Lean into Jesus Ministries, Inc.

Lean into Jesus Ministries, Inc. Lean into Jesus Ministries is a faith based, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with its primary focus Ch Lean into Jesus Ministries is a discipleship ministry.

Our mission is to assist and encourage believers as they grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. We joyfully serve our Savior in humility, obedience, and love. Through Bible study, prayer, and worship, we seek to increase our faith, disciple others and reach the lost for Jesus Christ.

09/09/2026

The more fruit a branch carries, the lower it bows.

Not higher.
Not prouder.

Lower.

Walk past a fruit tree when its branches are heavy with fruit, and you will notice something beautiful: the branches carrying the greatest weight are often the ones bending closest to the ground.

The fruit changes their posture.

And perhaps that is a lesson God wants us to remember.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗿.
𝗜𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗿.

When God blesses you, grows you, opens doors for you, or entrusts you with greater influence, the evidence of that growth should not be pride.

𝗜𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.

The more He entrusts to you,
the more you learn to bow in gratitude.

Because the fruit was never yours to begin with.

Jesus said:
“Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

The branch does not produce fruit by its own strength.
It bears fruit because it remains connected to the Vine.

And that changes how we see everything God gives us.

Your opportunity is grace.
Your growth is grace.
Your open door is grace.
Your victory is grace.

Even the spiritual fruit developing in your character is ultimately the work of God.

So genuine fruitfulness does not make us look down on others.
It makes us look up to Christ.

The more wisdom we gain,
the more willing we should be to listen.

The more influence we receive,
the more willing we should be to serve.

The more God blesses us,
the more generous we should become.

The more Christlike we become,
the less we should need to prove ourselves.

And look at Jesus.

The One who deserved the highest place chose the lowest posture.

He washed His disciples' feet.
He welcomed the overlooked.
He served the needy.
And ultimately, He humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross.

So stay fruitful.
But stay humble.

And if people see more fruit in your life,
may they also see a heart that bows lower before God.

Because the branches carrying the most fruit are often the ones that bend the lowest.

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.” (John 15:8)

"Waiting on God" by Jeri Lynn DanielI guess if the only criteria for getting into heaven were waiting on God, I may be l...
09/06/2026

"Waiting on God" by Jeri Lynn Daniel

I guess if the only criteria for getting into heaven were waiting on God, I may be lacking. Like most people in today's world, I like to get what I want quickly. We are in an Amazon world…order today and get tomorrow. But God does not work that way.

My first experience in waiting for God was my leukemia journey. My local doctor told me, "Jeri Lynn, this will be a marathon, not a sprint," and he was not kidding! After two years of daily chemo (three bags a day for months on end), two years of steroids, a transplant, and waiting for five years to hear the word "remission," the waiting was hard. But I am still waiting for the doctors to say "healed."

My second experience is a result of long-term steroid use. I took high-dose steroids for two years due to transplant rejection. The result is necrosis (bone death) in my legs. I need two large surgeries, but God tells me to "wait," so I wait. Is it easy? No! I have no idea why I am supposed to wait, but I am. So I have dull leg pain on a regular basis that may become acute someday. But God says wait for now.

My third experience is my recent diagnosis of CKD (chronic kidney disease). Waiting on my kidneys to "prayerfully" repair through medications and dietary changes is excruciatingly hard. I am two months into the new medications, exercise regimens, and eating healing foods, and it is hard. But I have to wait for results. My kidneys will repair; God has given me this word, but the waiting is really hard.

I am reminded of Joseph in Genesis. He was sold into slavery by his brothers, and he did not deserve that. But Joseph waited and stayed loyal to God, finding favor in God's eyes, and therefore became Potiphar's assistant in Pharaoh's court. Then Joseph was accused of trying to seduce Potiphar's wife (in which he was innocent), and he was thrown into jail. Joseph waited and stayed loyal to God while in prison and found favor with the jail's warden. Next, Joseph interpreted two dreams while in jail, and two years later, he was released to Pharaoh's court and became second-in-command in Egypt. All because he trusted in God and waited on God to move in his life.

I want God to move instantly, but God does not work that way most of the time. Joseph waited many, many years for God to move, and he never stopped having faith. Waiting on God to move is well worth it because the reward will be great! Are you waiting on something in your life and IT SEEMS God is not answering you? God always answers, so keep waiting and trusting WITH ME. God hears and will bless our faithfulness!

Psalm 27:14:
"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (LAB)

Prayerfully,

Jeri Lynn Daniel, your sister in Christ
Lean into Jesus Ministries

"Comfortable in the Silence" by Missy BurksThere are seasons in life when God seems quiet.We pray, but we don't hear an ...
08/30/2026

"Comfortable in the Silence" by Missy Burks

There are seasons in life when God seems quiet.

We pray, but we don't hear an answer. We search His Word, but nothing seems to jump off the page. We ask, "Lord, where are You?" and the silence can feel almost unbearable.

But what if the silence isn't a sign that God has left us? What if the silence is an invitation to sit still and trust Him?

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalms 46:10

We live in a world that is constantly making noise. Phones are ringing, notifications are popping up, schedules are full, and our minds rarely have a moment to rest. Sometimes we become so uncomfortable with silence that we immediately fill it.

But God often meets us in the quiet.

Elijah experienced this. God wasn't in the powerful wind, the earthquake, or the fire. Instead, Elijah encountered Him in a gentle whisper.

"And after the fire came a gentle whisper." 1 Kings 19:12

Maybe God isn't always asking us to do something. Maybe sometimes He is asking us to be still. To stop striving.

To stop trying to figure everything out and being the fixer. And yes, to stop fighting the urge to act, to do it ourselves without turning to Him. As well as demanding an answer before we are willing to trust the One who holds the answer.

Silence can feel uncomfortable because it requires us to surrender control. I don't know who likes to give up control, and I certainly do not.

When God is quiet, we can't always see what He is doing. But faith has never required us to see everything.

"For we live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

Think about a seed planted beneath the soil. From the surface, it looks like nothing is happening. There is no evidence of growth. No visible change.

But underneath the surface, something is happening.

Our lives can be like that.

-Just because we cannot see God moving doesn't mean He is not working.
-Just because heaven feels quiet doesn't mean God has forgotten your name.
-Just because you don't have an answer today doesn't mean there won't be one tomorrow.

Sometimes the most faithful thing a woman can do is sit quietly before God and say: "Lord, I don't understand this, but I trust You." The silence may not change immediately. The circumstances may not change immediately. But perhaps God is changing us in the silence.

He is teaching us patience.
He is strengthening our faith.
He is reminding us that His presence doesn't depend on our feelings.
And He is teaching us to recognize His voice—not only when it is loud and obvious, but when it comes as that still, small whisper.

So if you find yourself in a quiet season today, don't be afraid of the silence.

Sit with God.

Open His Word.

Pray without trying to force an answer.

Take a deep breath and remember: God is still God in the silence. He is still good. He is still faithful. He is still near.

And even when you cannot hear Him, you can trust that He has never stopped holding you.

"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." Psalms 145:18

Maybe the silence isn't empty or even silent after all.

Maybe it is where God is teaching your heart to become still enough to hear Him. Teach us to be comfortable in the silence.

Dear Lord,
When You seem quiet, remind us that You are still near. Help us to stop striving, quiet our hearts, and trust You even when we cannot see what You are doing. Give us the patience to wait, the faith to believe, and the peace to rest in Your presence. Help us hear Your gentle voice and remember that silence does not mean You have forgotten us. Jesus, help us be still, trust You, and find comfort in simply being with You. Amen.

Missy Burks
Lean into Jesus Ministries

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Ma...
08/23/2026

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30

Reflection:
In our pursuit of loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we may find ourselves wondering where to begin. The answer lies in a simple yet transformative practice: gratitude.
Gratitude is the spark that ignites a deep, abiding love for God. It's the lens through which we begin to see His hand in every aspect of our lives. When we cultivate a grateful heart, we train our eyes to see the countless ways God is moving, providing, and caring for us.
Each whispered "thank You" becomes a seed of love, planted in the fertile soil of our hearts. As we water these seeds with consistent acknowledgment of God's goodness, they grow into a lush garden of adoration and devotion.
Through the practice of gratitude, we discover that loving God with our entire being isn't a distant, abstract concept. It's a natural outpouring of a heart that recognizes the depth and breadth of His love for us.
Today, embrace gratitude as your pathway to a deeper, more intimate love for God. Let each thankful thought and word draw you closer to the heart of the One who loves you beyond measure.

🙏 Prayer of the Day
Heavenly Father,
In my journey to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, guide me to start with a heart of gratitude. Let me see Your hand in the small and grand moments of my life, acknowledging each as a gift from You.
As I express my thanks, deepen my love for You, allowing it to flourish and encompass every part of my being. Help me to recognize and cherish Your constant presence, finding new reasons to be grateful each day, and drawing closer to You in every grateful thought and word.
Thank You for Your love that never fails, a love so grand that it compels me to love You in return with all that I am.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Our Daily Verse
August 23, 2026

08/18/2026

We enjoy bright, sunshiny days when everything seems to be going right. We tilt our faces upward, close our eyes, and bask in the wonder of the day. It’s easy to get along with others and keep a positive attitude when all’s right with the world. But what about those days when the clouds roll in? What do we do with them?

Proverbs 15:15 in the Passion Translation holds the key: “Everything seems to go wrong when you feel weak and depressed. But when you CHOOSE to be cheerful, every day will bring you more joy and fullness.”

Take a look at the picture that accompanies today’s post. When we focus on the dark clouds, we can’t see the light of day. We mope and pout, gripe and complain. We ruminate on our what-ifs and if-onlys. We lose our purpose. We blame God, everyone, and everything around us for the mud we’re stuck in. We can’t see what others need because all we see are the clouds in our lives. The longer we look at them, the bigger they grow. Our lives become like barren trees with no life left in them. We all know that lifeless trees do not produce fruit or offer protection from the elements to those around them. (Study that first picture for just a moment. I’ll wait.)

BUT! When we reframe our pain as the very thing that’s forced us to grow, we turn it upside down. We begin to focus on all that’s good. We even learn to be grateful for what it’s taught us. As I tell my grandchildren, “It’s a good day when you learn something new!” (Now, study that second picture for another moment.)
Notice that I didn’t say we would never have a cloudy day. We can blame Satan for that! Jesus said, “In this world you WILL have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

We get to choose whether to trust God. We can turn hurt on its head and trust God to use it for good. We can choose to look THROUGH the dark clouds and focus on God’s marvelous light. That makes all the difference in the kind of tree our lives produce. Even if our circumstances don’t change, we offer safe shelter so others can find rest.

Turning our hurt upside down allows us to do what Paul said matters most. We choose to express our faith in love. When we choose to trust and be comforted by God’s love, we can share all we’ve received with those around us. We choose to see our what-ifs and if-onlys as the very things that help us look more like Jesus. Our barren-tree lives become lush and full as we flourish in our happy certainty that we are held by God. We look at our past and say, “So what!” and eagerly focus on “what now?”

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT)

"You Are Here" by Charlene MillerTime with my grandchildren is one of my favorite things. Hearing their sweet little voi...
08/16/2026

"You Are Here" by Charlene Miller

Time with my grandchildren is one of my favorite things. Hearing their sweet little voices squealing, 'Nana! Nana! Nana!' followed by the best hugs in the entire world immediately softens the hard edges that 'adulting' leaves on my heart. I love them with every fiber of my being, and I cherish their love for me.

Children have a way of innocently reminding us what is important. A recent moment with one of my grandchildren did just that.

My four-year-old grandson and I constructed a large "aquatic park" with Magna-Tiles. It covered a large part of the playroom floor and featured slides, tanks for dolphins and fish, a larger, separate tank for sharks, ticket booths, walking paths, fencing, and much more.

When the masterpiece was complete, we stood back and admired our handiwork with satisfied grins. Then I asked, 'What is your favorite part?' I expected him to say 'shark tank,' since we had spent so much time discussing why the sharks should be separate from the other sea creatures.

'My favorite part?' he thought out loud. Then, cocking his head a little to look up at me and smiling warmly, he answered, 'That you are here!'

Tears immediately filled my eyes as my heart melted. I drew him close, kissed his cheek, and thanked God for his sweet, tender heart. I will treasure that answer and our time together forever.

That reminder points to one of God's greatest promises: His presence. Just as my grandson loved being there with me, heaven's joy is being with God.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is preparing a home for us: Heaven.

"In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:2-3 NKJV

"The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass." Revelation 21:18-21 NKJV

Heaven's beauty is beyond our imagination. John continues to describe it with these words:

"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever." Revelation 22:1-5 NKJV

As wonderful as all of that is, we are also thankful for what will not be there:

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4 NKJV

For me, the best part will not be the city's grandeur. It won't even be the absence of the terrible things we experience this side of heaven. Instead, my favorite part will be being with Jesus.

"...and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:17b NKJV

Life this side of eternity is a complex blend of joy and pain. Yet God graciously gives us glimpses of peace and happiness to come.

I look forward to all that will be reality in heaven, but most of all, I long to be with Jesus. That is my greatest hope, and I pray you will be there too.

As you reflect on your life, cherish each glimpse of God's joy this side of heaven. Take a few moments each day to jot down these blessings in a journal or pause for a simple prayer of thanks. Noticing and recording them can help you stay mindful of God's presence and fill your days with gratitude. Let these memories remind you of the heavenly wonders awaiting those who place their trust in Jesus Christ.

Charlene Miller
Lean into Jesus Ministries


If you're seeking more information about faith in Jesus or want to talk with someone, please reach out to us at Lean into Jesus Ministries. We're here to walk this journey with you.

08/14/2026

Make plans now to join us! Lean into Jesus Ministries’ Women’s Conference: HELD - February 6, 2027.

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