hidden

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
- Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
 
A speaker last week at the CMA rally made a statement that was both funny and convicting.
“Quit being undercover Christians!”
And then he asked us to think about something: what if, at our funeral, someone said, “I didn't know they were a Christian. Did you?”
Ouch.
As members of the Christian Motorcyclists Association, we wear our faith right on our backs. Those CMA colors identify us as Christians before we ever say a word. And that means people are watching.
They're watching how we treat the waitress, how we respond when someone cuts us off in traffic, and how we behave when things don't go our way.
But here's the thing. We don't have to wear a CMA patch for people to notice our actions.
Every one of us represents Christ in the way we live. That doesn't mean we have to be perfect. Goodness knows we're all going to have bad days! But our lives should reflect the One we claim to follow.
So, here's a question worth asking ourselves today: if someone watched the way I lived but never heard me mention Jesus, would they still recognize His influence in my life?
Let's make sure our faith isn't something we keep hidden.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

it's ok

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
- Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)
 
I've always thought faith and trust were pretty much the same thing. During one of our CMA rally seminars, a speaker explained the difference in a way that really made me think.
Faith says, “I know God can.”
Trust says, “But if He doesn't, I'll still be okay.”
Whoa.
It immediately reminded me of MercyMe's song “Even If.” There's a line that says, “But even if You don't, my hope is You alone.”
The song reminds us that God has the power to bring us through the fire, but even when He doesn't answer the way we hope, He is still worthy of our trust. It's one thing to believe God has the power to change our circumstances. It's another thing entirely to trust Him when He chooses not to change them the way we hoped.
We pray for healing, but sometimes the healing doesn't come. We pray for an open door, but sometimes it stays closed. We pray for answers, but sometimes all we get is silence.
Does that mean God isn't listening? Of course not. It means we don't see the whole picture.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego understood this when they faced the fiery furnace. They knew God could save them, but even if He didn't, they would remain faithful.
That's the kind of trust I want.
Not a faith that depends on getting my way, but a trust that remains steady even when I don't.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

silence

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
- Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)
 
Have you ever prayed about something and felt like God wasn't listening? You pray, you wait, you pray some more, and nothing seems to change. Sometimes the silence can be harder than the storm itself.
During our CMA rally, one of the speakers made a statement that really caught my attention: “Don't misunderstand God's silence.”
In Matthew 8, Jesus and His disciples were caught in a terrible storm. The disciples were terrified, but Jesus was sleeping!
Can you imagine? The boat is being tossed around, the disciples think they're going to die, and Jesus is taking a nap!
But here's the thing. Jesus wasn't unaware of the storm, and He certainly wasn't powerless against it. He was right there with them.
Sometimes we want God to immediately calm whatever storm we're facing. But perhaps what we need first is the reassurance that He's still in the boat.
God never promised we wouldn't face storms. He promised we wouldn't face them alone.
And just because heaven seems quiet doesn't mean God isn't working.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

deadlines

For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
- 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT)
 
After spending five days listening to the Good News, you can't help but walk away wanting to share it! One of the speakers at our CMA rally made a statement that really stuck with me: “It's only good news if it gets there in time.”
Think about that for a minute.
We have the greatest news anyone could ever receive. Jesus loves us, died for us, and offers forgiveness and eternal life. But how often do we put off sharing that message?
We tell ourselves we'll find the right opportunity, the right words, or the right circumstances. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe when we're more comfortable. But tomorrow isn't guaranteed.
One of the things I love about CMA is that our motorcycles give us opportunities to meet people we might never encounter otherwise. And every one of those encounters could be an opportunity to share God's love. We don't have to deliver a sermon. Sometimes sharing the Good News begins with a kind word, a listening ear, or simply letting someone know they're loved.
God has placed each of us exactly where we are for a reason.
Maybe the right time isn't someday.
Maybe it's today.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

conclusions

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.
- Proverbs 16:2 (NIV)
 
Have you ever had someone respond to you in a way that left you wondering what on earth their problem was? I think we've all been there. Someone snaps at us, ignores us, or says something unkind, and before we know it, we've decided exactly what kind of person they are.
My amazing husband and I recently spent five days at a rally with nearly 1,900 other members of the Christian Motorcyclists Association. We enjoyed seminars, wonderful speakers, and time spent with our CMA family.
There was a low point for me, though. Someone responded to me in a way that was unkind, and honestly, it broke my heart. It would have been easy to dwell on that moment, to let it overshadow all the wonderful things that happened during those five days. But during our very first seminar, the speaker shared something I needed to remember: Take it slow. Don't jump to conclusions.
We don't always know what's happening in someone else's life. That impatient person might be carrying a burden we can't see. That unfriendly response might have nothing to do with us.
And sometimes, if we're willing to be honest, our own motives could use a little examination, too. It's easy to find fault in others. It's a little harder to stop and examine our own hearts.
That doesn't mean unkind words don't hurt. They do. But we can choose not to let that hurt determine how we respond.
Thankfully, when I shared the encounter with two good friends, they reminded me that responding with the same unkindness wouldn't accomplish anything. And more importantly, they encouraged me not to let one hurtful encounter overshadow an entire weekend filled with fellowship, encouragement, and the wonderful work God was doing.
Sometimes we need friends who will remind us to choose grace when our feelings are telling us to do otherwise.
Today, before reacting to someone else's behavior, let's extend a little grace. We might be surprised by what happens when we choose understanding instead of judgment.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

family

Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.
- Romans 12:10 (NLT)
 
Last week I only shared four Daily Breads because we were heading out of town. This week you're only getting three because we're heading out of town again!
I love a good adventure. I love seeing new places, enjoying beautiful scenery, and making memories. But I've come to realize that the best part of any adventure isn't necessarily where you go. It's who you share it with.
Last weekend was cold and wet. There was even a fire ban, so we couldn't always warm ourselves around a campfire. There were moments when we were just plain cold and miserable! But there was also laughter. Lots of laughter. Stories shared, memories made, and time spent with friends who have become family.
This week we're heading to a CMA rally, where the forecast promises warmer, drier weather and the opportunity to worship and fellowship with fellow Christian motorcyclists. And it reminds me of something I've learned over the years. Family isn't always about the people you're related to. Sometimes it's about the people God brings into your life along the way.
Romans 12:10 reminds us to love one another with genuine affection. Not just a polite smile or a friendly wave, but the kind of love that shows up, shares burdens, celebrates victories, and sticks around when things get difficult.
God has a wonderful way of bringing people together. Sometimes it's through church, sometimes through a shared interest, and sometimes through a cold, rainy weekend when everyone is wondering why they thought camping was such a great idea! The scenery may be beautiful, the adventures may be unforgettable, but the relationships we build along the way are what make those memories truly special.
You really can find family anywhere.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

black sheep

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?
- Luke 15:4 (NLT)
 
I wasn't one of the popular kids in school. I had a couple of friends in grade school, but as we moved into junior high and high school, we grew apart. I never really felt like I was part of the group. And if I'm being truthful, even as an adult, I sometimes still feel like I'm on the outside looking in. I have over 1,500 friends on social media, but sometimes I wonder how many of them would drop everything to pick me up if I fell. Maybe you've felt that way too. Surrounded by people, yet somehow feeling alone. Wondering where you fit in, or whether anyone would even notice if you weren't there.
Ben Fuller has a song called Black Sheep, and it got me thinking about what it means to feel like the one who doesn't belong.
In Luke 15, Jesus tells a story about a shepherd with a hundred sheep. When one goes missing, he doesn't shrug his shoulders and decide that ninety-nine is good enough. He goes looking for that one lost sheep, and he doesn't stop until he finds it. To the shepherd, that one sheep matters.
And to Jesus, so do you.
The world may measure our worth by popularity, friendships, followers, or how well we fit into the crowd. But God doesn't measure us that way. He knows us individually. He notices when we're missing. And He loves us enough to come looking.
So if you've ever felt like the black sheep, the odd one out, or the person standing on the outside looking in, remember this:
You may feel like you're just one in a hundred, but you're never just a number to God.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

one step back

Come near to God and He will come near to you.
- James 4:8a (NIV)
 
I have a friend who experienced something incredibly traumatic in her life. I'm not going to share the details because it's not my story to tell. But before this happened, she knew God. She attended church every Sunday. She even taught Sunday school. And then something happened that shook her world so deeply that she turned her back on God.
I think more people can relate to that than we realize. Sometimes life hurts so badly that we find ourselves asking, God, where were You? How could You love me and allow this to happen?
There's an old hymn, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, with a line that says, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.”
Even when we love God, we can lose our way. Sometimes we wander because we're distracted. Sometimes because we're angry. And sometimes because we're hurting so badly that we don't know how to find our way back.
Matthew West has a song called Back to Jesus, and the message is beautifully simple: No matter how far we've wandered, it's only one step back to Jesus. James 4:8 doesn't say we have to have all the answers before we come near to God. It doesn't say we have to understand everything that's happened or pretend we're not hurting. It simply invites us to draw near. And here's what I love most: Even when we've turned our backs on God, He hasn't turned His back on us.
Maybe today you're struggling with something you don't understand. Maybe you're angry with God. Maybe you've been keeping your distance for a long time.
You don't have to figure it all out today. You can come to Him with your questions, your anger, and your broken heart.
He's still there.
And it's only one step back.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

the road ahead

A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
- Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV)
 
We're heading out on a little camping adventure, and I'm looking forward to getting away for a few days! There's something exciting about packing up and hitting the road. We know where we're going, we've made our plans, and we have a pretty good idea of what the adventure will look like.
But if there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that adventures don't always go according to plan! Sometimes you take a wrong turn and discover something beautiful. Sometimes the weather changes your plans. And sometimes the most memorable part of a trip is something you never expected.
Life works that way, too. We make plans for our careers, our families, our futures. We have an idea of where we want to go and how we intend to get there.
But God sees the whole road, including the curves, detours, and unexpected destinations we can't see yet. We don't have to know every turn in the road when we trust the One who's guiding us.
So here's to new adventures, unexpected blessings, and trusting God with whatever lies around the next bend!
 
Hey, I thought I should let you know, I will be taking Friday off while we're camping but I'll be back Monday!
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

25¢

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
- Galatians 6:10 (NIV)
 
Last November, the U.S. Mint stopped producing pennies. It was costing 3.69¢ to make a coin worth just 1¢!  
Pennies are still legal tender, but cash transactions may now be rounded to the nearest nickel when exact change isn't available. There's your little currency lesson for today. Now, here's why I brought it up:
Last week, we stopped at a convenience store for fuel and a soda. The soda was $2.29, so I handed the cashier three dollars. With the rounding, I expected 70¢ back. He handed me some quarters, and off we went. When I looked down, I realized he'd given me four quarters. Now, I'm the first to admit that I don't do math, but even I knew that was too much change!
I turned around, went back inside, and handed him one of the quarters. He seemed genuinely surprised that I'd come back to return it, it was only 25¢. But it wasn't mine.
Paul reminds us to do good whenever we have the opportunity. Sometimes those opportunities are big, life-changing moments. Other times, they're as small as a quarter.
Doing the right thing isn't about how much it costs. It's about who we are when we have the choice.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible 

take heart

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
- John 16:33 (NIV)
 
Some days, I wonder what in the world is happening to our world. Turn on the television, scroll through social media, or read the headlines, and there's no shortage of things to worry about. Conflict, anger, division, uncertainty. Sometimes it feels like the bad news just keeps coming.
It's enough to make anyone weary. But Jesus gives us a beautiful reminder: Take heart!
Notice He doesn't say life will be easy. In fact, He tells us quite plainly that we WILL have trouble. That's not exactly the comforting part of the verse, is it? The comfort comes in what He says next.
“I have overcome the world.”
We may not be able to change everything happening around us, but we can choose where we place our hope. Not in politicians, headlines, or circumstances, but in the One who has already overcome it all.
The world may be uncertain, but God isn't.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

I will

I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
- Ezekiel 36:27 (NKJV)
 
Two little words caught my attention when a friend sent me this verse last week – “I will”.
Not I might. Not I'll think about it. Not even I'll try. I will.
How often do we make promises with the best intentions, only to find that life gets in the way? We forget, we get distracted, or circumstances change.
But when God says, "I will," He means it. And what a beautiful promise this is! God doesn't just give us a list of rules and expect us to figure everything out on our own. He promises to put His Spirit within us, guiding us, strengthening us, and helping us walk in His ways.
We won't always get everything right. We'll stumble, make mistakes, and occasionally head in the wrong direction. But we don't have to walk this journey alone.
God's Spirit is within us, and His faithfulness doesn't depend on our ability to be perfect.
He said, "I will." And that's a promise we can trust.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

from my driveway

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
- Genesis 9:13 (NIV)
 
Last Thursday brought storms through our area. Afterward, pictures started popping up from people who had seen beautiful rainbows—some captured the entire arc, and some even saw double rainbows.
I walked outside and looked up.
From my driveway, I couldn't see the whole thing. Just one incredibly vibrant piece stretching through the clouds.
But what a piece it was.
After the flood, God placed the rainbow in the sky as a sign of His covenant. A rainbow doesn't create God's promise. It's a reminder of one He already made.
And maybe that's why I love the view I got.
Someone else could see the whole rainbow. Someone else got two. I only saw a piece—but their view didn't make mine any less beautiful.
Sometimes we do the same thing with God's goodness. We look at someone else's life and see what appears to be the whole rainbow while we're standing in our own driveway holding one little piece.
But God's faithfulness isn't determined by how much of it I can see.
A rainbow requires both light and rain. I'd certainly prefer the sunshine without the storm, but together they create something neither one can produce alone.
The rainbow isn't a promise that there will never be another storm. It's a reminder that God will still be God when the storm is over.
I may not always understand the rain. I may only see a piece of what God is doing.
But I can trust the One who made the promise.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

sunlight

For we live by faith, not by sight.
- 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)
 
Last week Randy and I had some errands to run, so we went out to accomplish all the things. On our way home, I looked toward the western sky and saw a sunset unlike anything I had ever seen.
The sun itself was hidden behind a bank of dark clouds, but above them was a perfect column of golden light reaching into the sky.
Of course, I had to take a picture.
Looking at it later, something struck me: you can’t actually see the sun in the photograph.
But there is absolutely no question that it’s there.
Its light is spilling around the clouds. Their edges are glowing. The entire sky is evidence of something hidden from view.
Faith can feel like that sometimes.
There are times when I can clearly see God working—prayers are answered, doors open, and His presence seems unmistakable. Then there are seasons when I can’t see what He is doing at all.
But not seeing God at work isn’t the same as God not working.
Paul reminds us that we live by faith, not by sight. I don’t have to understand everything God is doing to trust that He is still there.
I couldn’t see the sun that evening.
But I could see its light.
Sometimes the glow around the clouds is enough to remind us that the Son is still there.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

unauthorized

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever
- Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)
 
Cats do not approve of change.
In my latest attempt to downsize, I sold the unused cat exercise wheel—which is basically an enormous hamster wheel—and replaced our six-foot, multi-tiered cat tree with a smaller five-foot version.
Boots is not impressed. The top platform of the old tree was his throne. From there he could survey his kingdom and keep an eye on everything happening below. Since the new tree arrived, he hasn’t been near it. Neither have the other cats, unless a human puts them there. And even then, they don’t stay long.
Apparently, nobody approved this renovation. I laugh at them, but I wonder how often God watches me react to change much the same way. We like what’s familiar. We know where everything is, how everything works and where our favorite perch is. Then something changes, and suddenly we’re standing at a distance thinking, I don’t like this.
Life changes constantly. Some changes we choose. Others happen without our permission, and some take much longer to accept than others.
But Hebrews gives us something steady to hold onto: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Our surroundings may change. Our routines may change. People and circumstances may change. We may even find ourselves looking for a new place to perch.
But the One we trust hasn’t changed at all.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

masks

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
- 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
 
October is here, and everywhere you look there are pumpkins, skeletons and spiderwebs. Parents are planning costumes, churches and organizations are getting ready for trunk-or-treat events, and before long hordes of little superheroes, princesses, dinosaurs and who-knows-what-else will be holding out buckets asking for candy.
Wearing a costume for an evening can be fun.
But sometimes I wonder how many costumes we wear when it isn’t Halloween. “I’m fine.” “I’ve got it handled.” “Nothing bothers me.” “My faith is strong.”
We can become pretty good at showing people the version of ourselves we want them to see. And there’s nothing wrong with privacy—we don’t owe everyone our entire story. But there’s a difference between privacy and pretending.
Samuel was looking at outward appearances when God reminded him that He sees something different. He looks at the heart. That means there is one place we never need a costume. With God, we don’t have to pretend we aren’t hurting, questioning, struggling, angry or afraid. He already knows what’s underneath the mask. And He isn’t waiting for some polished version of us to show up.
He wants us.
Costumes are fun for October. But when you come before God, leave the mask at the door.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

character

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
- Philippians 2:3–4 (NIV)
 
I was driving to work the other morning with a migraine when a large pickup pulled up behind me at a stoplight. His headlights were shining directly into my driver’s side mirror, and the light was painful. I raised my arm to block it.
A moment later, the headlights went off.
The driver behind me had noticed.
When the light changed, he turned them back on and we both went on our way. He didn’t know why I was blocking the light. He didn’t know I had a migraine. He didn’t know me at all. He just noticed that something affecting him very little was affecting me a lot—and he did something about it.
We tend to think character reveals itself in the big things. But sometimes character is simply paying enough attention to notice someone else.
Philippians tells us not to look only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others. That requires us to look beyond ourselves—to notice the person beside us, behind us, across the table, or even in the car ahead of us.
You may never know what someone else is carrying. But you can notice.
And sometimes one small act of consideration can shine brighter than headlights ever could.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible 

enough

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
— Matthew 6:34 (NLT)
 
I spend a lot of time thinking about tomorrow. What needs to be done tomorrow? What am I forgetting? What could go wrong? What do I need to prepare for?
Sometimes I’m halfway through today while my mind is already living in tomorrow. Jesus gives us some pretty practical advice about that:
Don’t.
Tomorrow will get here soon enough, and when it does, God will already be there.
We aren't promised that tomorrow will be easy. We aren't even promised that everything we're worrying about will work out the way we want.
But we are given today.
Today’s grace.
Today’s strength.
Today’s blessings.
Today’s God.
Tomorrow can wait.
There is enough for today.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

ber

This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
— Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)
 
The “ber” months have finally arrived!
After record-breaking September heat, October is apparently bringing the brrrrr with it. Spring and summer will probably always be my favorite seasons, but there are things I love about October, November, and December too. Bonfires and spooky events. Thanksgiving and Christmas. Family gatherings. Curling up with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book on a cold snowy day.
Maybe that's a good reminder as we turn another page on the calendar - not every season is going to be our favorite. There will be seasons of life we would gladly skip altogether. But even then, there can still be something good to notice, something to enjoy, and something to thank God for.
Today is the day the Lord has made.
Whatever season you're in, look for something good in it.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible