Today was quite a day. Mom was up most of the night dealing with hives and constant itching. She took Benadryl—the pill form—and I applied hydrocortisone, but instead of improving, it actually got worse.
We ended up at orthopedic urgent care this evening, and after talking with two doctors, we finally figured out the cause—she was having a delayed reaction to the prep cloths used before surgery. They advised me to thoroughly wash her to remove any remaining solution, keep her skin well moisturized, and give her liquid Benadryl around the clock for the next few days.
In the middle of all that, I also took the boys lunch at a commercial job and squeezed in some shopping. Thankfully, once we got home tonight, Mom has been resting really well.
What a day.
The people of Isaiah's day were faced with a clear choice: remain in unbelief or move forward in uncertainty. God was calling His people to exercise faith first and allow understanding to come afterward.
For the people of Isaiah’s day—and even for us today—this is no easy task. We naturally want to know exactly what we’re stepping into. We want full clarity before we commit. We prefer understanding first, and then we’re willing to place our faith in something.
But that’s not how it works with God. Faith comes first—that is His order. Understanding follows. It may not feel comfortable, and it may not be what we would choose, but it is what God asks of us.
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| This picture is brought to you by Precept Ministries |
There was no production—no lights, no fog, no bands. The sanctuary truly felt like a sanctuary: a sacred, set-apart place. We didn’t bring food or drinks inside. It was understood that this was holy ground.
When the pastor preached, it wasn’t flashy. In fact, a lot of the sermons felt a bit monotonous at times, mostly because many of the preachers spoke in a steady, unchanging tone. There were no theatrics, no storytelling, no personal anecdotes—just straightforward teaching from the Bible. Simply what it said.
Looking back, I can’t help but think there’s value in returning, at least in part, to that kind of simplicity. A focus on truly learning and understanding Scripture. It might not appeal to everyone, but it would quickly reveal who is genuinely seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus—and who isn’t.
Burnout doesn’t have to be inevitable—if we, as the church, choose not to let it be. When we step back and refuse to let the pressures of this age define how we gather—pressures like turning worship into a concert with lights and fog, expecting pastors to entertain us, or believing they need a certain charisma or an extraordinary display of spiritual gifts just to keep our attention—we create space for something healthier.
If we resist those expectations and return to a simpler, more grounded approach, we’d be far better off as a church—spiritually stronger, more focused, and less exhausted.
No one can stop what God has already set in motion for your life.
People may misunderstand you. Doors may close. Plans may fall apart in ways you didn’t expect. But none of that has the power to override what God has purposed for you. What’s meant for you won’t miss you.
There will be delays—but delays are not denials. There will be obstacles—but obstacles are not the end. Even the things that seem to work against you are often the very things God uses to position you exactly where you need to be.
You don’t have to force it. You don’t have to fight every battle. What God has ordained will come to pass in His timing, not yours—and nothing and no one can stand in the way of that.
Stay faithful. Stay focused. Keep moving forward.
Because when God has a plan for your life, it will find you, carry you, and unfold exactly as it’s meant to.
Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God knows the plans He has for us and that they are good plans to give us a future and a hope. Let's cling to that—today and everyday—as we also cling to the knowledge that no one can stop His plans for us.
Today was another reminder that life doesn’t stop for anyone or anything.
A friend of mine is walking through a difficult season with both of her kids, who are elite athletes, navigating challenges that come with that level of competition. At the same time, our son has been dealing with severe sinus congestion and an earache—caused by his allergies.
Then there’s my mom, who recently had a total knee replacement and is really struggling with the pain. Helping her through recovery and rehab is going to take a lot.
We’ve also been helping and supporting a friend whose parents are hoarders as she tries to relocate them, but we’ve had to step back for now because of everything going on with my mom. And another friend is facing multiple health concerns with her husband.
It just keeps coming.
Life doesn’t slow down. One thing hits, you handle it, and then something else follows. It’s constant, and it can feel relentless.
But at the end of the day, what matters most is how you respond. Your attitude in the middle of it all makes the difference. You meet life head-on, stay steady, and refuse to be taken out by the weight of it. Strength, focus, and determination carry you through—even when it’s hard, even when it doesn’t let up.
We took Scot to Bonefish Grill last night for his birthday while my cousin stayed with my mom, who’s recovering from total knee replacement surgery. It felt so good to get out and celebrate him together.
Bonefish is his favorite spot, and it worked out perfectly—his birthday landed on the night we could all enjoy their famous Bang Bang Shrimp at half off. That definitely didn’t hurt!
You could tell he truly enjoyed the evening—just being out, sharing a meal, and spending time together. We only make it to Bonefish a couple of times a year, so we always make the most of it when we do.
Tim officially bought his dad his very first gifts—completely on his own, no help from me. He let him pick out a couple of Lego sets from his wish list, which made it even more special.
And before you ask… yes, we still love doing Lego builds! Tim may not be as into it these days, but I have a feeling he’ll still jump in to help his dad put these together… LOL!
