I thought that title might get your attention. A Jesus follower “obsessed” with OnlyFans? I know what some of you were thinking….she’s gone to the progressive Christianity movement. Ha!

There’s no drama here about it. Yes, I am obsessed with OnlyFans, but not for the reason some of you might have first thought. Keep reading.

“How in the world do you know about OnlyFans mom?” my 20-year-old daughter asked me when I mentioned something about it the other day. Who doesn’t know about OnlyFans? It’s a platform that has slowly risen from its almost obscure days in 2016 to its mainstream recognition during the dark days of the dreaded C virus…just another one of the many terrible things that came out of that weapon.

So, why am I obsessed? I am obsessed with it because of the damage it is doing to society. What was once an industry cloaked in darkness and secrecy, OnlyFans has exploded into every facet of life, where it is being idolized as something that gives people “control of their bodies” and “freedom.” What? The porn industry, for decades, made its profit off of a few players who were deranged enough to think it was good theatre and drugged and duped enough not to know any better. The owners of these studios, production teams, and the actors/actresses themselves numbered in the relatively low digits. Being part of this industry was usually not a voluntary choice (although there were some who went in full steam ahead), and getting out was not easy. It wasn’t easy to walk around with that kind of work on your resume and get a respectable job. And, the work was done in seedy darkness.

Yet, here we are in 2025 with OnlyFans parading around in the light. Now, every woman and man can be their own version of whomever they dare to be on a platform for willing subscribers to log in to. While it may be true initially, control is one thing the “actors” have, as they get to decide what they want to do… until more things get more clicks, which in turn earns more money.

I can imagine the enemy saying to any one of these people, “You have already done this, so why not just do this. You are always in control, remember. Don’t you want to earn what you deserve? Who is the boss of you?”

Now it appears that OnlyFans is attracting college kids who are looking to earn cash. Their frontal lobes aren’t fully formed until the age of 25, and here they are, making decisions that will forever be permanent out there in digital space with lurking eyes. It’s enough to make you want to vomit out loud. They may feel safe because they are doing these posts within the safety of their homes and dorms, but they aren’t safe at all.

Violence is on the rise in America. Serial killers have spoken in the past about how they watched porn to psyche themselves up before they would go on to attack their victims. And yet, no one is speaking out about OnlyFans. Silence….well, except for the ones being used by the enemy to lure others in.

People understand what human trafficking is. People fight against it, donate toward it, pray about it…but isn’t OnlyFans just a digital version of human trafficking? A company, OnlyFans, is profiting off the dubious desires of those sucked into the world of lust, pornography, and darkness. And now, it is claiming the lives of more and more young adults.

If you still watch Pretty Woman and think that movie is cute and okay, this may be the sign of the first problem. We can’t applaud or encourage any form of prostitution, pornography, or OnlyFans-type content. It needs to end with this generation. College campus groups, speak to your students. Church pastors, talk to your congregation. We need light to shine into this darkness.

Will you pray with me?


Dear Lord, your eyes roam the face of this earth at all times. I know what you see disheartens you. Forgive us, and forgive those who do not know what they are doing. Open our eyes and hearts as well as theirs to your ways and your will. Show us where we can step in and help convey your message of how much you love each one of us as your own and want nothing more than for us to be fully reconciled with you. Please help us help those caught in the cycle of digital strongholds and set them free. I pray that this platform, OnlyFans, would crash and burn because nothing good comes out of it. Destroy the content. In Jesus’ name, Amen

My one word for 2024 was REFRAIN. When I received the word, I had no idea what was in store for the year. As I explained in the blog, the word refrain could apply to so many things. However, like the Lord often does, He prepared that word for me because He already knew I had a tumor growing in my body and I had no idea. It wasn't until May 30, 2024, that I discovered what He already knew: I had Stage 2 triple-positive invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer. My faith and reliance on Him was about to be tested. Would I refrain from worry, fear, and anxiety, or would I give in to all of it? Thank goodness that word kept resonating in my mind as I listened to the doctors talk to me about my type of breast cancer, the treatment plan, and the side effects. I think I repeated the word to myself at least a hundred times during the first couple of weeks.

Between June and November 2024, I had port placement surgery, completed six aggressive chemo treatments, had two surgeries (a double mastectomy and reconstruction), and received a clear pathology report post-surgery (praise God!). I am currently still undergoing additional HER2+ immunotherapy treatments for at least another six months. Some days are physically still challenging and painful, but I am so thankful to have gone from a cancer diagnosis to cancer-free in six months. I know not everyone does.

In mid-year 2024, everything shut down for me. I mean refrain came to life in real time. I withdrew from my PhD classes because I had no attention span during chemo and didn't always feel that great. I stayed in my house a lot to keep myself away from germs during treatment and surgery, and I physically lost so much strength (chemo meds really do a number on the body). I spent many days just sitting and resting with the Lord in a way I had never done before because honestly, that is all I could do.

During that time with Him, the Lord began preparing my heart for the focus of 2025. It all started in Isaiah 48 where my one word for 2025 is repeated three times. It's the word NEW. The word would occasionally come to mind, and during the Christmas Eve service at my church, my pastor revealed the theme for 2025: NEW beginnings. It was just like God to provide a wink of confirmation. And then, Isaiah 43:19, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

In the Lord's kindness and graciousness, my word for 2025 gives me so much hope for this year. I am ready for a new season and a new awareness of living life to its fullest. I do not know what NEW things will happen this year but I know the Lord is faithful in the word He gives me every year, and He is the God who is willing to tell us new things and do new things because His story is still unfolding, and we are blessed to be a part of it.

Whatever part of your journey you are on with the Lord, stay near to Him. It's the safest place to be.    

In 2023, the Lord gave me the word WATCH. It was a 1 Samuel 12:16 kind of year for me, "Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!" The Lord knew I needed the advanced instruction to watch what He would do because 2023 was a year filled with incredible highs and lows. As I watched with a kind of strength and confidence I can only attribute to Him giving me this particular word this past year, I saw miracles and answered prayers. Some of the answers were to prayers I prayed years ago. 2023 will definitely go down as a defining year for me.

As I prayed toward the end of 2023, I asked the Lord which direction He was taking me this year. Over several days, I kept hearing the word REFRAIN. Honestly, it didn't make much sense at first, and I thought what could the Lord want me to stop doing…I mean, it feels like I have taken a couple of years off already. I kept praying through this word and searching the Word for what refrain refers to in the Bible.

As I read the scriptures, I quickly realized that the word refrain can refer to so many things I had not initially thought of. It can mean to refrain from:

• Sin, including pride, anger, unforgiveness, addictive behavior
• Worry
• Fear
• Doubt (not just doubt in God, but also doubt in self)
• Judgment
• Speaking without it being just the right time and the right words
• Going before God in situations
• Living a prayerless life
• Control
• Living without purpose
• And so many other things

I can definitely refrain from many of these points above, and I am sure many of you can as well. I can also refrain from limiting what God wants to do in me and through me and through others by staying near to Him and listening to Him more closely. This year of REFRAIN is where I need to allow God to do what He wants to do. That sounds like an easy task, but walking in obedience and doing what He asks us to do isn't always that easy or straightforward. Refraining from doing what I want to doing only what He wants is an adventure for sure. However, what happened in 2023 set in motion what is still to come in 2024, and I am fully stepping into 2024 with confidence and expectancy.

So, what about you? What’s your one word for this year?

Today's a day in church history most often celebrated with adorable children waving palm branches saying, "Hosanna in the highest." While children are precious, Palm Sunday is packed with so much meaning and is often lost in our modern culture.

"When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

(Mark 11:7–10)

Jesus had already fulfilled prophecy before getting on the donkey by telling the disciples to go ahead and get the colt that was tied up right near the entrance to the city.

Because many people already believed Jesus to be the Messiah after witnessing miracle upon miracle and hearing Jesus teach, the cloaks they laid on the colt and the road were not jackets as you and I might think of them. The cloaks represented "tallits" or "prayer shawls." The tallits reminded people of God's commands and served as a reminder of the coming Messiah. Laying these particular garments on the road was not done carelessly or thoughtlessly, and it was purposeful. The people were acknowledging that Jesus was the promised Messiah.

The palm branches laid on the road also held significance. Palm branches represented victory and royalty. The road into Jerusalem, marked by a visual representation, acknowledged Jesus as the victorious and promised Messiah.

Jesus rode into town on the colt as the peaceful King of kings. Many proclaimed his victory even though Jesus was riding into enemy territory. Inside the city gates were people who didn't believe in Him, and many were planning His death.

As the week unfolded, believers, doubters, and unbelievers witnessed the actions of those who plotted Jesus' death. The response and actions of Jesus affected people differently. Some people who followed Jesus became more doubtful and afraid. Some people who doubted believed. Some people who hated continued to hate.

It's much like today. Many of us acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, and we would be those who would lay down palm branches and prayer shawls along His path. However, we, like many of those during Jesus' time, live among those who don't claim Him to be the Messiah and don't believe Him. Some even hate and fear His power, just like those who plotted His death.

Jesus is still the same victorious King and Messiah. Believers live under the covering of His victory over death, hell, and the grave. Nothing is too much for Him, regardless of what this world will tell you or act like. The messaging in this world may get loud and move from God's intention but always look for the deeper meaning. If it aligns with God's Word, it is good; if it doesn't, don't let it seep into you. We can't casually glance at the Bible and assume we know the stories. It takes repetition and study to understand the whole message fully. And it takes fully partnering with the Holy Spirit, who guides in all wisdom.

This year, the Lord has given me the word watch. If I watch for Him this year instead of looking at things in the natural, I will see more of the supernatural and, therefore, more of Him in this world. I long to see Him, His miracles, His mercy, His provision, and His hand in all things.

First Samuel 12:16 says, "Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!"

Today, I got a beautiful glimpse of Him working. Our church is in the middle of a bi-annual 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. We meet every weekday at 6 am and 9 am on Saturdays during these 21 days. This morning, close to 800 students were in the prayer meeting (as part of an intentional day of prayer and fasting for them), along with all those who regularly attend these prayer meetings. It was so full, the worship center ran out of seats, and people sat or stood in the aisles.

As I focus on watching Him move this year, I know this world hasn't won every soul. This younger generation has a hunger and desperation for clarity and peace.

Fight for them because they are fighting for them. I saw them fervently praying and worshipping.

If you want to watch this morning's prayer meeting, you can watch it for the next 24 hours at https://21days.churchofthehighlands.com. You can also tune in wherever you are every day for the next seven days as we continue to seek the Lord in prayer and fasting.

I am praying for all of you for all He will do in 2023.

I've found myself over the last couple of years pondering the amount of noise in the digital space. I launched my blog back in January of 2012 when blogging was fairly new, and my podcast, Sandalfeet Ministries in 2015 when podcasting was just beginning to take off. I'm not super techy, and was extremely grateful my son (who was only ten years old in 2012) gave me pointers along the way. I have slowly plodded along over the past decade sharing what the Holy Spirit has laid on my heart through blogs, books, social media posts, and podcasts. However, when COVID hit, it seemed as though the world turned upside down in so many ways. One of the areas of change for me was simply the noise on social media and digital platforms. I am one to be cautious and careful of what I say or post because I know many eyes are watching, but 2020 and 2021 seemed to take a strange turn. The rise of "cancel culture" seemed to elevate the hysterical voices while at the same time silencing the voices of reason and truth. I know Satan had a hand in giving ammunition to those who walk with him while at the same time attacking and assaulting those who side with Jesus. It led me to get a little quiet and contemplating what the Lord really wanted me to continue to do.

As some of you know, I begin the journey of pursuing my PhD in Christian Leadership with an emphasis on Next Generation Ministry next week. I had no idea until recently this particular program was even available, and actually stumbled upon it by complete accident (perhaps divine). For years, I've been asked when people hear about my ministry. It's the "elevator speech" marketing experts try and teach people to rehearse so they have it down in one sentence or less. Ten years in, I still bumble my way through my response because ten years in, I still have no specific focus other than to passionately share how Jesus fills and changes a person's life. I can't particularly narrow it down to a group of people, age group, ministry topic, or anything like that. It frustrates me at times, and I've heard plenty of people tell me I need to figure out my "focus." 

I happened to be scrolling through social media the other day and saw Brian Barcelona posting about his latest book release. If you don't know who Brian is, he has an incredible testimony and an incredible ministry reaching high school students through Jesus Clubs and his speaking engagements. His book, The Jesus Club, is so encouraging. His latest book, Don't Scroll, Evangelism in the Digital Age, caught my attention since it is so in line with the journey I am about to begin. And although I have a stack of books sitting on my desk I'll need to somehow get through over the next eight weeks, I ordered a copy and read the words he had to say. Not only does Brian offer practical help in navigating the digital age and "reaching the ends of the earth" through digital means, his words are wrapped in encouragement for the discouraged...a word I needed and maybe something some of you need as well right now.

I wrote in my book, Spiritual Orphans, about a word the Holy Spirit gave me in January of 2011. As my heart has been tugged to pursue my PhD and as I read the words in Brian's book, I have been drawn back again to those words I wasn't expecting that night.

"You are a mother. You will be a mother to all of My children who are hurting, sick, scared, and lonely. You will know when you see them. You will see it in their eyes."

As I look around at our youth these days through a digital lense, I can see their struggles. The place where we will meet this generation is not the same place we met them before. The landscape has changed, but the mission has not. I firmly believe that as we adults continue to surrender our lives to Jesus, He will enable us to have fresh eyes and hearts to the youth in our presence so they may walk in a land that is full of revival and new birth instead of destruction and death. It is not lost on me that those who were born between 1997 and 2015 are known as Generation Z, and those who were born after 2015 are known as Generation Alpha. God has great things in store to begin something new.

My only question for you is what part will you play? Don't be limited by what you think you are capable of doing. Instead, be compelled by what He is capable of doing through the ones He sees as available and sent. This generation and future generations need us to step out of our comfort and love them well until Jesus makes His return.

I recently put a pod in my indoor hydroponic garden for sunflowers, however, I forgot I even put it in there. The other day, I went downstairs into the basement where it is located. Honestly, I haven't been tending the garden very well. When I arrived at the bottom of the stairs, I noticed a beautiful sunflower blooming in the garden. Huge, out of nowhere.

Yellow is my favorite color. I have three yellow lights over my kitchen island, and there are yellow accents throughout my house. Sunflowers are my favorite flower because I think they're so pretty and purposeful. They produce things. Not only are they a flower, but they produce seeds and seeds that we can eat and nourish us and nourish the animals. As I saw the sunflower, I was thinking about people say sunflowers follow the direction of the sun. They start out in the east, and as the day tracks, they move to the west when they're in growth mode. There's a scientific term for it (heliotropism). However, they don't do this throughout their entire life. They actually get to a point where they're mature, and they stop tracking. That means they end up continually facing east.

That east-facing attitude, being mature, really just struck a chord with me. I was thinking how many of us feel like we are spiritually mature, and we're stuck facing east. East in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, was a posture that represented rebellion against God. It started very, very early on in the Bible. The Bible says in Genesis 3:24 that after Adam and Eve sinned, God "drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim, and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life." The first time the man and woman sinned, God placed the people east. As sin began to become rampant, people continually moved east. We also see that after Cain committed sin in Genesis 4:16, it says, "Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod East of Eden." We also see later in Genesis 13:11, "so Lot chose for himself the valley of the Jordan and Lot journeyed eastward, thus they separated from each other." As the people moved east farther and farther away from the Garden of Eden, they were physically moving away from the presence of God. But the physical movement away from God also represented a spiritual movement away from the presence of God. We see this reestablished in the Temple. The east gate was where they entered from. And as they moved westward, they began to get closer and closer to the presence of God. And so, this eastward movement of God's people reflected a spiritual movement away from God.

I think the same is true for us. We're not very good with directions anymore. I noticed this yesterday. I was driving with my oldest son in the car, and we were in an area of town that he has been to plenty of times before, but he was turned around for some reason. I don't know why. And he said, "I have no idea where I'm at." And I'm said, "You totally know where you are. We've been here before." He said, "No, I think we're going the opposite direction." I said with confidence, "No, we're going going in the right direction." He pulled up the map on his phone and sure enough, I was going in the right direction! This generation, Gen Z, is very reliant upon Google Maps, Mapquest, and Waze (as are all of us slowly becoming reliant upon these things). They don't learn how to navigate without a map system. I grew up in a time when you got directions from people. Things such as, "Go right at the light, left at the light, there's a blue house turn left there, etc." So I learned the ability to get around without maps physically...even when I lacked that ability spiritually.

Scripture is the original roadmap to show us the direction to God. If we're not using the Bible, we're actually lost directionally and specifically, spiritually (maybe not lost forever, but lost our way in the moment). That is not a good place to be because we will find ourselves wandering, and perhaps dabbling in things that we're not supposed to be dabbling in. God knows being east, far from Him, is hard.

What can you do today to check the spiritual position of your heart? Listen to Erin's latest podcast episode, Identifying the Position of Your Heart Toward God Reveals the Posture of Your Heart (Episode 65), to hear more.

In early 2015, I wrote a blog discussing the desensitization of America. I wrote, “What is our problem today? We are constantly bombarded with more and more exposure to foul language, violence, and sexual situations. I mean, when you cannot even watch a live sporting event on television with your children for fear that you may have to have the uncomfortable ‘birds and bees’ talk with your six-year-old because of all the erectile dysfunction commercials, you know there must be a larger problem.” I was a frustrated mom watching the world as I knew it rapidly decline right before my eyes because I started seeing things through the eyes of my children.

I knew we were a culture growing progressively more and more desensitized to how we view life, humanity, gender roles, and children. I knew it was getting bad, but I honestly had no idea how bad it would really get. Until now.

As I read through this old blog post recently, I thought to myself, “We are a secular culture who does church rather than a church culture who lives among the secular.” Some may say this is semantics, but this is a very important message for Christians. Our country may have been founded on Christian principles, but our country is no longer eager to put God first.

I just finished teaching a series on 1 and 2 Timothy on my podcast, The Depot Podcast with Erin Olson, and recently answered the question, “Why Is It So Hard to Be a Christian Today?” The Apostle Paul knew the conditions that would present themselves in the last days. He told Timothy how people would be lovers of self, disobedient, unholy, without self-control, and brutal (to name a few) (2 Timothy 3:2–5). We are living under these conditions because the majority of Americans are moving farther away from God. Not only are they moving farther from Him, but they also aren’t even faking being godly anymore.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we need to hold each other up and encourage one another to stay the course. We need to believe the actions we take today will change the course of a generation—whether that generation is our generation or a future generation. We need to fight for our children when they do not even realize they need to be fought for. We need to fight for our own souls as well. Like toxic waste slowly seeping into groundwater, the wickedness of this world can slowly seep into our souls if we are not taking proactive measures to shut down the toxic waste-contributing factor. Repeated exposure = desensitization.
 
Even though it may be hard and uncomfortable to be a Christian in America right now, do it anyway. Use your voice. Use your influence. Use the power of prayer. Use the Word of God to teach, rebuke, and train (2 Timothy 16). Make your life reflect Jesus so much that it draws the attention of those who need to discover who Jesus is. Just as in times past, as well as times present, life can change in the blink of an eye. May we never grow weary, and may we never throw up our hands in defeat because He who lives in us is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

I’ve recently found myself under attack by those who oppose God. It’s something I can laugh about, but in all honesty, there are some really angry people out there who are mad at God. I released a podcast last week called, “Why Is It So Hard to Be a Christian Today?” and it has gotten a lot of traction—over 6,500 downloads already. With that many downloads, it has gotten into the hands of people who are quick to use ugly words against Christians.

I hide most of the ugly comments on my social media for two reasons: one, I don’t want to see them over and over, and two, I don’t want others to engage with the nonsense. I’ve had people say, “Quit pretending you are persecuted, you are the majority….What you do is shameful, get back under your rock!” and “Blah, blah, blah more talks about a heretic and a charlatan…” and some others I’d rather not share.

The persecution comment is ironic because the author of the comment doesn’t understand the meaning of the word persecution because he is doing exactly the thing the word is defined as by the New Oxford American Dictionary, “persecution: hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs.” These total strangers are posting hostile comments because they feel like they can when I’d never in a million years get on their social media and rant about my Jesus or spew ugly words. And, he was also incorrect in the majority statement. I researched the numbers and professing Christians only number around 2.38 billion worldwide. With a world population close to 8 billion people, Christians definitely are not in the majority anymore. We are a secular culture who does church rather than a church culture who lives among the secular.

The above comments bothered me, but his comment about telling me to go back under my rock really hit a chord with me. I don’t like the dark nor the things that live in the dark. My oldest son recently moved some stones out in our yard and when he lifted one of the stepping stones, there was a snake living under it. Snakes live in the dark, and for me, snakes represent the enemy (in so many ways). Jesus light-bearers shine brightly and don’t hide away in the dark.

His comment was in total contrast to someone else’s comment to me this past Saturday night. My husband surprised me with a dress recently and I wore it for the first time on Saturday night. He was out of town on business with our boys. My daughter and I were heading out to dinner so I snapped a pic to text to him right before we left.

A few hours later, I was in the emergency room with my daughter because of an allergic reaction she had at dinner. She’s never had a reaction to food so it was a little surprising not to mention scary. The ER was a little crowded and they had to administer her medicine so we were there for a little while. Shortly before getting discharged, the patient billing coordinator came in to collect the copay. When she walked into the room, she immediately commented on how pretty my daughter is. I think she repeated it a few times. She was super sweet. A short while later, we were walking out with the discharge nurse and we walked right by the patient billing coordinator at the nurse’s station. She commented again on my daughter, but what the discharge nurse said next is what floored me. She said, “Yes, they are both pretty, but there is just a light beaming around them. They are so bright.”

Looks fade and change, but our light doesn’t ever have to. It’s how I want to be remembered…how I want my family to be remembered. May light shine brightly through us always.

I don’t think it’s a good idea to go around actively picking fights with people. However, I am also aware that any time we speak the word of God, not everyone is going to accept what we have to say for their own reasons. Every time someone chooses to say an unkind word, without even really knowing me, Jesus’s words bring me so much comfort because He warned us this would happen. It doesn’t catch Him by surprise so it shouldn’t catch us by surprise.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” (John 15:18–20)

My new podcast episode, “The Importance of Keeping a Level Head Even When Everyone Around You is Ignoring What You Have to Say – Lessons from 2 Timothy 4” released today. In all its irony, I recorded this episode before all the hateful comments started rolling in. Hope you'll take a few minutes to listen.

I have been thinking recently that none of what is happening in this world is catching God by surprise. None of it! Throughout history, people have treated God the same way they are today. It's been wild—full of pride, full of hate for Him, full of anger towards Him. For centuries, this is nothing new. Our behavior looks really bad through our lenses because well, things are challenging right now. Right now, we're in this season where society is a little out of control and a little off balance. It’s a perfect opportunity for God to clean it up again. I want to remind you of that today; if you're feeling a little hope less because of the state of the world, be filled with hope because God is God and He knows what is going on. He knows the past. He knows the present, and He definitely knows the future.

Are you feeling like it's too hard to go on? These last few years have shaken things up, and the current trajectory is a little wobbly, but I want to remind you that we need to remember our mission; we need to remember the call. It's so easy to get caught up in what's going on in the world and lose sight of our purpose in the world.

I recently released a podcast titled, “If Jesus Walked Into a Drag Queen Reading Hour, He Would Say This.” You know why Jesus would know what to say? It's because He knows His audience. We need to remember to know our audience. Jesus did not back down from going to eat with sinners. He dined with them. And why did He do that? He didn't go there because He wanted to say their lifestyle was okay or what they were doing was okay. He knew that His presence changed people because He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He didn't always have to say a word. People, oftentimes throughout Scripture, would actually confess their sins, and He wouldn't even need to say what they are. Other times, people were excited to meet him, like Zacchaeus, who ran ahead of Jesus so he could climb up in a tree to see over the crowd because he needed to see Jesus. And because he needed to see Jesus, Jesus saw him and changed him. It wasn’t because Jesus accused him of all the wrongs he was doing, but simply because Jesus knew his name.

Today, if Jesus walked into a drag queen reading hour, He would know every single person's name, their stories, their hurts, and their pain. He would know all of it because He knows his audience. He wouldn't be teaching them the things of the Bible. He wouldn't go through all of that because they first need to know how much they are loved. That's what Jesus would do. We have the same opportunities. We have the opportunities to go into a room and change the spiritual atmosphere there. We have the ability to do that because we have the Holy Spirit in us. We need to remember our audience; we need to know who we're talking to. 2 Timothy 2:10 says, “Therefore, under everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” If we're out there yelling and screaming at people, they're not hearing the Gospel. They're hearing our flesh. Our words don't change people; the Holy Spirit changes people. We've got to remember the core of our mission as Christ followers. When we're reaching those who don't know Christ, we need to share the Gospel. There's no way we can just sit there and screech everything the Bible says because they can't hear the Bible, they don't have the Holy Spirit in them. They can’t hear the words because they haven't been touched by the Gospel yet.

It's hard because there are things out there that make us upset. It does not make me happy to think that I would have to go to a drag queen reading hour because I would not want to go. I would not bring my children. However, if the Holy Spirit one day woke me up and said, “You're to go to this public library.” I’d have to go. It's for a purpose, right? It's not for me to go and sit and enjoy the show, and it is not for me to go and say that what they're doing is okay. It's not even for me to go and say anything necessarily, though, because the Holy Spirit resides within me, and just my presence in that place should affect somebody. He never sends us on a mission without purpose, and His missions don't always make sense. If you find yourself in a season right now where you're just completely repulsed by this task the Holy Spirit might ask you to do and you find yourself saying, “I would never”, or “They are so far gone, lost, demented, and sick”, I think you need to check your heart because if you have this feeling about them in your heart, you won't ever share what's on Jesus's heart for that person.

Just to give an example, when I'm at a Christian music concert and there are people standing outside, who apparently are fellow believers, holding a sign telling me that I'm going straight to hell, I don’t receive that very well. And I'm a believer! So just imagine if you're a non-believer and you see that and you're like, “What in the world? Like, are you kidding me? That person? That's what I thought, you know, the Christians are all crazy.”

We can't scream at people. We can't change them. We can't march outside of drag queen hours saying hateful things. We need to gently instruct them in the hope that God will grant them repentance, leading them to knowledge of truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will (2 Timothy 2:25–26).

If Jesus were to walk into a drag queen reading hour, He would might say nothing at all, His presence would fill that room, and He would know their name and look at them. He would love them, and we would hope that God would grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth of who Jesus is and could be for them.

Just like Him, we need to know what to say and not forget the mission. The mission is to present the Gospel so that people have the opportunity to choose repentance, and to say yes to Jesus. Because then, and only then, will the hearts of men and women change once they encounter Jesus and understand the love He offers and the forgiveness He has for them.

To listen to the entire podcast episode, click HERE.

I keep seeing the word “evil” thrown around. Yes, evil exists…because Satan exists. However, people aren’t born created to do evil things. People are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).

How does evil begin? Choices. Good and evil were revealed in the Garden of Eden because the deceiver chose to trick Eve who then made a bad choice. We've experienced evil and sin ever since.

Evil occurs in our society because people choose to hurt others. America’s children are being sexually and physically abused and neglected at alarming rates. Who is committing these atrocities? People who were also abused, neglected, and/or exposed to things they shouldn’t have been as a child. How do people cope with untreated abuse and trauma? They self-medicate with drugs and/or alcohol which perpetuates the abusive cycle all over again which is then acted out in many ways by participating in high-risk behavior. We could go through every background of every person who has ever committed a crime and see a pattern. It’s not rocket science. Some suffered as children, teens, or young adults more than others. Some people who suffered abuse and neglect are fortunate enough to have help and thrive after their trauma. Many do not.

Whole families who haven’t endured some forms of abuse, trauma, or neglect are very rare in our society and that should make us weep. The “evil people” everyone talks about were once young babies who had the whole world in front of them until…. Hate, anger, and sadness dwell in the hearts of those who are hurting. Some can keep it contained while others explode and do irreparable harm.

Hearts are hurting in America in various ways. Legislation can’t legislate the heart; legislation only rules the heart’s actions. We can have a billion rules and controls, but if the hearts of men and women are not well, actions deemed evil, unspeakable, and tragic will continue to play out.

Spiritual orphans, those who don’t know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, abound. May we, Christians, remember the core of Jesus’ commission to each one of us—to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). The Apostle Paul wrote all about the heart and the transformative work which can be done because of God's forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love. His mercy and grace do the work of transformation. We simply get to play a part. Romans 10:14–15 says, "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, 'How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!'" That last sentence is exactly what the prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 52:7 (and the verse that encapsulates the ministry and work of Sandalfeet Ministries) (emphasis mine).

It is true, we can't just pray our way out of our problems. We pray to have a conversation with God about what is on our hearts and to ask Him what is on His heart. If we stop there, we fail to live out that which He communicates to us through prayer. We need to be both the hands and feet of Jesus. All of us. The work of Christ is not left up to those employed in political positions to enact legislation or to the ones who are tasked with enforcing the rules. The work of Christ is for all those who call themselves Christians.

Pray today for the Holy Spirit to show you how you can be the hands and feet of Jesus in your community. Somewhere, there is someone hurting in some way and needs Hope. What physical need can you help meet for them to open the door? Where do you need to physically be in your community to meet the needs of someone? Are you comfortable sharing the Good News with someone who needs to hear about the Hope you have? I pray you will begin to do the things the Holy Spirit reveals to you. We, Christians, are ambassadors of Hope. We represent Christ. Christ doesn't hide or busy Himself in times of need. He shows up and reaches out. He pulls those who are drowning and close to death out of their graves and raises them to new life.

The only weeping I want to see more of is the kind of weeping which occurs when a person finally understands the Lord forgives and heals completely. If we don't tell the hurting and hopeless this life-changing message, the enemy will continue to feed them lies and our communities will continue to be ravaged by the byproduct of brokenness.

May the Holy Spirit give each of us the strength, courage, tenacity, and willingness to participate in His work.

I sat next to a guy last night at a game who most definitely was the reason the officials kept flashing the “no harassment” rule on the Jumbotron over and over throughout the game. That kind of behavior sucks the life right out of everything. I often feel like social media is the place that obnoxious person sitting next to you at a sporting event feels like it’s game on all of the time. It’s something that may start out a little funny or innocent the first time, but by the fifth, eighth, or tenth time…it about makes your head bust or make you want to remove yourself all together.

Social media, like the guy yelling at a player on the court from 100 feet away, is the place where people feel free to say whatever they want. They think it’s a safe space (although we’ve seen some pro athletes go after hecklers in the crowd lately). But as we are learning more and more, there is no safe space on social media either. What is said in that forum can last forever. It is something that can be tracked, viewed, recorded, even seen after it’s been deleted…unlike the guy sitting next to me last night (unless someone was recording the guy…which can also happen).

I’ll never understand the human mind so I don’t know why people do or say some of the things they do. I try and rationalize some comments as moments of insecurity and attention seeking while other comments may even reveal some sort of undercurrent of jealousy, anger, hate, etc. Most people, if we are being honest, seek the approval of man (some more than others). People want to be seen, noticed, heard, and valued. It’s why the loud guy keeps going as people laugh, cheer, press “like” or respond with positive comments.

However, Galatians 1:10 says to seek the approval of God not man. I’m pretty sure the guy last night was not getting a fist bump from God for the things he was saying. And, social media magnifies “the man’s approval” complex times a million.

So, as Christians seek to speak Truth into this world, we have to be careful. Big tech can limit access and delete accounts because well, they can. It’s up to them. However, if we honor God by and through what we say, He navigates it for us. The world may think they can silence Truth, but that’s because the world doesn’t truly know the Creator of Truth. They don’t know His power.

This is a season where Christians need to ask the Holy Spirit for fresh wisdom and discernment with how to deliver Truth to those who need to hear it. He is moving people into new assignments with new ways of ministering to people through conversations about Him and His Word. When the world is filled with confusion and chaos, it is only through His Spirit will people find Truth intersect with Peace.

I challenge you to post Galatians 1:10 on a post-it note on your computer screen, or as your home screen on your other devices. Reminding ourselves to process our words and actions through His approval may just help us all better navigate this life and positively impact the culture and people around us more than we can imagine.  

If you as a believer truly believe what Joseph said in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives,” then do not give up on social media. Hear that again, do not give up on social media! As believers, we need to be the good on social media that we want to see.

Did you know that “the Facebook” came out of a platform called FaceSmash? FaceSmash initially allowed college co-eds to rate the attractiveness of other college co-eds. This definitely was not meant for good. No one should want to shame another. However, Facebook evolved out of this and Mark Zuckerberg originally wanted a way for college co-eds to interact with one another on a digital platform. As Facebook grew, it became a place where people could connect and share. As it has evolved over the years, it has changed in so many ways. However, even if there is less than ideal stuff on social media, believers do not have to follow that crowd.

If you are exasperated and think that all Christians are being blocked or cancelled on social media, do not believe this lie. Social media can be bad, but it can also be used for good to save the lives of others. If you are a Christian, make sure that what you are posting is Christlike. Proverbs 18:21 says this, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” This isn’t just referring to the spoken word anymore; for people today, it also refers to the typed word. Speak life into people. If you don’t have anything nice to type, just don’t post it!

I recently had the opportunity to talk with my friend, Crystal Buck, the owner of a small business called Everlasting, about how social media birthed and is expanding her business reach. She has even been given an opportunity by Facebook to be on a team of small business owners in the digital space. She doesn’t hide her Christian faith. Her testimony reminds us that there is space, and a great need, for positive speaking Christian men and women to be the good on social media.

You can listen to the entire interview with Crystal on The Depot Podcast with Erin Olson by clicking HERE.

Every year I choose a word. Last year, I wrote about my word “soak” in a blog post. It was all about being like a sponge, sitting and just soaking in what is being presented to you, what God is downloading to you or what you're learning. This year, when I was praying about what my word for 2022, I kept getting the word Growth or Grow. I thought, “Wow!” what an amazing word because we can all be continually growing.

I think it is a timely word because if you know what's going on right now, in the spiritual world, in the Jewish calendar, this is a sabbatical year that started September of 2021 and ends in September 2022. If you don't know anything about the sabbatical year, I love that faith is the primary value of this special year. Why is it faith? Well, it's because in the sabbatical year in the Jewish rules and the Jewish law, they weren’t allowed plant anything. It was mostly agriculturally based. The Jewish people were not allowed to plant anything during this sabbatical year. Anything that grew was because it grew from the land, it wasn't anything that man or woman did or didn't do; it was simply through the hand of God. I love this visual image of the sabbatical year, where nothing that I do or nothing that you do is from you. It's growth that happens because God is causing it to happen.

It's a beautiful picture that even when we're not doing anything—when we feel like we're not doing anything or enough—God is continually growing us. What I also love is that the word growth is so much better than death, right? When we're thinking about growth, we're thinking about new things—being born, expansion, or things getting bigger. In our flesh we can do what we can to make bigger things (bigger houses, bigger businesses, bigger platforms, etc.), but growth from God through His Spirit in us is supernatural. It is spiritual. Growth is not meant to just help ourselves, but it is meant to help others.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when I hear somebody say, ”My faith isn't big enough.” Well, Jesus himself said that if you have faith as small as a mustard seed…. Jesus doesn't care about the size of our faith; He cares about the strength of our faith.  So, I wanted to start 2022 off by giving you five ways to grow in your faith in 2022—not grow bigger faith. Let that sink in…your faith can be as small as a mustard seed. It can be small in size, but it can be so strong. When you look at nature, there are strong things that are small. I’m outlining growing in your faith pretty simply. For a lot of you, maybe this is going to be repetitive. These are common sense things as believers. But oftentimes in life, we get busy, we get off track, and we might need a gentle reminder about how we can stay strong in the Lord and grow in the Lord. We will never reach full maturity until we get to heaven. We are always growing. We aim to not be drinking spiritual milk like a baby, but there is always room to learn.

Here are the top five ways I believe you can grow in your faith in 2022.

1. Commit your life to the Lord. First, if you're not a believer, and if you're still dipping your toe in the waters of “Do I believe or do I not believe in Jesus?” make this the year you say, “Yes!” to Jesus. Make sure your salvation is secure. You simply do that by putting your faith and trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. His grace is a gift, and through faith, your eternity can be secured. If you are a believer in Christ, commit your life to the Lord. Make sure you're committing your daily routines, committing your daily plans, and your yearly plans. A lot of people sit down and write a vision for the year. Make sure this vision is centered on the Lord. Don't take things into your own hands. Allow Him to be the Lord of your life. Not just so you can secure your eternity, but so that you can live a life full of joy, peace, love, and patience.

2. Allow the Holy Spirit to do work in and through you. Don't let the Holy Spirit freak you out. I saw an article recently that Kathie Lee Gifford was quoted in and she said that Westerners are deathly afraid of the Holy Spirit. We are afraid of His power. However, the Holy Spirit was sent as an Advocate. Jesus said, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). It is because of Him that we can understand the things of Scripture so allow the Holy Spirit to do a work in you and through you. Be available. Don't close the door to the Holy Spirit because you don't completely understand the Holy Spirit. He'll teach you things.

3. Read and study your Bible. Make sure you're continually reading and learning about Scripture. He speaks through us via His word and if we aren't reading it, we miss opportunities to hear from Him. Even if you've read the Bible 100 times, read it again. It is alive and active. Second Timothy 3:16–17 says, “All scripture is God-breathed. And is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.” That word equipped means it's a tool, it's useful. If you're a carpenter and you aren't using your tools, you're not going to be in business. If you're a computer programmer, and you're not using your computer, you're not going to be in business. If you're a small business operator and you don't have the stuff that you're selling, or the services that you're selling, you are not going to be in business. “Equip” is a super important word for me. It is one of the mission points of my ministry—Equip, Encourage, Evangelize. It's important to be equipped and we, as Christians, get equipped through the Bible. Make the time in 2022 to grow in your understanding of God's Word and your love for the Lord.

4. Pray. We shouldn't see prayer as an obligation or duty, but rather a way to communicate with God. It isn't just about what we need or want. It should be a time where we praise Him and thank Him. Imagine if you never communicated with the people you love. What would your relationship look like? Jesus said in Luke 18:1 to always pray and not give up. Prayer was something He modeled as a way to communicate to His father. He did it, and we should do it. Ask Him to search your heart. Pray for others. Lift yourself up in prayer. If you need encouragement from Him, ask Him to encourage you. If you need guidance, ask Him to guide you. He knows your heart, and He knows if you're being sincere and what the need is. Often, our needs become trivial when we're actually communicating with God because we realize how big He is and the job He does every day to keep this world spinning. Our needs become small, not unimportant, but they become smaller than the big picture. We grow in our faith by communicating with God. We can get far from God when we fail to communicate with Him.

5. Be in community with other believers. Community is important for believers. Other believers are placed in your life to help you with accountability, encouragement, prayer needs, and fellowship. It's better to align yourself with like-minded people than to be aligned with people doing life opposite of what God would want. We become who we do life with. Choose carefully. Godly believers will cheer on your growth. First Thessalonians 5:14 says, “And we urge you brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak and be patient with them all.” Community is there for a reason. Doing life with people can sometimes get messy. People hurt us, people move, and people change their minds. And maybe the people you're doing community with right now just aren't going as deep with God as you would want. It's okay to find other community members. We don't have to hang on to our community just because they've been our community for a long time. It's okay to spread your wings and find a community that is in line and aligned with the work you're doing right now. It's not to disparage the community that you've been doing life with; it's to grow your community and grow in your faith. Don't allow your community to ever let you get idle when it comes to spiritual things. Whether it be your personal growth, or reaching people, we have to remember the core of our mission is to go tell the world about Jesus, and share the good things that He has done. If we're in a community that is all about us, and all about just having fun and doing things together, but not challenging us to grow and stretch, and do things that might feel uncomfortable, maybe we need to either admonish our community, or we need to stretch our wings and find a new community. Or, you might also consider bringing someone new in that might challenge your community. It’s okay to do this because it's called growth. Sometimes, once a tree grows too big, it needs to be lifted out of the soil and transplanted in a place where its roots can grow deeper and stronger. Maybe that's what God is challenging you with this year. Maybe He needs to take you somewhere new and plant you somewhere so your roots can grow deeper and stronger in order to flourish and grow to your full potential.

This year in 2022, remember, it's not the size of your faith. You can have faith as small as a mustard seed because a mustard seed, when it's planted in the right soil grows into this beautiful, purposeful tree. All you have to do is be the mustard seed and allow God to do work in you to grow you to your full potential.

I'm more than happy to share my word Growth with you this year because I think that each one of us can grow. We can grow in our faith, we can grow in our strength, we can grow in our voice, we can grow in our ability to reach others, and we can grow in our influence, for godly purposes, to advance the Kingdom and be light in the darkness. So that's my challenge for you in 2022.

Do you have a different word this year? I’d love to hear it! Comment below or email me at erin@sandalfeet.org.

Is walking away really the best thing to do? You, the one struggling in your faith right now. Maybe you aren’t struggling with who Jesus is, but you find yourself struggling with what Jesus wants you to do. “It’s all too hard some days,” you say to yourself. That little voice inside of your head says it’s better just to walk away, stay quiet, and blend in.

Of course that little voice would say that. Why? He’s the most selfish beings of all. Satan, the deceptive one so filled with pride that he was kicked out of heaven. He wanted so badly to be like God, maybe even one up God, that he lost his place in a perfect heaven. And, ever since his expulsion, he has done his best to get as many people as possible in his realm.

Being a Christian has never been easy. Jesus didn’t have it easy. The first disciples didn’t have it easy. The early church didn’t have it easy. Countless men and women throughout history haven’t had it easy. Some remained steadfast until the end. These men and women were firmly planted and rooted in Him. Others, their roots weren’t as deep and when life got hard, their shallow roots dried up. And for many others, their roots were never established to begin with.

As a Christ follower, the world is not your friend. You live in the world, but you shouldn’t be of it (John 17:14). Yet, far too many are falling to the ways of the world and when the weight of it all is too much, reconciling the world with our Christian convictions is too much to bear. So, many choose the easiest route, the widest path, and succumb to the world. The problem with this is that even if your salvation is secure, the choices you make to abandon the commands God has given because they are too hard or just too much, affects your future generations.

When individuals actively choose to walk away from the commands of the Lord, they leave collateral damage for those after them to clean up. So, not only will those who come after you have to fight the battles you, yourself, are contemplating walking away from, they will have to clean up your mess, too. Is that really what you want to be known for?

Throughout the Old Testament there are examples of messes made and cleaned up. Accounts of how one person, or many people, caused God to turn His back or unleash the enemy. Broken walls, broken families, death, destruction, and wanderings in the wilderness are woven throughout the words of Scripture. While we are able to see the beauty from the ashes because we see the complete story, many of those living through it never saw the beauty. If they were lucky, many simply survived in the aftermath.

Don’t walk away. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with courage and strength. Ask him to fill you with tenacity to stay the course. Don’t allow the enemy to break down walls or tear apart your family. Ask him for help. He knows the enemy doesn’t want you to succeed. But God does. He loves you that much.

It’s not legalistic to say we need to follow His commands. And yes, He still has some commands. The first is the same as it was all the way back…love Him.

I don’t know how you treat the ones you love, but He deserves your best. If your life is centered around Him, you are anchored regardless of what comes your way.

Don’t let Satan convince you grace stamped out every command of God. There are still rules and boundaries established for your sake.

Imagine if you had an army and none of the soldiers followed the command of the leader. It would be utter chaos and confusion. And my guess, they would lose the battle.

Ahem…look around and see what is going on in the world. People have fallen under the trance of “me” first…doing what they want and when they want….including those in the body of Christ.

As a result, there is confusion within the Church. When we have young adults and teens who know the Church is a mess and don’t know who to trust or believe, we’ve clearly messed it up.

Loving God leads you closer to Him. You’ll hear His voice more clearly. You’ll understand His ways more clearly and why they are important.

The Church right now looks a lot like the churches in the New Testament that needed rebuke and correction. We look at those books and letters and think, “Of course, they were completely off the mark.” We see it because we see it from a distance. What we need are eyes to see what is taking place now and the changes we need to make for the sake of His bride. Would we receive a letter like the ones Paul wrote with humility and repentance or would we continue to spiral? My prayer is the former and not the latter.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Isn’t this how the old saying goes? Well, we are broke and we need fixing, and now is the time to put in the work.

When things in the dark are exposed in the light by God, we need to take notice. Revelation isn’t a bad thing because it often helps us to see things from a different perspective as well as wake us up to realize there is a problem. Broken things require repair if we want to rebuild them for their original purpose. In 2016, I wrote a blog post titled, Pride and Deceit. I mentioned in it that America hadn’t just abruptly changed overnight. It had been a slow process of burying heads in the sand and completely pushing God out of America. We are still seeing the consequences in 2021.

The pandemic turned the world upside down. Schools were closed and children were forced to learn at home. A lot of employees were forced to work from home, and some just had to stay at home while their businesses were shuttered for months. People found themselves living in homes together for twenty-four hours a day, and many discovered the cracks in their relationships. Parents discovered what their children were being taught at school by observing Zoom classrooms.

When confronted with brokenness, people have the choice to respond or continue burying their heads. People must make the choice to put the time in to rebuild neglected relationships. Parents needed to decide whether they were going to participate in the education of their children or continue to allow the government to have sole control over what American children learn.

The book of Nehemiah describes the account of a willing man whom God chose to leave where he was to go and rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. Not everyone was on board. Not everyone cared to take on the task. There was opposition and lies. The rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem was important. Walls were meant to keep the people inside safe from those on the outside who wanted to do harm. The rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem demonstrated that God was still with them and there was a faithful remnant who feared the Lord.

Rebuilding in America doesn’t mean a physical wall of protection like Nehemiah was charged with. If the people in America were united in their foundational purpose being centered on God, what a different America we would see today. God has always wanted to be at the center of every individual life. He’s into relational work. He wants a relationship with each one of us. Once we get that right, we can then work on everything else.

There are a lot of opportunities to rebuild the broken things in America. For some, it’s a rebuilding of their relationship with God. For others, it’s a rebuild of a marriage. God may be asking some to rebuild that dream that has fizzled. And for many, it's a time to rebuild the ungodly narrative that has taken over every facet of daily life in America.

Will we see a rebuilding of America by godly men and women who fear the Lord or will America become a waste pile of ruins because the godly have given in to those who don’t know and fear the Lord? If you are a believer in Christ, know that God is calling you to be a part of His rebuilding. Start right where you are and then, keep seeking Him as you move forward in obedience.

It’s been said that I try and rationalize things and try too often to fix things. It’s my nature.

“Why is the baby crying?” “Why is this thing not working?” “Why? Why? Why?”

These are the questions I have been asked a lot over the past two decades as a mom so naturally I have evolved into this being who tries to understand and figure out the problem so as to offer a solution.

“Maybe the baby is crying because she’s hungry or needs changing.” “Maybe it’s not working because you don’t have it plugged in.” “I don’t know why it’s this way; it just is.”

You get the point.

It’s in this mess we are in that I often find myself trying to rationalize people’s behavior. I rack my brain trying to think about why people are acting the way they are, doing the things they are doing, and saying the things they are saying. I so often want to fix things and offer my opinion when I know my opinion isn’t something they want to hear, let alone listen to. It’s forced me to dig deep and spend more time with the Lord.

I have a lot to say, as well as a lot of questions. Some are private conversations I have with the Lord while others are conversations I have with people closest to me as I try and talk things out. The last twelve months have been wildly disorienting in this country. No one knows who to believe anymore, people are quick to fire off a social media post before knowing all the facts but not wanting to appear as though they don’t care, tempers have flared, and years of trust have crumpled into piles in cities across America.

As I sat today reflecting on whatever today might bring, it isn’t one singular incident affecting us like some may think; it is many. Nor will it be one singular incident that fixes things. However, many of our current problems are because we have an unforgiveness problem in this country. We have bottled up anger, resentment and hatred that is not bearing good fruit, and is definitely not the legacy we should be looking to pass down to future generations. But sadly, we are doing just that.

Several years ago, the Holy Spirit led me to write a Bible study about forgiveness and unforgiveness as it related to the fruit of the Spirit. I was at a crossroads in my life where the Holy Spirit was working on clearing out some junk in my life that I didn’t even realize I was carrying or holding on to. Of course, the Spirit knew it and knew it was affecting me, and because the Holy Spirit is always working on us for our good and His glory, He had me address it head on.

As I studied the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22–23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” I also examined the opposite of this fruit (the counterfeit fruit as I refer to it) which is hate, sadness, disorder, impatience, unkindness, evil, disloyalty, abruptness, and rashness. This opposite list looks a whole lot different when it’s written down on paper.

Look at those words—hate, disorder, evil, and disloyalty. Yikes!

These words are ugly and we are seeing them play out in real time every day in the headlines, and it is destroying us.

In the account of the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1–11, the teachers of the religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery to the Temple and threw her on the ground in front of Jesus. Her offense was punishable by death. These leaders weren’t necessarily worried about the woman’s affair; they were actually trying to trip up Jesus.

The leaders made a few mistakes. First, they didn’t bring the man who had also been caught in adultery. It was procedure that both be brought before the authorities. Second, Jesus knew the woman wasn’t about to get anything fair thrown at her. The leaders were leading from emotion and had passed the point of rational thinking. They were after Jesus and this woman was a pawn in their scheme. Lastly, Jesus had some harsh words for these hypocritical leaders. Jesus said, “Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone” (John 8:7). All the while, Jesus was stooped down writing in the sand inside the Temple. Sins were to be written in sand and not on stone because sins could be atoned for. These leaders were incapable of forgiving the alleged sin of this woman and wanted her permanently wiped out with a stone while Jesus knelt and wrote her sentence in the sand.

We don’t know exactly what Jesus wrote in the sand. Some speculate that maybe He wrote, “Forgiven.” Some say it was “Grace” or “Mercy.” Maybe it was her name to let her know that Jesus knew her. Whatever it was, Jesus wasn’t willing to condemn her; He was willing to forgive her.

One by one, from the oldest to the youngest, the religious teachers of the law and the Pharisees went away. Why? Because each one of them, like each one of us, has sinned and sins to some degree or another. When all that was left was Jesus, the woman and the crowd, Jesus asked her where her accusers were and did not at least one condemn her (v. 10). Her response, “No, Lord” (verse 11), and Jesus responded, “Then neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Jesus’s response was forgiveness. He modeled it for those who were in the crowd watching. This forgiveness agitated the religious teachers and leaders even further because they didn’t believe that He had the power to forgive anyone’s sins. Jesus’s forgiveness saved that woman’s life, and hopefully, she took His command seriously and stopped doing the sin that could lead to her untimely death. I also hope that she believed in Jesus as her Savior and was forgiven once and for all.

Unforgiveness blocks our ability to extend love and compassion because it is wrapped in the counterfeit fruit. Satan is the author of the counterfeit fruit because he doesn’t want forgiveness to flow freely. Instead, he wants to perpetuate the flowing poison of unforgiveness that is running through the veins of far too many people. We can’t move forward as people, communities, and a nation until we can forgive the past and move toward the future. To bring up old offenses every time a new offense takes place diminishes the ability to heal. Jesus doesn’t bring up our old sin, but He does help us with our current and future sin by giving us access to the Holy Spirit. As people, we should follow His lead.

When those religious teachers and Pharisees slipped away one by one, they went away angry looking for their next opportunity to go after Jesus at all costs. They had not been convicted by their lack of forgiveness but instead allowed unforgiveness to fuel their cause.

There is no amount of justice that will satisfy the unforgiving heart, not even death. We need to pray that a spirit of forgiveness will wash over our land so that the counterfeit fruit of Satan will no longer be driving the narrative. There is no reconciliation without forgiveness.

The fall of mankind occurred only three chapters into Genesis. Three chapters! In a perfect setting, the slippery serpent uttered a few words that changed the course of history, “Did God really say?” (Genesis 3:1). Those words opened up room for doubt, curiosity, and disobedience. We have felt the effects ever since.

I wonder today if those same words by Satan ‘Did God really say?’ are being whispered into the ears of many Christians. I really didn’t want this to be my battle, but I have felt so convicted by the Holy Spirit to not be quiet. If we don’t speak up, we are also responsible for the moral and spiritual decline we are witnessing throughout the world. Progressive Christianity is pushing a narrative that changes what God said is good and right according to His Word. Some are even saying that the Bible itself isn’t God’s Word. They have heard the whispers of deceit by Satan, and they have taken a bite.

We cannot continue to be silent about this, especially within the Church. False doctrine must be exposed. False teachers must be called to repentance. The world will not discipline those who have gone astray. Instead, they will applaud them because those who go astray, yet still claim to be “Christian,” will look more like them and less like Jesus. And we all know, the world does not like Jesus.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Anything is better than the dead calm of indifference.” Don’t settle in the camp of indifference, especially if you believe the Truth. We must speak up to expose the lies.

I recently spoke more about this issue on my podcast, The Depot Podcast. You can listen to it HERE.

Last year’s word for me was tenacity. Boy, did we all need to be tenacious to make it through 2020. This year, the Lord has given me the word soak. The word soak as a verb means, “to make or allow something to become thoroughly wet by immersing it in liquid”; or as a noun, “to be a heavy drinker.” I kind of chuckle at both definitions because what in the world does that have to do with anything that could possibly relate to me? I thought that at first until I started to think a little more about the applications of these two definitions biblically speaking.

To soak a sponge in water means to immerse it into the water so much so that liquid can be squeezed out of the sponge. How awesome would it be if I could be so immersed in God’s Word that when you squeeze me, all that comes out is Him? The heavy drinker part? Well, that is laughable because I don’t drink, but it does make me think of what Paul said in Ephesians 5:18, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.” It also makes me think about the day of Pentecost when people thought those who had been in the Upper Room were drunk (even though it was only 9:00 am). Peter said to them in Acts 2:14–18 that the people weren’t drunk with wine, but were confirmation of the prophecy given in Joel 2:28. Is anything I do or say something that would cause people to think I was a little “drunk” if you will as it relates to my witness for Christ? If not, why? Wouldn’t it be an honorable thing to be considered “soaked for the Lord?” I think it would, yes.

It also makes me think about soaking in a tub of hot water to relieve stress, worry, and pain. We have a lot of that right now in the world, country, state, communities, and for many, within your own families. Heartbreak for the conditions of the things people were experiencing, and wondering what in the world God was doing about it was the essence of Habakkuk.

Habakkuk was a prophet in Judah during the reign of King Jehoiakim. He prophesied between 612 B.C. and 588 B.C. Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, fell around 612 B.C. The Assyrians had been the dominant power up until its destruction. They were a wicked bunch that God had tried to save. It worked for a short while after they were warned, but they eventually returned to their evil ways and God allowed for their destruction. Once Assyria lost power, the Babylonians quickly rose to take their place as the dominant power. They, too, were wicked, non-God-fearing people.

Habakkuk lived among the people of Judah. When he looked out at the people, he saw a dying world and it broke his heart. His heart response led him to seek answers from God. He wanted to know why God wasn’t punishing those responsible for sin. Clearly, he knew that God did wipe out evil-doers, but he was wondering why God allowed evil people in Judah to prosper without judgment by God. Habakkuk cared about God’s people but he didn't like that some of God’s people were doing evil. Habakkuk leveled a long list of complaints to God in Habakkuk 1:1–4. Read the words in his complaints and it sounds a lot like what many people are saying today as we look out across the world.

 - God, how long is it going to be before you help?

- God, are you ever going to stop the violence?

- God, there is strife, conflict, and injustice everywhere, do you care?

- God, even the law isn’t protecting the people. People are crooked and cruel. What are you going to do to them?

- God, the wicked are hurting your people. When will it stop?

Have you muttered any of these questions to God during your prayer time or throughout the course of your day? I know I have. Habakkuk said these words to God and God responded. However, God didn’t respond in the way Habakkuk might have thought it was going to go.

The Lord answered Habakkuk’s complaints by saying, “Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people who sweep across the whole earth” (Habakkuk 1:5–6). I bet that is not what Habakkuk expected to hear.

God told Habakkuk that He was going to use the wicked Babylonians to destroy the wickedness in Judah. That’s tough to swallow. Judah’s punishment would be at the hands of the Babylonians. Habakkuk thought that was too much, “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” (Habakkuk 1:13). God was going to use evil people to punish evil people. The irony is that the Babylonians had no idea God was using them to fulfill His plan. Their pride and ego about their strength caused them to think they were doing it all alone. Little did they know that in just a short while, God would punish them for their wickedness in His own way and in His own timing.

Habakkuk, even though he didn’t completely understand God’s reasoning or decision, responded by saying, “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint” (Habakkuk 2:1). Habakkuk didn’t like God’s answer, but he responded with patient waiting and watching. The watchmen on the watchtower were the people who stood on the wall to keep a look out for invading armies and messengers. They were the ones who carried the messages to the people. The wall was important to protect the city, but the wall can’t talk and see; only people can. God is our strength, our protection and our fortress, but we are the people who need to stand on watch patiently waiting for what God is going to do. God hates sin even more than you and I do. Our response to God should be the same as Habakkuk’s response; we need to wait patiently as God works out His plans in His perfect timing.

The way God works things out may not be how we would handle things. It may be swift or it could take a long time. It may affect you personally a little or it could affect you personally a lot. And, a lot of it won’t make sense. Both the righteous and the unrighteous get caught up in whatever plan God has. However, what we can rest in are the words Habakkuk said in the final sentences of Habakkuk 3, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights” (Habakkuk 3:18–19). Habakkuk knew hard times were coming. He didn’t ask to escape the discipline that was coming because he knew Judah needed to learn a lesson, but he did ask for mercy and for help.

We may be in for some tough times ahead, but God is still sovereign and in control. We need to take our eyes off the difficult things being presented to us constantly and instead soak in the presence of God. I know that is what I am going to try and do more of this year, and I hope you will, too.

The word the Lord gave me for 2020 was tenacity. I posted about it on Instagram on January 2, 2020, and included a picture of the definition of the word. Little did I know at that time how much this word would mean for this past year. 2020 has been a year full of things we’ve never seen before, health challenges for many, loss for many, change for many, and unknowns for many. It’s been a year filled with hate, anger, violence, greed, division, uncertainty, sadness, death, life, marriage for some, and divorce for others. It has highlighted for the people of the world that life can change in the blink of a minute.

Tenacity means both to grip tightly and firmly to something and to continue to exist; persist. In a world of unknowns, I needed to cling to the One who is known so I could persist in the tumultuous year that has been 2020. So, what now? 2021 doesn’t look like it is going to start any better than 2020 is ending. For this reason, and many other reasons, the best gift we can give to ourselves this year is a spiritual health checkup.

Most people get a physical health checkup every year; even those who may be feeling generally healthy. Physical checkups can confirm if something is not right, as well as confirm things that are right. For instance, a blood panel may show that you’ve been doing a great job of keeping your cholesterol levels down through diet and exercise, but it can also reveal if there are issues with your immune system or organ functions. Lots of run-of-the-mill health checkups catch things people didn’t know are going on with their bodies, and for the ones who catch it early, this is a good thing.

If we are good about getting physical checkups, maybe we should also be good about conducting spiritual health checkups. There is such a huge correlation between what is going on with us spiritually that affects how we are doing physically.

What does a spiritual health checkup look like? Let’s turn to Scripture.

1. Salvation: The first, and most important aspect of your spiritual health is your salvation. In whom or in what have you put your faith and trust? Jesus spoke to a rich young man in Matthew 19:16–28. The young man asked Jesus about what good deeds he needed to do in order to gain eternal life. Jesus spoke to him about six of the ten commandments—the ones specifically dealing with relationships with others—and the rich, young man responded he had kept those commandments. He then asked Jesus, “What do I still lack?” (Matthew 19:20).

Jesus responded by telling the young man to sell all of his possessions and give to the poor. He also said it was then that he would have treasure in heaven and follow Him (Matthew 19:21). How did the young man respond? The Bible says, “When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth” (Matthew 19:22).

I don’t know how much money, land, or possessions this guy had, but whatever it was, he didn’t want to part with it. It’s not that rich people can’t get into heaven, it’s just that any person holding on tightly to anything other than God first (love God—the first commandment not only mentioned to Moses on the mountain but also reiterated by Jesus) can’t make it into heaven. Even if this guy sold everything he had but did it with a grumbling heart, it didn’t mean he would have eternal salvation. It’s our faith that helps us receive God’s free gift; our soft, humble, and willing hearts. Works, including selling everything we have and giving to the poor, don’t get a person into heaven. Ephesians 2:8–9 says it is by His grace—a gift— that people are saved through their faith, not their works so that no one person can boast.

So, if works don’t get you into heaven and faith does, have you put your faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? Faith is an inward and upward act, not an outward act. Our faith is between God and us alone. What happens in this place of interaction of faith and grace? Surrender. God wants our hearts—even broken, messed up hearts willing to put everything aside to follow Him. He wants to completely fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit (another glorious gift He gives us).

We get to choose whether we accept His gift of salvation. While works don’t get us into heaven, it doesn’t mean Jesus isn’t going to ask some things of you. Just as Jesus told the man to sell his possessions to outwardly show the disciples where that young man’s heart was, Jesus may be asking you to surrender some things because He, alone, ultimately knows the condition of your heart and where your faith, trust and eternity lie. It may not be wealth or possessions, but it could be an attitude, a fear, a relationship, a career—anything that is taking the place of God first. And note, God may not be asking you to give up any of the things I listed above but He may be asking you to reorder things and make sure He is at the top of that list without a number placeholder next to His name. He is not the number one item that can be moved around from time to time. He should be at the top of the list always because if He is at the top, everything you do is centered on Him.

You can’t move forward spiritually with Jesus until you have been spiritually reborn. These aren’t my words; they are Jesus’ words. Jesus told Nicodemus, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again’” (John 3:3, 5–7).

If you aren’t sure about your salvation or maybe you’ve never actually accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I would challenge you to read through Matthew 19, John 3, and Acts 16, and see where your heart is and maybe what the Holy Spirit is saying to you.

2. Attitude: Loving God and surrendering to Jesus assures you of your salvation, but even the saved can stray from God. One good indicator of what your relationship with Jesus is like is to look at your attitude toward others. If you are loving God (first), then we are to love others (second). However, let’s be clear at the outset: love does not mean approval or affirmation of all things (I’ve done a radio show on this topic and if you are interested in hearing that message, click HERE). Loving others means how we treat people and how we speak to people. Words are so powerful and now, in our highly digitalized society, words can be forever. A screenshot, a screengrab, a forgotten about comment or post made years ago (or yesterday) can come back to bite you. In frustration, anger, sadness, or anxiety, we can speak words that perhaps if we had taken some time to process and think about, we might not say.

Harsh words ruin our witness. Mean attitudes ruin our witness. Bad actions, well they speak louder than words. However, there is a way to say and do things properly and in Truth, if we allow time for the Holy Spirit to prepare those acts and words in us before we take it into our own hands and let it out of us. We all know people who claim to be Christians but just aren’t that nice. If you and I don’t want to be around them, just think about people who see Jesus through their actions and words.

We’ve all said some things, and probably done some things, that just aren’t kind or loving toward others. Even one or two incidences can take some time to regain someone’s trust. It’s why we must be aware of our weaknesses and cling to the Holy Spirit for help. King Solomon said, “The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?” (Ecclesiastes 6:11).

How is your attitude toward God? Are you distant from Him right now because of the things going on? Are you afraid because you don’t think He is doing enough? Are you mad at Him? Are you clinging to Him more now than ever?

How is your attitude toward others? Are you generally concerned with their well-being, both physically and spiritually? Are you choosing your words wisely when speaking to others knowing that there is both life and death in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21)? Are you holding on to any anger toward anyone or unforgiveness? Are you expecting someone else to change when maybe it is you that needs to do some changing?

How is your attitude toward yourself? Are you one who speaks life into yourself instead of words that tear you down? Do you see yourself in the way that God sees you—wonderfully and perfectly made with a purpose to serve and glorify God? Are you asking for help when you need it; whether that be from God or others?

Simply because a new year is starting in just a few weeks does not mean new things will automatically take place. A new year brings hope, but today can also be filled with that same hope, and the day after, and the day after. Don’t wait until someday. If the Holy Spirit is prompting you to conduct an attitude check, fully participate. Like a physical checkup, it might be a little uncomfortable and come with a little pain but it is the only way to know what is going on under the surface.

3. Timing: Have you ever had to wait for results from a physical checkup? Somehow my children can get their blood test results back while we wait in the office during their annual well-checks. My blood tests, however, can take a week or two to come back. How many of you have logged on to your healthcare website clicking away trying to see if maybe the results are there and no one has bothered to tell you? Sometimes we get impatient and anxious in the waiting. Crazy thoughts transpire like, Maybe the news is bad and the doctor hasn’t had a few moments to spend time with me on the phone. Or the whole, No news is good news thing swirls around but then you are still thinking the worst even as you try and calm your fears.

Timing and patience are incredibly difficult for people, and yet, we are people who need to patiently wait on the Lord all the time. I’ve been reading through the Old Testament a lot lately because there is so much of Jesus in there. I’m a big fan of the prophets who answered the call from God to be His spokespeople to the broken nation of Israel. Most weren’t listened to yet they patiently delivered message after message. They were given vague timelines by God. Many gave prophecies that were not fulfilled, or only partially fulfilled, in their lifetimes.

And then, four hundred years of silence occurred between the last recorded word in Malachi and the first word in Matthew. That period of time was not marked by peace and prosperity; it was marked by chaos and the chosen people of Israel slipping further and further into sin. A few people rose up and fought against the spiral. However, the Israelites were being oppressed by people and governments God had allowed to have authority over them because of their sins against God. There were a few who were patiently waiting on the Messiah (people like Simeon (Luke 2:25–35) and the prophetess Anna (Luke 2:36–40) who both got up daily and went to the Temple because they were faith-filled people who had faith and hope).

Being faithful in the waiting is what God asks us to do. Zechariah was faithfully fulfilling his duties when he got word that his wife, Elizabeth, would bear a child in her old age (Luke 1:5–25). David had to wait years before he became the king God said he would become. Jesus lived for thirty-three years before God’s plan of salvation for all unfolded. His timing is perfect; “the Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness” (2 Peter 3:9). We don’t stop living in the waiting. Instead, we live while we patiently await the faithful fulfillment of His promises.

We don’t know what the rest of 2020 is going to bring, and we certainly have no idea what 2021 will bring or the year after that. How we wait in the timing, however, says a lot about our character and who we belong to. Are you waiting anxiously or are you waiting patiently doing what it is the Lord has asked you to do day in and day out because you know no matter what happens in the world around you, your faithfulness to Him will be rewarded because He is faithful?

In Ecclesiastes 6, Solomon said some things about what a man gains, earns, does, etc. while he is alive. He also mentioned how we tend to focus on things and people more than we focus on God. We do a lot to maintain our physical health, our comfort, and our possessions, but we often neglect our spiritual health. Solomon argued that a lot more good would come out of us if we focused more on our spiritual health. As we do that, other things in our lives would fall into the right place from there. I couldn’t agree more.

Spiritual checkups aren’t always easy or pain-free, but they are necessary and they are worth it. When was the last time you S.A.T. (an acronym I made up for Salvation, Attitude, Timing.) with the Great Physician and had a chat about your spiritual health? Be honest with God and with yourself as you evaluate where you are spiritually and if necessary, make any changes the Spirit brings to your mind. Doing life God’s way is always the right way.

Wondering what my word for 2021 is looking like it is going to be? I’ll give you a hint: it’s something a sponge does. More to come on that soon!

I’ve been reading through some of Isaiah this Advent season and as I do, I am reminded that darkness is nothing new. It’s the reason why Jesus had to come and be Light.

This week on my radio show, Just Ask Erin, I answered some questions about darkness. It’s a little intense and not a very warm and fuzzy kind of message, but it is a message that is urgent. We need to be aware of the times and we need to protect our homes, our families, and our loved ones. We must be intentional and we must make choices.

Solomon said in Proverbs 9:10 that the fear of the Lord was the beginning of wisdom. Solomon wasn’t just talking about worldly smarts; he was talking about wisdom and revelation from God.

The kind of wisdom that makes you act and see things differently.

The terms, “Fear God” and “Fear of the Lord,” collectively, appear 40 times throughout the Bible both in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

God told the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 8 to not follow the way of the people in Judah. God was referring to the people who were stumbling around in darkness messing with the stuff that was not meant for God’s people. God also said to Isaiah, “The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as Holy, he is the one you are to fear” (Isaiah 8:13).

Just as the people in Judah stumbled around in darkness, we also are stumbling around. We grab on to whatever is in front of us and whichever voice is yelling at us the loudest about whatever issue is deemed important that day. We are being taught to believe that what is wrong is right by what are no longer subtle things that come across our screens and in our conversations.

However, the first word of Isaiah 9:1 should give us such hope. That word is “Nevertheless.” That word is then followed by a promise, “There will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.” Verse 2 says the people will see a great light and those living in the land of the shadow of death will have a light that has dawned.

We live on the other side of the shadow of death because of Jesus, but we have to be actively engaged in pushing back darkness.

I don’t want to give away the entirety of my message in my show, but I hope you will take some time to listen to it. You can access it by visiting the JUST ASK ERIN link on graceandtruthradio.world or by clicking on the button below.

There is a wave of anger tinged with fear trying to rise in certain circles. With what seems like a swift insurgence, the pressure is mounting in America against Christians. I say “with what seems like” because if we are being honest, the attack on Christianity has not happened overnight as some would propose. Rather, it has been a slow chipping away of purity and goodness in America. Christians have been comfortable for far too long, and comfort often has a way of blinding us to the dangers that lurk around in the dark.

As a parent raising teenagers, I sometimes find myself thinking, Things sure do look different for my children than they did for me. But, is it really? I grew up as a teenager in the mid-80’s – early ’90s. Madonna was scantily clad singing lyrics such as, “Papa don’t preach I’m in trouble deep” (in response to a crisis teen pregnancy) and “like a virgin touched for the very first time.” Michael Jackson was singing “she’s just a girl who claims that I am the one, but the kid is not my son.” Movies like Animal House, Porky’s, and Sixteen Candles were shaping the minds and choices of teenagers. Long-haired metal bands were wild and very open about their drug and alcohol use. Parents couldn’t track their child’s every move on the Life 360 app. Pornography, while not as easily accessible, was available and not only was it available, pornographic magazines lined the shelves of every convenience store and grocery store for any, and every, eyeball to see. Bullying existed, even if it was deemed “normal childhood behavior” and it was sometimes harder to find out about because it was much more hidden (no one could screenshot the bully that backed you into a corner every day during gym time when no one else was looking).

To add to all that did exist then, the rise of more television channels, including MTV, created faster access to media. CD’s and VHS tapes allowed a person the opportunity to listen to songs and watch movies over and over. No longer did one need to wait for a song to come on the radio or a show or movie to air. It was “on-demand.”

Fast forward to today and instead of being a people who are required to patiently wait for the seasons to change, we can get access to almost anything at a click of our fingers. We think we are in control of our lives and everything around us. Yes, it may seem that way on a superficial level, but the sovereign God of the universe is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Just because our lives today move at lightning speed, doesn’t mean God changes His ways.

That’s a surreal thought, right? I mean, if our lives today look so very different from the lives of those who lived 1,000 years ago, how in the world is God still the same? Doesn’t He have to change to keep up?

Nope, He doesn’t.

God is constant. God is sovereign. This is true today and will be true tomorrow. God is still God whether we acknowledge Him or we don’t. God still causes the sun to rise and set regardless of whether we say His name in public or not, and regardless of whether it is allowed or not.

In the book of Esther, we see the heart of a man who hated God and hated His people. Haman was an Amalekite, and Amalekites were sworn enemies of the Jews. Haman wanted nothing more to destroy a man who refused to bow down to him and seize the opportunity to take revenge on the Jewish people. Haman was consumed with power and pride. Haman’s position got him access to the king and the king issued a decree upon Haman’s urging.

But God, even if He is never mentioned in the book of Esther, was at work. What looked like doom for the people of God turned into a victory that is still celebrated to this day by the Jewish people. How amazing is that?

God allowed Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, to overhear the plot concocted by Haman and approved by the king. Who is Esther you may ask? Some of you know who she is because a lot of attention is put on Esther. After all, the book is named after her. But Mordecai, he was someone who slowly and wisely did his job in a place that was very hostile to the Jewish people. He lived in a city that had very little Jews, relatively speaking, and was not overly nice to the Jewish people. Mordecai served as an official to the king and took the time to understand the Persian laws and how things got done but did not compromise his integrity.

Because Mordecai knew the Persian law, he knew the edict by the king could not be taken back. He responded in the only way he knew how; Mordecai “tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly” (Esther 4:1). Others throughout the provinces did the same. But Esther, holed up in the castle, didn’t know what was going on until her maids and eunuchs told her about Mordecai’s behavior. She responded not by asking what was wrong but by trying to send Mordecai some clothes. Sometimes removing ourselves from our people and living among people who don’t share our values tends to numb us to what really matters. Even after Esther finds out what is troubling Mordecai, she responds by saying doing anything on her part would be her death sentence, and she wasn’t signing up for that. She was a queen, after all, and had made her way in the world against all odds as an orphaned, Jewish girl.

Mordecai wasn’t giving up. He had taken Esther in and he was about to lay some guilt on Esther. Mordecai responded to Esther, “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape” (Esther 4:13). Mordecai quickly brought Esther back down to reality. Esther was a Jew and the edict was for all Jews to be killed. The king had not made an exception for her.

How would you have responded?

A better question for you today is, how will you respond?

There are lots of Hamans running around the world today. And, a lot more in America than there used to be.

What I love about the book of Esther is that God’s name never needs to be mentioned because God was associated with the Jewish people and the Jewish people with God. The two were not separate. When Esther finally came to her senses, she responded in the way Jews responded; she fasted. Not only did she fast, but she also said her servants would fast and she told Mordecai to tell the Jews to fast. Fasting was always accompanied by prayer in preparation for something. Esther was taking three days to prepare herself to go uninvited before the king. Without submitting a prayer request, she told the people to fast. The people knew the severity of what was taking place. They would know exactly what to pray. Esther needed courage and she needed favor with the king.

And after three days, she got both.

Eventually, Esther was able to tell the king about Haman’s wicked plot to kill the Jews. And, the king figured out how wicked Haman’s heart truly was. Haman was hung on the gallows he had built for Mordecai. However, even though the king learned of Haman’s wicked plan to kill the Jews, he couldn’t take his edict back. That’s like a gut punch. So, what then? Esther risked her life for nothing? The Jews were still going to be killed?

Not in God’s plan. This whole account in Esther is a huge interplay of God’s sovereignty and human will. How will people react when push comes to shove? Will people fight for what is right? Will people stand up for God and His people despite what could happen to them?

Just like then and just like now, God prepares the place and His people must choose to act.

The king sent out a new edict “granting the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves” (Esther 8:11). Not only was there a joyous celebration because of the new edict, “many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them” (Esther 8:17). The non-Jews knew something big had happened and Someone was on their side. Even before the account in Esther, we’ve seen this time and time again in the Bible. People saw the power of the people and knew it was God, even if they didn’t follow God.

I always hate this next part because I think, I get that the king’s original edict couldn’t be taken back but really, the Jews still had to fight? There was still going to be bloodshed. The Jews were spared but those who came against them were not. And, even though they had been permitted by the king to take the plunder of their enemies, they took none of it. Mordecai was promoted to second in rank to King Xerxes and was esteemed by his fellow Jews because he “worked for the good of the people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews” (Esther 10:3).

No doubt, there were issues of the day facing Esther, Mordecai, and the people living in and near the city of Susa. But the issue that took front and center was hatred toward God’s people. That wasn’t something God was going to stand for. Slowly and methodically, God put all the players into place and waited for them to act. Because make no mistake about it, if they didn’t, God would find someone else who would (just as Mordecai said to Esther in 4:14).

What does this mean for Christians today?

Maybe this means it is our time. Maybe you are the Esther or the Mordecai of this generation. Or, maybe you are just one of the Christians who have been called to fast (and pray) for three days. Either way, we will all be required to assemble and protect ourselves because if we don’t, we risk losing what many of us hold dear (and sometimes take for granted). The Jews were to be killed. We may not have that edict issued for us today, but we might have more and more laws enacted that impact our Christian values and way of life. That cannot happen on our watch. We cannot have our children or grandchildren asking one day, “What in the world were they thinking when they just sat back and let all of that happen? Did they not care or think about us?”

People and the government can take God out of whatever they want, but just because they don’t say His name, it doesn’t mean He isn’t still here. He’s still working and He is still wanting to use those that are willing to stand with Him. Will you?

Against the grain. Swimming upstream.

These thoughts swirl in my head a lot. I heard them again over the weekend as I listened to a sermon.

I looked up a couple of things I wanted to share with you. First, when you sand against the grain, it’s not pretty. Sanding against the grain results in the appearance of scratches. Keep this in mind as we talk further. Second, salmon and other fish swim upstream for the benefit of future generations. It is pre-disposed in certain species and they return to where they were born to birth the next generation.

So, how do these two things apply to our lives—more specifically the Christian life? It helps me remember that living the Christian life isn’t supposed to look beautiful, or easy, and it comes with a cost. It is also supposed to be others-focused concerned not only with this generation but also future generations.

“If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19)

Christians have the balancing act of living in the world but following the ways of a leader, many don’t know and might not ever know. That’s not easy. It requires Christians to know what they are supposed to do in the first place. This begins with reading the Bible—the handbook for Christianity. It becomes quickly apparent what is good in the sight of the Lord and what is not after reading just a few chapters. If it doesn’t, you might want to start over, seek the Holy Spirit, and/or ask a friend or pastor for help with understanding.

If we, as Christians, are allowing the current to take us downstream only seeking the calm water and want to remain or blend in with the culture, we are more concerned with how we look (remember the against the grain concept?) and don’t want to put in the hard work for future generations.

There is a time to go with the grain and swim downstream, but there is also a time to go against the grain and swim upstream. Far too many choose the former and never find themselves doing the latter. It is partly why western Christianity looks like the mess it has become and why many can’t recognize Christians from non-Christians in many circles.

Jesus’ words in John 15:19 are brutally honest. He said the world hates His followers. Before His followers would say a word, they would be hated simply because they loved Jesus. That’s a tough pill to swallow.

We see it today as people burn Bibles in America and around the world. We see it as people burn church buildings. The fire is only going to get hotter, not colder, as the day of His second coming approaches. Those labeled as “against the grain” and “swimming upstream” in this culture will stand out. It will be hard not to. Our lives (should) look a lot different than the norm.

I still believe there is a silent majority in this country desperately wanting to speak up—but we can’t be heard with just our words, we need to be seen in our daily lives. The daily repetition of ordinary tasks done unto the Lord is what sets us apart from the rest of the world. When we give our lives to Christ as Savior and Lord, we submit to Him. We should start and end our days with Him, as well as every minute in between.

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” (Galatians 5:24–25)

“Cancel culture” is a threat in today’s society, but you know who else knew a little about “cancel culture”? Jesus. The culture of Jesus’ day canceled him by taking His life—at least they thought they did. They couldn’t cancel Jesus’ life because Jesus lives forever.

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?” (Luke 9:24–25)

Some people boldly take a stand against the injustices of today. That is a good thing, but solely speaking out against evil without also speaking out about the truth, hope, and goodness (Jesus and salvation) is only half of the equation. We cannot afford to be silent or back down as evil continues to infiltrate every facet of our culture. We need to care about our own, care about the lost, and care about what we are setting up for future generations.

Are you willing to look a little beat up and embark on a journey of swimming upstream knowing that your sole purpose is to lose your life for the sake of others? Jesus did because He had your name and the names of so many others on His heart and mind.

I keep prayer journals and random notes on my phone all the time about important things—the kind of things I don’t want to forget.

Something today made me think about a vision God gave me back in August of 2015. I scrolled through the notes on my iPhone earlier, and there it was:

“God gave me a vision today and said NYC will surely go up in flames unless my people share the Gospel.”

We were in NYC and I had an uneasy feeling. I couldn’t put my finger on it. It was as if I could feel the spiritual need in the city and the magnitude of the task at hand.

Five years later, and here we are. Have we failed, Christians?

Second Chronicles 7:13–15 (AMP) says, "If I shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or if I command locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence and plague among My people, and My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer offered in this place."

This is a verse many Christians know. But today, as I stood at my kitchen sink washing dishes, the Holy Spirit had me focus on the two-letter word, "My." 

The verse doesn't say, "The" people; it says, "My".

I'll let that sink in for a minute.

I don't know about you, but maybe we've been doing some things wrong. Maybe we've been intentional about praying 2 Chronicles 7:14, but completely missing the mark. Maybe in our hearts we've prayed that verse with an arrogant air and silently said, "The" when it is us—His people— who should be doing the repenting. Repenting for what you might ask?

Repenting for our comfort. Repenting for our lack of empathy for those who are separated from Christ. Repenting for our needs above the needs of others. Repenting for our fancy houses of worship. Repenting for our indifference. Repenting for our secret idols.

I know there are many of you who are really doing great things for the Kingdom. You are serving in mission fields. You are living without the frills. You are doing the hard things. Thank you for all you do.

But sadly, there are thousands, dare I say millions who aren't. Millions—maybe even more like a billion.

This time in history is critical.

Strong nations have been hit with this virus.

Celebrities have died.

Sports figures have also died.

Politicians have died.

Infants, healthy young adults, older adults, senior adults—healthy and unhealthy alike have died.

Hundreds of thousands are sick.

Our economy is failing.

For us in the U.S., our heart's center—New York City—has taken a crushing blow. As goes New York, so goes the world.

We won't recover in our own strength. We carry the weight of this tidal wave and the only way to release this burden is for us—the Church—to repent.

God told Solomon that if He did some things to His people, the proper response was humility, repentance, an all-out seeking of the face of God, and to stop sinning.

If the people didn't respond appropriately, God promised it wouldn't go well. He said He would uproot His people and make them the laughing stock among all peoples. And even worse, the people would know it was because God's people had forsaken Him, embraced other gods and served those gods instead (2 Chronicles 7:19–22).

I know the world is heavy right now, but I believe without a doubt this virus isn't God's judgment upon a wicked world (we already saw His judgment on the Cross). It's a call—a God-sized opportunity—for His Church to return to Him with humble, repentant hearts. He wants His people to return to their first love (and for many to even figure out who their first love really is and should be). He is giving us a chance. It may not feel like grace right now, but believe me, it is.

Back in late January of this year, I was on the phone with my spiritual mentor, Albie. Those calls take hours, but I love every minute of it. As I sat listening to him speak and take notes (yes, what he has to say is that important), I began to doodle the words, "Humble Strength" next to the word, "Sandalfeet."

It is our humility and His strength—in that order—that will get us through.

I also wrote next to the words, "Humble Strength" this sentence, "We are His sandals." We are His messengers. "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who share the Good News" (Isaiah 52:7).

If we've failed—if I've failed—repentance is the place to start.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your mercy and grace. Forgive me for taking lightly the things you have asked of me. Search my heart and help me to see that which is not of you. Give me a greater burden to care for those who are in great spiritual need, not for the sake of numbers or notoriety, but because you love them. Lord, fill me to overflowing with your Holy Spirit because it is only in your strength may I do the hard things. Lord, may this crisis draw your people back to you. May we seek you and find you, and when we find you, may we never return to our sinful ways again. Lord, may our choices be a blessing to this generation and generations to come not a burden for them to carry. In Jesus' name, Amen.