RTTBROS

The Servant #RTTBROS #humility #Nightlight #leadership #perserverance

Building Tomorrow Through Today's Tasks #RTTBROS #Nightlight"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." — Colossians 3:23You know, as a dad to nine kids and a foster parent to many more over the years, I've watched this pattern play out more times than I can count. Kids rolling their eyes at chores, convinced it's just meaningless busy work. But here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one: the way we do the things we have to do prepares us for the things we want to do later.There's a beautiful story about a young missionary named Jim Elliot. Before he went to Ecuador to reach the Auca Indians, before he became known worldwide for his martyrdom, he was just a college student. His roommates remembered him as the guy who made his bed with military precision every single morning, who kept his side of the room spotless, who showed up early to everything. One friend asked him why he was so particular about such small things. Jim's answer was simple: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."You see, Jim understood something profound. Those mundane morning routines weren't just about a tidy room. They were training ground for discipline, faithfulness in small things, doing what needed to be done whether he felt like it or not. When he stood before those Auca warriors years later, the character that held him steady in that moment had been forged in a hundred ordinary mornings of making his bed when he'd rather have slept in.The Apostle Paul put it this way: "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" (Colossians 3:23). Notice he didn't say "whatever great things you do" or "whatever ministry tasks you accomplish." He said whatsoever, whatever you do. That includes the dishes, the laundry, the homework, the job you don't particularly like, the task that feels beneath you.Here's the thing we miss: God uses the ordinary to prepare us for the extraordinary. David wasn't fighting bears in the wilderness for fun, he was protecting his father's sheep. But every time he defended those sheep, he was developing the courage and faith he'd need to face Goliath. Joseph wasn't trying to become prime minister of Egypt when he faithfully managed Potiphar's household, but God was preparing him for exactly that.The skills you develop in doing well what you have to do today become the foundation for what you'll want to do tomorrow. So whatever's in front of you today, whatever task feels mundane or meaningless, do it heartily, as unto the Lord. Because history is just His story, and He's writing your character in the margins of ordinary days.Let's pray: Father, help us see today's tasks not as interruptions but as training ground. Give us the grace to be faithful in small things, knowing You're preparing us for greater things. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Character #DailyDevotion #ChristianLiving #Faithfulness #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe—it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Adulting in Grace #RTTBROS #Nightlight"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." — 1 Corinthians 3:1You know, I saw something the other day that made me laugh and then made me think. They're selling these "I Adulted" calendars now, complete with stickers you can stick on different days to celebrate your grown-up achievements. Things like "I paid a bill on time" or "I cooked a meal" or my personal favorite, "I matched my socks." Now, for most of us who've been around the block a time or two, that seems pretty funny. We've been doing those things for so long we don't even think about them anymore. But here's what got me thinking: how many of us are doing the spiritual equivalent of celebrating that we matched our socks?Paul had to write to the Corinthian church and basically say, "Look, you've been Christians long enough that you should be teaching others by now, but I still have to feed you with a bottle like babies." That had to sting. But if we're honest, how often do we find ourselves in the same spot?The writer of Hebrews puts it this way: "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat" (Hebrews 5:12). Here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this: spiritual growth doesn't happen by accident. You don't accidentally become mature in Christ. It takes intentionality. It takes time in the Word. It takes prayer. It takes wrestling with hard truths and letting God change you from the inside out.Our world is desperate for grown-up Christians right now. Not perfect Christians, but mature ones. People who can stand firm when the winds blow. People who can speak truth with grace. But we can't do any of that if we're still celebrating that we showed up to church this week like we deserve a sticker for it.So let me ask you: where are you today? Are you still on milk, or have you graduated to the meat of God's Word? Because friend, God has so much more for you than where you're sitting right now. When we devote ourselves to His Word and to prayer, not out of duty but out of hunger, that's when real growth happens.Let's pray: Father, forgive us for being content with spiritual infancy when You've called us to maturity. Give us a hunger for Your Word and a desire to grow in our faith. Help us move beyond the basics and into the deep things You want to teach us. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianMaturity #DailyDevotion #BiblicalWisdom #ChristianLiving #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe. It helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Leading by the String #RTTBROS #Nightlight"And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." — Matthew 20:27You know, I love simple lessons that pack a powerful punch. General Dwight D. Eisenhower used to teach leadership in a way that stuck with people for the rest of their lives. He'd hand someone a piece of string and tell them to push it into a straight line. They'd try and try, but that string would just bunch up and go nowhere. Then he'd pick up one end and gently pull it, and that string would follow wherever he led it, smooth as could be.Then came the application: "Leaders lead from the front by example, not by pushing from behind."I've been thinking about that lately, and here's what strikes me. Too often, we try to push people into doing what we want. Parents push their kids. Bosses push their employees. Even in the church, sometimes we push people toward spiritual growth. But all that pushing does is create resistance, frustration, and a tangled mess.Jesus knew this. When His disciples were arguing about who would be the greatest in the kingdom, He didn't push them into humility. He showed them. "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). He led by example.Here's what I'm too soon old and too late smart about: people don't follow what we say nearly as much as they follow what we do. If I want my kids to love God's Word, they need to see me in it. If I want my team at work to show up on time and give their best effort, I better be doing the same thing. If I want people around me to walk in grace and forgiveness, I need to be living it out myself.The beautiful thing about pulling that string is it goes wherever you lead it, turn by turn. But there's responsibility in that too. We can pull too hard and drag people off their feet. We can pull inconsistently and lose their trust. Or we can forget we're supposed to be leading and let the team pull us in whatever direction feels comfortable.The question isn't whether people are watching us. They are. The question is: what are they seeing? Are we pushing from behind, demanding they go where we won't? Or are we out front, showing them the way, inviting them to follow?Jesus didn't stay in heaven and shout instructions down at us. He came down, walked among us, and said, "Follow me." And because He led by example, even to the cross, people have been following Him for over two thousand years.Let's pray: Father, help us to lead like Jesus, not by pushing others but by pulling them forward through our example. Give us the integrity to walk the path before we ask others to follow. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Leadership #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #LeadByExample #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe—it helps get the word out. https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Building Together #RTTBROS #MorningGlory"Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work." Nehemiah 2:18Henry Ford once said, "Coming together is a beginning; staying together is progress; working together is success." He was really just echoing a principle that's been true since the beginning of time. God's work has always required God's people to join hands together.Let me tell you about Nehemiah. His heart was absolutely broken when he heard how Jerusalem lay in ruins, the walls torn down, the gates burned with fire. The people he loved were defenseless, vulnerable, living in reproach. So he got permission from the king and headed back home, but here's the thing, he didn't go back thinking he was going to rebuild that wall all by himself.When Nehemiah arrived, he gathered the people together and said, "Ye see the distress that we are in... come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem." Did you catch that? "Let us." Not "let me." Let us.And here's what gets me every time: the people's response. They didn't make excuses. They said, "Let us rise up and build." And together, working hand in hand, they finished that wall in fifty-two days. That's not a miracle of one man's effort, that's the power of God's people working together.There's this principle in business called the 80/20 rule. It says that in most projects, 20 percent of the people do 80 percent of the work. Friends, that should never be true of God's church. Every single one of us has a part to play in God's work.You might think, "I don't have much to offer." But remember, it wasn't talented builders who finished Nehemiah's wall, it was regular people who strengthened their hands for the good work.Here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this: God doesn't need our ability as much as He needs our availability. He's looking for willing hands, not perfect hands.So let me ask you today: what's your part in God's work? Don't sit on the sidelines. Strengthen your hands for the good work.Let's pray: Father, thank You for the privilege of being part of Your work. Help us not to wait for someone else to do what You've called us to do. Give us willing hearts and strengthened hands to build up Your kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #ChurchLife #ServingGod #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #MorningGloryBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

The Man Who Wouldn't Give Up #RTTBROS #Nightlight"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." — Galatians 6:9I want to tell you about a man named William Carey, and I promise you, his story will encourage you if you're feeling like giving up on something God's called you to do.Back in the late 1700s, Carey felt called to be a missionary to India. Now, you have to understand, this was a radical idea at the time. The church leadership told him, "If God wants to save the heathen, He'll do it without your help." But Carey couldn't shake the calling.He finally made it to India in 1793, and here's where it gets interesting. He worked for seven years, seven long years, before he saw his first convert. Can you imagine that? Seven years of learning the language, translating Scripture, preaching, teaching, and not one single person came to Christ. Most of us would've packed our bags and headed home, convinced we'd missed God's voice.But Carey had a motto that kept him going: "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God." He didn't let the wait discourage him from the work. And by the time his ministry ended, he'd translated the Bible into over forty different languages and dialects, founded a college, and seen thousands come to faith in Christ.Here's what strikes me about Carey's story, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one: faithfulness isn't measured by immediate results. It's measured by obedience over time.We live in a world of instant everything. Instant coffee, instant messages, instant results. But God's kingdom doesn't usually work that way. Sometimes He calls us to plant seeds we won't see grow. Sometimes He asks us to be faithful in the waiting, in the season when nothing seems to be happening.Paul tells us, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9). Notice he says "in due season," not "in our preferred timeline."Maybe you're in a season right now where you've been faithful, you've been obedient, but you're not seeing the fruit you expected. Don't quit. Don't grow weary. Your seven years might be preparing you for a harvest you can't even imagine yet.Let's pray: Lord, give us the endurance to be faithful even when we can't see the fruit. Help us trust Your timing and keep doing what You've called us to do. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Perseverance #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Hope: The Courage To See Light In The Darkness #RTTBROS #nightlight

The Power of Patience #RTTBROS #Nightlight"Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass." — Psalm 37:7You know, I came across a story recently that stopped me in my tracks. It's about a man named George Washington Carver, and I think it'll speak to something we all struggle with.Now, most of us know Carver as the brilliant scientist who revolutionized agriculture in the South. But here's what most people don't know: when Carver applied to Highland College in Kansas, he was accepted based on his exceptional academic record. But when he showed up to enroll, they took one look at him and turned him away because he was Black. Can you imagine? You've worked so hard, you've been accepted, and then the door slams in your face.But here's where the story gets interesting. Carver didn't give up. He didn't get bitter. He waited. He worked odd jobs. He kept learning. Years later, Iowa State University not only accepted him, they made him their first Black student. And it was there that he developed his groundbreaking agricultural research.But wait, there's more to this story. Remember that college that rejected him? Highland College? Years later, they realized their mistake and tried to make amends. But by then, Carver had become so accomplished that he graciously declined their belated offer. God's timing had proven perfect.I've been thinking about this because we live in such an instant world. We want the microwave answer, the overnight success, the immediate breakthrough. But God, He works on a different timetable. And I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one, but I've learned that His delays are not His denials.The psalmist tells us to "rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him." Notice those words: rest and wait. They're not passive words, they're trust words. When you're resting in God, you're not fretting, you're not scheming, you're not trying to force doors open that God has closed for your protection.Carver could have become bitter. He could have given up on education altogether. But he kept his hands open and his heart soft, and God used that rejection to position him exactly where he needed to be to change the world.Maybe you're facing a closed door today. Maybe you've been waiting so long you're starting to wonder if God's forgotten about you. He hasn't. Sometimes He's protecting you from something that looks good but isn't best. Sometimes He's preparing you for something bigger than you can imagine. And sometimes, like with Carver, He's proving that His plans are always better than ours.History is just HIS story, friend, and you're an important part of it. Trust His timing.**Let's pray:** Father, help us to rest in You when doors close and dreams get delayed. Teach us to wait patiently, knowing that Your timing is perfect and Your plans are always good. Give us the faith to trust You, even when we can't see what You're doing. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Trust #GodsTimimg #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #Patience #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Hue and Cry #RTTBROS #NightlightEphesians 5:11 - "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."In twelfth century England, they didn't have police departments like we do today. When a crime was committed, the whole community was responsible for dealing with it. If you witnessed a robbery or an assault, you couldn't just walk away and mind your own business. The law required you to raise what they called "hue and cry.""Hue" comes from the Old French word meaning "to shout out," and that's exactly what you were supposed to do. You'd yell and make as much noise as possible to alert everyone in the area that something was wrong. Then the whole community would come running to help catch the criminal and deal with the situation. It was their early warning system, and it only worked if people were willing to speak up when they saw evil happening.Now, I know we live in different times, and we've got law enforcement to handle most of these situations today. But I can't help thinking about how this old medieval law applies to our spiritual lives. As Christians, we're part of a community, and we have a responsibility to each other when we see spiritual danger approaching.Too often, we see a brother or sister heading down a destructive path, and we just stay quiet. We don't want to be judgmental, we don't want to interfere, we don't want to make waves. But Paul tells us we're not supposed to have fellowship with works of darkness, we're supposed to reprove them. Sometimes love requires us to raise a holy "hue and cry."Now, I'm not talking about being self-righteous or gossipy. I'm not talking about pointing fingers at every little fault we notice in others. But when someone we care about is in real spiritual danger, when they're making choices that could destroy their testimony or their family or their walk with God, sometimes the most loving thing we can do is raise our voice.It takes courage to speak up. It's risky to get involved. But in medieval England, if you saw a crime and didn't raise hue and cry, you could be held partly responsible for the consequences. Friend, I wonder if the same principle applies to us when we see spiritual crime taking place and stay silent.The goal isn't to embarrass anyone or tear them down. The goal is to alert the community so help can come, so restoration can happen, so the damage can be stopped before it spreads.Prayer: Lord, give me wisdom to know when to speak up and courage to do it in love when I see spiritual danger threatening those I care about. Amen#Faith #Wisdom #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #Learning #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Learning from Life's Classroom #RTTBROS #Nightlight"A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels." — Proverbs 1:5You know, I've been thinking about something Will Rogers once said. That old cowboy philosopher had a knack for seeing truth in simple ways, and one thing he loved to point out was that he'd never met a man he couldn't learn something from. Now, that's a pretty remarkable statement when you think about it. Every person, a teacher. Every encounter, a classroom.I was visiting with a friend the I made today, and we got to talking about mistakes, those hard teachers we all seem to meet along life's journey. She said something that really stuck with me: "If you're smart, you learn from your own mistakes. But if you're wise, you learn from other people's mistakes." That's when it hit me, wisdom isn't just about collecting your own scars and learning from them. It's about paying attention to the scars of those around you and letting their experiences compound your understanding.The Bible has a lot to say about this. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote in Proverbs 13:20, "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." See, wisdom is contagious. So is foolishness. The people we surround ourselves with, the stories we listen to, the experiences we pay attention to, they all shape how we navigate this life.Now, I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one, but I spent a lot of years thinking I had to figure everything out on my own. I had to touch the hot stove myself before I'd believe it was hot. But somewhere along the way, I realized that God puts people in our lives for a reason. Their victories can encourage us. Their mistakes can warn us. Their wisdom can guide us.Think about it this way: if you only learned from your own mistakes, you'd have to live ten thousand lifetimes to gain the wisdom that's available to you right now by simply paying attention to the lives of others. That's why the older folks in the church matter so much. They've been down roads we haven't traveled yet. They've made mistakes we can avoid. They've found paths through dark valleys that we're just now entering.But here's the thing, you have to be humble enough to listen. You have to be wise enough to recognize that everybody you meet knows something you don't. That grumpy old timer at church? He might know something about perseverance that could change your life. That young person full of questions? They might see something fresh about God's Word that you've overlooked for years.History is just HIS story, and God has been teaching His people through each other since the beginning. When we learn from one another, we're participating in something beautiful, we're letting God's wisdom flow through the Body of Christ, from generation to generation, from experience to experience.So let me ask you: who's God put in your path that you might be overlooking as a teacher? What lessons are available to you right now if you'd just open your ears and humble your heart? Because wisdom, real wisdom, doesn't just come from the school of hard knocks. It comes from paying attention to everyone who's been there before you.Let's pray: Father, give us humble hearts to learn from those You've placed in our lives. Help us see that every person we meet can teach us something if we're wise enough to listen. Thank You for the gift of wisdom that comes through Your people. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Wisdom #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #Learning #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

He Doesn't Stop #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Joy Dealer #RTTBROS #Nightlight"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." — Proverbs 17:22You know, I got an email the other day that hit me right between the eyes. It said something I needed to hear: "Your wife doesn't need another burden to manage. She needs a joy dealer." And friend, I sat there staring at that line because it convicted me in the best possible way.See, somewhere along the journey, a lot of us Christian men got this idea that maturity means being serious all the time. Heavy. Intense. Always grinding, always stressed, always carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. We think if we're not worried, we're not responsible. If we're not intense, we're not spiritual.But that's not leadership, and it's not biblical manhood. That's just exhaustion with a spiritual veneer on it.Think about Jesus for a minute. He was the strongest leader who ever walked this earth, yet people were drawn to Him. Children ran to Him. His disciples followed Him for years, and they didn't just endure His presence, they enjoyed it. He didn't repel people with heaviness. He attracted them with life.I love what Nehemiah said: "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). Did you catch that? Joy isn't some optional add-on to the Christian life. Joy IS strength. When God is first in your life, when your order is right, joy flows naturally because your peace doesn't depend on circumstances.Here's what I'm learning, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one: rigid men repel, but joyful men attract. If your wife isn't drawn to you, if your kids seem to avoid you, maybe it's time to check your energy. Are you fun to be around? Do you bring life into the room, or do you suck it out with stress and intensity?Paul tells us in Galatians 5:22 that joy is a fruit of the Spirit. It's not something we manufacture, it's something that flows when we're walking with God. A man filled with the Spirit doesn't need substances to relax or entertainment to unwind. He's enjoyable because God's joy lives in him.Your family doesn't need another manager. They need a joy dealer. Someone who brings life, not drains it. Someone who's strong AND joyful. That's not weakness, friend. That's what it looks like when a man is anchored in the presence of God.Let's pray: Father, forgive us for being exhausting instead of life-giving. Help us to find our joy in You so we can be joy dealers in our homes. Teach us that maturity isn't misery, and that following You should make us more enjoyable, not less. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #ChristianLiving #BiblicalManhood #Joy #Marriage #Family #DailyDevotion #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out. https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Adapt and Overcome #RTTBROS #Nightlight"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." — Romans 8:28I remember my old boss telling me something he learned during his military career. Three simple words that became his motto for life: Adapt and overcome. At first, I thought it was just another one of those tough-guy military sayings, you know? But the more I sat with it, the more I realized how deeply biblical that concept really is.Life has this habit of not going according to our plans. The car breaks down when you can't afford the repair. The job you thought was secure disappears. And we're left standing there wondering what just happened.Here's what I've learned: God isn't nearly as concerned with our comfort as He is with our character. He's not shocked when things go sideways. In fact, He's already working on Plan B while we're still trying to figure out what happened to Plan A.Think about the Apostle Paul in Acts 16. He had big plans to preach the gospel, but he kept running into closed doors. The Spirit wouldn't let him preach in Asia. He couldn't go into Bithynia. But then he had a vision of a man from Macedonia saying, "Come over and help us." Paul adapted, changed direction, and ended up bringing the gospel to Europe for the first time. That one adaptation changed the entire course of Christian history.Adapt and overcome isn't just about toughing it out. It's about trusting that God is redirecting, not rejecting. It's about being flexible enough to follow where He leads, even when it's not where we planned to go.The military teaches adapt and overcome because in battle, nothing ever goes exactly according to plan. Well, friend, we're in a spiritual battle, and our enemy isn't going to make things easy. But here's the good news: we serve a God who specializes in taking our messes and making them into messages, our tests into testimonies, our trials into triumphs.Romans 8:28 reminds us that all things work together for good to them that love God. Notice it doesn't say all things ARE good. It says they work together FOR good. That's adaptation. That's overcoming.So whatever you're facing today, whatever has gone wrong, remember: God's not done yet. He's teaching you to adapt and overcome. And when you do, you'll look back and see that history really is just HIS story, and He was writing a better chapter than you could have imagined.Let's pray: Father, when our plans fall apart, help us trust that You're not surprised. Give us the strength to adapt to what You're doing and the faith to overcome what stands in our way. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Resilience #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #OvercomingObstacles #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Pastoral prayer: transitions #RTTBROS #nightlight

Stop Running #RTTBROS #Nightlight #Running #Salvation #WalkwithGod

Living Legacy #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Promise Keeping God #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Building New PathwaysThe Power of Practiced Truth #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Taking Thoughts CaptiveThe Story of Martin Luther's Stand #RTTBROS #Nightlight"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)." — 2 Corinthians 10:3-4Last night we talked about those automatic negative thoughts, those ANTs that swarm through our minds. Tonight, I want to tell you about a man who understood this battle better than most: Martin Luther.Now, Luther was a monk who struggled terribly with his thoughts. He would spend hours in confession, sometimes confessing the same sins over and over because his mind kept telling him he wasn't truly forgiven, that he wasn't good enough, that God couldn't possibly love someone like him. His superior finally told him to stop coming to confession unless he had committed murder or blasphemy, something real to confess.But here's where Luther's story gets interesting. When he finally discovered the truth of justification by faith, when he understood that we're made right with God through faith in Christ alone, not by our works, everything changed. He realized that those thoughts that kept condemning him were lies. They were real thoughts, yes, but they weren't true thoughts.Luther used to say that you can't keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair. Sound familiar? He understood what Paul was teaching in 2 Corinthians 10, that we have weapons mighty through God for pulling down strongholds, for taking thoughts captive.Here's the thing about taking thoughts captive: you can't do it by just trying harder to think positive. That's not what Paul is talking about. He's talking about confronting those automatic negative thoughts with the truth of God's Word. It's not about pretending the thoughts aren't there or trying to force yourself to feel differently. It's about recognizing a lie when you hear one and standing your ground with truth.When that thought shows up telling you you're worthless, you don't have to argue with it or try to convince yourself otherwise. You just need to know what God says: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people" (1 Peter 2:9). That's not positive thinking, that's truth thinking.When that automatic thought tells you you're all alone and nobody cares, you don't have to try to talk yourself out of feeling lonely. You just need to remember what Jesus said: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). Again, not positive thinking, truth thinking.Luther learned to fight his ANTs with Scripture. When those condemning thoughts would swarm, he would literally speak truth out loud. He'd say, "I am baptized. I am God's child. Christ died for me." Simple truths that cut through the lies like a sword.You see, you can't control the first thought that pops into your head, but you can control what you do with it. You can take it captive. You can hold it up against God's Word and say, "Does this match what God says about me? Does this match what God says about my situation?" If it doesn't, then it's a lie dressed up as a thought, and it needs to be taken prisoner.Tomorrow night, we'll talk about what to do for the long haul, because this isn't a one-time battle. But tonight, practice taking one thought captive. Just one. When that ANT shows up, grab hold of it with a truth from God's Word and don't let it run wild.Let's pray: Father, give us courage to confront the lies in our minds with Your truth. Help us to be quick to recognize when our thoughts are not lining up with Your Word. Teach us to fight with the weapon of truth. In Jesus' name, Amen

Ants automatic negative thinking

Handling Anger #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Real Thing #RTTBROS #Nightlight

the responsibility of privilege #rttbros #nightlight

Human Becoming #RTTBROS #Nightlight Finding God in the PassionflowersReading: Psalm 46:10 – "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."You know, I've got this tendency that keeps tripping me up. I become what I call a "human doing" when God is calling me to be a "human being," or better yet, a "human becoming." Let me tell you what I mean. A few years back, something small happened that made a big change in my life. In the midst of the hustle and hurry of ministry and raising a massive family, I found myself driving by and walking past some of the most beautiful moments in God's creation. I started to notice things I'd been missing: sunrises painting the sky in colors that could only come from the Master's hand, sunsets that reminded me God was still in control when the day was done. Flowers blooming in fields, children playing in the park with that carefree joy we all used to know, pets playing fetch with their families. A storm rolling in with all its power and majesty, the wind blowing through the trees like God's breath over creation. Family dinners around the table sharing the events of our day, those ordinary moments that turn out to be the most sacred. And quiet time with God in the morning, where He speaks peace to my troubled heart.I'd been blowing by all of these amazing things, these gifts from God's hand, in order to rush to the next thing on my list.Standing there one morning, finally paying attention, it hit me: I'd been so busy doing God's work that I'd forgotten to be with God. I was like Martha in the kitchen, clanging pots and pans, while Mary sat at Jesus' feet. And you remember what Jesus said? "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part" (Luke 10:41-42).The Psalmist got it right: "Be still, and know that I am God." Not "be busy and prove you're useful." Not "be productive and earn your worth." Just be still. Be present. Be with Him.Because transformation doesn't happen in the blur of busyness. It happens when we slow down enough to let God's presence shape us, mold us, change us. It's in those divine interruptions, those ordinary moments made holy, where we stop being human doings and start becoming who God created us to be.So here's my question for you today: What is God putting in your path that you're rushing right past? What moment is He asking you to stop and notice? Because I promise you, the divine presence you're looking for isn't waiting at the end of your to-do list. It's right here, right now, in this very moment, if you'll just slow down long enough to see it.Let's pray: Father, forgive us for being so busy doing things for You that we forget to be with You. Teach us to slow down, to notice, to be present in the moments You give us. Help us become human becomings, shaped by Your presence in the journey. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #BeStill #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #PresenceOfGod #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Our Doubts Are Traitors #RTTBROS #Nightlight"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." — 2 Timothy 1:7You know, William Shakespeare wrote something that has stuck with me for years. One of his characters says, "Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt." Shakespeare wasn't a theologian, but he understood something profound about human nature.Doubt is a traitor. It whispers in our ear just when we're about to step out in faith. And here's the thing, that voice of doubt isn't just our own insecurity talking. The enemy knows that if he can keep us doubting, he can keep us from attempting the very things God has called us to do.I think about Peter walking on the water. He's actually doing it, defying gravity, moving toward Jesus. But then Matthew 14:30 tells us, "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." The doubt crept in, and suddenly what had been possible became impossible in his mind.Satan doesn't have to defeat us if he can just get us to defeat ourselves. All he needs to do is plant a seed of doubt, and watch us talk ourselves out of the very thing God is calling us to do.Think about all the "almosts" in your life. The ministry you almost started. The person you almost witnessed to. How many of those were stopped not by actual obstacles, but by the traitor of doubt?Here's what God says: He hasn't given us a spirit of fear. He's given us power, love, and a sound mind. That means when doubt shows up and starts whispering its poisonous lies, we have the authority to reject it.What would you attempt for God if you knew you couldn't fail? Even if we stumble like Peter, Jesus is right there to catch us. Don't let doubt rob you of the good you might win. Step out in faith and watch what God can do when you refuse to let fear have the final word.Let's pray: Father, forgive us for letting doubt talk us out of what You've called us to do. Give us courage to step out in faith and trust Your power more than we fear our weakness. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #OvercomingDoubt #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Fresh Word Of God #Rebuild #Nightlight #RTTBROS #Obey #BIBLESTUDY

Ruined To Rebuilt #RTTBROS #Nightlight #Repent #Rebuild #restorarion When Ruins Become Rebuilding"Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah." — Ezra 1:2You know, I've been sitting with Ezra chapter 1 lately, and there's something powerful happening in these verses. The temple in Jerusalem has been destroyed for seventy years. That's a lifetime. An entire generation grew up never seeing the glory of God's house, only hearing stories about what used to be.But here's what gets me, and it's something I heard recently that I just can't shake: when your life lies in ruin from the lies that ruined you, it's time to rebuild.The temple didn't fall because of some random act of nature. It fell because God's people believed lies, lies about who God was, lies about what really mattered, lies that led them away from truth. And now, all these years later, God says through a pagan king no less, "It's time to rebuild."I've been in ministry long enough to know that most of us have some ruins in our lives. Maybe you believed the lie that you weren't good enough. Maybe you believed the lie that this sin wouldn't really hurt anyone. Maybe you believed the lie that God couldn't use someone with your past, so you've been sitting on the sidelines.Here's what I love about this passage: God didn't wait for the Israelites to clean up the mess first. He stirred up the heart of a king, provided the resources, and said, "Now, let's build."Rebuilding always starts with a decision, but it continues with God's provision. The Apostle Paul wrote: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). That's rebuild language right there.Maybe you're looking at the ruins in your life today, thinking it's too late, too far gone, too damaged. But friend, if God could bring His people back from seventy years of captivity and rebuild His temple, He can rebuild whatever lies in ruin in your life.The ruins don't define us, the rebuilding does. And rebuilding always starts with returning to the truth. It's never too late to start again.Let's pray: Father, thank You that You are the God of rebuilding. Where lies have created ruins in our lives, help us to hear Your voice calling us back to truth. Give us the courage to start rebuilding today. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Rebuilding #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe, it helps get the word out.

Handle The Scandal #Submission #Obey #Meekness #Nightlight #RTTBROS

More On Meekness #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Monkey Hand #RTTBROS #NightlightScripture: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." — Matthew 16:25You know, I heard a story once about how hunters in some parts of the world used to catch monkeys, and it's stuck with me for years because it says so much about human nature.They would take a coconut, drill a hole just big enough for a monkey's hand to slip through, and put some rice or fruit inside. Then they'd secure the coconut to a tree. The monkey would reach in, grab the food, and make a fist. But here's the thing, that fist was too big to pull back through the hole. All the monkey had to do was let go of the food and he could pull his hand out and be free. But he wouldn't. He'd sit there, holding onto that food, even when the hunters came. His freedom was literally one choice away, but he'd rather lose everything than open his hand.I think about that monkey sometimes when I look at my own life. How often do we hold onto things so tightly that we lose our freedom? Maybe it's a relationship that's become unhealthy, but we can't let go. Maybe it's a job that's consuming us. Maybe it's money, or reputation, or control over our kids' lives. We grip these things with white knuckles, and all the while, we're the ones becoming trapped.Jesus said something that seemed backwards to his disciples: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it" (Matthew 16:25). That's the paradox of the Kingdom. The tighter we hold onto our lives, our plans, our stuff, the more we actually lose. But when we open our hands and surrender it all to Him, that's when we find real life.I'm too soon old and too late smart on this, but I've learned that God never asks us to release something without giving us something better in return. But we've got to trust Him enough to open our hands first.So here's what I want you to think about today: What are you holding onto so tightly that it's keeping you trapped? When we hold onto anything more tightly than we hold onto Jesus, we've already lost it. But when we surrender everything to Him, we find that we never really lose anything that matters.Let's pray: Father, show us what we're gripping too tightly. Give us the courage to open our hands and trust You with the things we're afraid to lose. Help us remember that You are better than anything we could hold onto. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Surrender #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Strength Under Control #Nightlight #RTTBROS #Meekness #Relationships #Unity

Blind To Blessing #RTTBROS #NightlightBlind to BlessingIn every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18About 3,500 years ago in the wilderness of Sinai, the Israelites witnessed the most spectacular miracle in human history. God parted the Red Sea, they walked through on dry ground, and the Egyptian army that had pursued them was swallowed up by the waters. They saw walls of water standing on either side of them as they crossed. That's the kind of thing that should stay with you forever.But just three days later, they were complaining. And about a month after their miraculous deliverance, they actually said they wished they had died back in Egypt. They told Moses, "Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full, for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger" (Exodus 16:3).They had trained their minds to search for problems, and when you're looking for bad things, no surprise, you find what you're looking for. Even when really good things happen, you discount them or find fault with them. You essentially become blind to blessing.The Israelites had manna from heaven, bread that literally fell from the sky every morning. They had water from a rock. They had the presence of God with them in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. But their negative mindset kept them from seeing it. They were looking through a filter of discontent, and it colored everything.I've seen this in my own life. There have been seasons when I was running on empty, when it seemed like everything that could go wrong did go wrong. And in those seasons, if I wasn't careful, I could focus so much on what wasn't working that I completely missed what God was doing. I remember a time when a friend came by and blessed my family out of the blue with some money. It left me speechless, and that does not often happen to me. It was God's way of tapping me on my shoulder and saying, "Don't worry, I got this." But if I had been consumed with my problems, I would have missed that moment of grace.Here's what Paul teaches us: "In every thing give thanks." Notice he didn't say "for everything," he said "in everything." We don't thank God for the hard things themselves, but we thank Him in the midst of them because we know He's still on the throne, still taking care of His kids, still providing in supernatural ways.The Israelites finally made it to the Promised Land, but it took them 40 years for a journey that should have taken 11 days. Why? Because they couldn't see past their complaints to recognize God's faithfulness. Don't let that be your story. Train your mind to see His hand, to recognize His provision, to count your blessings. Start searching for blessings instead of problems, because I promise you, you'll find what you're looking for.Today's Growth PrincipleGod is always working in your life, but if you train your mind to hunt for problems, you'll miss His hand of blessing and provision.#Faith #Joy #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Joy in the Journey #RTTBROS #Nightlight"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." — Philippians 4:11You know, I've been thinking a lot lately about something that keeps showing up in my conversations with people. We live in a world that's constantly selling us expectations. Social media shows us everyone's highlight reel, and we start measuring our regular Tuesday against someone else's best moment. Before long, we're running on empty, wondering why we can't seem to find any joy.I came across something recently that really stuck with me: joy is your current situation minus expectation. Now, at first glance, that might sound like I'm saying we should just lower the bar. That's not it at all.There's a world of difference between expectation and anticipation. Expectations are rigid demands we place on life, on God, on other people. They're about control. But anticipation? That's hopeful, flexible, trusting. It's looking forward with open hands instead of clenched fists.Think about the Apostle Paul for a minute. Here's a man sitting in a Roman prison, chained to a guard, uncertain about his future. By all our expectations, he should have been miserable. But listen to what he wrote: "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4).How could he say that? Because Paul had learned the secret. He had released his expectations of how his life should look and replaced them with anticipation of what God was doing. He wasn't demanding God work things out his way. He was trusting that God was working, even when he couldn't see the whole picture.Expectations steal our joy because they're focused on what we think should be. Anticipation gives us joy because it's focused on who God is and what He's capable of doing, even in the mess we're in right now.Here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one: most of our disappointment comes from the gap between what we expected and what actually happened. But when we release those expectations and replace them with anticipation of God's goodness, suddenly there's room for joy.Paul goes on to say, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11). That's not resignation. That's a man who's traded his expectations for anticipation of God's faithfulness.So let me ask you: what expectations are you carrying today that are robbing you of joy? Maybe it's time to open your hands and start anticipating with excitement what God might do instead.Because when you subtract your expectations from your current situation, what you're left with is room for joy. Real, lasting joy that doesn't depend on everything going your way, but on knowing that God is good and He's working.Let's pray: Father, help us release the expectations we're clinging to and replace them with anticipation of Your goodness. Teach us to find joy not in getting our way, but in trusting Your way. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Joy #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Accurate Words #RTTBROS #nightlight

Manners Or Maturity #rttbros #nightlight

Unbreakable (full sermon) #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Seeing the Invisible: When Anxiety Meets God's Presence#RTTBROS #Nightlight"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8, KJV)You know what keeps me up at night? It's not usually what happened yesterday. It's what might happen tomorrow. My mind drifts into the future like a warrior scanning the horizon for threats. And there, in that tomorrow territory, anxiety springs up like mushrooms after a rainstorm.Here's what I've learned: I can't see God with my physical eyes, but I can learn to see Him by His movement in my life. Just like that wind Jesus talked about in John 3. You can't see wind itself, but you sure can see what it does. You see the leaves dancing, feel it on your face, watch it bend the tall grass. The wind is real even though it's invisible.God works the same way. I may not see Him with my eyes, but I can see His fingerprints everywhere. I see Him in that unexpected provision that showed up right when I needed it. I see Him in the peace that makes no sense given my circumstances. I see Him in the way He's carried me through every storm I was sure would drown me.When I take the time to really see God moving in my present moment, something shifts. That anxiety that was growing in tomorrow's territory? It starts to shrink. Because I remember: the same God who's here with me right now will be there with me tomorrow too."Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7, KJV)God knows we need to plan for the future. He's not asking us to be foolish. But He is asking us to stay anchored in today, where He is. Not lost in a tomorrow that hasn't happened yet, growing anxiety like a crop we never planted.So tonight, before you drift off to sleep worrying about tomorrow, take a minute. Look for God's wind blowing in your life right now. See where He's moving. Feel His presence. And let that reality of God here, now, diminish the anxiety about God there, later.Because He's already there waiting for you.Prayer:Father, teach me to see You moving in my life today. Help me feel Your presence like wind on my face. When anxiety tries to pull me into tomorrow's worries, anchor me in today's reality that You are here, You are faithful, and You will be there too. In Jesus' name, Amen.Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Great Is Thy Faithfulness: Morning by Morning, New Mercies #RTTBROS #Nightlight"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." — Lamentations 3:22-23Some of the most beautiful songs come from the darkest places. Take the hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." You'd think it was written during some mountaintop experience, some season of overwhelming blessing. But the scripture it's based on, Lamentations 3, was written by Jeremiah while watching Jerusalem burn.Let me paint you the picture: Jeremiah had spent forty years warning God's people to turn from their sin. Nobody listened. Now he's sitting in the rubble of his destroyed city, everything he'd known and loved reduced to ashes. And in the middle of that absolute devastation, he writes these words about God's faithfulness.Thomas Chisholm, who wrote the hymn in 1923, understood something of life's difficulties. He struggled with poor health most of his life and wasn't writing from a place of prosperity or ease. He was writing from lived experience, from having watched God prove faithful morning after morning, year after year, even when circumstances were hard.Here's what I love about this hymn: it's not about dramatic miracles or huge interventions. Look at the words: "Morning by morning new mercies I see." Not once in a lifetime. Not occasionally when things get really bad. Morning by morning. Every single day. It's the faithfulness of God in the ordinary moments, the daily provision, the steady presence that never wavers.I think sometimes we're looking for God to show up in the earthquake, the fire, the mighty wind, and we miss Him in the still small voice. We're waiting for the Red Sea to part when God's already providing manna for today."All I have needed Thy hand hath provided." That's a testimony to God's faithful provision of exactly what we need, when we need it. Not always what we want. Not always what we ask for. But what we need.I'm reminded of God's promise to the Israelites in the wilderness. He gave them manna every morning, enough for that day. God was teaching them to trust Him day by day, morning by morning. That's hard for us, isn't it? We want next week figured out, next month secured, next year planned. But God says, "Trust Me for today."Jeremiah was right when he wrote those words in Lamentations, and Chisholm was right when he turned them into this hymn, and it's still true today. God's faithfulness hasn't diminished one bit. His mercies are still new every morning. His compassions still don't fail. And great, truly great, is His faithfulness.So whatever you're facing today, remember: you don't need strength for next week's trial. You just need what God has for you this morning. And guess what? It's already there, fresh and new, waiting for you like manna on the ground.Prayer:Father, thank You that Your faithfulness never wavers, never fails. Help us to see Your mercies new every morning, to recognize Your provision in the ordinary moments, and to trust Your faithfulness even when circumstances are hard. Give us eyes to see all You've already given, and hearts that rest in Your unchanging nature. In Jesus' name, Amen.Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

More than Tears #Nightlight #RTTBROS #Repentance #Sorry #forgiveness

Dynamic Tension: Where Faith Meets Surrender#RTTBROS #Nightlight"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)Life in Christ isn't about choosing between two truths. It's about holding both in faithful tension.I've been thinking lately about something I call "dynamic tension." Those places in our faith where two seemingly opposite truths exist together, both real, both necessary, neither negating the other.Let me give you a picture from my own life. When someone I love faces a terminal diagnosis, I can pray with absolute faith that God can heal them. "Is any thing too hard for the LORD?" (Genesis 18:14). I believe with my whole heart that He can speak and cancer vanishes. But at the very same time, I can also surrender to His sovereignty, trusting that "to be absent from the body" is "to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). Neither prayer cancels out the other.This dynamic tension runs all through Scripture.Take the warning passages. The Bible doesn't pull punches: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves" (2 Corinthians 13:5). We're told to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). These verses cause us to take a careful diagnostic glance at our walk with God.But right alongside those warnings, we find the security Scriptures. Promises that anchor our souls when doubt storms roll in. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:27-28).So which is it? Should we be terrified we might lose our salvation, or confident that we're secure in Christ? The answer is yes. Both. At the same time.This isn't contradiction. It's completion. The warning verses keep me from presumption. The security verses keep me from despair.Here's what I've learned: God's big enough to hold both truths without them colliding. They work together like two wings on a bird. Try flying with just one wing and you'll only fly in circles. But when both are working together? That's when you soar.The same dynamic tension shows up in prayer. Jesus taught us to pray "Thy will be done" (Matthew 6:10), but He also said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7). We bring our requests with confidence, and we trust that His answer, whatever it is, is better than anything we could have orchestrated.Maybe you're in a season where you're struggling to hold two truths at once. You believe God can change your situation, but you're also trying to accept it if He doesn't. You want to trust His promises, but you also want to heed His warnings.Friend, that tension you're feeling? That's not a sign you're doing it wrong. That's a sign you're doing it right. Faith isn't about having all the answers tied up neatly. Sometimes faith is about holding two truths in open hands and trusting God to make sense of them both.Prayer:Father, help me to live in the dynamic tension of faith. Boldly asking while humbly surrendering, confidently trusting while carefully examining, fully believing while completely yielding. Teach me that holding two truths at once isn't weakness, it's wisdom. May I stand firm on both feet, secure in Your perfect will. In Jesus' name, Amen.Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe. It helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Bible Birds #RTTBROS #NightlightLessons from Bible BirdsEagles - "They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles" (Isaiah 40:31). Trust God's timing to lift you above life's storms.Sparrows - "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father...Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:29, 31). Remember that if God watches over sparrows, He surely watches over you.Ravens - "Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them" (Luke 12:24). Release your worries about tomorrow because God faithfully provides.Doves - "Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16). Pursue gentleness and purity in all your dealings with others.Hens - "How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37). Run to Jesus when trouble comes, for He longs to shelter you.Roosters - "And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter" (Luke 22:60-61). Return quickly to Jesus when you stumble, for His loving eyes are already seeking you."Rest now, knowing the God who notes every sparrow's fall is watching over your sleep tonight."Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe. It helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie #RTTBROS #NightlightLet Sleeping Dogs LieProverbs 26:17 - "He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears."Geoffrey Chaucer knew something about human nature when he wrote in his medieval poetry, "It is nought good a slepyng hound to wake." He understood that sometimes the wisest thing you can do is leave well enough alone. There was even an earlier French version that said essentially the same thing: don't wake the sleeping dog.Anyone who's ever been around dogs knows exactly what this means. You see an old hound sleeping peacefully in the sun, and common sense tells you to walk quietly around him. Sure, he might be friendly when he's awake, but startle him out of a deep sleep and you might get a very different reaction. Better to let him wake up naturally than to poke him and find out the hard way that he doesn't appreciate being disturbed.Solomon understood this principle too, long before Chaucer wrote about it. He said that getting involved in someone else's fight is like grabbing a dog by the ears. You're asking for trouble, and you're probably going to get bit for your efforts. Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is step back and let peaceful situations stay peaceful.Now, I'm not talking about ignoring real problems or turning your back when someone genuinely needs help. There are times when we absolutely need to get involved, times when love requires us to step into difficult situations. But there's a difference between helping someone who's asking for help and stirring up trouble where there doesn't need to be any.We all know people who seem to specialize in waking sleeping dogs. They bring up old hurts that had been forgiven and forgotten. They ask questions that are designed to start arguments. They poke at sensitive subjects just to see what kind of reaction they'll get. They meddle in marriages and friendships and family relationships that were getting along just fine without their input.Friend, sometimes wisdom means knowing when to speak up and when to keep quiet. Sometimes love means getting involved, and sometimes it means staying out of it. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is walk quietly around that sleeping dog and let him rest in peace.Before you wake up an old controversy, ask yourself: is this really going to help anyone, or am I just satisfying my own curiosity? Before you bring up that past mistake, consider whether it needs to be discussed or whether it's better left buried. Before you get in the middle of that family dispute, think about whether your involvement will bring peace or just make things worse.There are enough real problems in this world that need our attention. We don't need to go around creating new ones by waking sleeping dogs.Prayer: Lord, give me wisdom to know when to speak and when to stay quiet, when to get involved and when to let sleeping dogs lie. Amen.Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe. It helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

All That Glitters Is Not Gold #RTTBROS #Nightlight"But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." — 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)Back in the twelfth century, a French theologian named Alain de Lille wrote something that would echo through the centuries: "Do not hold everything gold that shines like gold." Eventually it became the phrase we know today: "All that glitters is not gold."These medieval thinkers understood something we sometimes forget. Appearances can be mighty deceiving. Fool's gold sparkled just as pretty as real gold, but it was worthless when you tried to spend it.We're so quick to be impressed by surface things. Someone drives up in an expensive car, and we assume they're successful. Someone speaks with confidence, and we figure they must know what they're talking about. Someone looks put-together, and we think they must have their life figured out.But God showed Samuel a different way of seeing. When Samuel looked at Eliab, Jesse's oldest son, he thought, "Surely this is the one. Look how tall and strong and kingly he appears." But God said, "Don't look at his appearance or his height. I've rejected him. Man looks at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart."Seven sons passed before Samuel. Every one looked like king material to human eyes. Then came David, the youngest, the shepherd boy nobody even thought to call in from the fields. And God said, "This is the one."Friend, the world is full of glittering things that aren't gold. The only way to tell real gold from fool's gold is to test it. And the only way to see what God sees is to ask Him to give you His eyes. Look for character, not just charisma. Look for faithfulness, not just flashiness. Look for the heart, because that's what matters to the One who matters most.Prayer:Father, help me see past the glitter to what's really gold. Give me Your eyes to see hearts, not just appearances. In Jesus' name, Amen.Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe. It helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Unbreakable Unity #Nightlight #RTTBROS #Discipleship #Unity #Satan

Root and Fruit #RTTBROS #Nightlight #holybible #Discipleship #Truth

NEST EGG #RTTBROS #NightlightNest EggLuke 12:21 - "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."Medieval farmers knew something smart about chickens. When collecting eggs, they'd always leave one in the nest, what they called the "nest egg." That one egg kept the hen coming back to lay more. Take them all, and your chicken might hide her eggs somewhere you'd never find them.By the fourteenth century, peasants used this phrase to describe their approach to the future: set aside a little now, find security later. It was about thinking beyond today's hunger to tomorrow's needs.That's good wisdom, and there's nothing wrong with planning for the future and being responsible with what God gives us. But Jesus told a story that puts this in perspective. A rich man had such a good harvest that he tore down his barns to build bigger ones. He was planning for many years of easy living, but God called him a fool because that very night, his soul was required of him.See, there's a difference between wise planning and foolish hoarding. The question Jesus asks is: what kind of nest egg are you building?Are you laying up treasure in heaven or just on earth? Are you investing in things that'll matter a hundred years from now, or just things that make you feel secure today?I'm not saying don't plan for retirement. I'm saying make sure your spiritual nest egg is growing too. Every act of kindness, every moment in prayer, every dollar given to God's work, that's your eternal nest egg growing.Because friend, earthly nest eggs can disappear in a market crash, but heavenly treasure is safe forever.Prayer: God, help me be wise with earthly planning but even wiser with eternal investing. Show me how to be rich toward You. Amen.Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe, it helps get the word out. https://linktr.ee/rttbros

THE Church #RTTBROS #Nightlight #NK #Normankissinger

Multiplication #RTTBROS #NightlightEpisode 2000I keep thinking about the boy with the five loaves and two fish.He didn't have much. Just a kid's lunch. But he offered what he had to Jesus, and Jesus multiplied it to feed thousands.That's what RTTBROS has been for Norman and me: • We're not theologians, just brothers who love God's Word • We don't have a big production team, just two guys and their phones • We're not famous preachers, just a custodian and counselor who serveBut we offered what we had, and God multiplied it.2000 episodes later, we're in awe of what God can do with a small offering surrendered to Him.We have over a quarter of a million views on one video platformWe have one video that has over 30,000 views and another over 20,000 viewsWe have over 50,000 likes on one platform.On YouTube which is one of our weaker performing channels in the last 28 days we have nearly 4,000 views on our short form videos. We are on every major podcast, video and audio platform. Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. What do you have that you're holding back? What "small thing" could God multiply if you'd just offer it to Him?"And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would." - John 6:11He's still multiplying small offerings today.#RTTBROS #SmallOfferings #GodMultiplies #Episode2000Reflection #FiveLoaves #FaithfulnessBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe - it helps get the word out. https://linktr.ee/rttbros

STORM PRAYER #RTTBROS #nightlight #God #Prayer #Storm

Memories #RTTBROS #Nightlight(For all of my old Church Camp Kids I sing and do the actions for Peace Like A River in this sermon)

90 Years Young and Still Building "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." - Galatians 6:9 (KJV)Well folks, here we are celebrating a man who's turning 90, and I'm pretty sure he's already planning his next church plant. You know Jesse retirement isn't in his vocabulary, and honestly, I don't think the word "quit" is either.I've been trying to figure out how to sum up Jesse Dunn's life, and I keep coming back to this: he's a builder. Not the kind that works with hammer and nails, though knowing Jesse, he probably could, but the kind that builds people's lives and builds God's kingdom.When I think about Jesse going to California Christian College in his thirties with three little girls in tow, working full time and going to school... well, that tells you everything you need to know about his character. Most of us think we're busy when we have to work and watch Netflix on the same day. Jesse was building a future while raising a family and chasing after God's calling.And can we talk about his church-planting record? This man has started more churches than some denominations have. Boise in the early '70s, Salem in the late '70s, then back to Boise to rebuild what he'd already built once. It's like he looked at the Great Commission and thought, "You know what? I'm going to take this personally."I've been thinking about what I learned watching Jesse over the years, and I realized he gave us a master class in ministry without ever charging tuition. The man went to Bible college in his thirties, but the real education happened in the trenches, building churches, raising daughters, and somehow keeping his sense of humor through it all.But here's what gets me about Jesse, and what I learned from watching him all these years: he doesn't just build churches, he builds people. He took a bunch of rough-around-the-edges teenagers in Salem and somehow convinced us we could be useful to God. I'm still not sure how he pulled that off.Let me tell you what Jesse's classroom looked like: it was his living room where he'd counsel hurting people, his kitchen table where he'd study sermons while Joyce cooked dinner, and that old church bus where he'd pick up anybody and everybody who needed a ride to church. His curriculum was simple: love people, preach the Word, and trust God with the results.The thing about Jesse is he never seemed to think anything was impossible. Church needs rebuilding? "Well, let's get to work." Three little girls need raising while daddy goes to college? "We'll figure it out." New town needs a church? "Pack the car, Joyce."Watching Jesse taught me something that changed my life: "You can't make people love God, but you can sure show them what God's love looks like." And boy, did he show us. This man could find potential in a pile of scrap metal, and often did, if you count some of us teenagers he worked with.Jesse, you taught me that discipleship isn't a program in a book, it's life on life investment. You opened your home, shared your table, and showed us what it looked like to follow Jesus even when it wasn't easy or convenient.And can we talk about his longevity? Ninety years old and still preaching weekly. Most people his age are content to watch TV and complain about their arthritis. Jesse's still standing in pulpits, opening God's Word, and believing that the next sermon might be the one that changes someone's life forever.You know what I think God is going to say when Jesse finally gets to heaven? "Well done, good and faithful servant... but what took you so long? I've been hearing about you from all the people you sent ahead."Jesse, you've been a father figure to more people than you'll ever know, a mentor to countless ministers, and a friend to everyone you've ever met. At 90, you're still showing us what it looks like to love God and love people with everything you've got.Happy 90th birthday, Jesse.