As a teenager in Italy, I was convinced God had called me to spend my life as a missionary. Instead, He dismantled my plans, stripping away what I thought was my destiny, and taught me to trust Him rather than my own ambitions. Now, decades later—unemployed, caring for a wife with cancer, and living entirely by faith—I’ve discovered something unexpected: God has granted me the very experience I once longed for. Against all appearances, I’m living the dream.
Sometimes the hardest part isn’t being shaped by the Potter — it’s sitting on the shelf afterward. When seasons of waiting stretch longer than we expect, it’s easy to feel overlooked, unused, or forgotten. But what if the shelf isn’t a place of abandonment? What if it’s a place of honor — a reminder that being set aside can mean being sanctified for something special?
A season of job-search frustration reveals the heart change which is needed to make even menial tasks acts of worship—and restore joy in the process God uses to change us.
We laugh at Linus’ belief in the Great Pumpkin, but his wavering when he’s disappointed again and again feels uncomfortably familiar. When life is calm, faith comes easy; when things get hard, doubt rushes in. Yet the presence of fear doesn’t mean the absence of faith. Scripture shows us that real hope can boldly say, “God will deliver… but even if He doesn’t, I will trust Him.” That paradox is very essence of faith—releasing control and resting in God’s goodness.
Even If He Doesn’t Read More »
At last night’s Astros-Cubs game, it wasn’t the stars who left the biggest impression—it was Taylor Trammell, a player with zeros across his stat line and a World Series ring he didn’t earn. His unlikely story reminded me that life isn’t always fair, but grace isn’t about fairness. Frequently, God gives blessings we didn’t expect or deserve—just to remind us He’s still writing the story, even when we feel benched.
The Trammell Travesty Read More »
Our days on Earth are numbered, yet their true significance lies not in how many we have, but in how we spend them. My dear friend Brent understood this well. His legacy reminds us that the true measure of a life is not to be counted in days, but in terms of service for God.
Numbering Our Days Read More »
The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby provides a good example of the relationship between hope and waiting. Read all the way to the end for a special offer!
And Down the Stretch They Come! Read More »
Have you ever noticed that God seems to wait until the last possible minute to show up? Did you know that there are multiple instance in the Bible where He creates a huge need before taking action? Why does He do that? Are we being set up?
Most people associate the name “Ebenezer” with Dickens’ Scrooge, not with victory—but in Scripture, it marks a stone of help, a memorial of God’s dramatic rescue. Today, I raise my own Ebenezer—not for a triumph over enemies, but for a year of unemployment filled with unmistakable provision, healing, and hope. This is the story of how losing my job turned into a front-row seat to the faithfulness of God.
Here I Raise My Ebenezer Read More »
It’s tempting to view closed doors as disappointments, but they are really invitations to embrace the beauty of waiting.
Giving the Kiss the Attention It Deserves Read More »