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Faithful in the Little Things

This morning I was reading Luke 16, the parable of the shrewd manager. The story begins with a manager who is about to lose his job because he has been wasting his master’s resources. Knowing his time is running out, he takes action and begins settling accounts.

As Jesus explains the lesson, He makes a powerful statement:

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” (Luke 16:10)

For years, this has been something God has continually brought back to my attention.

Many of us have big dreams. We feel God has placed desires in our hearts, ministries we want to build, people we want to impact, opportunities we hope will come. But often, while we’re waiting, we spend more time complaining about what we don’t have than being faithful with what we do have.

Why would God trust us to speak to thousands if we aren’t preparing well to speak to twenty?

Why would He increase our income if we’re not managing the money we already have?

Why would He expand our influence if we’re not stewarding the opportunities right in front of us?

The truth is that preparation happens long before promotion.

Faithfulness looks like showing up to work on time. It looks like handling our responsibilities with integrity. It looks like being honest with our time, our finances, our relationships, and our commitments. It looks like serving wholeheartedly, even when nobody notices.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about this with my blog and with women’s ministry. Neither one is reaching the world right now, and that’s okay. My responsibility isn’t to make them bigger. My responsibility is to be faithful with what God has already placed in my hands.

God doesn’t ask us to be successful by the world’s standards. He asks us to be faithful.

So today, instead of focusing on what you wish you had, take inventory of what God has already entrusted to you. Are you stewarding it well?

Because often the little things we’re tempted to overlook are the very things God uses to prepare us for what’s next.

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Learning to Rest

This week’s blog is coming out a little later than usual because I just returned from a family vacation in Hawaii. Between the travel and the five hour time difference, my body is still adjusting back to Wisconsin time.

Our trip was incredible. Everywhere I looked, I was reminded of God’s creativity. The variety of plants, the beauty of the ocean, the mountains, the wildlife, it all pointed back to the Creator. God didn’t have to make the world so beautiful. He could have created one type of tree, one type of flower, and called it done. Instead, He filled the earth with incredible variety for us to enjoy. As I reflected on that throughout the week, I was reminded of how good and generous He is.

But this post isn’t really about Hawaii. It’s about something the vacation reminded me of, the importance of rest. I want to spend some time talking about a subject that is very important to me, the Sabbath.

My family and I have always tried to be intentional about setting aside a day for worship, family, and rest. We attend church on Sundays, spend time together, and are careful not to fill the day with endless errands and activities. It’s a habit I’ve let slip in some ways recently, especially when it comes to putting my phone aside, but it remains one of the healthiest rhythms in my life.

What I love about the Sabbath is that God Himself established the pattern. After creating the heavens and the earth, He worked for six days and rested on the seventh. Later, when He provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness, they gathered it for six days, but on the seventh day there was none. God was teaching His people to trust Him enough to rest.

I’ve seen that principle at work in my own life.

During the pandemic, I began selling handmade masks through my Etsy shop. Orders poured in, and I found myself working 14 to 16 hour days just to keep up. I was constantly tempted to work on Sundays so I could get ahead. But I made the decision to continue honoring the Sabbath.

Looking back, I truly believe that weekly day of rest is what sustained me through that season. By stopping, worshiping, and trusting God instead of striving, I found the strength I needed for the days ahead.

I think one reason so many people feel exhausted today is because we never stop. For many of us, Monday through Friday is spent working. Saturday becomes the day to catch up on chores and responsibilities. Then Sunday becomes the day we spend preparing to do it all over again. We keep moving, but we never truly rest.

Yet I believe God offers us a better pattern.

There is an old saying, “The devil never takes a day off.” But I’ve heard someone respond, “God rested one day a week, so who are you trying to imitate?”

I’ve always found that thought provoking because Scripture calls us to be imitators of God. God modeled rest for us. He knows we are not designed to run endlessly without stopping. It was never His intention for us to live overwhelmed, anxious, and exhausted every day of the week.

Jesus said in Matthew 11 that those who are weary and burdened can come to Him and find rest. I believe that honoring the Sabbath is one practical way we do exactly that. We come to God and say, “Lord, I know there is still work to be done, but I’m trusting You enough to stop. I’m trusting You to provide what I need.”

We often quote Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Usually we think about material provision when we read that verse, but I believe rest is part of God’s provision too. When we seek His ways first, He gives us what we need, including peace, strength, joy, and rest.

So if you’ve never practiced a Sabbath before, I’d like to challenge you this week to give it a try. Set aside a day to truly rest. Spend time with God. Put aside the endless to do list. Trust Him with the things that will still be waiting tomorrow.

For me, that day is Sunday. For you, it may be another day depending on your schedule. The specific day matters less than the intentional choice to stop, rest, and trust God.

You might be surprised by how much you need it.

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Take It Off: Criticism and Hypocrisy That Cover the Gospel (Week 5)

Scripture references: Galatians 5:14–15, 24–26; Matthew 7:3–5; Titus 1:16; Ephesians 4:22–24; Romans 12:2

I ended the message with a picture that has stayed on my mind:

We get saved.
We take off the old self.
We put on the new.

But over time, we start layering things over the gospel until it becomes hard to see.

This week is about two layers that can quietly become part of our “Christian outfit” if we aren’t careful:

  • criticism
  • hypocrisy

Criticism: when we lead with correction instead of Christ

Correction has a place. Truth has a place. Discernment has a place.

But criticism is different.

Criticism is when our default posture becomes:

  • picking at flaws
  • highlighting what’s wrong
  • speaking judgment faster than mercy
  • tearing down more than building up

Paul warned the Galatians:

“If you bite and devour each other, watch out… you will be destroyed by each other” (see Galatians 5:14–15).

That’s not just about arguments. That’s about a culture of criticism.

And Jesus addressed it directly:

Why focus on a speck in someone else’s eye when you have a log in your own? (see Matthew 7:3–5)

Jesus wasn’t saying “never help people.”
He was saying we can’t become blind to our own hearts while being obsessed with everyone else’s.

Because a critical spirit doesn’t just hurt others; it slowly makes love feel optional.

Hypocrisy: when we say “Jesus” but live like we don’t know Him

Hypocrisy isn’t “imperfect Christians.” We all grow. We all repent. We all stumble.

Hypocrisy is choosing a double life:

  • singing worship but refusing forgiveness
  • talking grace but withholding mercy
  • claiming surrender but living in secret rebellion
  • presenting holiness publicly while excusing sin privately

Titus says, “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him” (see Titus 1:16).

That is sobering.

The call: take it off

Ephesians says to “put off your old self… and put on the new self” (see Ephesians 4:22–24). Romans says we’re transformed by the renewing of our minds (see Romans 12:2).

And Galatians tells us what this looks like in real life:

Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (see Galatians 5:24–26).

This is not about perfection.
This is about direction.

It’s about refusing to let anything cover up Jesus in our lives.

The simplest closing question of the whole series

If someone watched your life for one week, without hearing your words, would they still be able to tell:

Jesus came.
He lived.
He died.
He rose.
And He’s coming back.

Because church, the world needs to see the one gospel.

Not Jesus plus opinions.
Not Jesus plus traditions.
Not Jesus plus division.
Not Jesus plus criticism.
Not Jesus plus hypocrisy.

Just Jesus.

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Division: When the Church Fights, the Gospel Gets Muffled (Week 4)

Scripture references: Galatians 3:26–29; Galatians 4:17; Mark 3:25; Romans 16:17–18; John 17:20–23

Division doesn’t always start as hatred.

Often it starts as preference.

Then preference becomes position.
Position becomes pride.
Pride becomes separation.

And separation becomes a witness to the world that says:

“Jesus can save you… but He can’t unite us.”

Paul directly confronts the unity issue in Galatians:

“There is no longer Jew or Gentile… for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (see Galatians 3:26–29).

The gospel creates a new family. A new identity. A new belonging.

So when division takes center stage, it’s not just relational damage, it’s a gospel distraction.

Division is a strategy

Jesus said, “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (see Mark 3:25).

That’s true in homes. It’s true in marriages. It’s true in churches.

And division doesn’t have to be loud to be effective. Sometimes it’s whispered:

  • “Don’t trust them.”
  • “That church is off.”
  • “Those believers aren’t serious.”
  • “We’re the only ones doing it right.”

Paul even warned that some teachers try to “shut you off” from healthy influence so you’ll pay attention only to them (see Galatians 4:17). That’s a control tactic and it fractures the body.

What division looks like in real life

Division can look like:

  • arguing over nonessential doctrines
  • splitting over preferences instead of truth
  • making secondary issues primary issues
  • speaking against other churches and leaders
  • creating “us vs. them” inside the body of Christ

Romans warns believers to watch out for those who cause divisions contrary to the teaching they’ve learned (see Romans 16:17–18).

Not everyone who divides is bold and obvious. Some divide by constant suggestion, constant suspicion, constant critique.

Jesus prayed for our unity

This matters so much that Jesus prayed for it (see John 17:20–23). He connected unity to witness so the world would know the Father sent the Son.

That means division is not just a church “problem.”

Division is a mission problem.

When the church is busy fighting, we stop reaching.

Next week we’re going to land this series where it gets very personal: criticism and hypocrisy. Because sometimes the gospel isn’t hidden by what we believe, but by how we live.

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Traditions: When “We’ve Always Done It This Way” Becomes the Rule (Week 3)

Scripture references: Galatians 1:13–14; Matthew 15:3–9; Colossians 2:8; Acts 15:1–11

Tradition is not automatically bad.

Some traditions are beautiful. They keep us anchored. They create rhythm. They help families and churches remember what matters.

But traditions become dangerous when they start carrying the weight of God’s command, instead of staying in the place of human practice.

Paul admitted he once was zealous for the traditions of his ancestors (see Galatians 1:13–14). That’s the part many of us can relate to. Tradition can feel like faithfulness.

But tradition is not the same thing as truth.

Jesus’ warning about tradition

Jesus confronted religious leaders because they elevated tradition above the Word of God (see Matthew 15:3–9). His point was clear:

When tradition replaces obedience, the heart drifts, even while the mouth keeps singing.

That’s what makes tradition tricky. It can look holy while quietly pushing Jesus out of focus.

What traditions can look like today

Traditions can show up as:

  • how communion must be served
  • what “real worship” sounds like
  • what “proper church” looks like
  • what people should wear
  • what programs are “necessary”
  • what time Sunday services should be

None of those are automatically wrong.

But when we act like someone can’t belong, can’t be saved, or can’t be “right” unless they adopt our way, we’ve turned tradition into a gatekeeper.

And the gospel does not need gatekeepers.
The gospel needs witnesses.

Galatia’s issue was tradition as requirement

The Judaizers weren’t just offering cultural preferences. They were making traditions a condition of acceptance (see Acts 15:1–11 for the broader early-church conflict).

Paul’s response throughout Galatians is essentially:

Don’t put a yoke on people that Jesus didn’t put there.

The cross is enough.

A simple test for tradition

Here’s a helpful question:

Is this tradition helping people see Jesus or helping people see us?

If a tradition:

  • produces pride
  • produces exclusion
  • produces control
  • produces shame
  • produces distraction from Christ

…it’s time to hold it up to the light of Scripture.

Colossians warns about being taken captive by human tradition instead of Christ (see Colossians 2:8). That’s not just a warning for ancient believers. That’s for us too.

Next week we’ll talk about division, because when believers fight each other, the world stops listening to the message we’re called to carry.

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Opinions: When “I Think” Starts Sounding Like “Thus Says the Lord” (Week 2)

Scripture references: Galatians 1:11–12; Proverbs 18:2; Romans 14:1–4; 1 Corinthians 8:9; Colossians 2:20–23

Opinions aren’t automatically sinful.

We all have preferences, perspectives, convictions, and experiences. But one of the easiest ways to accidentally cover up the gospel is to elevate opinions to the level of truth and then present them with the weight of God’s authority.

Paul said the message he preached was not from “mere human origin” or “human reasoning” (see Galatians 1:11–12). In other words:

“This gospel isn’t my take. It’s God’s truth.”

That matters because the moment we confuse truth with take, we begin leading people to ourselves instead of leading them to Christ.

How opinions become gospel add-ons

This is what it can sound like:

  • “A real Christian would never…”
  • “If you truly loved God, you would…”
  • “Well, Christians should vote like…”
  • “That church isn’t a real church because…”
  • “If you were mature, you’d do it my way…”

And now the message becomes:

Jesus + my opinion

Even if we don’t intend it, it can turn discipleship into pressure, and freedom into fear.

Convictions are real, but convictions aren’t universal commands

I shared in this message with the ladies at my church that I personally don’t drink. For me, that’s a conviction God has spoken clearly into. And convictions can be a gift from God. They can be for our protection, direction, and clarity.

But the Bible also warns us not to turn personal convictions into a standard of righteousness for everyone else (see Romans 14:1–4).

Convictions are about obedience.
The gospel is about salvation.

When we blur those two, we end up measuring people by our personal lines instead of by Christ’s finished work.

The Bible’s warning about “airing opinions”

Proverbs says, “Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions” (see Proverbs 18:2).

That verse convicts me because it reminds me:

Not every thought needs a microphone.
Not every preference needs a platform.
Not every conviction needs to become a rule.

Sometimes maturity looks like this:

  • “I’m listening.”
  • “I’m learning.”
  • “I’m praying.”
  • “I’m not making my preference your burden.”

When opinions become obstacles

Paul warns elsewhere about using our freedom without love, because we can harm others and distract from Jesus (see 1 Corinthians 8:9).

That’s the key: love.

If my opinion is louder than love, I’m not representing Christ well.

If my preference is heavier than grace, I’m not presenting the gospel clearly.

If my “I think” becomes someone else’s shame, I’ve stepped out of my lane.

A gospel-centered way to speak

Here’s a question that helps me:

Is this a gospel issue, a discipleship issue, or a preference issue?

  • Gospel issue: salvation, the cross, Jesus as Lord
  • Discipleship issue: holiness, wisdom, spiritual growth
  • Preference issue: my style, my comfort, my background

When we put things in the right category, we stop demanding agreement where the Bible doesn’t demand it.

And we leave room for the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do: transform hearts from the inside out.

Next week we’ll talk about traditions. Because sometimes what we call “spiritual” is just what we’re used to.

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One Gospel: Don’t Trade Grace for “Jesus Plus” (Week 1)

Scripture references: Galatians 1:6–10; Acts 9; Acts 13–14; Galatians 2:16; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Timothy 4:2; John 1:1, 14

Paul opens Galatians with a sentence that should make every believer sit up straight:

He says he’s astonished that they are “so quickly deserting” the One who called them by grace and turning to a different gospel (see Galatians 1:6–7).

That word “deserting” matters. Paul isn’t talking to unbelievers. He’s talking to people who have heard the gospel, responded to the gospel, and are now drifting from the simplicity of the gospel.

And Paul doesn’t treat it like a small issue.

He says that what they’re turning to is “really no gospel at all” (see Galatians 1:7). Then he repeats himself about anyone preaching another message (see Galatians 1:8–9). Paul is not being dramatic. He’s being protective.

Because when you change the gospel, you don’t just tweak a belief, you wreck the foundation.

The moment “one gospel” becomes “a different gospel”

To understand why Paul is so intense, you have to know what was happening in the churches of Galatia.

These churches weren’t just one congregation in one city. They were a collection of churches throughout a region Paul visited in his missionary journeys (see Acts 13–14). The believers were a mix of:

  • Jewish Christians (raised under the Law of Moses)
  • Gentile Christians (not raised under Jewish law)

When Jesus came, He fulfilled the Law. Salvation was no longer about trying to prove righteousness through rules. It was about receiving righteousness through faith in Christ (see Galatians 2:16).

But here’s where the conflict came in:
Some Jewish believers struggled to let go of the old way of measuring “holiness.” They believed Jesus was the Messiah, yes. But they still felt that Gentiles should also adopt certain Jewish markers, like circumcision and dietary restrictions.

So after Paul preached and left, teachers often referred to as Judaizers came behind him and told the Gentiles:

“Yes, Jesus saves… but you also need to do this and that to be truly right with God.”

And the moment the message becomes Jesus plus anything, the gospel gets blurred.

What is the gospel?

If we can’t define it simply, we’ll struggle to defend it clearly.

The gospel is this:

  • Jesus came
  • Jesus lived
  • Jesus died
  • Jesus rose
  • Jesus will return

That’s the message that saves. That’s the message that transforms. That’s the message the enemy works overtime to distract us from.

Paul told Timothy, “Preach the word… in season and out of season” (see 2 Timothy 4:2). And we know the Word is not just a concept; it is Jesus Himself (see John 1:1, 14).

So when Paul says “one gospel,” he’s saying:
Preach Jesus. Stay with Jesus. Don’t mix Him with requirements He never asked for.

The “not the gospel” list

Let me say this plainly:

There are many important topics in the Christian life. There are many practices that matter. There are many discussions we can have.

But not everything is the gospel.

The gospel is not:

  • the exact wording of a baptism formula
  • spiritual gifts as a measurement of salvation
  • denominational preference
  • political alignment
  • secondary doctrinal debates
  • personal lifestyle convictions presented as universal law

Those things may be part of discipleship conversations. But if we make them the entry point, the focus point, or the “proof” of salvation, we’ve changed the message.

And Paul won’t allow it, because love won’t allow it.

Paul knows the danger:
When the gospel is altered, the cross becomes small. Grace becomes suspicious. Freedom becomes fragile. And people end up trying to earn what Jesus already purchased.

So Week 1 is our foundation:

  • Christ alone saves.
  • Grace alone calls.
  • Faith alone receives.

And if we can anchor ourselves here, we’ll be able to recognize the things that try to creep in and cover up the gospel.

Next week we’ll talk about the first one: OPINIONS, and how quickly “my perspective” can become “God’s requirement” if we aren’t careful.

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Things in the Bible

From Many Things to One Thing

There are a lot of “things” in the Bible.

Many things.
All things.
Every thing.
No thing.
One thing.

And if we’re honest, that’s how life feels sometimes. Let’s talk about all of the things!

Many Things

Many things pulling at our attention.
Many responsibilities.
Many expectations.
Many worries.

In Luke 10:38–42, we see Martha distracted with much serving while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet. Jesus gently tells her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed.”

Many things.

That phrase alone feels heavy. Because it is not always bad things that distract us. Sometimes it’s good things. Necessary things. Responsible things.

But many things can still pull our attention away from Jesus.

And often, the presenting problem is not the actual problem.

Martha thought the issue was that Mary wasn’t helping. But Jesus pointed to something deeper — worry and distraction. The external situation wasn’t the root issue. The internal condition was.

That is true for us too.

We have to decide what gets our attention.

Deuteronomy 30:19 says we are given a choice between life and death, blessing and curse — and then it says, “Now choose life.”

Choosing life means choosing where your focus goes. It means deciding what deserves your emotional energy. It means recognizing that not every “thing” deserves access to your heart.

Martha chose productivity.
Mary chose presence.

And presence will always outlast productivity.

All Things

When life feels like “many things,” we can be tempted to believe everything is random, chaotic, and disconnected.

But Romans 8:28 reminds us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

That means the hard things.
The confusing things.
The delayed things.
The painful things.

God is not absent in any of it.

And Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

The strength to endure.
The strength to forgive.
The strength to keep going.
The strength to obey.

We do not overcome in our own power. We overcome because Christ strengthens us.

When we understand that God is working in all things, it changes how we respond to many things.

Instead of spiraling, we trust.
Instead of panicking, we pray.
Instead of giving up, we press in.

All things are under His authority.

Every Thing

James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Every thing that is truly good comes from Him.

If it is from God, it will be good.

2 Peter 1:3 says His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him.

Everything.

Not some things.
Not most things.
Everything we need.

We may not have everything we want.
But we have everything we need.

He has given us what is necessary to live abundantly and to live righteously.

So when we feel inadequate or unprepared, we have to remind ourselves: He has already supplied what is required.

Every thing that comes from Him is good.
Every thing He gives has purpose.
Every thing we need for this season is already available through Him.

No Thing

Then Scripture shifts again.

Philippians 4:6 says to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Anxious for no thing.

Nothing is too big for Him.
Nothing is too small for Him.

There is no burden you carry that He cannot handle.

Romans 8:39 reminds us that nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing.

No mistake.
No failure.
No disappointment.
No attack.
No season.

Nothing can separate you from His love.

When we understand “no thing,” anxiety begins to lose its grip.

Because if nothing is too hard for Him…
And nothing can separate us from Him…
Then what exactly are we holding onto so tightly?

We were never meant to carry it alone.

One Thing

And then we arrive at the most important shift.

Psalm 27:4 says, “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.”

One thing.

Not many.
Not all.
Not every.
Not no.

One.

David reduces his entire desire down to one pursuit: God’s presence.

Paul echoes this in Philippians 3:13 when he says, “One thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.”

One thing requires focus.
One thing requires discipline.
One thing requires practice.

Going from many things to one thing does not happen accidentally.

It takes intentionality.

It takes daily decisions.
It takes redirecting your thoughts.
It takes choosing presence over pressure.

Hebrews 12:1–3 tells us to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.

Fixing our eyes.

That is how we move from many things to one thing.

When your eyes are fixed on Jesus, the many things begin to lose their volume.

They may still exist.
But they no longer control you.

Focusing on Jesus frees us from being ruled by the many things that worry us.

It realigns our priorities.
It steadies our emotions.
It simplifies our hearts.

The goal is not to eliminate responsibility.
The goal is to reorder it.

Jesus first.
Everything else after.

Martha wasn’t wrong for serving. She was distracted while serving.

The difference between chaos and clarity is often simply this: where are your eyes?

Many things will compete for your attention.
All things are under His authority.
Every thing good comes from Him.
No thing can separate you from Him.

But only one thing is needed.

His presence.

So today, choose life.
Choose focus.
Choose to sit before you strive.
Choose to gaze before you grind.

Let’s move from many things…
to one thing.

And let that one thing be Jesus.

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Firm Foundation

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
— Matthew 7:24

There is something about building that fascinates me.

You can have the most beautiful house design. The best materials. Skilled workers. A stunning vision.

But if the foundation is wrong, none of it will matter.

Jesus said the wise person is not just the one who hears His words — but the one who puts them into practice. That is the difference between a house that stands and a house that falls.

If we want lives that endure storms, we have to build intentionally.

We need the right plan.
We need the right pieces.
We need the right people.

Let’s talk about what that means.

The Right Plan

Before anything is built, there is a plan.

Blueprints. Measurements. Direction.

For us, the right plan is not self-help strategies or trending advice. It is the Word of God.

Psalm 119:105 says,
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

Notice it doesn’t say a spotlight for the next ten years. It says a lamp for my feet. Enough light for the next step.

Psalm 32:8 says,
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

He is not distant. He is not vague. He promises instruction. He promises counsel. And He does it with a loving eye.

Proverbs 4:13 says,
“Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.”

Not a suggestion. Not a bonus feature.
It is your life.

And 2 Timothy 3:16–17 reminds us why Scripture matters so deeply:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

If we want to be equipped, we cannot neglect the blueprint.

We cannot build a firm foundation while ignoring the plan.

The Right Pieces

Even with a perfect plan, you still need the right materials.

Jesus said in Luke 14:28,
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”

There is intentionality in building. There is counting the cost.

And Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:12–14:

“If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.”

Not everything we build with lasts.

So what are the right pieces?

Prayer.
Fasting.
Giving.
Serving.
Reading the Word.
Fellowship.

These are not religious checklists. They are structural beams.

Prayer keeps us connected.
Fasting refines our dependence.
Giving loosens our grip on the temporary.
Serving shapes humility.
Reading renews the mind.
Fellowship strengthens endurance.

These are gold and silver pieces. These are materials that survive fire.

If we neglect them, we shouldn’t be surprised when cracks begin to show.

The Right People

No one builds alone.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 says:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

It is important that we surround ourselves with people who can encourage us. People who can give us godly counsel. People who can pray for us. People who are positive and life-giving.

Because here is the truth: when you begin to build your life intentionally, it will expose deficiencies in others. And sometimes, instead of being inspired, people respond with negativity. That negativity can actually cause you to regress if you are not careful.

So we have to be intentional about who we build with.

Psalm 1:1 says,

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers.”

There is movement in that verse. Walking. Standing. Sitting.

We are not walking with the wicked. We are not standing in compromise. We are not sitting and settling in environments where there is no growth.

We are not meant to be sedentary in places that stunt our progress.

And this is something I truly believe:

“Criticism is the language of people who are not creating, building, or moving toward anything.”

You do not want to sit in the company of people who are not building. People who are just floating through life. People who criticize everything but create nothing.

Scripture makes it even clearer.

“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”
1 Corinthians 15:33

That is not dramatic. That is direct.

Who you surround yourself with matters.

“Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
Proverbs 13:20

If we are building a firm foundation in Jesus Christ, then we need people around us who love God, who love His Word, who speak life, who challenge us, who sharpen us, who remind us of truth when we forget it.

The right people do not distract from your foundation. They strengthen it.

The True Foundation

And at the end of the day, even with the right plan, the right pieces, and the right people — none of it works without the Lord.

Psalm 127:1–2 says,

“Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.”

This Scripture reminds us that if we are not building on the Lord — on His Word, His precepts, His commands — we are wasting our time.

We can strive.
We can grind.
We can exhaust ourselves trying to construct something meaningful.

But if Jesus is not the foundation, it will not withstand the storm.

Trials will come.
Pressure will come.
Testing will come.

The question is not if the storm comes.

The question is: what are you standing on?

So let’s build our house on the Lord.

Let’s make Him the priority.
Let’s make Him the blueprint.
Let’s make Him the foundation beneath every decision, every relationship, every discipline, every dream.

Because a life built on Jesus is a life that stands.

Posted on by jwlozano

Deep Roots

This post is from my message Deep Roots. Listen to the full message with presentation HERE

How to Stay Standing When Everything Around You Is Shaken

As we are making our way in this new year, my prayer is simple:

Lord, strengthen us.
Help us grow deeper than we ever have before.
Root us so firmly in You that nothing can destroy us.

Because the truth is — life does not stay calm.

There will be shaking.
There will be fire.
There will be seasons that test what we are made of.

The question is not if storms will come.

The question is: Will our roots be deep enough to survive them?

The Tree That Changed How I See Resilience

A few years ago, my family traveled to Maui for a wedding. It was one of those full-circle moments that make you emotional — a former flower girl from my own wedding getting married, my husband officiating, my children participating. It was beautiful.

While we were there, we visited Lahaina and saw something that left a lasting impression on me: the Lahaina banyan tree.

At first glance, it looks like an entire grove of trees. But it’s not. It’s one single tree.

Banyan trees send their roots down from their branches. Those roots grow into the ground, become trunks, and spread outward. What appears to be multiple trees is actually one deeply connected root system.

This particular tree was planted in 1873. It started as an eight-foot sapling. Over 150 years, it grew to cover nearly two acres.

Then in 2023, wildfires devastated Lahaina. Buildings were destroyed. Over 100 lives were lost. Entire blocks were reduced to ash.

The banyan tree looked like it had been burned to a shell.

But in 2024, something incredible happened.

Leaves began to grow again.

Why?

Because the roots were still alive.

The portions of the root system that survived underground began strengthening the damaged areas. Life returned, not because there wasn’t real destruction, but because what was hidden beneath the surface was strong.

And I felt the Holy Spirit whisper:

This is what My people need.

Not surface strength.
Not emotional hype.
Not temporary motivation.

We need roots.

What the Bible Says About Roots

Paul writes in Ephesians:

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”
— Ephesians 3:16–17 (NLT)

Your roots will grow.

Proverbs says it plainly:

“Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.”
— Proverbs 12:3 (NLT)

Stability comes from depth.

Not visibility.
Not popularity.
Not productivity.

Depth.

So how do we grow deep roots in 2026?

God showed me four things.

1. Discipline

Discipline is not restriction — it is preparation.

Hebrews tells us:

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
— Hebrews 12:11

Spiritual discipline is not about checking religious boxes.

It’s about building habits that steady your steps before life gets chaotic.

Going to church regularly.
Reading your Bible consistently.
Serving faithfully.
Practicing self-control.

These are not burdens. They are stabilizers.

Many people drop spiritual habits when life gets busy. But that’s when we need them most.

Discipline means making decisions before the crisis comes.

You don’t wait until you need strength to start building it.

2. Education (Biblical Literacy)

We live in a time where people consume snippets of Scripture but rarely read the whole story.

Imagine trying to play in a championship game without knowing the playbook.

You wouldn’t even make it onto the field.

The same is true spiritually.

If we don’t know the Word for ourselves, we cannot discern truth from something that merely sounds spiritual.

Proverbs says:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
— Proverbs 1:7

Messages are wonderful. Podcasts are helpful. Devotionals are encouraging.

But nothing replaces reading the Bible yourself.

Not just verses.
Not just highlights.
The whole counsel of God.

If we want deep roots, we must go deeper than surface inspiration.

3. Execution (Doing the Word)

It is not enough to hear Scripture. We must live it.

James writes:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
— James 1:22–24

If we look in a mirror and immediately forget what we saw, nothing changes.

In the same way, if we hear truth and do nothing with it, our roots stay shallow.

We cannot claim to love God and refuse to love our neighbor.
We cannot speak faith and live in constant compromise.
We cannot claim integrity and behave differently when no one is watching.

Execution is obedience in action.

This is where depth forms.

4. Prayer

Without prayer, none of the other disciplines hold.

Prayer is not a last resort. It is a lifestyle.

Scripture says:

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Prayer is ongoing connection.

It’s not just calling on God in crisis.

It’s thanking Him when things are good.
Asking for guidance in small decisions.
Letting Him interrupt your plans.

Sometimes we become so rigid in our schedules that we forget to ask God what He actually wants us to do that day.

Deep roots require conversation with the One who planted you.

What Keeps Roots Shallow?

If we want depth, we must remove what prevents it.

Distractions

We say we don’t have time, but often we are simply distracted.

If something consistently pulls you away from growth, it needs boundaries — or removal.

1 Corinthians 7:35 says:

“I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.”

Sin and Weight

Hebrews 12:1 reminds us:

“Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us.”

Sin doesn’t just offend God — it corrodes us from the inside.

Excuses

Excuses build the house of failure.

When God invites us to grow, we cannot respond with “someday.”

Procrastination

Ecclesiastes says:

“Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.”
— Ecclesiastes 11:4

There is never a perfect time.

If you’re waiting for calm, for quiet, for ideal circumstances — you will wait forever.

Depth begins today.

The Promise for the Rooted

Jeremiah gives us this promise:

“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord… They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
— Jeremiah 17:7–8

Notice what it does not say.

It does not say heat won’t come.
It does not say drought won’t happen.

It says the rooted tree does not fear it.

Because depth removes fear.

The enemy will do what he does — steal, kill, destroy.

But when you are rooted in Christ, you know something deeper than circumstance:

You know you will survive the fire.

This Year

This year, let’s not just aim for productivity.

Let’s aim for depth.

Let’s grow roots through discipline.
Through biblical education.
Through obedience.
Through prayer.

Because when everything around us is shaken…

We will still be standing.

And we will still bear fruit.