Good morning!
 
I reached all the way back to December of 2013 and found this verse on one of the Bummer Buster blogs I wrote and shared at that time.
 
Romans 8:38-39

• And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 
Back then, I did not have much commentary on what I shared – it was more like “verse(s) of the day”.

Today, just before writing this, Kathy and I were witnesses to a horrific motorcycle accident where a young man of 20 almost lost his life, crashing in front of us as we were driving down a mountain in northeastern Georgia. 

I treasure God's Word because He shares that he will use all things to His glory. The treasure in this tragedy was that Kathy and I got to pray and provide comfort to the young man Eli who almost lost his life - we were able to pray for him and the friends who he was riding with, in Jesus name, sharing that real life, eternal life, real peace comes from our Savior not from the world. 

Only God could put us in that position.
 
I find it interesting that these two particular verses come shortly after a verse we all know well – Romans 8:28 - “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”. What a beautiful verse to cherish and consider in our hearts - as a treasure. In the light of the accident, this ve.se speaks even louder - God by His hand and His sovereignty, placed us Jesus followers in the middle of His work in the life of these young men who were experiencing a tragic accident - God uses all of that for good.

My heart hurts because of this tragedy but also leaps for joy to know that God is doing what only God can do - provide people glimpses into His presence, His light and goodness in extremely difficult circumstances.
 
This reminds me of the times in the Gospels where we hear about Mary treasuring (see Luke 2:19) certain things about Jesus in her heart. We should certainly treasure that we have all of God’s Word to treasure, but there are certain verses in scripture that might cause us to pause and treasure. 

This accident only underlines the need to treasure God's Word, especially these verses
 
There is so much encouragement from Paul in Romans and specifically in chapter 8…Paul talks about believers having life in the Spirit, our being Heirs with Christ, that future glory is ours in eternity and that we have God’s everlasting love…all to reach those who need to know Him and to fill with hope for those who know Jesus or who are just being introduced to Him.
 
But going back to the two these two verses (8:38-39), Paul shares something that should be leaving us breathless and with the knowledge of the priceless treasure we receive when Christ becomes our Lord. Nothing can separate us from the love of God – not death, not life, not angels, not demons, not our fear or worries, not the power of hell, no earthly powers – Nothing!! If we believe and accept Jesus as our Savior, nothing will be able to create a barrier between us and God’s love. Love so deep to be beyond full comprehension in the present time. Yet we have witnessed that love – as it was and is and will be revealed to each of us through Christ Jesus our Lord! The exclamation point God put on that revelation was through the suffering and death on the Cross of Lord Jesus followed up by His resurrection from the dead.
 
Hold on fast to these verses because they clearly speak to God’s never ending love that is stopped by nothing but will always be able to reach us!

And for the young men, not just Eli who was seriously injured in the accident, but also his friends, I pray they find Jesus through all of this and they too are left breathless in the joy of hope they would have in Jesus.
 
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that hold your hope and love, that Paul shared with us in these verses, hold it close to us within our hearts and minds, with the understanding it can never be taken away from us – and represents the hope we live for, our own resurrection that will reunite us with You! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick
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Good morning!

Humility as the foundation for true Christ-centered relationships

Philippians 2 is one my favorite chapters in scripture specifically verses 1-8. It captures the heart of God's love for humanity...
 
Philippians 2:1-8
Imitating Christ’s Humility

• Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, hen make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

 
Humility – definition - the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people: the quality or state of being humble. I have heard others give a Biblical take on this definition - humility before God - thinking less of myself and thinking more of Jesus...

This word popped into my head during prayer recently – as it often does. I went to my handy note-pad to write it down. It has been on my heart in a few ways over the last few weeks. (It is funny that I first wrote about this word in 2016 yet here in 2026 this word has resurfaced and I am spending a lot of time contemplating what this looks like from a Christ-follower perspective…any thoughts?)
 
I think we all appreciate hearing kind words of encouragement, pats on the back for a job well done – all of this is good for a person’s mood and mind set; providing a sense of being loved both by those around us and by Christ.
 
However, for me there is danger – using that input to stoke my ego, using that information to take credit, taking those kind words and using them to put myself above others. Satan loves for us to fall into that trap. Taking the God given gift of positive encouragement and support and gratitude; the gift often shared in love to support one another, Satan turns it into selfishness, if we let him. (I think here in 2026, more than ever, we are seeing social pressures pushing us to hold ourselves up on pedestals rather than looking to serve others)
 
That is why I have come to love the word humble in all its forms. Remembering my relationship with God through Jesus Christ, that we have been called to share the good news and to serve others – that is being humble – using those gifts I received from God – those given in His creation of me, knitted in the womb and those given through the life He has given me to live – to do His will. When this is my mindset, when I step back from the brink of selfishness and remember who God made me (us) to be, there is warmth of His love to be had in having humility in our hearts for that makes us true servants.
 
HUMILITY THEN LEADS TO RELATIONSHIPS THAT HOLD VALUE – IN SOME SENSE “HOLY RELATIONSHIPS”, LIKE THE ONE WE HAVE WITH JESUS CHRIST AND GOD THE FATHER. 
 
Relationships - It is pretty clear that relationships are more important than anything else in our lives. It starts with the most important relationship we have – with God, specifically through Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, through which our relationship with the Father has been saved – for eternity. We are called often in scripture to take this understanding into our relationships that are a part of this world – with our families, friends, those we encounter, even our enemies. Philippians 2:1-8 frames it so well – value each other above yourselves – have the same way of thinking about relationships with each other as Christ did…
 
This kind of thinking should become normal for us, especially if God has called you into a role that involves relational interactions with others. For those in other roles or in non-relational callings or in a secular role, this kind of relational perspective can be very challenging.
 
God has blessed me and continues to bless me by calling me into relational roles. God blesses those of you in other roles and yet this might be harder to see sometimes – I certainly have heard that from others who do not see their calling at all or view their callings as non-relational. However, His hand is the hand that created each connection, each relationship that led you and I to any relationship formed where God has placed us and that now becomes a part of the fabric of this season of our lives.
 
Humility laid the foundation for these holy relationships in Christ.
 
We are richer in our lives and in our lives in Christ, because God felt it was important that, for a little while, our lives connect (yes even through this blog) – even if it isn’t often, or is seemingly insignificant when we do interact or even if we never interact except for the fact that you are reading this..
 
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us today is that we know the truth of God’s desire for us to be humble in service and that we are able to share the warmth of that truth that has been created in our hearts with others, and I am grateful that for some of you, I at least a little about each of you. Yet also grateful for those who read this, but we do not know each other. And finally – is that WE remember always – relationships built in humility with each other and with other people can truly reflect You Lord, Your Light Jesus Christ. … Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick

Good morning!

This last week has left me reflecting about relationships, about other brothers and sisters providing spiritual support through prayer for us when we face a hard circumstance, the lifting up of our life that happens as a result of that support and how it represents a) acts of love; b) a demonstration of humility; c) a visible expression of people lowering themselves in service to another; and d) people placing trust in God as shown through their belief that praying for others to our Lord and Savior leads to answered prayer…
 
I love scripture that focuses the reader on how Jesus lowered himself, holding others higher than himself – here are some verses that share that perspective:
 
Matthew 20:25–28

• But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

Mark 10:42–45

• And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 

John 13:14–15

• If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

 

Philippians 2:3-8

• Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross!

 
Every time I read these pieces of scripture the more I am convicted of the fact that our love shines when we get low, when we become servants, when we give instead of take. Each of us leads in some way in our lives and every time I read this scripture I am convicted that these words provide really wise counsel – could be said – perfect counsel to us as we lead others.
 
The following thoughts are based on a blog call “True Leadership Is Sacrifice, Not Privilege” by David Mathis. One of the key ideas he posits is that we should “empty themselves [read ‘ourselves’] for the good of others.” Every day at various Christian non-profit organizations and churches, that is much of what they are trying to do in order that their volunteers, donors, partners and the ones served – that good is being done – filling them up them hopefully in body and spirit. Whether we work at a Christian non-profit or elsewhere, Christ’s light can shine if we empty ourselves. So as we are leaders – in a sense we all are that regardless of the role we play – we should understand what that looks like as a follower of Christ. So David, in his blog, observes:

• “Christian leadership — in the home, the church, and elsewhere — is not for those clawing for honor and recognition, but for those most ready to fall to their knees and be inconvenienced by the needs of others. They are those who, in a sense, have their house sufficiently in order to be able to turn their attention to serving others. Instead of pursuing their own immediate benefit, they are willing to sacrifice for others’ benefit.”

 
Like the Son of Man, we lead not to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45). We die to self so that others might live.
 
It may sound strange as I pull these thoughts together, but the very act of many who paused in their busy lives and offer their prayers for others at the drop of a hat, are manifesting the kind of leadership spoken of in the article and in scripture.
 
This brings me back around to relationships.
 
Most likely, relationships are more important than anything else in our lives. It starts with the most important relationship we have – with God, specifically through Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, through which our relationship with the Father has been saved – for eternity. We are called often in scripture to take this understanding into our relationships that are a part of this world.
 
Philippians 2:3-8 frames it so well – value each other above yourselves – have the same way of thinking about relationships with each other as Christ did…
 
This kind of thinking should become normal for us, and especially those of us who claim to know Jesus Christ – with knowledge comes responsibility.

For me I am feeling especially cognizant of this today as I have been served – served in prayer by so many. This was God present in my circumstances over the last week, this was my miracle - not the news from a medical test I had recently –although good, it could have been bad - it is that people cared, demonstrated love.
 
That is something God would recognize as love for Him, not just for the person being prayed for.
 
So I desire to value each person I meet, each child I meet above myself – in the same way Christ and therefore our Father loves and cares for them. I have a long way to go. But Jesus Christ has transformed me, so I will carry that love and joy in the living of my life.
 
In closing, I am made richer in my life, my life in Christ, because God makes relationships important, so it is important that for a little while your life and my life connect – even if it isn’t often, or seemingly significant when we do interact through your reading this blog.

And every week, it is especially important to me, and I believe to God, that some may pause, read these words, offer a prayer for anyone and any need, because God’s love was shared in that action.
 
Lord Jesus, lifting up my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend – that prayer is that that each of our hearts and eyes are open – and willing – to see opportunities to become more Christ like in every relationship and interaction, sharing love of Jesus by humbling ourselves in relationship and service and prayer to others. Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick
​

Good morning!
 
In Bible Study Fellowship a few years ago, we were studying the Gospel of Matthew. One lesson covered Matthew 16. This part of Matthew 16 (verses 13-20) really stood out to me:

• “13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock[a] I will build my church, and the gates of hell[b] shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[c] in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.”

 
There are two questions in this passage –
 
One is pretty general asking what others think – easy not to get pinned down. It is an easier lift for us when we can speak to what we think others are saying or might say. Nothing is weighing on our shoulders specifically and our answers are referential to what others think.
 
The second one is direct, specific and piercing.
 
A question that demands an answer. A question we all will be asked to answer… most of us today would probably answer that He is the Messiah, our Lord and Savior.
 
But answering that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, our Savior begs us to also ask these questions - what is the cost, what does that really mean for me to declare or proclaim this? Are we – are you willing to put this stake in the ground, firmly planted, without conditions or positioning?
 
We know that really following Jesus, putting Him as the reason and center of our living will lead to trials (James 1:2-4) and test our faith.
 
How do you answer Jesus’ question – "...but who do you say I am?"
 
Lord Jesus, lifting up my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend that all will firmly answer your question inspired by the Holy Spirit in true depth of faith that You are the Messiah, our Lord, our Savior. And that we will stand steadfast even in the trials that come with that declaration! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick


​

Good morning!

Some thoughts have been bubbling around in my head for a while. It seems patience in letting God help me form these thoughts is often needed.
 
This Idea – even today as we live in this world yet not of this world – we can cast our crowns at the feet of Jesus as He sits on the throne.

What are these crowns?

Our accomplishments, our overcoming of trials, our perseverance in difficult seasons and situations, our humility, our forgiving others, our seeking forgiveness, our sharing of God’s mercy, grace, love and truth. Anything we do that might glorify God.
 
Today when we achieve something, something good happens, we endure, we have compassion or put ourselves aside in service, it is really because of 1) how God gifted us and 2) His power working through us.
 
So these crowns, these accomplishments, these times of living for others, seasons of endurance and times of worshiping Him belong to Him…without Him they do not happen.

For us, when we “cast our crown”, that is, give Him all the credit - that is an act of surrender to God through Jesus Christ. That makes possible our restored relationship with the Father…casting our crowns is WORSHIP OF OUR GOD…we recognize that the worth, our worthiness belongs to God, not to ourselves.
 
As we pray in the Lord’s prayer…Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, here on earth as it is in Heaven…I am led to these verses in Revelation (Revelation 4:9-11):

• And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

 
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.
 
The elders credited God for their own work and reward, and they did this as they cast their crowns before the throne. They recognized that the worth, the worthiness belonged to God, not to themselves.
 
It seems then even now we can cast our crowns before the throne of Jesus. That is maybe why I appreciate the attribution that some Christian athletes give when they point skyward, to God, giving Him the credit for their accomplishment – which seems to me to be casting ones crown before the throne of Jesus.
 
Are you casting your crowns now, giving God all the glory? What do you think?
 
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we go into the weekend is that we cast all of our crowns before you Jesus, whether it is some big accomplishment or surviving a supremely difficult season in our life, for all the glory is Yours, my Lord! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick