Daily Spiritual Vitamin

05/27/2026

A very good morning Saints. Welcome to a Wonderful Wednesday. Apologies for missing last week. Life has been moving pretty fast and furious with trips, a busy schedule and illness. How is your week going so far? Are you staying on track for Jesus this week? If so, great. If not, then today is a great day start!

I recall a conversation I had with a man from a local church. He has long since retired from a full career with the Dallas Police Department. It has been some time since he has even thought about looking at one of these documents. We laughed at how much the “times have changed” the way many things we do regarding our employment. Not to be left out is the application process itself.

I am sure we have all filled out a job application. It might have been many years ago for some of us dating all the way back to that very first job. There are some basic questions that are always there and frankly, expected. As time has progressed, other categories show up like the question about a person’s status as either a former U.S. Veteran of the Armed Forces member or perhaps if you are a dis-abled veteran. Other questions ask you simply about your physical abilities or any impairment that might need to be considered depending on the literal function of the job. It is not too surprising, although it should be in my humble opinion, are the questions about how you identify in regard to your gender. I mean, really? Have we gotten that far?

Of course, as you grow older, and have a more former education or specific training, a job application might become a mere formality. What they really want to see is your resume. Your work history. Your experience with specifics laid out in black & white. They might be looking for how long you stay in a certain role. Are you promoted or do you depart from an organization? Your personal career goals probably come into play. These things matter and are very relevant if you are the employer looking to make solid personnel decisions. These are careers, not part-time high school or while you are attending college jobs.

“Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” Matthew 4:19 (NKJV)

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’” Mark 1:17 (NKJV)

I am sure this may shock some of you, but truth be told, I do not enjoy “tooting my own horn”. (You can do it for me, I am OK with that! Kidding). When you are preparing a resume, you are encouraged to highlight your strong points. Talk about those career wins. The big moments. How you have contributed and believe you can still contribute. It is a license to shine your light so to speak. Not everyone is comfortable doing this, but it is about selling yourself and discussing your value.

Have you ever thought about the men Jesus chose to literally help Him change the world? These men who were the first to follow after Him made a lasting impact on the world by spreading the Good News. Consider with me a few historical facts regarding these men. I came across this article recently and wanted to share. It is from the perspective of a “Headhunter” or “Recruiter” speaking to Jesus about these men.

“Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew had been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale. One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind, and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All of the other profiles are self-explanatory.” (Eating Problems for Breakfast by Tim Hansel, Word Publishing, 1988, pp. 194-195)

Friends, it would seem that these that were first called were the exact opposite of what would be chosen today by the world’s standards. They were mostly uneducated, lacked communication skills, perhaps only qualified to fish, hunt, one was a doctor, or perhaps do math. For the most part, not who we would choose. That is just a part of what is so great about our God. He looks at the heart (I Samuel 16:7). He uses the simple to confuse the wise (I Corinthians 1:27). He turns things upside down and then and only then do they actually look right.

Let me encourage you today. Do you feel unqualified for ministry? Do you think you cannot do this or that? Do you believe the lie from our enemy, satan, that you are unworthy of the call I know God has on your life? You have heard it before, but it bears repeating… God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called. He used those men, and so many others we would not have expected. A drunk, a liar, a thief, a murderer, a prostitute… and the list goes on and on. He wants to use you. All you have to do is respond with “yes”. As we read the words from Isaiah 6:8, “Here I am, send me”. Yes, dear one, that includes you!

05/13/2026

A very good morning Saints. Welcome to a Wonderful Wednesday! Yes, it is. It is a great day in the middle of our week. A day to rejoice! A day to be glad in Him! We have today and our attitude for today is our choice.

So, let me start with a question this morning. Are you happy? Are you a happy person? What is it that brings you happiness? Happy, happy, happy…. Truth be told, happiness can often be a fleeting emotion. I mean, honestly, I have been around some people that, from my perspective, have every reason in the world to be happy yet they seem miserable. Happy. Seems simple enough.

Look up the word “happy” in the dictionary and you will see:
“feeling or showing pleasure or contentment” or “having a sense of confidence in or satisfaction with a person, arrangement, or situation” or you might read, “satisfied with the quality or standard of”.

It is nice to know that we can define it as such things as pleasure or contentment. I suppose I like to challenge things a bit. What is it exactly that can make you happy? Don’t tell me about your feelings. Don’t tell me about your heart because, well, Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?”

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5 (NKJV)

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” James 1:2-3 (NKJV)

I want to be happy. You want to be happy. We all want to be happy. Unfortunately, even as a Christian, we look to many “things” to make us happy. We look to stuff, material things, activities, and yes, even people to provide us with the “feeling” of being happy. But true happiness does not come from any of these things. It does not come from having a certain amount in your back account, although that would be nice. Happiness is not found in things or a job. It is not even found in your spouse, although they can contribute to moments of joy and of course, moments of hurt. True happiness is what I know we all long for. Happiness that is not wrapped up in our circumstances.

C.S. Lewis has said that “We are halfhearted creatures, fooling about with drink and s*x and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

That says volumes folks. It says we look to the temporary when we have the eternal before us. Of course, having eternal life may be no surprise to anyone. Where will we spend eternity, that is the real question. The answer is Jesus. He is the key to happiness.

Now, take it down a notch. Tom Bodett, the voice of Motel 6 said, “They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.” Well, I say this… That someone to love, is Jesus. That something to do is His work. That something to hope for is His return and spending eternity with Him in Heaven.

Let me encourage you today. I want to be happy. I want you to experience happiness. The only sure way I know to do that is to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. To be called a “friend of God” (John 15:14-15). This I know to be true. I have had to learn it and experience it in order to share it. No matter what life brings my way, or your way, if we are a friend of God, we can live in true happiness. Regardless of what is happening around us or to us, happiness must be grounded in our relationship with Jesus. It cannot be found in material things or others. So, in Christ, “Don’t worry, be happy!”.

05/06/2026

A very good morning Saints. Welcome to a Wonderful Wednesday! This can be a great day for all of us as we hit our mid-week point. A chance to reflect, correct, and move ahead in our week for Jesus. I pray your week is going well and just know that whatever you face today, God is still in control and can redeem even the darkest hour.

I used to grow weary of hearing people say this. Maybe you did as well. The problem is that it will always remain true. Here it is… There is certainly no denying that “the times, well, they are a changing”. As Christians we should not be surprised by what we see happening all around us. With the return of our Lord a certainty, we have a hope and a peace that many around us in the world cannot have apart from Christ. So, as His church, as ambassadors for Christ, we know we have a job to do. The Great Commission is our focus as Christians. To reach others with the Good News that is the gospel of Jesus Christ and to make disciples, enabling others to grow in their walk with the Lord according to Matthew 28:19-20. This is our chief calling as individuals, as well as collectively.

The church has other responsibilities that we see outlined throughout the scriptures. We are to help the poor and the needy (Proverbs 19, Proverbs 22, Matthew 5, Ephesians 4, Galatians 2, etc..). We are to love others as we love ourselves (Leviticus 19, Mark 12, Romans 13). We should take care of widows and orphans (James 1:27). Another high calling for the church is that of restoration. Sadly, today, I believe too many are either not interested in this, neither individually or corporately, or simply do not know how to do this. A bad apple can spoil the whole bunch so maybe it is easier to discard the sinner than it is to walk with that person through the restoration process. Sobering thought, isn’t it?

In his collection that was published posthumously in 1951 entitled “Letters and Papers from Prison”, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “We have been silent witnesses of evil deeds; we have been drenched by many storms; we have learnt the arts of equivocation and pretence; experience has made us suspicious of others and kept us from being truthful and open; intolerable conflicts have worn us down and even made us cynical. Are we still of any use? What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, and straightforward men. Will our inward power of resistance be strong enough, and our honesty with ourselves remorseless enough, for us to find our way back to simplicity and straightforwardness?"

I believe he was merely scratching the surface of a problem that the church has struggled to deal with in modern times. It is the issue of restoring our Christian brothers and sisters rather than labeling them and discarding them as no longer useful in the body. A mere stain on the church that must be purged rather than renewed.

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2 (NKJV)

The Apostle Paul was touching on this very issue when he wrote to the churches in the region of Galatia. Most agree it was written between AD 53-57. With hundreds of years of separation, hundreds of years and new worlds discovered, the art of self-protection is still prevalent today. The unwillingness to get our hands dirty, perhaps our garments a bit blood stained, by the mistakes and sin of others still overrides our calling to love others as Christ loved the church. This ought not be.

Friends, Christ died for us, taking the penalty of our sin debt upon Himself at the cross. We have a human tendency to rank sins or judge sin by man’s standards. We thank God we are not like “that” person or at least we have not committed “that” sin. To God, sin is sin. While society may have varying degrees of punishment for crimes or actions that hurt others, all sin violates God’s standard that is righteousness.

Let me encourage you today. As we go through this life journey, may our eyes and hearts be sensitive to what the Lord would say to us from His Word. I pray there are nuggets of truth that awaken us all to a greater understanding of true restoration. How you and I can walk with others, in love, through this process. I pray we are even more aware of the sin in our own life and what we need to confess, not only to God but to others. I pray the church love its own in a restorative way, rather than stir feelings of shame and judgment. If we don’t look different and act differently, how can we expect others to listen to our message of hope and love? The message of the cross and forgiveness. The message of Jesus.

04/29/2026

A very good morning Saints. Welcome to a Wonderful Wednesday. You guessed it. Today is that pinnacle day in our week to stop, reflect, evaluate, and make whatever course corrections are necessary to stay on path for Jesus this week. Be on the look out for those Divine Appointments to share the love of Jesus with someone.

Have you ever spent any time reading or watching shows about those who proclaim to predict the future? Some who like to be referred to as a modern-day prophet. Before we get too far into this, I want to share a secret with you. A prophet, as we read about in the Bible, was not a fortune teller or a predictor of future events.

A prophet may have written about or spoken of what was to come, but it was the Word of The Lord being delivered. If it is not directly from the Lord, then it is a lie and a distraction or merely a human prediction, not a prophecy. The enemy of our soul, satan, would love us to by into such things.

Now, that is not at all to say that certain individuals may have a unique ability to gather historical data, carefully examine facts and certain trends, and then form an accepted opinion. In doing so, they may seem prophetic, but they are just pointing out what could be already widely known. Perhaps you yourself could come to the same “logical conclusions” without knowing how to transfer it to a statement for publishing. Others just have the gift of gab (no laughing here…)

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matthew 24:36 (NKJV)

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” II Peter 3:10 (NKJV)

Given the current weather trends across the United States at the time of this writing, and in particular here in the north Texas where we live, I can easily predict that it will be raining and wet. Likely some more severe storms including high wind, hail and even a tornado or two (I hope not). Is that prophetic? Certainly not. I would call it common sense or a logical conclusion. Now, that in no way means that our God cannot suddenly bring it to a halt and give us lots of warm sunshine… because He can! (Maybe some of you aren’t praying hard enough. Kidding!)

I came across this seemingly prophetic statement that, although profound given the time it was written, is merely a logical deduction based on historical facts.

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bo***ge to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bo***ge.” (Alexander Fraser Tytler, 1747-1813).

When we watch or listen to the news today, we find story after story of the demise of America, and truly nations around the world. We hear every day of the depths of depravity of men and women. Why does this surprise us at all? If we study God’s Word, we know that these are “birth pains” (Matthew 24). America and every nation will be subject to His judgment.

Friends, taking note of the two scripture references above, and others too numerous to mention here, we are told that only the Father knows the exact time for the end of this earth. We are told that His return will be like a thief coming at night. While understanding Biblical truths and prophecy is certainly our responsibility, a continual striving to know a day and time is futile at best. There will be identifiable signs, no doubt.

Let me encourage you today. I admire those who dig deep into God’s Word and are watching for the signs of the times. I personally have studied these at great length. That being said, with the end or departure time coming, we should first make sure we are prepared. Do we know Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior? And if we do (and I pray if you are reading this you do), then are we doing what we can to point others to The Truth? Seeing others come to a saving knowledge of Jesus is far greater than being able to “predict” anything… even the day of His return. Rest assured; He is coming back!

04/22/2026

A very good morning Saints. Welcome to a Wonderful Wednesday! I pray your week is going well. This is that day… time to check and see where you are and what you have done for Jesus this week. I am about to head home from a business trip. I have had the pleasure of talking about my faith with one of our customers. He has encouraged me and I pray I have somehow had a positive impact on him. A good week so far.

What was your latest adventure? What was the last “life journey” you embarked on? Perhaps it was a new career. Maybe you are in a new home in a new city or state. This might be the beginning of the next chapter of your life as a married couple. You might be taking a mission trip or following the Lord’s direction on a new ministry opportunity. Each of these can be equally challenging and exciting.

I remember the days leading up to my first mission trip. Now, I had participated in local ministry projects where we were “on mission” for the Gospel in other parts of our city or region. This was the first trip I was to lead a group out of the country and partner with a pastor in Mexico to build a “Nutritional Center” (church). I can tell you this was a monumental trip for all of us as we set out with our focus on one task and ended up being used by God in many other ways in which we were blessed as we were attempting to be a blessing.

“Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew 4:19-20 (NKJV)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

With our task clear and the materials and other provisions in place, we departed full of enthusiasm. Yes, the team was successful in building this facility in one week. What else took place was truly of God. During the “down time” that others might have used for sightseeing to being a tourist, this team was looking for other “work” that needed to be done. One opportunity was to help deliver food to a large homeless population living in literally a trash dump or land fill.

While there, the team not only shared the Gospel with many, but they also literally became Jesus with skin on. The entire team was functioning as one body extending grace and love to these precious people. I watched the tired and weary faces of our team being filled with joy and a spiritual exuberance. Not one person complained about the heat or hours. God was using this experience to extend our vision and fill our hearts. I dare say our trip to help yielded a greater blessing to us than it did to them.

Several things jump out to me I the verses referenced above. I want you to notice the response of those called by Jesus. We read from Matthew chapter four (4) that they “immediately left their nets and followed Him”. They did not question the details but rather trusted in Jesus with the calling. Additionally, we read on from what is the “Great Commission” that the call to them and to us today is to go and make disciples. We do not win souls. Jesus saves. We share the truth in word and in deed. It does not stop there. We are called to “make disciples” which means help them to grow in their walk with the Lord. With Matthew 28:19 as the Mission Statement, then Acts 1:8 must be the “Purpose Statement”. Followers of Christ, Christians, are to “be witnesses” of Jesus. We testify to His love, mercy, grace and forgiveness to others with our very lives.

Let me encourage you today. Our lives are full of new experiences. Adventures we are either just beginning, or about to begin. These can be exciting moments. Our life as a Christian can afford day to day opportunities. May you and I follow Him, wherever He calls us to. May we do so with the joy of the Lord in our heart and His love expressed in our actions. I pray we seek to testify of Him to those we encounter. The individuals that the Lord places in our path. It might be in your own home, next door, across town or on the other side of the world. People are longing for The Truth! “Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” (John 4:35, NKJV)

04/15/2026

A very good morning Saints. Welcome to a Wonderful Wednesday! I pray that you are having a great week in The Lord. Has your week gone according to your plan? It usually does not, does it? If you are anything like me, my days and weeks seem to be increasingly “in flux”. Good thing I am such a flexible person! (Don’t say a word!)

You might not be quite as bad as I can be, but I would bet that most people like to have some sort of plan before taking a course of action. Proper preparation. This could be a shopping list if you are going to the store or perhaps a list of supplies if you are going on a camping trip. I know that in most organizations, when there is a new venture being taken on, there are countless meetings and discussions in preparation for the event.

I do my best to follow that policy. The policy of making sure I am ready before I swing into action or implement a strategy. I was a Boy Scout. Since 1907 the scout motto has been and remains, “Be Prepared”. I can recall as few times when I didn’t necessarily have a plan. I began a new project or started on a journey without first making sure I was prepared. When I have done this, I have proven to be the best example of why one should “plan the work” before trying to “work a plan”.

“So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.” Ezra 8:23 (NKJV)

“And Joshua said to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.’” Joshua 3:5 (NKJV)

Think about a few of your own experiences today. That family road trip where you have gone too far to turn back and yet still a great distance from where you are headed. What critical item did you leave behind, forget to buy, or button up at home prior to leaving? My wife would tell you that after I pack, I have said more than once, “If I forgot it, I will buy it when I get there”. I find it a self-imposed punishment for not being properly prepared. Probably sounds ridiculous to you.

I like what Benjamin Franklin said about being prepared. He said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Perhaps that rings true to you today. Maybe the words of Jack Hyles, the former pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hammond (Hammond, Indiana, 1959-2001), “Greatness is in the preparation.” I like that as well.

I referenced above two verses from the Old Testament. The first verse above is less known, from the book of Ezra. I heard a pastor speak on this regarding leadership. What is happening here is the heads of the families are being gathered and seeking those who would serve in the temple. In preparing to do so, they were called to a time of fasting and prayer. This was not at all uncommon when seeking the Lord. It should not be uncommon to us today.

In the book of Joshua, the people are preparing to cross the Jordan River. Joshua, as their God appointed leader, was calling on the people to make themselves ready. They needed to have their hearts right individually. The verse above uses the word “sanctify”. The NIV translation uses the word “Consecrate” while the New Living Translation uses the word “Purify”. They all mean the same thing. Making oneself ready for service unto God.

Let me encourage you today. As you start this day, before you march out into the world and take on whatever you have planned (and the unplanned), ask yourself a question… Are you properly prepared? Have you started your day by being “sanctified” in the Lord? Did you open His Word and take it in? Did you seek Him first? Did you ask Him to empty you of you, and to be filled with more of Him and the precious Holy Spirit prior to taking on your agenda for the day? We cannot know what all that the day will bring. We do know who is in control of the day. May we begin with set aside, intentional time with Him. Be prepared!

04/13/2026

04/08/2026

A very good morning Saints. Welcome to a Wonderful Wednesday! I pray you are doing well as we hit that mid-week point. How was your Resurrection Celebration with family & friends? I hope you had a great experience and hopefully made some new friends and saw lives changed. Perhaps yours was one of those that will never be the same. Keep going. Keep growing. Keep running!

Speaking of running, (like that segway) my mind was racing as it always does when I work out in the mornings. This morning was no different. The treadmill is not my favorite part of the workout. Probably my least favorite to be totally honest. I don’t know about you but I find myself watching that clock or distance marker. Now, that seems rather ridiculous as time moves pretty much at the same pace every day. Treadmill time can just be the longest!

I have talked to others that shared this same thought. We try to distract ourselves with music or the television. Maybe a good podcast. It seems to work, sometimes. The real issue is that we just want that part over. Oh, I feel like I have accomplished much when that clock hits my magic number.

I am reminded of that great philosopher, Rocky Balboa. Yes, The Italian Stallion. In that epic saga from 1976, Rocky, we saw our hero facing the greatest opportunity of his lifetime. He was given a shot at the “greatest title in the whole world”. He felt out classed. He felt less than qualified. He struggled with his confidence. The night before the fight he told his soon to be fiancé that he “just wanted to go the distance”. That way folks would know he wasn’t just another bum from the neighborhood.

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” Matthew 25:23 (NKJV)

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” I Corinthains 9:24 (NKJV)

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” II Timothy 4:7 (NKJV)

If you saw this classic (if you have not, reach out to me, I will help you attain this life goal) then you know our hero, Rocky, did in fact go the distance. He went the full 15 rounds. He did not win the title, but he did attain a personal victory. He “went the distance”.

I, like you, have been afforded an incredible opportunity. It is a gift. That gift is eternal life. Once we have that calling settled, we then must do something with it. We must do all we can for the cause of Christ. Too many are only concerned with obtaining salvation, and rightly so. I say “only” because once you understand that you are called, chosen, then you must do the work of a faithful steward. That will require spiritual training. It will require work and hard work at that. It will require being able to take a few hits and keep moving forward because that is how winning is done!

Let me encourage you today. As a Christian, may we not settle for just “going the distance”. No matter what age you started at, there is a race to be run. There is a challenge before us. You are not just an underclass bum. You are a child for God. Uniquely chosen and set apart for His purpose. To know Him and to make Him known. Fight the good fight of faith. Keep focused on that Heavenly prize (reward) that is Christ Jesus. Run to Win!