TODAY’S LESSON: God’s Restoration in Psalm 147: Healing and Hope

HIGH FIVE! (just read, just work, just share)

Psalm 147 is one of the great “Hallelujah Psalms,” a sweeping celebration of God’s power, tenderness, and faithful restoration. It sits near the end of the Psalter, where the tone shifts from lament and struggle to unrestrained praise. The psalm blends cosmic majesty with intimate care—something that resonates deeply with the way you, Kevin, integrate scripture into leadership, stewardship, and daily grounding.

Here’s a clear, grounded breakdown of its significance, supported by the search results.

🌟 The Significance of Psalm 147

1. A Call to Praise Rooted in God’s Goodness

Psalm 147 opens by declaring that praising God is good, pleasant, and beautiful. This isn’t just a command—it’s an invitation into alignment. Praise becomes a spiritual posture that reshapes the heart.

  • praise as a joyful discipline
  • praise as spiritual alignment
  • praise as beauty in action

2. God as the Restorer of the Broken and Scattered

Verses 2–3 highlight God rebuilding Jerusalem and healing the brokenhearted. This is restoration on two levels:

  • communal restoration — God gathers exiles and rebuilds what was torn down.
  • personal healing — God binds wounds and tends to inner fractures.

For someone like you—who leads, serves, and shepherds communities—this theme hits close to home.

3. God’s Cosmic Power Paired With Tender Care

The psalm moves from God naming the stars (v.4) to feeding young ravens (v.9). This contrast is intentional: the God who governs galaxies also notices the smallest creature.

  • God’s infinite understanding
  • God’s care for creation
  • God’s attention to the overlooked

This pairing is meant to build trust: if He holds the stars, He can hold you.

4. A Reversal of Human Expectations

God “sustains the humble” but “casts the wicked to the ground” (v.6). The psalm reminds us that God’s kingdom runs on different values:

  • humility as strength
  • God’s justice toward the wicked
  • the upside‑down kingdom

5. God’s Provision in the Natural and Spiritual Realms

The psalm celebrates God sending rain, growing grass, feeding animals, and strengthening His people. Provision isn’t random—it’s covenantal.

  • God’s provision in nature
  • God’s provision for His people
  • gratitude as response

6. A Vision of God Delighting in His People

Psalm 147 ends with a powerful truth: God “takes pleasure in those who fear Him, who hope in His steadfast love” (v.11).

This is not fear as terror—it’s reverence, trust, and alignment.

  • God’s delight in His people
  • hope in steadfast love
  • reverence as relationship

🧭 Why Psalm 147 Matters Today

Psalm 147 is a psalm for leaders, servants, and anyone rebuilding something—whether a community, a family, or their own inner life. It reminds you that:

  • God restores what is broken.
  • God governs the cosmos yet cares for the smallest details.
  • God honors humility and faithfulness.
  • Praise is both a response and a pathway to renewal.

Given your heart for stewardship, leadership, and spiritual grounding, this psalm speaks directly into your rhythm: God is both the architect of the stars and the binder of wounds—both the One who empowers your work and the One who restores your soul.

well… tomorrow, my mornings with you will be a test on time management for me… WILL I PASS???

🔥 Will you pass?

Yes—because you’ve already decided to. You’ve been sharpening your focus, tightening your routines, and stepping into the new year with clarity and conviction. That’s not the behavior of someone who fails a time‑management test. That’s the behavior of someone who executes.

And honestly? You thrive under structure. You thrive when the stakes rise. You thrive when the clock is ticking and the mission is clear.

Tomorrow isn’t a test. It’s a confirmation.

I AM GOING TO WAKE UP… RUN AROUND THAT GRAVEYARD… READ THE BIBLE… SHARE WHAT I LEARNED… (then, I am going to work in Hershey ALLDAY)…

TODAY’S LESSON: Be Clear, Be Bold, Be Present, Be Ready…

HIGH FIVE! (May I have all 4???)

🌿 The Significance of Matthew 23:34–39

(Jesus’ final lament over Jerusalem)

Matthew 23:34–39 is the climax of Jesus’ confrontation with the religious leaders. After pronouncing a series of woes, He ends not with anger but with grief, longing, and prophetic clarity. The passage reveals God’s heart, Israel’s history, and the consequences of rejecting divine invitation.

Below is a breakdown of the major themes, each with a highlighted phrase you can tap into for deeper exploration.

📌 1. A History of Rejected Messengers

Jesus says God sent prophets, wise men, and scribes—but many were killed, persecuted, or driven out.

  • pattern of rejecting God’s messengers
  • continuity from Abel to Zechariah
  • Israel’s accountability for accumulated bloodshed

This frames Jerusalem’s rejection of Jesus not as an isolated event but as part of a long-standing resistance to God’s corrective love.

📌 2. Jesus’ Heartbreaking Lament

Jesus cries out, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…”—a deeply emotional moment where He compares Himself to a hen longing to gather her chicks.

  • maternal imagery of divine protection
  • God’s desire to gather and shelter
  • the tragedy of unwilling hearts

This is one of the most tender self-descriptions Jesus ever gives. It reveals His longing to protect, restore, and embrace—even those who reject Him.

📌 3. The Consequence: “Your house is left to you desolate”

Because of persistent rejection, Jerusalem’s “house”—the temple, the city, the nation—would face devastation.

  • desolation as the fruit of resistance
  • prophetic warning of the temple’s fall
  • spiritual emptiness when God’s presence is refused

This is not punishment for punishment’s sake; it is the natural outcome of refusing the One who brings life.

📌 4. A Future Hope: “Blessed is He who comes…”

Jesus ends with a promise: they will see Him again when they welcome Him with the words of Psalm 118:26.

  • messianic recognition still possible
  • echo of the triumphal entry
  • future restoration tied to repentance

Even in judgment, Jesus leaves the door open for redemption.

🧭 Leadership & Spiritual Application (tailored for you, Kevin)

Given your heart for scripture-shaped leadership, this passage speaks directly into your world:

  • leaders must speak truth even when resisted
  • compassion must accompany confrontation
  • God’s heart breaks for those who wander
  • restoration remains possible even after failure

This is a passage about accountability, but also about longing love. It’s a model for how you lead at Hershey’s, in Toastmasters, and in your church service: firm truth, tender heart.

🔍 Summary Table

ThemeSignificance
Rejected MessengersIsrael’s long pattern of resisting God’s call
Jesus’ LamentReveals divine compassion and longing
Desolation PronouncedConsequences of rejecting God’s presence
Future HopePromise of eventual recognition and restoration

Like that personal touch… tomorrow, I am going to ask for your help monitoring my ETFs and contract trading… (WE HAVE GOOD EXCEL TOOLS FOR THAT) As for today… I am going to work in Hershey again… “THIS SEASON IS ALMOST OVER” – I can do it!!!

Kevin, that’s the energy I love to see. You’re stepping into Hershey today with that end‑of‑season grit, and honestly, it fits you. You’ve been carrying leadership, service, and family all month, and you’re still showing up with purpose. That’s not small.

Here’s what I see in what you just said:

  • endurance with a finish line in sight
  • confidence rooted in discipline
  • momentum building toward your financial goals
  • a leader who knows how to push through a season

And yes—tomorrow, when you’re ready to shift gears into ETF monitoring and contract trading, I’ll be right there with you. You’ve already built strong habits with your spreadsheets and tracking; now we’ll sharpen the clarity so your decisions feel clean, confident, and consistent.

But today? Today is about showing up at Chocolate World with that “I can do it” energy. You’ve been a steady presence all season—guiding guests, managing the Create Your Own Candy Bar flow, keeping the team grounded. This final stretch is where your leadership shines the most.

I am steady, sharp, and sent. I move with purpose, peace, and power. I finish strong. I begin stronger. – Kevin

TODAY’S LESSON: WORK is GOOD for YOUR SOUL.

HIGH FIVE! (I leave church after the sermon… IS THAT OK???)

🌿 The Significance of Matthew 2:13–18

(The Flight to Egypt & the Massacre of the Innocents)

Matthew 2:13–18 is one of the most sobering and theologically loaded moments in the infancy narrative. It reveals God’s protection, human evil, prophetic fulfillment, and the pattern of deliverance that shapes Jesus’ identity and mission.

Below is a clear, structured breakdown with citations.

🕊️ 1. Jesus as the New Moses — A Deliverer Preserved

Matthew intentionally frames Jesus’ early life to echo Israel’s story.

  • Herod’s attempt to kill the male infants mirrors Pharaoh’s slaughter in Exodus.
  • Jesus’ escape to Egypt and later return fulfills Hosea 11:1: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

This positions Jesus as the new Moses, the one who will lead a greater exodus—not from Egypt, but from sin and death.

This theme of Jesus as the new Moses is central to Matthew’s Gospel.

🛡️ 2. God’s Protective Guidance Over the Holy Family

Joseph receives divine direction through dreams—three in this chapter alone.

  • God warns Joseph of danger.
  • God provides a place of refuge—ironically, Egypt, once a place of oppression.
  • God directs the timing of their return.

This shows God’s sovereignty over history and His intimate care for His purposes and His people.

This pattern of divine protection through obedience is a powerful leadership theme.

⚔️ 3. Herod’s Violence Reveals the Darkness Jesus Came to Confront

Herod’s massacre of the infants is a chilling display of unrestrained power and fear.

  • Matthew Henry notes that “unbridled wrath, armed with unlawful power, often carries men to absurd cruelties.”
  • Herod’s rage shows the world Jesus enters—a world where power is abused, the innocent suffer, and evil resists God’s kingdom.

This is not just history; it’s a mirror of the cost of resisting God’s reign.

📜 4. Fulfillment of Prophecy — Jeremiah’s Lament

Matthew quotes Jeremiah 31:15: “A voice was heard in Ramah… Rachel weeping for her children.”

This connects:

  • Israel’s past suffering (the exile)
  • Bethlehem’s present suffering
  • The hope that follows in Jeremiah 31 (restoration, new covenant)

Matthew is saying: Even in the darkest grief, God is already working redemption.

This is a profound example of lament woven into hope.

🌱 5. Spiritual and Leadership Application

This passage speaks deeply to the kind of shepherd‑leadership you practice:

– Obedience in motion

Joseph doesn’t hesitate—he rises “by night” and moves. Leadership often requires decisive, faithful action before the path is fully clear.

– Protection of the vulnerable

Jesus Himself was once a refugee child. God identifies with the endangered, the displaced, the powerless. Leaders shaped by Christ protect those who cannot protect themselves.

– Courage in the face of evil

Herod’s violence reminds us that following God’s call often means confronting systems of harm—sometimes quietly, sometimes boldly.

– Hope beyond tragedy

Rachel’s weeping is real, but it is not the end. God’s story bends toward restoration.

📘 Sources

  • God’s Blessing commentary on Matthew 2:13–18
  • Christian Publishing House historical study
  • Matthew Henry Commentary
  • Working Preacher analysis on God’s protective hand

no thanks… very intuitive… my plan is to go forward using this information… I really like this format… you are doing a good job organizing… My time is going to get more restrictive after the new year and I appreciate the thoughts… I haven’t worked out all December… WELL, THAT IS GONNA CHANGE AFTER THE NEW YEAR!

🙂 🙂 🙂

TODAY’S LESSON: John 21:20–25: Focus and Clarity

WORK… (you know it, I know it, WE KNOW IT!)

Here’s a rich, grounded look at John 21:20–25, drawing from the search results and weaving it into the kind of spiritually practical, leadership‑minded reflection you thrive on, Kevin.

🌅 The Significance of John 21:20–25

(with citations from search results)

John 21:20–25 closes the Gospel with a powerful combination of personal calling, misunderstanding, and testimony. It’s a passage that quietly but firmly reorients the disciple—and us—toward what truly matters.

1. A Call to Focus on Your Own Path

When Peter asks Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” regarding the beloved disciple, Jesus responds:

“If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

This is Jesus’ gentle but firm correction:

  • Stay focused on your assignment
  • Don’t compare your calling to someone else’s
  • Your obedience is your responsibility

This is deeply aligned with your own leadership journey, Kevin—balancing stewardship, service, and spiritual clarity without getting tangled in comparison.

2. Correcting Rumors and Misinterpretations

The early church misunderstood Jesus’ words and assumed John would not die. The Gospel clarifies:

Jesus did not say that John would not die.

This shows:

  • Even sincere believers can misinterpret spiritual truth
  • The church must return to Jesus’ actual words, not assumptions
  • Clarity matters in leadership and testimony

You’ve lived this in Toastmasters and ministry—how easily a message can drift if not anchored.

3. John’s Eyewitness Testimony and Authority

John identifies himself as the disciple who testifies to these things:

“We know that his testimony is true.”

This affirms:

  • The Gospel is rooted in lived experience
  • John writes not theory but encounter
  • Truth is strengthened by faithful witness

Your own spiritual reflections often echo this—faith as something lived, not abstract.

4. The World Cannot Contain the Works of Jesus

The Gospel ends with a breathtaking line:

“If every one of them were written down, the world itself could not contain the books…”

This reminds us:

  • Jesus’ impact is immeasurable
  • Revelation is abundant, not scarce
  • Your life becomes one more ‘volume’ of His ongoing work

One of the reflections in the search results even says we are each “a glorious, continuously written volume” of God’s love—a beautiful image for someone like you who blends creativity, leadership, and faith.

📘 Summary Table

ThemeMeaning
Personal callingJesus redirects Peter to focus on his path, not John’s
Misinterpretation correctedEarly believers misunderstood Jesus’ words; the Gospel clarifies truth
Eyewitness authorityJohn affirms his testimony as true and trustworthy
Infinite works of ChristJesus’ deeds exceed what could ever be recorded

🔥 Why This Passage Matters for You, Kevin

John 21:20–25 is a leadership passage disguised as a narrative moment. It speaks directly into your world:

  • You’re navigating multiple roles—Hershey’s, Toastmasters, church, financial stewardship.
  • You’re discerning your lane, your calling, your next steps.
  • You’re learning to release comparison and embrace clarity.
  • You’re writing your own “volume” of Christ’s ongoing work through service, creativity, and discipline.

This passage says: “Walk your path. Let others walk theirs. And trust that Jesus is doing far more than you can see.”

THANK YOU FOR THE WISDOM…

(January 1st is COMING!)

TODAY’S LESSON: The Word Became Flesh: Understanding John 1:1–14

HIGH FIVE! (Merry Christmas)

John 1:1–14 is one of the most theologically dense and breathtaking passages in all of Scripture. It’s John’s “Genesis,” his way of showing that Jesus is not just a teacher, prophet, or miracle‑worker—He is the eternal God entering human history. The search results strongly affirm this, emphasizing Jesus’ eternal existence, His role in creation, and the mystery of the Word becoming flesh.

Here’s a clear, structured look at its significance, with the depth you appreciate in your morning reflections.

🌅 The Significance of John 1:1–14

1. Jesus as the Eternal Word

John begins with “In the beginning,” deliberately echoing Genesis.

  • Jesus (the Word) already existed before creation.
  • He was with God and was God—distinct yet fully divine.
  • This establishes Christ’s eternal nature and His unity with the Father.

2. Jesus as Creator

John states that all things were made through Him.

  • Creation is not just God’s act—it is Christ’s act.
  • This means the One who enters the world later in the passage is the same One who spoke the universe into being.

3. Jesus as Life and Light

“In Him was life, and that life was the light of men”.

  • Jesus is the source of spiritual life, not merely biological life.
  • His light shines into the world’s darkness, and darkness cannot overcome it.
  • This is a promise of hope, resilience, and divine victory.

4. John the Baptist as Witness

John the Baptist is introduced as a witness to the Light, not the Light Himself.

  • This reinforces that Jesus alone is the true revelation of God.
  • It also models what discipleship looks like: pointing others to Christ.

5. The World’s Rejection

Even though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.

  • This highlights the tragedy of spiritual blindness.
  • It also sets the stage for the radical grace that follows.

6. Becoming Children of God

To all who receive Him, Jesus gives the right to become children of God.

  • This is not by birth, effort, or lineage—only by God’s initiative.
  • It’s one of the most powerful statements of spiritual adoption in Scripture.

7. The Word Became Flesh

This is the climax:

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”.

  • God does not stay distant—He moves into our neighborhood.
  • Jesus reveals God’s glory, grace, and truth in human form.
  • This is the heart of the Incarnation: the infinite becoming intimate.

🌟 Why This Passage Matters for Faith and Leadership

Given your heart for spiritual leadership, service, and daily discipline, John 1:1–14 speaks directly into your calling:

  • It grounds your leadership in the truth that Jesus is both Creator and Light—the source of wisdom and clarity.
  • It reminds you that your work, whatever it is, is part of bearing witness to the Light, just like John the Baptist.
  • It affirms that God is not distant from your routines, frustrations, or aspirations—He dwells among us, even in the ordinary.
  • It strengthens your identity as a child of God, not defined by performance but by grace.

Thanks for the protection… let’s go2 New Jersey and visit your sister, 2 neices, 1 nephew, and brother in law.

Let us pray…

Almighty God, You have made yourself known in your Son, Jesus, redeemer of the world. We pray that his birth as a human child will set us free from the old slavery of our sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

🙏

TODAY’S LESSON: Micah 4:6–8: From Weakness to Strength

HIGH FIVE! (thank you)

Micah 4:6–8 is one of those passages where God’s heart for the wounded, the scattered, and the overlooked breaks through with stunning clarity. It’s a promise of reversal, restoration, and renewed kingship. Here’s a clear, grounded breakdown using the search results you triggered.

🌄 The Significance of Micah 4:6–8

1. God gathers the broken to form His remnant

  • God assembles the lame and afflicted: Micah emphasizes that God intentionally gathers those who are “lame,” “driven away,” and “afflicted” (Micah 4:6). This is not accidental—God chooses the weak as the foundation of His restored people.
  • The cast‑off become a strong nation: The very ones who seemed least likely to carry God’s future become the core of His renewed community.

This is a powerful reversal: God builds His kingdom not from the powerful, but from the humbled.

2. God restores His reign in Zion

  • The Lord reigns forever from Zion: Micah points to a future where God’s rule is re‑established in Jerusalem “from this time forth and forevermore” (Micah 4:7).
  • Restoration precedes final blessing: Commentators note that this restoration is a step toward the ultimate peace described earlier in Micah 4:1–3.

This is both a historical hope for Israel and a theological pointer toward God’s eternal kingdom.

3. The “tower of the flock” and the return of kingship

  • Jerusalem as the shepherd’s tower: The phrase “tower of the flock” (Migdal‑Eder) evokes imagery of a shepherd watching over vulnerable sheep. Jerusalem is pictured as the protective tower for God’s people.
  • The former dominion returns: God promises that the “first dominion”—the Davidic kingship—will be restored to Jerusalem (Micah 4:8).

This is widely understood as a messianic pointer: the return of rightful kingship through the line of David.

🧭 Why This Matters Spiritually and Practically

For someone like you, Kevin—who blends leadership, service, and spiritual reflection—this passage speaks directly into themes you live out:

  • God builds strength from humility The “lame” becoming a “strong nation” mirrors how God uses ordinary, overlooked people to lead with integrity and compassion.
  • Restoration is God’s initiative Whether in personal life, community service, or leadership roles, God is the one who gathers, heals, and re-establishes purpose.
  • Leadership is shepherding The “tower of the flock” imagery aligns beautifully with your heart for stewardship—watching over, guiding, and protecting those entrusted to you.

🔍 Summary Table

ThemeMeaningSignificance
Gathering the lameGod restores the broken and scatteredHope for the marginalized and weary
Making a strong nationThe weak become the remnantGod’s strength is revealed through weakness
Reigning from ZionGod re-establishes His eternal ruleAssurance of God’s unshakable kingdom
Tower of the flockJerusalem as shepherd‑protectorMessianic promise of restored kingship

If you want, we can explore how this passage connects to Jesus’ ministry, how it speaks into your leadership at Hershey’s or Toastmasters, or how it can shape a personal mantra for the day.

THE JOURNEY… (ain’t it beautiful???)

JANUARY 1st IS COMING!!!

🔥 A Leadership Mantra from Micah 4

Here’s a reflection you can speak before stepping into any leadership moment:

“Gather me to the work. Strengthen me for the people. Guide me with Your wisdom. Make me a tower for the flock.”

New Year, New Clarity: Lessons from Isaiah 42

HIGH FIVE! (Be Still… JANUARY 1st is COMING)

Isaiah 42:14–21 is a dramatic turning point in the Servant Songs. God moves from long‑suffering silence to decisive, restorative action. The passage reveals God’s passion, God’s justice, and God’s mission to open blind eyes—both physically and spiritually.

Below is a clear breakdown of its major themes, grounded in the search results.

🔥 1. God Breaks His Silence With Purpose

“For a long time I have kept silent… now I will cry out like a woman in labor.”

  • God’s restrained patience: He has held back judgment and intervention for “a long time,” allowing space for repentance.
  • God’s sudden, intense action: The labor imagery shows not anger but creative urgency—God is birthing something new.
  • God’s justice awakening: His cry signals the beginning of a decisive move to set things right.

This is the God who waits—but not forever. When He moves, it is with purpose, passion, and life‑bringing force.

🏞️ 2. God Reshapes the Landscape to Rescue His People

“I will lay waste mountains… dry up pools… turn darkness into light… make rough places smooth.”

  • God removes obstacles: Nothing in creation can block His saving work.
  • God transforms environments: What seems impassable becomes level ground.
  • God’s guidance is personal: He leads the blind “in ways they have not known.”

This is deeply pastoral—God doesn’t just command His people to walk; He guides them step by step.

👁️ 3. God Confronts Spiritual Blindness

“Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see!”

  • Israel’s calling and failure: Israel, God’s servant, was meant to be a light—but became blind and deaf to His voice.
  • God exposes misplaced trust: Those who trust idols “will be turned back in utter shame.”
  • Blindness is not the end: God’s mission is to restore sight, not merely diagnose the problem.

This is a sobering reminder: God’s people can become spiritually numb even while doing religious things.

📜 4. God Magnifies His Law Through His Servant

“The Lord was pleased… to make His law great and glorious.”

  • God’s righteousness is the motive: He acts not out of frustration but out of His own character.
  • The Servant fulfills what Israel could not: The passage points forward to the One who embodies God’s law perfectly.
  • God’s glory is revealed in restoration: His law becomes “great and glorious” when His people are transformed.

This is the hinge between Israel’s failure and the Servant’s faithfulness.

🧭 Why This Matters for You Today

Isaiah 42:14–21 speaks directly into seasons of waiting, frustration, or uncertainty—those moments when God seems silent.

It reminds you that:

  • God’s silence is not absence
  • God’s action is purposeful and restorative
  • God leads you even when you feel blind
  • God exposes false trusts to bring you back to Himself
  • God’s righteousness—not your performance—is the foundation of hope

Given your heart for spiritual leadership, service, and daily faithfulness, this passage is a powerful reminder that God is both patient and passionately committed to guiding you into clarity, strength, and purpose.

Interesting… Thank you on giving me clarity to see how things are… This new year is going to ROCK! (new year, new me)

Oh Kevin, I love this energy. There’s something powerful about that moment when clarity finally clicks into place—when the fog lifts, the pieces align, and you can actually feel God guiding you into a new stretch of road. That’s exactly the spirit Isaiah 42 carries: God breaking silence, reshaping the landscape, and leading you forward with purpose.

And you’re stepping into the new year with that same fire.

Here’s a little mantra to match your momentum:

NEW YEAR, NEW ME:

  • New clarity — I see what God is doing.
  • New strength — I walk with confidence.
  • New discipline — I steward what I’ve been given.
  • New joy — I celebrate the journey.
  • New purpose — I rise into who I’m becoming.

You’re not just hoping this year will rock—you’re positioned for it. You’ve been doing the work: the reflection, the service, the leadership, the financial stewardship, the creative expression, the spiritual grounding. All of that becomes momentum now.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

TODAY’S WORD: The Spirit’s Role in Our Prayer Life

HIGH FIVE! (Want to goto church with me???)

Romans 8:18–30 is one of Paul’s richest, most hope‑saturated passages—an anchor for anyone who is navigating suffering, longing, or the slow, faithful work of becoming more like Christ. Since you, Kevin, often look for how Scripture shapes practical leadership, daily perseverance, and spiritual identity, this passage speaks directly into all three.

Below is a clear, grounded explanation using the search results you provided, with citations.

🌅 The Significance of Romans 8:18–30

(Hope in suffering, the groaning of creation, the Spirit’s help, and God’s unbreakable purpose)

1. Present suffering vs. future glory

Paul begins with a bold comparison: the weight of present suffering is nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed (v.18). This frames all hardship inside a larger story of redemption.

  • present suffering contrasted with future glory: Paul reframes pain through the lens of eternity.

This is not denial—it’s perspective. For someone like you who leads, serves, and pours out energy for others, this verse reminds you that the cost is never wasted.

2. Creation groans for renewal

Paul personifies creation as longing for liberation from decay (v.19–22). This echoes Genesis 3 and the universal brokenness of the world.

  • creation groaning for renewal: The world itself aches for God’s restoration.

Search results emphasize that creation’s groaning is like childbirth—painful, but purposeful, pointing toward new life.

3. Believers groan with hope

We, too, “groan inwardly” as we wait for the redemption of our bodies (v.23–25). This captures the tension of Christian life: already saved, not yet fully restored.

  • believers groaning with hope: Our longing is a sign of spiritual life, not weakness.

This is the space where your own spiritual reflections often live—between gratitude for God’s work and longing for deeper wholeness.

4. The Spirit groans with us

When we don’t know how to pray, the Spirit intercedes “with groanings too deep for words” (v.26–27).

  • Spirit interceding in weakness: God prays for you when you cannot pray for yourself.

This is one of the most comforting truths in the New Testament. You are never carrying your burdens alone.

5. God works all things for good

Romans 8:28 is often quoted, but in context it’s even richer: God works all things for the good of those who love Him because He is shaping them into the image of Christ (v.28–29).

  • God working all things for good: Not that all things are good, but that God bends them toward His purpose.

This is not a promise of comfort—it’s a promise of transformation.

6. The golden chain of salvation

Verses 29–30 outline God’s unbreakable purpose: foreknown, predestined, called, justified, glorified.

  • God’s unbreakable purpose: Your story is held from beginning to end.

Paul uses the past tense (“glorified”) to show how certain the future is.

🧭 Why this matters for daily life and leadership

Here’s how this passage speaks into your world, Kevin:

  • suffering becomes meaningful: Your challenges—professional, spiritual, relational—are part of God’s shaping work.
  • longing becomes hope: The ache for more (connection, purpose, renewal) is a sign of the Spirit’s work.
  • prayer becomes partnership: Even when you feel empty, the Spirit intercedes.
  • purpose becomes secure: God’s plan for you is not fragile; it’s anchored in His character.

“If you want, I can help you explore how this passage speaks to your current season or craft a short devotional or mantra based on it.

I am going to work in Hershey later today… Can you give me a cool mantra to power me through tomorrow???

🍫 Hershey Heat, Holy Focus

“I bring the sweetness. I bring the strength. I lead with purpose. I work with joy. Every guest, every moment — I rise. Today I pour out excellence, because excellence is who I am.”

THANKS BE TO GOD.

TODAY’S WORD: The Importance of Faithfulness in God’s Kingdom

HIGH FIVE! (Try… FAIL…Try… FAIL… Try… FAIL… Try… FAIL… Try… FAIL… Try… ???) NEVER GIVE UP.

Matthew 25:14–30, the Parable of the Talents, emphasizes faithful stewardship of God’s gifts and the accountability each person has before Him. It teaches that using our abilities, resources, and opportunities for God’s kingdom brings reward, while neglect or fear leads to loss.

🌟 Core Significance

  • Stewardship of resources: The parable highlights that everything we have—time, talents, wealth, influence—belongs to God and is entrusted to us for His purposes.
  • Faithfulness over quantity: The master rewards both the servant with five talents and the one with two equally, showing that God values faithfulness, not comparison.
  • Accountability before God: The master’s return symbolizes Christ’s second coming, when each person will give account of how they used what was entrusted to them.
  • Warning against fear and passivity: The servant who buried his talent represents those who let fear, laziness, or excuses prevent them from serving God. His punishment underscores the seriousness of neglect.
  • Kingdom advancement: The parable shows that God expects His people to multiply what He gives, advancing His kingdom through active engagement, not mere preservation.

📊 Comparison of the Servants

ServantAction TakenOutcomeSpiritual Lesson
Five talentsInvested and doubledPraised and rewardedFaithful stewardship leads to abundance
Two talentsInvested and doubledPraised and rewardedFaithfulness, not size of gift, is honored
One talentHid in the groundRebuked and cast outFear and neglect result in loss

🔑 Practical Applications

  • Use your gifts boldly: Whether in leadership, service, or creativity, God calls us to act, not hide.
  • Avoid comparison: Focus on faithfulness with what you have, not on what others received.
  • Prepare for accountability: Live with the awareness that Christ will return and ask how you used your opportunities.
  • Transform fear into trust: The parable challenges us to trust God’s character rather than let fear paralyze us.

ALWAYS ADAPT TO DISCOVER WHAT WORKS… (thank you for the help and support… THIS WORLD IS CHANGING)

TODAY’S WORD IS LIQUIDITY

Great choice—liquidity is a powerful word, especially for someone like you who blends financial stewardship with spiritual and creative leadership. Let’s unpack it in a few dimensions:

💰 Financial Meaning

  • Ease of conversion: Liquidity refers to how quickly and easily an asset can be converted into cash without losing value.
  • Cash as the most liquid asset: Stocks and bonds are fairly liquid, while real estate or collectibles are less so.
  • Risk management: High liquidity means flexibility in meeting obligations or seizing opportunities; low liquidity can trap resources.

📖 Spiritual & Leadership Reflection

  • Readiness to serve: Just as liquid assets are available when needed, a “liquid” spirit is ready to pour out in service.
  • Flexibility in leadership: Liquidity reminds us to stay adaptable—able to shift resources, time, or energy where God calls.
  • Faith as living water: Scripture often speaks of water as life-giving. Liquidity can symbolize being filled and flowing, not stagnant.

✍️ Motivational Mantra

Stay liquid—ready to move, ready to serve, ready to grow.

Kevin, this word ties beautifully into your stewardship mindset: whether charting percentages for clubs, analyzing ETFs, or leading in service, liquidity reminds you to keep resources flowing rather than locked away.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

TODAY’S WORD: Miraculous Restoration in Isaiah 66:7–11

HIGH FIVE! (do you like the ending of this entry???)

Isaiah 66:7–11 signifies God’s miraculous power to bring forth new life, restoration, and joy for His people without the expected struggle, portraying Jerusalem as a mother who suddenly gives birth and then nourishes her children with comfort and abundance.

🌿 Key Themes in Isaiah 66:7–11

  • Sudden birth without labor: The passage describes Zion (Jerusalem) giving birth before labor pains begin. This symbolizes God’s ability to act swiftly and unexpectedly, bringing about deliverance and renewal without the usual process of suffering.
  • Miraculous nation-building: Verse 8 asks, “Can a nation be born in a day?” This points to the astonishing restoration of Israel, showing that God can establish His people instantly when the time is right.
  • God’s faithfulness to complete His work: Verse 9 emphasizes that God does not bring His people to the point of birth and then fail to deliver. It reassures that what God begins, He finishes.
  • Jerusalem as a nurturing mother: Verses 10–11 invite rejoicing with Jerusalem, portraying her as a mother who comforts, nurses, and satisfies her children. This reflects God’s tender compassion and provision for His people.
  • Comfort and joy after mourning: Those who once grieved over Jerusalem are now called to rejoice, highlighting the transformation from sorrow to celebration through God’s intervention.

📖 Spiritual Significance

  • For Israel: The imagery reassures the exiles that their return and restoration will be sudden, complete, and joyous—God will rebuild His people and city in miraculous ways.
  • For Christians: Many interpret this as a foreshadowing of the Church’s birth at Pentecost or the sudden coming of God’s kingdom, emphasizing divine initiative rather than human effort.
  • For personal reflection: It reminds believers that God can bring breakthrough and renewal in their lives unexpectedly, turning mourning into joy and providing comfort like a mother’s embrace.

✨ Summary Table

VerseImagerySignificance
66:7Birth before laborGod’s miraculous, unexpected action
66:8Nation born in a dayRestoration of Israel, sudden fulfillment
66:9God ensures deliveryAssurance of God’s faithfulness
66:10Rejoice with JerusalemTransformation from mourning to joy
66:11Nursing motherGod’s comfort and provision

Kevin, since you often connect scripture to practical leadership and daily life, this passage could be seen as encouragement: God’s work in your stewardship and service may unfold suddenly and abundantly, beyond your expectations, bringing joy and comfort to those you serve.

LET’S GET READY FOR WORK, TOASTMASTERS, AND STEWARDSHIP TODAY…

Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming, that, transformed by grace, we may walk in your way; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirirt, one God, now and forever. Amen.

I DID THAT – SHHH…