Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 
1 JOHN 3:18 

You would think one of the things we could all get behind is Jesus' message of love. Everywhere He went, Jesus told people to love others more than they love themselves. He said if someone asks you for money, give it to them and give generously. He said to do right by those who don't treat you well in return. He lived the message even more passionately than He taught it, engaging every person in front of Him or behind Him like they were His one and only priority. 

His message wasn't confusing or hard to understand. But it's surprising how divisive it can be to live out Jesus' message of love. People blast you, saying love actually means rejecting people when they don't act a certain way-they call it "tough love." Or they bring out their Greek and Hebrew words, saying love means keeping people at arm's length until they change their behaviors. Somehow we can turn even Jesus' message of love into a dividing line to deter­mine who's in and who's out. 

Jesus was criticized because of who He brought close, not those He sent away. He was scandalous because of who He let in, not those He cast out. Keep it simple. Instead of telling people what Jesus meant, love everyone the way He did. 

You might be misunderstood when you love like Jesus, but you're in good company. Jesus was misunderstood. The people in power killed Him. What makes you think you won't take a hit? He was ridiculed because He chose to live like every person, no matter who they were or what they had done, belonged in His family. Do the same. 

Don't get bogged down by arguments about what it means to follow Jesus. Lose all the fancy words. Just love everyone the way He did. 

What would change today if you chose to love those around you sincerely and without caution? 

The LORD is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? 
PSALM 27:1 

I have one daughter, Lindsey, who got married to Jon a few summers ago outdoors at our lodge in Canada. Being the dad and walking down the aisle toward Jon gave me a whole new perspective on the way God sees us. My son Richard married Ashley. Like Lindsey, she was stunning and dressed in white.

God says we're His bride and that our whole story with Him ends with a giant wedding feast. All the sadness we feel will be gone then, all our tears will be wiped away. All the confusion will vanish. He'll bring out the best food and drinks to celebrate the end of strife and the beginning of eternity together. 

I think about these family weddings all the time. As exciting as weddings are for the bride and groom, there's also a lot of anxiety they can carry. They're nervous about the future. What will intimacy look like? Will they get on each other's nerves as they'll be together every day for the rest of their lives? They're often concerned about the past. Did their biological families prepare them for life with their new spouse? Will they accept them? We bring anticipation and young love into our weddings, but we also bring fears. It's just part of being human. 

The wedding we'll celebrate with Jesus someday will capture all the joy of our weddings now with none of the fear. Since God knows us better than we know ourselves, He's never as nervous about our future, or as concerned about our past, as we are. He can't wait to walk us down the aisle. 

What fears are keeping you from joy? 

If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 
2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 

Have you ever asked yourself, "What on earth am I doing here?" It's a question accompanied by a hollow pit in your gut. If we're not mind­ful, that hollow feeling can swallow us and make it seem like there's no way out. Fear feels like that. It gets in our system and leaves us hurting for answers and certainty. The whole thing seems like a calamity. 

What is God doing here? Is He even here? 

I have some friends who are really good at taking worn-down and weath­ered homes and bringing them back to life. By the time they're done with a project, you can't even recognize the place. From the bones of the house to the finer details, from the light fixtures to the baseboards, they bring brand-new life into a once rickety space. 

What if that's what God is up to when nothing seems to make sense? At one level, we're all tear-downs. What if He's fixing up our hearts? 

Uncertainty is not a life sentence. We are not forever doomed to wrestle and worry over futures that are a little hazy. What if there's purpose to it, an opportunity to refine ourselves and make positive changes in our lives? The trick is this: don't lose your cool. God uses uncertainty in our lives to remodel our hearts. 

When we feel the panic under our ribs, it's our heart asking to be re­modeled into something more resilient and beautiful. If we're willing to trust God to bust down some walls and set us up for something restored, our hearts are going to experience quite a transformation. We'll trade anxiety and worry for purpose and confidence. We're being made new. 

What in your life is being made new? 

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 
HEBREWS 10:36 

As college graduation approached, I decided becoming a lawyer was my next step to make the biggest impact. Since I had spent most of undergrad surfing, I didn't feel entirely prepared. My grades were underwhelming; my LSAT scores were even worse. Every application was flat-out rejected. They didn't even put me on their wait lists. 

But I wasn't going to let a big load of rejection stop me. My first-choice school was within driving distance, so I hopped in my VW bug and went to the dean's office for an impromptu meeting without notice. 

The dean didn't find my argument compelling, to say the least. So after he told me I needed to leave his office, I sat on a bench just outside the door the rest of the day. Every time he passed by, I told him he had the power to let me in. All he had to say was, "Go buy your books" and I'd be in. For six straight days I sat on the bench and waited for the dean to walk past. 

"All you have to say is, 'Go buy your books,"' I'd remind him each time, and he'd just smile and move along. Until the day he didn't. Five days after law school started, he approached me at the bench with a smile, and after a long pause, he told me-"Go buy your books." 

Every day since, as I've been involved in countless legal cases here and abroad, I've thought about the power of perseverance. Sometimes when a door closes, it's not a sign pointing us in a different direction. Sometimes it's a reminder that we need to knock harder-or maybe try kicking it down. 

What doors do you need to keep knocking on? 

I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. 
PSALM 130:5 

We've all been in relationships where we've waited for the other person to make the next move. It happens in the exhilarating times, waiting to see if the other will confess their feelings, signaling it's safe to share ours. And it happens in the challenging times, too, when we've been through an argument and we hope they'll apologize so we can say we're sorry too. Insecurity often keeps us from stepping out, so we wait for signs to let us know we'll be okay. 

Have you noticed we often do the same thing in our relationship with God? We say we're waiting on Him to show us whether to take the step we're scared to take. We're waiting for a sign to say it's safe to make the move. But just like in our relationships with each other, when we say we're waiting on God, He's usually waiting on us. 

It's vulnerable to step out when we're not sure how it'll end. We wait for signs because we want some kind of assurance that the risk won't end in a face­plant. We're scared to misstep and find ourselves exposed and alone. But God already told us He's for us and always with us.

Jesus came to live with us so we wouldn't have to wonder how God feels about us. He answered the question about whether there was anything we could do that would disqualify us, and the answer is this: nothing. 

We don't need to wait for confirmation any longer. God already drew a circle around us and said we're all with Him. 

What are you waiting for? 

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 
PSALM 34:18 

When my kids were little, we loved scavenger hunts. One of the kids was the designated "hider" and would place objects throughout the house and yard along with clues to help us sleuth them out. At the end, whether we found anything or not, we all got ice cream. 

Faith can be a bit like that scavenger hunt. Some things about faith can only be understood by searching for them. In the search lies the building of common experiences, relationships, community. Searching can be frustrating, too, if you need to know the details in advance. It's not a business trip God has invited us on-it's an adventure. God doesn't give us all the details when He tells us to go. Like a series of clues, He sends us in a direction and trusts us to make some moves along the way. We don't know where we'll end up when we start. We just know where to go next, and that's enough.

We don't need to know all the steps or all the answers in order to get started. We just need to know the next step. And after that, the next one. If we're confident the One with the master plan has sent us in a direction, we can relax knowing He'll be faithful to show us what to do when we get there. 

God already told us His plan for us is to give away love like we'll never run out. He said He wants us to look for people who are lonely or hurting and hold them close the way He holds us. He said He wants love and grace to be the lens through which we see the world. Take these with you when He sends you out on the adventure, and you'll have all the details you need. 

Who in your life is hurting or lonely? What can you do to show them God's love? 

Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 
2 SAMUEL 7:28 

I remember learning an important lesson from my kids when they were first learning to swim. We'd wade into the shallow end with floaties, then I'd go out just ahead of them and hold my arms out to snag them when they jumped from the step. The first leap was always the hardest for them. They could see I was standing tall in the water, they knew I had told them I was there to catch them, but they still couldn't bring themselves to leave the safety of the step. Their uncertainty about the water outweighed their faith in me to catch them. 

The memory comes to mind whenever I feel God telling me to take a leap into the unknown. You've probably been there too. We know He'll be there to catch us on the other side, but our confidence in Him doesn't always feel as strong as the security of the step we're on already. We know the deep end has to be more exciting, but the risk of the unknown can be paralyzing. 

Those are the times when we can rest, knowing the One who has called us is more powerful than the uncertainty we're facing. Just like a good father holding his arms out to his anxious kids, God's ready to catch us when we're willing to take the plunge. Don't let a little uncertainty talk you out of an adventure with Jesus. Like most adults who were once young, you probably jumped into the water eventually. Why not do it again? 

In what ways is uncertainty holding you back? What would you do differently if you had deeper trust in God? 

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." 
ISAIAH 30:21 

Some of the lessons I've learned about Jesus have come while I was in the woods backpacking with friends. In college, we brought a dozen high school kids to a remote inlet where my family would end up living many years later. There was a backpacking program there where guides take a group up through the woods to the glaciers and summit one of the peaks. 

Halfway through the trip, we got way out ahead of our leader, and all the trees started to look the same. We couldn't tell whether the path went under a log or narrowed to the right of the trees. We took one wrong turn and another and another until we were hopelessly lost. At that point, we were equal parts grizzly food and camper. 

We had no map, no GPS, and between us not a lot of brains. The thrill of being independent and exploring had quickly fizzled when we realized we couldn't find our way back. We were entirely dependent on the leader to come find us. 

That day we learned we could avoid a lot of anxiety in our lives if we let our guide do his job. His job wasn't to follow behind to make sure no one dropped something or to carry our tents. He was there to guide us safely to our destination. We were headed to a place the guide had been before, and he wanted us to get there too. 

When we find ourselves losing our way in life, it's a good time to evaluate whether Jesus is ahead of us leading or behind us just carrying our stuff There's no shame in acknowledging we got out ahead of Him again, because He will always come find us when we do. He's trying to take us to a place we can't get to alone. 

Where is God guiding you right now? 

Woe to you. teachers of the law and Pharisees. you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs. which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 
MATTHEW 23:27 

Anyone who's ever raised a teenager, worked with a teenager, or been a teen­ager knows they tend to have some loose definitions or leaky memories when it comes to telling the whole truth. They're in the stretch of life when they start to feel independent. They can form some of their own opinions about the world. They can drive arid get into mischief without adults scrutinizing their every move. They learn how to shade the truth because telling the whole truth might ruin the gig. 

As adults, we'd always rather our kids told the actual truth rather than several different versions of it. If they messed up, we want them to just get it out there and receive a little grace. Lies build walls that make it harder for love to get through. The reason is simple. People can't receive our love if they think we don't see them for who they really are. The walls our lies create keep us from knowing the people around us are over the moon about us when we blow it just as much as when we get it right. 

God feels the same way about us. Jesus was a lot more concerned about people who faked it than He was about the ones who blew it. His response to the ones who acted like they had it all together was to give them a wide berth. He engaged with compassion the people who got real with their mess-ups. And it seemed like everyone around Jesus messed up. This wasn't a coincidence. He seeks out people like you and me who can understand the truth about our absolute need for Him. He wanted people to know He saw them, and there was nothing they could do to make Him love them more. When they messed up, He wanted them to know He loved them in their failure and would be with them in their future. 

We all get it wrong sometimes. Don't go into hiding just because you blew it. Keep it real. Let Jesus enter into your failure with you and watch what happens. 

What would it look like for you to fully come out of hiding and own who you really are? 

We urge you, brothers and sisters, to ... make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with 
your hands, just as we told you. 
1 THESSALONIANS 4:10-11 

Everyone in my family knows that Sweet Maria is the Queen of the Kitchen in our house. That's how she likes it, and that's how we like it too. But truth be known, I'm always itching to get in on the creative fun. 

Have you ever heard the phrase "too many cooks in the kitchen"? That's me. When I'm anywhere near a stove, cutting board, or spice rack, I'm the equivalent of at least three bad chefs in the kitchen. Still, my wife is gracious, and sometimes she'll let me put on an apron and help chop onions. Predictably, it's not long before it gets out of hand and I'm chopping lettuce like Edward Scissorhands and throwing cloves of garlic into the pot like LeBron James. Sweet Maria is kind to remind me that more isn't always better and garlic in the cake batter is definitely a bad idea. 

The same is true with Bible study. It's important to know what Jesus had to say if we're going to live like Him. But if we're buried under piles of com­mentaries, we'll miss out on the opportunity to live Jesus' message. 

What I'm getting at is this: in life, we can all go a little overboard with what we add to the mix if we're not careful. We overcommit to good activities and then realize we've missed out on people we value the most in the process. We're devoted to important work, but we skip the even more important work of baseball games and recitals or movie nights. When we add too much to life, we miss out on the most essential ingredient: the people. None of this comes from a bad or malicious place. We're trying to work hard so the people we love can have the opportunities they want. Here's the problem. We can spend so much time trying to provide for our families that we're not providing for our families. 

Try this: start from scratch with Jesus every day and then be careful about what you add after that. 

What do you need to quit today? 

Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 
COLOSSIANS 2:6-7 

Southern California where I live is a desert, so it's difficult to maintain a lawn with actual grass. What's a popular workaround to getting that envious green lawn in the dry desert? You might be thinking of sod, but think weirder. Roll out artificial turf across the yard, of course. The only problem is sometimes you wind up having a house that looks like it belongs at a miniature golf course. If that's your thing, maybe it's not such a bad idea. If it isn't your thing, it is. 

Our lives can feel like a desert sometimes, like nothing's coming easy and we're just parched and dried up. We scramble for ways to look like we're the finished product, so we start improvising ways to look like we have things figured out. We throw a fresh coat of paint over our rusted and busted frames, roll out the fake turf, and hope nobody notices the difference. 

But God isn't asking us to look like the finished article in our lives. He said Jesus was enough for that. Rather, He's hoping to change us from start to finish, from our insides to our outsides. He's invested in us for the long haul. He wants us to ditch the act of being complete, and He wants to help us grow more desperate for Him. 

The miracle is this: when we stop trying to look pristine and perfect, the soil of our hearts becomes healthier and more fertile. Love and grace start sprouting in us, and the desert starts to green up with the real thing. Is it going to take some time? You bet. Will we always get it right? Of course not. 

Here's the point. Don't roll out astroturf where God's planting seed. He's more interested in helping us grow than having us look finished. 

In what ways is God growing you today, even if it feels slow? 

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 
JAMES 4:11 

All of us want to belong. We look for connection in all kinds of places: at churches, on sports teams, in book clubs, and through our jobs. A lot of us get on social media or read biogs to find words that make us feel less alone and more connected to the world. We all want to know we've got a tribe, a place to belong. 

The power of community is in its strength to bring us together. But have you ever felt like your group constructed a high wall meant to keep the people you disagree with out? It can be tempting for people to define themselves by who they're against. The problem is, Jesus said He was for everybody. That means you're the guy on the other side of the wall from Him if you've got a list of people God made but you won't talk to because you disagree with them. 

When you start to hear friends gossip about people who aren't around to defend themselves, make a stand. If you hear leaders lumping large groups into small and inaccurate definitions, stand up. When the people around you start to divide the world between "us" and "them," listen for Jesus challenging all of us to break down the barriers. Don't let the longing for connection and community keep you silent. 

Quit playing it safe with what you know to be true. When the people around us are courageous enough to speak the truth, they remind us who we want to become. When your words invite people in instead of blocking thein out, you'll be living the words Jesus whispered in your ear. 

Who's on the outside of your friend group, and what can you do to invite them in? 

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name. 
ACTS 22:16 

Every year on the first Thursday in February, thousands of leaders from around the world show up for the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. The event casts a wide net and brings together different faiths and perspectives to find common ground. For a few days each year, these leaders join hands across faith traditions and denominations to listen to one another, pray together, and find community. It's inspiring to see people who normally stay in their camps come together to pray for justice and peace. They usually find the group they've been avoiding or vilifying has the same dreams and hopes they do. 

You only get to attend the event by invitation, and that's not a guarantee every year. But who needs an invitation to get together with friends for prayer and encouragement? Every year I put this gathering on my calendar with plans to attend whether I'm invited or not. I know either way I can stay at the hotel across the street and get a couple of donuts with friends. A lot of us are waiting for invitations to things we're already invited to. 

When it comes to breaking down barriers and pursuing peace and justice, we don't need to wait for an invitation. Sure, there might be limited spots in certain places, but there's no limit on the availability or power of love. We don't need permission to bring people together to spread love in the world either. 

Stop waiting for an invitation to live your faith. God already asked you to come, and His invitation to love is everywhere, for wherever you are and whoever you're with. 

What invitation are you waiting for? 

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
PHILIPPIANS 4:7 

The traffic where I live in Southern California is world famous for being bad. You can sit on the highway for three hours and go twenty miles. I'm a pilot, so sometimes I'll rent a little plane if l have an engagement farther up the coast. I skip the wait and the traffic, get a terrific view, and have some fun at the same time. Best of all, I skip the feeling of my blood pressure rising and my patience plummeting. 

Most of us react the same to gridlock traffic. We wonder, What's the hold up? Why is everything moving so slowly? What happens when our life stalls or takes a hard-right turn we weren't expecting? We finally settle down with someone who stole our hearts from the moment we met, then we get bad news from the doctor. Or we pour all our energy into a movement we believed in, only to have it fall apart. As annoying as it is to hit the detours, endure the disappointments, and wait in the stop-and-go traffic life sends our way, these things shape us. 

Sometimes the delays in our lives are merely annoying, and sometimes they're devastating. They can even cause us to ask if God is there and if He's good. Don't be surprised when you don't understand what a God who says He passes all understanding is doing. Those are the times when we have to remember He holds all things together, including us. Sometimes we don't see how God was moving until years down the road. For God, a day is like a thou­sand years, and a thousand years are like a day. Hang tight. This might take a minute to sort itself out. 

In what area of your life do you need more patience? 

I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. 
ISAIAH 43 25 

One of the best ways to learn about a new friend is ask to borrow their favorite book. Usually it's underlined and dog-eared on almost every page. It's fasci­nating to see which passages stood out to them-what moved them. It's like we're reading two books at once-the actual one and the one reflecting our friend's experience with it. When it comes to a book you absolutely love, my guess is that you're not highlighting the mistakes, unclear ideas, or grammatical errors. Rather, we focus on the passages that move us, the ones that bring us life and joy. 

I think God reads our lives a lot like we read books from our friends. He's not looking for the places we messed up. He doesn't jump on our mistakes and make notes. in the margins for future reference. He looks for the ways we're writing passages that move us, the ones that heal the people He made. He's ready to celebrate our attempts to give love and spread hope. He's watching us with an eye for the beauty in our lives. 

Jesus had a remarkable way of seeing past people's failures to the heart of the person in front of Him. When the religious people cast judgment and pushed vulnerable people out, Jesus brought them close and saw them for who they were becoming. He knew their stories were still being written and that every story includes a few setbacks and failures. He knew redemption was a process set in motion by love and completed by grace. He didn't see people through a haze of condemnation. He saw people through the gaze of love. 

God doesn't bookmark our failures. He celebrates our attempts. Don't let your failures define you anymore. Don't let who you were decide who you'll be. 

What past failure or mistake still haunts you? 

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." 
MATTHEW 18:2-3 

If you had asked me what I was aiming for when I was in high school, I would have said I wanted to get out of high school. If you asked me the same question after law school, I probably would've said something vague like, "to make a difference in the world." I wanted to get a job at a good law firm and gain the experience I needed to help people. It hadn't occurred to me to aim for a life where I could have an office on Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland and be a part of a movement that builds schools for students in Uganda, helps refugees in Iraq, and teaches little girls in Afghanistan how to read when the religious leaders say they can't go to school. I wasn't aiming for these things when I was younger because I hadn't imagined them yet, and we can't long for something we can't already see in our minds. 

I think this is one of the reasons Jesus tells us to have faith like children. Kids have wildly creative imaginations. If you ask them what they want to be when they grow up, they'll say they want to be Asian from The Chronicles of Narnia or Spiderman so they can rescue people in danger. They plan to live in castles and have superpowers. They aim to be helpers and healers and kind. Kids dream big because the world hasn't put their imaginations in check yet. So why did we let the world stifle ours? Sure, we run into the reality of hav­ing to pay bills and make it to work on time, but there are endless invitations to join in a life of whimsy if we'll open our eyes. 

God is not limited by the rules we make up, and He doesn't want us to be either. Whatever you're aiming for, God's better. 

What are you aiming for? 

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 
1 JOHN 4:18 

Our backyard in San Diego spreads right down to the water, and Sweet Maria and I like to sit on our back porch. We meet a lot of new friends out there, and we'll never forget Ryan. He was strolling down the dirt path by the water when he suddenly stopped and started waving. 

"Hi, I'm Ryan and I'm in love," he said. 

"That's great, Ryan!" I shot back. 

Then he continued: "I came here because I was wondering if I could ask my girlfriend to marry me in your backyard." 

We shouted "Yes!" immediately. Ryan went big with his plans: he had twenty friends cook dinner for them, then they danced in our backyard and he took her out on our boat to pop the big question. The night ended better than a fireworks show, with water cannons from a Coast Guard boat spraying the stars like they were on fire.

I think about Ryan all the time, his fearlessness to be bold and his willingness to put extravagant love on display. He ran the risk of her saying no or that he might look silly with the better chance that he'd get the girl. He did all this because his feelings for his beloved were greater than his fear of what others might think if it didn't go as planned.

When God said perfect love casts out fear, He knew what He was talking about. He knew the only thing bigger than fear was love for other people. He knows love is powerful enough to pull us outside our heads long enough to take risks for other people. 

What risks will you take for someone today to love them more? 

My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways. 
PROVERBS 23:26 

Everyone close to me knows I love surprises. I love surprising others with gift­wrapped bicycles and balloons, and I love when people surprise me-even if it's just sticky-notes in unexpected places like inside grilled cheese sandwiches. Surprises keep life interesting. They let us know people were thinking about us. 

My family has managed to catch me off guard, but even more often I've caught them in the act of putting together a surprise for me. Sweet Maria gets as giddy as a kid every year on Christmas Eve, and I'll find a trail of clues I can usually follow. On birthdays, I've occasionally figured out a party was waiting for me before the big day. Even after I discover the surprise, I play along anyway because I know it's a bummer when your surprise gets spoiled. 

In truth, it's usually not the event itself that moves us, though the moments with friends can be priceless. We're moved by the love that went into the plan­ning. No one plans surprises for people they feel indifferent about. We plan surprises for the people who have captured our hearts. And when we walk through the door to a big group of friends, or figure it out before the parry begins, we imagine all the joy that went into their scheme to make us feel spe­cial. It's the heart behind the surprise that moves us. 

God feels the same way about us. He doesn't care about the plans we scheme up or the success we achieve. He cares about the heart behind it all. Next time you find yourself too tied to your ideas or the outcome of your efforts, remember God isn't dazzled by the big reveal. He revels in the heart behind the plans. 
 

What plans have kept you distracted from focusing your heart on God lately? 

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves. "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 
MARK 4:39 

Few things bring me as much joy as being out on the water. Since we live right by the bay, time on the water is one of my go-to activities, and it almost always delivers. But occasionally it backfires. Occasionally I'll get out on the water, sailing in anticipation of a time for a little restoration, and a storm will show up unannounced and knock me around instead. 

Every time storms show up when I'm out on a boat, I think about the time Jesus' friends were hit with a similar surprise. I imagine them frantically paddling and pulling on ropes, desperate to get to the shore safely. With no luck after all their efforts, they realized Jesus was fast asleep, and they thought maybe He'd have an answer. They shook Jesus out of a deep sleep, and the first words out of His mouth were, "Don't be afraid." He stood up and told the storm to be quiet, and it was quiet. 

We're all a little like the disciples, doing our best to make it through life. But storms happen, and before we know it, we're thrown into a bout with depression or financial pressures or sudden unemployment. The peaceful life we're striving for gets thrown off course. We wonder if God's asleep. 

Those are the times it's most important to remember God is far stronger than whatever's holding you back. Jesus wasn't thrown off by thunderstorms then, and He's not caught off guard by the storms in our lives now. It might look to us like Jesus is asleep in the back of the boat, but He's actually fixing the rudder. 

What storms are you facing right now? 

Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. 

MARK 6:31

We all need a place to go and be restored. Maybe it's a family lake home or that favorite trail to hike. Or it could be road trips into the country, riding horses, or baking. My surefire place of rest and refuge is a place called the Princess Louisa Inlet in Canada. It's a place that holds most of my dearest memories. 

Every time we return from the inlet, I try to scheme ways to bring the spirit of rest I experienced back with me. Because here's the truth: the real magic in finding rest isn't specific to the places we go. It's about the spirit or rest we return with. We go to a lake or a farm or a favorite river because we want to pause long enough to calm the noise in our lives. We want to tune back in to what's most important.

 
I think that's one of the reasons God created beauty like lakes and rivers and forests-to dazzle us. They're sanctuaries disguised as nature, reminding us to pause and listen for His voice. We don't need to fly to Canada or take road trips to find them. We can find peace and stillness by tagging out from some of what would normally fill our days and having a picnic in our backyard. We can best tune in to God's restorative voice by sitting silent long enough to hear Him speak. 

Don't believe the lie that you have to go away to be restored. Find a way to create a sanctuary in your daily life, because these safe places are within reach if we'll stop long enough to see them. 

Where is your favorite place to find rest? 

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 
ISAIAH 41:10 

One of my favorite sporting events is the Summer Olympics. I love the opening ceremonies and the bright-faced athletes. The event reminds us of our shared history, our shared space, and our shared dreams. 

As much as I love the Summer Olympics, it's the Paralympics that capture my heart the most. The Paralympians had to overcome something more than tired muscles or waning willpower. They had to overcome learning disabilities or nonexistent limbs, stigmas, and probably a lifetime of naysayers. 
One of my favorite people in the Paralympics is a guy named Lex Gillette. He's a good friend and a blind long jumper. Yep, that's right. He has no sight and yet sprints down a hundred-meter track and flings himself feet first into a sand pit he cannot see. 

What strikes me most is how Lex gets from the starting line to the landing. His trainer stands at the end of the sand pit and yells "Fly!" over and over. It's not just motivation-the trainer's voice is a homing beacon helping Lex to run straight as he sprints toward a voice he can trust. 

If you're ever wondering if you should take that risk or run toward a big ambition of yours, think about Lex. And I don't mean, "If a blind guy can do it, so can I." I mean, learn from his heart, his courage, and his wisdom. See how he acknowledges the obstacles in his way and chooses to fly over them anyway. Take note of how he has voices in his life he trusts and runs toward. No circumstance will ever be perfectly suited to the big leap you want to make. Lose the fear and throw a little disregard at it instead. Even if it takes the help of a friend or two, make the jump. 

What situation do you find yourself in that is inviting you to be more courageous? 

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. 
JAMES 2 26 

Whenever I've got a free afternoon at home, the first place you'll find me is on my sailboat. Richard and Adam, my sons who are the dauntless sailors of the family, will raise the sails, and we'll make our way into the bay or into some adventure. 

It's the wind that takes a sailboat anywhere at all. So if I showed up one day and told my sons, "Let's not use the sails today," they'd look back at me with scrunched faces and think I had lost it. 

Sometimes we operate like faith is one choice or one pivotal moment and then God does the rest. A stationary sailboat isn't much of a sailboat. It's just an extension of the dock. In the same way, belief that doesn't find itself doing much isn't doing much good. Faith that isn't experiencing by doing what it has learned is a boat tied to the dock. It's a sailboat with no sails. 

Jesus has a personal revolution in mind for each of us, and it starts with doing, not just believing, and certainly not merely agreeing with what Jesus said. When our sails are unfurled, we can't help being moved by the wind. Pull anchor on your beliefs and hoist the sails. Now you're going places. Jesus didn't want us to just be believers. He wanted us to be participants. 

It's tempting to think that following Jesus is about learning the right ideas, saying the right words, memorizing a couple of verses, and singing the right songs. It's tempting to think a thumping church service, the right conference, or the right book will validate our faith. Don't get me wrong-there's nothing wrong with the church or the conference or the book. But faith without works is a sailboat without a sail. God is calling you toward the horizon with Him because He knows what can happen with your faith when it unties from the dock and starts to move. 

Where is God inviting you to trust the wind of His Spirit more?

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. 
JOHN 16:33 

Jesus never asked anyone to play it safe. We were born to be brave, and He modeled that for us. He challenged established systems, calling those in power to the carpet, befriending folks on the fringes of society. 

It turns out Jesus was trouble, and it's exactly what He guaranteed we would find ourselves: "In this world you will have trouble." Jesus never prom­ised following Him would be easy. Yet it's pretty easy to doubt and wring our hands when the going gets tough. 

It's what Jesus says next that makes all the difference: "But take heart! I have overcome the world." Notice Jesus doesn't focus on the trouble. Instead, He highlights where we are (the world) rather than how we are (in trouble). No matter where you step in the whole wide world, Jesus has us covered. There's no place you can go where Jesus hasn't won the day. You don't need to help Him out. He doesn't need it. You don't need to be His public-relations person putting a spin on things for Him. He doesn't need one. We don't need to try to win arguments He said He's already won. 

Adversity isn't going to evaporate anytime soon; however, we can face it boldly with a big, brave, humble love. Aligning with love will earn us weird looks and find us in more than a few tricky circumstances. A glance at the lives of anybody who has followed Jesus can prove this world just doesn't quite get it. Don't get stressed out, and don't become distracted. 

If you choose to be brave by choosing love and people give you some funny looks or get mad-if choosing loves gets you into some trouble-it doesn't mean you failed. It more likely means you actually believed what Jesus said and did something about it. Following Jesus means a life of being constantly misunderstood. Get used to it. 

Jesus never asked anyone to play it safe. 

How have you been brave recently? 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 
JOHN 14:27 

When I was a boy, comic books came onto the scene and started to get big. Characters like Spiderman, Batman, and Wonder Woman lived in a world where evil popped up just in time for another episode. No matter which sinister villain seemed to be giving evil an edge, the hero was always more powerful than the obstacles in front of them. Evil has a way of looking like it's going to win-right up until it doesn't. 

While these comics were fantastical, every enduring story reminds us of a truth: even when it seems like hope has lost the lead, redemption is where the story is headed. Just before Jesus went away for a while, He told us we would face trouble in this world. He said there would be times we'd want to give up and seek comfort somewhere else. 

But Jesus also told us He would be with us and not even death could separate us from Him. He's living proof that the God of the universe is more powerful than any of the obstacles we face. The obstacles look different for each of us, but we live in a world where fear shows up unannounced and tries to steal our hope. Those are the times we have to remember the power accessible to us. 

Are you in a difficult time? Love will show you the way through it. Do you feel like you're up against seemingly unbeatable forces? Remember love will win in the end. Our hope isn't in our ability to overcome but in God's ability to redeem it. 

Don't let the circumstances you're facing do all the talking. Listen to the God who already won it all with His love. 

As you listen to God speak into your difficult time, what do you hear Him saying? 

He has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 
2 TIMOTHY 1:9 

We have the opportunity to wake up to the reality of grace the morning after we've messed up. The morning after the fight with a family member, the nega­tive thoughts or subtle manipulations, the half-truths at work. When we have nowhere to go and no more excuses, grace reminds us we don't need any. 

We tend to look for solutions when we mess up. We want to right our wrongs. The world tells us we need to work harder to get back on our feet. As we anxiously try to fix our mistakes, we worry we won't be able to rein in our temper or curb our addictions. We fear we really are defined by our mistakes. 

But grace can't be outsmarted, out-worried, or outrun. Our efforts to fix ourselves are pointless because God already told us we don't have to clean our­selves up to travel with Him. He said to run to Him as we are, in the middle of our messes, and He'll be the one to put us back together again. 

What if we accepted grace's invitation before we hit rock bottom? Instead of waking up to grace the morning after we blew it, what if we walked in grace the night before? Grace is there for us after we fail, but it's also there to remind us we can grip love tightly instead of spiraling out of control. Instead of falling into old patterns and behaviors once again, what if, instead, we throw our arms back and fall into grace. 

What is grace inviting you to today? 

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 
EPHESIANS 4:2 

One of my good friends is a world-renowned productivity guru. I bet he gets more done in a day than most people do in a week. He's got systems and processes, methodologies and technology. He's like a maestro in front of an orchestra of tasks. To-do lists are the sheet music. He waves his baton and all the objectives are achieved, all the work is done, and no tasks remain. But here's the thing: sometimes his friendships get lost in his efforts at efficiency. 

While productivity is a great tool to fulfill our commitments, it's not always the best way to build or maintain the relationships that matter the most to us. I'm not sure how Sweet Maria would respond if I asked her to calendar ten minutes for our morning coffee. What if, in the middle of a rich and needed conversation with her, I announced that I had a "hard stop" in five minutes and we needed to wrap it up. I bet my clothes would end up out on the lawn. 

If you want to be remembered for being efficient, getting things done is good. When we're in relationships, we need to remember that people aren't projects with deadlines and deliverables. The same is true in our relationship with God. We want plans and assurances. We would love to give God a dead­line for the areas of painful growth or for achieving the big dream we're trying to get off the ground. We'd love to send God an agenda and a hard stop date for difficulties. But God wants to shape our hearts, not organize our days. 

Next time you're tempted to turn your life into a grand plan, leave some space in your days for God to write mor-e beautiful things into your relationships. 

What would change today if you focused more on people than on your projects and deadlines? 

Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means "Teacher"), "where are you staying?" "Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. 
JOHN 1:38-39 

If you have ever taken a road trip with friends, you probably have fou,nd your­self driving in the wrong direction at some point. Perhaps the exit for fast food looped around and put you back on the highway. Maybe you left without a map and sped off in the wrong direction simply because it was Saturday and you had a full tank of gas. 

Somehow the wrong turns always turned out all right, didn't they? Even if we didn't have maps, we still had our friends with us. We had someone making the playlist, creating a soundtrack for our inside jokes, and beautiful scenery to enjoy. We had a back-seat driver to help us find our way-someone who drove us nuts most of the time and then saved us some of the time. I'm glad about that. 

Life with Jesus feels a lot like those road trips. God doesn't give us detailed maps to follow; He gives us people to go with. It doesn't matter which direction we go, because He's more concerned about who we become along the way than where we go with our lives. And the people around us are the ones who will shape us-they'll remind us who we are and what's most important when we get off track. 

Next time you're anxious about whether your plans are taking you in the right direction, call up a friend and go for a drive. No matter where you end up, you'll be better off when you have a friend you can travel with. 

Who are the friends you call to ride shotgun with you in life? 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 
1 JOHN 31 

Surfing isn't for the faint of heart. When I started learning in college, I went to a couple of surf movies at the local theater by the beach and thought I had the form down. But I got doused with reality my first day out in the waves. Here are the steps: you've got to paddle forward, feeling the speed of the wave as you move, then do a push-up on the board-and while you're doing this, land with your feet in the middle of the surfboard. 

At the time, I could barely do a push-up on dry land, so my first attempts at riding the waves led to no small number of collisions between my surfboard and the side of my head. It turns out learning to surf is a great lesson in learning how to fail. 

Here's something I learned. My friends would paddle out into the waves with me. They gave me a hard time when I fell, but they also cheered me on. They'd swim over to where I was floating face down, get me back on the surf­board, and paddle back out with me. They weren't just there to celebrate my success. They delighted in my attempts. 

My surfing friends gave me a little glimpse into how God sees us. He's not surprised when we fail. He knows we're up against a lot in our lives. Jesus didn't come just to offer guidance to us to help us get it right. He's with us, even when we blow it. 

Don't believe the lies that you're defined by your successes or your failures. You're defined by Jesus, and He calls you beloved. 

How have you been defining yourself this week? 

What do you think? 

MATTHEW 21:28 

There are plenty of voices in the world who present their opinions like they're solid fact. People tell us which foods are healthiest, which companies are ethi­cal, and the best way to raise our kids. These same people also are prone to tell us what to believe in our faith. I think that's why so many people hesitate to go to church or start exploring what it means to follow Jesus. The faithful seem to have developed a fear of admitting to having any question marks in their faith. This always seemed strange to me for a religion that says faith is all about finding answers. We should all have a long list of questions. Jesus passed right by the people who acted like they had all the answers and found some fisher­men who didn't have any. These are the people He uses to change the world. 

Jesus showed us how comfortable He was with questions. He asked more than three hundred of them. He used them when people asked Him things, and it made the religious types squirm. He demonstrated how faith isn't just about subscribing to a doctrine or a lifestyle. What was going on in the heart was just as important as all the information in the head. 

When people questioned why Jesus and His friends weren't sticking to a tradition, He shot back one of His own questions: "Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?" (Matthew 15:3). Don't hold your faith like an answer sheet; embrace what you don't quite get, let people know what you're wondering about, and you'll find more of God there than in any catchphrase. You'll connect with a lot m􀀝re people that way too. 

No one's going to believe any of our answers if we don't let them know we have a couple of questions too. 

What questions are forming in your heart today? 

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 
ROMANS 13:8 

I had a home in Washington, DC, for years, and some of my good friends are involved in politics. They're dedicated to their country. They leave no room for doubt with their commitment and excellence. But when it comes to politicians I don't know personally, like most people, I tend to feel suspicious. I'm sure they're great people, but it's hard to believe they're genuine when you know they're thinking about so many different things. My suspicions make it hard to believe they really care when they show up because they might be working all the angles, and I wonder if I'm just one of those angles. 

Politicians are an easy target, but if we're honest, a lot of us do the same thing. Sometimes we compliment other people, hoping to endear them to us. Sometimes we show up for them when they need us because we have hidden motives. We can't give away love freely if we're secretly wanting something in return. 

We don't need to be stingy with our love, treating it like currency that buys you something when it's given and makes you bankrupt when it's taken back. When we realize God's already given us His unending love, we can give that kind of love away recklessly. 

Let's make it a point to do a check-in with our motivations every so often. It'll be a good reminder that God's crazy about the people He created, and He's using you to show them love with no strings attached. We won't be able to give away love freely if what we're really looking for is validation. 

What can you do today to love someone freely without expectation? 

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. 
PSALM 86:5 

I saw a sign once that said, "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." I loved it because, let's be honest, what choice do we have anyway? The hitch comes when we're trying to be just about anyone but ourselves. We all do this. We want to be thinner or richer. We want to have a better degree or more popular friends. We all have the same basic desires. We want to experience love, pur­pose, and connection. People try to sell us stuff all the time by tapping into these basic needs. 

We want to experience love, so we strive to have relationships that will let us feel loved and accepted. We want purpose in our lives, so we'll join or identify with social groups and issues and begin defining ourselves this way. We want connection, so we buy what it takes to wear the uniform of the social groups we want to fit in with. Most of all, what all of us want are those few authentic relationships-and we'll trade who we really are for who we think we need to be. 

God tells us a different story about love and belonging. When He saw His creation, He said it was good, and there were no exceptions. He said you and I were created in His image, with all the wonderful variety that includes. God made some of us sensitive and others analytical, some slender and some burly, some soft-spoken and some rambunctious. 

The fact is, we're God's most creative act. If God wanted you to be like other people, He would've made us all the same. God chose to surprise us with differ­ent parts of His character and personality by showing part of Himself through you, through me, and even the people who occasionally drive us nuts. Be your­self and let others be themselves-because that's the starting point of God's love. God has never looked in your mirror and wished He saw someone else. 

What part of yourself can you embrace more?