Reading through Isaiah in my morning devotions. Ch 7 this AM. Let God’s words to King Ahaz ring like a bell: “Calm down & be quiet. Don’t be afraid or cowardly...” (v.4) “If you do not stand firm in your faith then you will not stand at all.” (v.9) Stand in faith. Or crumble.

When the facts are not in your favor, never let the facts cancel the faith.

Funny thing about perspective: You tend to see what you look at. Plenty of goodness in the world today. See it.

Love this!

Way to go, Ashlynn Akiona! You earned this through hard work, being a true team player, perseverance, and encouraging others along the way! We are so proud of the person you are!

As long as what’s Right or Left is more important to professing Christians than what is right or wrong in light of Jesus, we are doomed to present a caricature of him to the world. Christ is neither left nor right nor is He centrist. God seated him “far above all rule & authority

This is truth! 🙌 📷 Danny Steele

In complicated times when we’re not sure how we’re going to navigate the days and challenges ahead and we know it’s going to get rough, 2 basic instructions in 7 words can cover a whole lot of ground: “Trust in the Lord and do good.” Psalm 37:3

“He ultimately called it.” Meghan about Harry. There comes a time when things are so unfeasible to navigate sanely that somebody’s gotta call it.

Morning reminder: His strength is displayed in our weakness. 🙏🏽

This teacher in Washington D.C. promised her class hot chocolate if she made this shot. She buried it – and the kids erupted in joy.

CARAVAN OF KINDNESS: In Kentucky, a caravan of kindness with more than 60 school buses and trailers is delivering everything from toys to cleaning supplies for the victims of those deadly tornadoes earlier this month.

Christianity is not all angels, miracles and celebrations. In the plain days, in the ordinariness of life between Christmas and New Years, God is still there, still with us, still loving us. When the angels leave, God remains.

Some of the best advice I ever received was in my early 20s from a woman in her 60s. She said: “A woman who lives well is a woman who is brave enough to change her course when/if she realizes she is going in a direction that she doesn’t want to go or doesn’t need to go.” 🐶💜🐶

What would you do if you weren’t afraid? Make up your mind that THIS year, when God-moments happen, you’ll BELIEVE in and ACT on them.

You’re going to make it. You’re not going to just barely crawl into your next season. You’re going to rise and run into it with a smile on your face and a heart full of grace. Broken people really do have the best hearts. ❤️

#GARTHinNASHVILLE

Great leaders are great listeners. The art of listening, not just waiting to speak, but truly listening is the critical component of communication and relationships.

##epboptics