Mornings with Jeff & Rebecca

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Yeah… not true. Proverbs 12:18 says our words can cut like a sword or bring healing.

We used to live in an old house, and while we were there, we didn't really notice the smell. But then we'd go on vacation, open a suitcase at the hotel, and boom – there it was. That old house smell, clinging to everything.It got me thinking… our thoughts can be like that too.

Kermit the Frog gave the commencement speech at the University of Maryland this year... and honestly, he crushed it.

Electricity always takes the path of least resistance. It finds the easiest way through and avoids obstacles if it can.I wish faith worked like that. I wish growing in my relationship with God was always smooth and simple. But the truth is – faith doesn't grow stronger by avoiding resistance. It grows through it.

Sometimes I see all the sweet anniversary posts or matching Christmas jammies on social and think, “Should Jeremy and I be doing that too?” But then I remember—he doesn't have to show the world he loves me… he shows me. And that's what really matters.

I was standing in line at the store when I noticed the cashier holding each $20 bill up to the light to check if it was real – and it made me think. One day, our lives will be held up to the light too.

Olivia Jaquith was in the middle of anchoring a morning show when labor started - and she kept going. Calm as can be, timing her contractions between segments and finishing the newscast before heading to the hospital.

Words can stick with us. Sometimes for years. Someone says something hurtful, and it changes the way we see ourselves.David knew that feeling. To his brothers, he was just the kid who watched the sheep. But God didn't see “just a shepherd.” God saw a king.That's a good reminder for me not to let other people's words - or even my current circumstances - define who I am. Only God gets to do that.

Our cat Dutch is not a cuddler... unless I bribe him. And yes, the bribe involves bird videos on YouTube. I literally open my laptop, play a video of birds flapping around, and suddenly he's in my arms like we're best friends.Is it ridiculous? Absolutely. Does it work? Every time.

It's kind of wild how much of life can be outsourced. You can hire someone to mow your lawn, fix your car, clean your house, even run your business. But there's one thing you can't outsource: your relationships.And that includes your relationship with Jesus.

I was sitting on the floor in my closet yesterday (my usual prayer spot) just trying to block out distractions and spend time with God. Worship music was playing from my phone, and the room was dark and quiet.Then I felt something soft brush up against me. It was our cat, Tobias. 

I tend to praise God the most when things are going well. When life feels good, it's easy to be thankful. But when things are hard? That's when it gets real.

When Ambrealle Brown found out she needed a kidney transplant, it felt like her whole life got put on hold. She had to quit nursing school and spend hours every day connected to a dialysis machine, just trying to stay alive.But then her mom, Nija, quietly went and got tested to see if she could be a donor. And without telling Ambrealle, she found out she was a match.

I think a lot of us are like ducks (stay with me here). On the surface, we're gliding along, looking calm and collected, but underneath, we're paddling like crazy just to stay afloat.

Some days just hit harder than others. You're trying to keep it together, but then you have to run an errand, and you're a complete mess in public – ugly crying in the checkout line or sobbing at a stoplight. Not a great feeling.That's where this woman found herself, rolling through a Burger King drive-thru in Stillwater, Oklahoma, having one of the saddest days of her life. When she pulled up to the window, the guy working there did something small but incredibly kind.

I wasn't part of the popular crowd in high school, but I really wanted to be. I remember watching the cool kids from a distance, wishing I could fit in – even though, if I'm honest, a lot of what they were doing probably wasn't what God would have wanted for me.It took me a while to realize that fitting in isn't always the best thing, especially if it means stepping away from what God has for me.

At 99 years old, Harry Humason probably never expected to be celebrated as a hero again. But that's exactly what happened when a town in the Czech Republic invited him to their 80th anniversary of liberation – a freedom Harry helped secure as a young soldier in World War II.

I think a lot of us wonder if God can really use someone as imperfect as we are. I know I've felt that way.But then I remember how Jesus worked with what seemed like ordinary, even inadequate, things. He used plain water and turned it into wine. He used a handful of bread and fish to feed thousands. He even used a little bit of dirt to heal a blind man's eyes.It's a reminder that He doesn't need us to be impressive or flawless – just available and willing.

When Olivia met Bradley, she couldn't believe his last name was Blizzard. You know, like the Dairy Queen treat. Turns out, that's his real last name – and a pretty great perk, too. 

I love 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” But if I'm honest, that's easier to read than to actually live out sometimes.

I've been thinking about how some things in life just take time. Like the old saying goes, “You don't get to eat the fruit the same day you plant the seed.” It's true for the garden, and it's true in my prayer life.

There's something beautiful about the way a child reaches up for you, completely trusting that you'll hold them. No hesitation, no doubt – just pure faith that you'll hold on tight and not let go.I think that's a picture of how God loves us. When we reach up for Him, He's already reaching down to hold us, and His grip never fails. Our security isn't in our strength, but in His unbreakable love.

Graduation is such a big moment – standing in your cap and gown, hearing your name called, and walking across that stage. It's a rite of passage, a moment of pride and accomplishment. But for some students, that moment almost didn't happen.

Waiting is a purposeful pause. It's choosing to hold back, not out of laziness, but out of faith – because I trust that God's timing is better than mine.

Lightning struck their Oklahoma home, and within moments, smoke started pouring in. Mandy, just 11 years old, didn't even hesitate. 

Studies show that people who attend church regularly are some of the most flourishing folks on the planet. The more often you show up, the better you tend to do in a lot of areas – emotional, social, and even physical health. But if you've ever tried to wrangle a couple of kids into church on a Sunday morning, you know it can feel like a battle just to get out the door.

I've definitely had surprise Amazon packages before, but nothing like this. Holly opened her door to find 30 giant boxes - over 70,000 Dum-Dum suckers - thanks to her second-grade son and a little too much access to her phone. 

I read something the other day that stopped me in my tracks. It said, “If you chase butterflies, they'll fly away. But if you plant a beautiful garden, they'll come to you.”That made me think: what kind of “garden” is my life? 

There are some moments in grief where all the emotions just hit at once - and that was me the other day. I was weepy, irritable, and overwhelmed… and I felt bad that Jeremy was having to carry the weight of that with me. But during one of the songs, I apologized to him, and he stopped me. He said, “You're going through a lot. I think you're going through more than you realize, and it's okay.” And something about those words made me feel seen in a way I really needed.

Hugo is a mailman in Charlotte, just doing his job and trying to make ends meet like the rest of us. One day on his route, he stopped by a local dental office - Providence PDO - and left a handwritten note. He explained that he'd lost his retainer, and wondered if there was any way they could help.

When Jacen Phillips was born, he had a twin brother named Nathan. Nathan had serious medical complications and passed away when they were just two years old. At Nathan's funeral, instead of flowers, their family asked for stuffed animals to donate to the hospital that had cared for him.And Jacen never forgot.

If God gave you enough to pay off all your debt – and someone else's too – who would you choose to help? Now swap “money” for “mercy.” That's where it gets a little harder, right?

I've always leaned on humor... sometimes in serious moments, too (which doesn't always go over well). But I used to wonder, why am I wired this way? Comedian Jeff Foxworthy said he wrestled with that same question when he was younger.

Waiting can feel like the hardest part – especially when you're waiting on an answer from God. James 1:5 says if you lack wisdom, ask God, and He will give it. But here's what I've noticed: it doesn't say how that wisdom will come… or when. And if you're anything like me, that “when” part can really test your patience.

There's dedicated... and then there's pajamas-at-10pm-plugging-in-Chromebooks dedicated.

Sometimes I wish I had a dashboard light that could warn me when my heart's getting off track — like a little “pride building” or “forgiveness overdue” message. But as I was thinking about that this week, I realized God has given me a warning system: it's the fruit I produce.

You know that awkward moment when you accidentally say "love you" at the end of a phone call... to your boss or a client? It happens!

Getting the flower beds ready for spring has me thinking about roots. I planted some new shrubs, and the instructions said they needed well-drained soil – because even a healthy plant, sitting too long in bad soil, will develop root rot. The plant might look fine on the outside for a while, but damage is happening underneath.

A second grade teacher asked her class to write about the most loving person they know. Some kids chose a parent or grandparent... but Brett chose God.

When life feels hard and you've been praying for things to get easier, it's easy to wonder if something's gone wrong. But someone recently reminded me that giving your heart to Jesus doesn't save you from trouble – it saves you from sin. 

When Trevor was just 9 years old, he got a diagnosis no child should ever hear - a brain tumor. What followed were nearly two years of weekly chemo treatments at Children's Health. But this past September, he rang the bell to mark the end of treatment!Now, at 11, Trevor has something new to celebrate. 

We talked on the show today about this social experiment with 100 people and a bunch of balloons. Each person wrote their name on a balloon, tossed it into a room, and was told, “You've got 5 minutes – go find yours.” Total chaos. No one could find theirs.But then the rules changed. Instead of finding their own, they were told to pick up a balloon and find the person it belonged to. And within minutes, everyone had the right one.That story stuck with me – because it's a great picture of what the Bible teaches. It's not about chasing what we want, but looking out for one another.