, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Notice it doesn't say God is present only after the storm has passed. He is present in the trouble. He walks beside us through every appointment, every difficult conversation, every anxious night, and every uncertain tomorrow.
Today, my prayer is simple. I pray for complete healing for my friend. I pray for wisdom for the doctors, peace for the family, strength for the journey ahead, and countless reminders that God has not left their side for even a moment.
And if you are carrying someone on your heart today, know this: your prayers matter. Your presence matters. Your love matters. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give is simply refusing to let someone walk through the valley alone.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

every good gift

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
- James 1:17 (NIV)
 
It's Monday, so let's grab our coffee and get ready to face the week. But first, let's take a little time to reflect on last week.
I am so thankful to have celebrated another birthday here on Earth. The weather was mostly good, we got to hop in the pool after work on one of those hot summer days, we had some wonderful friends stop by for a visit, and the laughter never seemed to end.
We wrapped up the week with family dinner, surrounded by our adult children and grandchildren. We played with the grandkids a few "new" versions of some old favorites. Connect Four has become Connect Four Spin. Perfection is now a fast-paced two-player game called Scramble. And then there was the old standby... 52 Card Pick Up. Some traditions never change! The only difference now is hearing the grandkids laugh as they race around the room, gathering up the cards and proudly counting their "points."
A few people asked me what I got for my birthday this year. Honestly? This was the best birthday I've ever had.
Not because of presents.
Not because of cake (which i did not have!).
But because I was surrounded by the people I love.
As I've gotten older, I've realized the greatest gifts in life can't be wrapped with a bow. They're found around the dinner table, floating in a swimming pool on a summer evening, sharing stories with friends, and listening to the laughter of children echo through the house. Those moments don't last forever, which makes them even more precious.
James reminds us that "every good and perfect gift is from above." Sometimes we think of God's gifts as the big milestones or answered prayers, but I think He delights in giving us ordinary blessings too. A conversation with a friend. A family meal. A house filled with laughter. Another birthday to celebrate. These are gifts from our Heavenly Father, and they deserve our gratitude just as much as the extraordinary ones.
As we begin another week, I hope we'll all take a moment to recognize the simple blessings that are easy to overlook. They may not come in fancy packages, but they are some of God's most beautiful gifts.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible