01/17/2026

Abiding in the Vine 

     In John 15, Jesus teaches His disciples through a simple image: a vine, branches, and a gardener. He says, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes so that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1). Pruning can feel uncomfortable because it involves removal, but it is part of God’s refining work, meant to produce deeper growth and lasting fruit.

     Jesus makes it clear that fruitfulness does not come from striving harder, but from remaining connected to Him. To abide in the vine means staying rooted in Christ and depending on Him for life, direction, and strength. Abiding is not about performance, but about relationship. As Jesus says, “I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:20). We remain connected to Jesus by reading and obeying His Word, worshiping Him with thankful hearts, and praying for ourselves and for those around us. This closeness shapes how we live. Scripture reminds us, “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6). Not in perfection, but in steady obedience, as our lives are formed by His presence.

     The foundation of abiding is love. “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9). We are not left to sustain this life on our own. “This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit” (1 John 4:13). Paul reminds us that this Spirit-led life brings freedom, not bondage. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). Therefore, “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). When we walk by the Spirit, fruit follows naturally. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23).

     Fruit grows in its proper time as we remain in Jesus, trusting the Father’s careful work through pruning and learning to rely on the Spirit rather than our own strength. This is the simple invitation Jesus offers, one that transforms our lives as we stay rooted in Him and allow God to do the work only He can do.

01/10/2026

Discerning the Difference Between Rest and Laziness

            People often say that if you’re tired, you should still show up—whether that means going to a workout, attending an event, or pushing through another obligation. Lately, I’ve been wrestling with that idea. Should we always show up when we’re tired, or are there moments when prioritizing physical and spiritual rest is not only wise but necessary? Many of us swing between two extremes: pushing ourselves to the point of exhaustion or pulling back so far that rest quietly turns into avoidance. Somewhere in between lies a delicate balance. Discerning the difference between rest and laziness requires honesty, self-awareness, and spiritual wisdom. Jesus reminds us of this invitation in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

          The busyness of everyday life often distorts our understanding of what true rest really is. Rest is not merely the absence of activity; it is intentional renewal. God created us with a need for rest, and it is vital to our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Without it, we become depleted, irritable, and disconnected from both God and others. At the same time, rest can lose its purpose when it becomes a justification for disengaging from responsibility or calling. There is a subtle line where rest shifts into procrastination, fear, or reluctance. This is where discernment becomes essential, learning to recognize when rest is an act of obedience and trust in God, and when it may be an avoidance of growth or accountability.

       When we understand the difference between rest and laziness, we can take meaningful time to renew ourselves without falling into patterns of idleness. Scripture reminds us that even God rested on the seventh day, setting a rhythm for our lives. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:8–10). Rest is not meant to replace purpose, but to support it. Just as God rested on the seventh day, we are called to embrace rest as part of our daily walk. Allowing it to refresh and realign us while continuing to live with purpose and productivity in the days that follow. 

12/27/2025

Consistency in faith

I feel like the Lord has been teaching me about consistency. That being consistent is key. Not just when things are going well or when I can see progress—but always. Whether I think something will fail or succeed, whether I see fruit immediately or not. If God has placed something on my heart, then it deserves consistency.

1 Corinthians 15:58

 "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (ESV).
         Maybe it’s a project I believe He’s calling me to start. Maybe it’s a morning routine I want to build. Whatever it is, I have to commit to showing up if I want to reap any kind of harvest from it. Seeds don’t sprout the moment they’re planted. And sometimes obedience feels like watering soil that looks dry.
           It can be discouraging when we don’t see the results we hoped for. A month goes by… then three months… maybe even a year—and it feels like nothing has changed. In those moments, consistency can feel pointless. But the truth is: God works in the unseen. Just because I don’t see anything yet doesn’t mean He’s not doing something.

Galatians 6:9 "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up" (ESV).
     Alongside consistency, prayer has to be part of the process. We pray about the thing we’re committing to. We ask God if it’s truly from Him. We keep seeking Him about whether to continue or to pivot. Consistency doesn’t mean stubbornly holding on—it means faithfully showing up and being willing to listen for His direction. Sometimes He confirms we should stay the course. Other times He gently redirects us. And both are obedience.

12/13/2025

Choosing Positivity in a Negative Workplace

         There’s something about workplace conversations that can quickly turn heavy. A comment here. A complaint there. Before you realize it, negativity becomes the common language. Lately, I’ve found myself in an environment where coworkers often speak negatively about one another. It’s uncomfortable, discouraging, and honestly tempting to either join in or stay silent. But I felt a gentle nudge to respond differently. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." Matthew 5:14-16 NIV

          Instead of adding to the conversation—or walking away—I began choosing a small, intentional shift. When someone brings up a coworker in a negative way, I try to respond by sharing something I appreciate about that person.  Not to dismiss concerns or pretend problems don’t exist—but to remind the room that every person carries value. It doesn’t always change the conversation instantly. But it changes something—the tone, the posture, the atmosphere. 
Scripture reminds us that our faith isn’t meant to stay quiet in everyday spaces. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.” — Ephesians 4:29

        Being a positive influence doesn’t mean ignoring conflict or denying frustration. It means choosing words that build instead of break, even when it would be easier to blend in. Workplaces are made up of imperfect people—myself included. We all carry stress, pressure, and unseen burdens. A single affirming word can be a quiet reminder of dignity and worth. I may not be able to change my environment overnight, but I can choose how I show up in it.

12/06/2025

Surrendering to God in the chaos

          This past week has been chaotic. I dealt with an issue with my car: my key was stuck in the ignition for three days. It would start the car, but I couldn’t turn it off to remove the key. I tried everything I could find—online tips, advice from the dealership—but nothing seemed to work. Eventually, I had to call AAA because, by the second day, the car wouldn’t start at all, and I had to replace the battery. Later, when I took it to a mechanic, they discovered that the root cause was the gear shifter. Thankfully, it wasn’t too complicated to fix.
           This experience reminded me of how, sometimes, we get stuck in patterns until we address the root cause. We often seek quick fixes, but what we really need is to turn our eyes to Jesus, trust in His timing, and pray about the issue causing the problem. From personal experience, I know that when I focus on Jesus, the brain fog lifts, and peace and joy follow. It’s easy to think we’ve surrendered everything to Him, only to realize we’ve retaken control. I find myself needing to surrender daily.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Overcoming Spiritual Warfare 

       As Christians, we sometimes face spiritual attack from the enemy, especially on our minds. He likes to tell us lies like we are not good enough or talented enough to follow our dreams. Sometimes he will try to convince us that we are beyond saving after we have fallen in sin again, scheming for a way to sever our relationship with Jesus. Putting us in a shame spiral that we are so preoccupied with that we don't want to spend time with Jesus in his word or in prayer (to face Him after what we have done). The enemy does this because he knows his fate at the end, that Jesus conquered the grave and the second death, so we wouldn't have to bear it as long as we believe and abide in Him. So, he hurts Jesus, the only way he can, by going after us, his children, our minds, so that he won't be alone in his punishment. That's why it is crucial to study God's word daily; it is the best defense against the lies of the devil. James 4:7 "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." If you draw near to Jesus and confess your sins, he will draw near to you. 

        Ephesians 6:10-18 says Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

         If we remain in Jesus by spending time in His word, applying it to our lives, praying always with thanksgiving, worshiping God in spirit and truth for who he is, we will be better equipped to resist the enemy's lies and spiritual attacks. Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.