Podcasts about Nightlight

Unity Vs. Uniformity #rttbros #Nightlight

Famous Last Words #RTTBROS #Nightlight"Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." — Proverbs 27:1You know, history is full of ironic moments, but few are as sobering as the story of Major General John Sedgwick. He came from a family with a long military tradition, graduated from West Point, and served with distinction in the Mexican-American War. During the Civil War, he was twice wounded in battle, recovered, and was placed in charge of the VI Corps of the Army of the Potomac.In May of 1864, during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Sedgwick was directing artillery placements when his troops came under fire from Confederate lines. The men began ducking for cover, and Sedgwick scolded them. "What? Men dodging this way for single bullets? What will you do when they open fire along the whole line? I am ashamed of you. They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance."Those were the last words Sedgwick ever spoke. Just seconds later, he was hit in the head and killed by a bullet. He became the highest-ranking Union officer to die during the Civil War.Now, I don't share that story to be morbid, but because it illustrates something we all struggle with. Sedgwick's confidence became presumption, and presumption is a dangerous thing.Solomon writes in Proverbs, "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." That's not pessimism, friend, that's wisdom. There's a world of difference between confidence and presumption. Confidence trusts in God's sovereignty. Presumption assumes we're in control.We make plans, and we should. We set goals, and that's good. But the moment we start talking like we know what tomorrow holds, we've crossed a line. James puts it this way: "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow" (James 4:13-14).I'm too soon old and too late smart about this one, but I've learned that life can change in a heartbeat. The job you thought was secure, the health you took for granted, the relationships you assumed would always be there, they can all shift before sunset.So what do we do? We hold our plans loosely and hold onto God tightly. We make our decisions with wisdom but recognize that ultimately, "a man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps" (Proverbs 16:9).Don't boast about tomorrow. Instead, trust the One who holds tomorrow in His hands.Let's pray: Father, forgive us when we presume to know what only You know. Help us walk humbly, plan wisely, but trust completely in Your sovereignty. Teach us to number our days and live with grateful hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Wisdom #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #Humility #BiblicalWisdom #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Mercy #Nightlight #RTTBROS #Mercy #Forgiveness #Jesus

The Right Weapons #RTTBROS #Nightlight #RTTBROS "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;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." — 2 Corinthians 10:3-5I still remember the Christmas morning when I was about seven years old and unwrapped a shiny new cap gun. Man, I thought I was something special. I'd load up those little red rolls of caps, and every time I pulled that trigger, there'd be a satisfying pop and a tiny puff of smoke. I'd play Cowboys and Indians in the backyard, imagining epic battles and heroic victories.But here's the thing, even at seven years old, I knew that cap gun wasn't real. It made noise and looked impressive, but if I'd tried to take that toy into an actual battle against a real enemy with real weapons, well, that would have been downright foolish.Yet that's exactly what we do in our spiritual lives more often than we'd like to admit. We're in a real war, but we keep showing up with cap guns, trying to fight spiritual battles with our own strength, our own reasoning, our own strategies.George Whitefield understood this truth. He said, "Since then Christ is praying for us, whom should we fear? And since He has promised to make us more than conquerors, of whom should we be afraid? No, though an host of demons are lined up against us, let us not be afraid; though the hottest persecution should rise up against us, yet let us put our trust in God. Even though Satan, and the rest of his apostate spirits, are powerful, when compared with us; yet, if put in competition with the Almighty, they are as weak as the smallest worms."The reason we yield to temptation isn't that the enemy is overpowering. It's that we're not using the mighty weapons God has made available to us. Prayer isn't just a good idea, it's our direct line to the Commander. The Bible isn't just a book, it's our sword. The Holy Spirit isn't just a concept, He's our power source.Here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one: spiritual battles can never be fought and won with our own resources. When we finally put down our toy weapons and pick up what God has given us, the victory is already ours.Let's pray: Father, forgive us for trying to fight Your battles with our own strength. Help us to put down our cap guns and pick up the mighty weapons You've provided. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #SpiritualWarfare #Prayer #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Talking Stones #RTTBROS #NightlightWhen Stones Tell StoriesI drove out past Hollister today and came across the crumbling remains of an old lava rock building standing alone in a winter field. The walls have mostly fallen, the roof is long gone, and frost clings to the dark stones. It's a ruin now, but somebody once built that structure with intention and effort. Somebody had a story there.It made me think of an old question from Scripture. In Joshua 4, after God miraculously stopped the Jordan River so Israel could cross on dry ground, He told them to take twelve stones from the riverbed and set them up as a memorial. Then He said this would happen:"When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over... That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever." (Joshua 4:21-24)What mean these stones? It's a question meant to spark remembrance, to keep alive the testimony of God's faithfulness for the next generation.Those lava rock ruins out in that frozen field don't tell me about Israel crossing Jordan, but they do remind me that every believer has stones of remembrance in their own life. Moments when God showed up. Times when He made a way. Seasons when His faithfulness held you together when everything else was falling apart.Don't let those memories crumble into forgotten ruins. Rehearse them. Tell them to your children. Speak them to yourself when doubt creeps in. Let the stones testify: God was faithful then. He is faithful now. He will be faithful tomorrow."Hitherto hath the LORD helped us."(1 Samuel 7:12)Prayer: Lord, help me remember Your faithfulness. Let my life be a testimony to the next generation that You are mighty to save and faithful to keep. Amen.Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Standing Together #RTTBROS #Nightlight"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up." — Ecclesiastes 4:9-10You know, I watched an old movie the other night called "Support Your Local Sheriff." James Garner plays this stranger who rides into a lawless mining town where chaos rules and everybody's looking out for themselves. He becomes the sheriff and slowly brings order to the place.But here's what caught my attention: when the final confrontation with the bad guys comes, it's not just the sheriff standing alone. The whole town has to come together, stand shoulder to shoulder, or they're going to lose everything.That made me think of something Henry Ford once said: "Coming together is a beginning; staying together is progress; working together is success." And friends, I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one.See, God's work was never meant to be done by lone rangers. When Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, every family worked on the section in front of their own house. Moses had Aaron and Hur holding up his arms. Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, never alone.Here's what I've noticed over the years: the enemy loves isolation. He wants you thinking you're the only one fighting, the only one struggling. But that's a lie. Scripture says, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is" (Hebrews 10:24-25).Every church needs the people of the church, not just the pastor or a few staff workers, but everyone, active and involved for the ministry to have the impact it should. When we come together, stay together, and work together, that's when we see God do amazing things.When one person is weak, another is strong. When one is discouraged, another brings hope. When the battle gets intense, we lock shields and stand together.So let me ask you: are you trying to fight your battles alone? You weren't meant to do this alone. The lawless town needed everybody standing together. And in our spiritual battles, we need each other too.Let's pray: Father, help us remember we're not alone in this fight. Draw us together as Your people. Help us stand shoulder to shoulder and labor together for Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Unity #ChurchFamily #SpiritualWarfare #TogetherInChrist #BiblicalWisdom #StrongerTogether #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Burning Down Your Own House #RTTBROS #Nightlight"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." — Proverbs 20:1You know, sometimes the stories that teach us the most are the ones that make us shake our heads and think, "How in the world did that happen?" Let me share one with you that's almost too wild to believe.Have you heard the story of Waylon Prendergast? This Tampa, Florida, man had been out drinking when he decided to rob a house on his way home. The drunken man forced his way into the house, filled a suitcase he found there with the valuables he discovered, and made his way to the living room. In his stupor he decided it would be a good idea to set a fire to cover his tracks, so he ignited a blaze before making his way out the back door. Thinking he was home free, he continued on to his house, only to find three fire trucks parked outside fighting the blaze he had set to cover his theft from his own home.I wish I could say that was just a made-up story to prove a point, but it really happened. And here's what strikes me about it: Waylon's story is a perfect picture of what sin does in our lives, especially when we're under the influence of something that clouds our judgment.The Bible doesn't pull any punches about alcohol. It says wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging. Those aren't just poetic words, they're a warning. When we're deceived by drink, we can't trust our own decision-making. We end up doing things that hurt the very life we're trying to live.But here's the thing, and I've learned this too soon old and too late smart, it's not just alcohol that makes us burn down our own houses. It's any sin we think we can control, any habit we think we can manage, any compromise we think won't really hurt us. We tell ourselves we're in control, that we're just having a little fun, that we deserve this, that nobody will know. And before we realize it, we've set fire to our own peace, our own family, our own walk with God.According to a study published in The Washington Post a few years ago, almost one-third of adults in America admit they either have now or have had in the past a problem with drinking. None of these people started out intending to become alcoholics or dependent on their next drink to make it through the day. But that is where the path they set out on leads.The good news is this: God's grace is stronger than any chain that binds us. But we have to be honest about what's holding us. We have to stop pretending we're robbing someone else's house when we're actually destroying our own. The first step to freedom is recognizing the deception for what it is.So let me ask you today: what are you playing with that's actually playing with you? What habit are you protecting that's slowly destroying what you love? God's Word gives us wisdom not to rob us of joy, but to keep us from burning down our own lives.Let's pray: Father, give us the courage to see the truth about the things we've been deceived by. Help us release whatever is clouding our judgment and destroying what we love. Thank You that Your grace is bigger than our mistakes, and Your truth sets us free. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Wisdom #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #Freedom #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe, it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Love That Wouldn't Let Go #RTTBROS #Nightlight"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." — John 15:13Yesterday in church, my pastor, James Hardy, prayed something that stopped me in my tracks. He said, "Thank you for loving us so much that you would rather die than live without us." I had to write that down because it captured something about the heart of God that we too often miss.We talk about Christ's sacrifice, and we should. We sing about the old rugged cross, and rightly so. But sometimes I wonder if we really grasp what was going on in the heart of God when Jesus went to Calvary. This wasn't just a transaction, some cosmic deal to satisfy divine justice. This was love, desperate love, the kind of love that would rather suffer unimaginable agony than spend eternity without you and me.Think about that for a minute. God looked at humanity, looked at all our mess and rebellion and brokenness, and instead of walking away, He said, "I'd rather die than lose them." That's not the picture of an angry God reluctantly appeasing His own wrath. That's the picture of a Father who loves His children so much that He gave everything to bring them home.You know, when you really love someone, you can't imagine life without them. Their absence would leave a hole nothing else could fill. That's what Pastor Hardy's prayer reminded me of. God loves us like that. He looked at the cost of redemption, the humiliation, the suffering, the separation from the Father that Jesus would endure on that cross, and He said, "It's worth it. They're worth it."The Bible tells us in Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." While we were still sinners. Not after we cleaned up our act. Not when we finally got it together. He died for us when we were at our worst because He couldn't bear the thought of eternity without us.I'm too soon old and too late smart about a lot of things, but this truth keeps getting deeper the longer I walk with Jesus. His love isn't just powerful, it's personal. It's not just sacrificial, it's passionate. He would rather die than live without you.So when you're feeling unworthy today, when you're wondering if God really cares about your struggles, remember this: He already proved how much you matter to Him. The cross wasn't Plan B. It was love's first choice.Let's pray: Father, thank You for loving us so much that You would rather die than live without us. Help us grasp the depth of that love and live in the light of it today. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #GodsLove #CrossOfChrist #DailyDevotion #ChristianLiving #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

not weak but meek #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Choosing Sides #RTTBROS #Nightlight"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." James 1:8You know, I heard an old story the other day that got me thinking. During the Civil War, there was this fellow who just couldn't decide which side to fight for. So he came up with what he thought was a brilliant solution, he put on a blue Union army jacket and gray Confederate army pants. Figured that way, he'd be accepted by both sides.Well, you can probably guess how that worked out. Instead of being welcomed by everyone, he found himself getting shot at by both armies. Neither side could trust a man who wouldn't commit.Now, that story might sound a bit far fetched, but it sure does paint a picture of how many of us try to live our spiritual lives. We want to follow Jesus, but we also want to keep one foot in the world. We show up on Sunday morning wearing our Christian jacket, but come Monday, we've got our worldly pants on, trying to fit in with the culture around us.The thing is, God's not interested in our half-hearted attempts at fence-sitting. Jesus made it pretty clear: "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24).I remember as a teen, when I was trying to have it both ways myself. I wanted the blessings of following God, but I also wanted to hold onto some habits and attitudes that I knew weren't pleasing to Him. Talk about being unstable in all my ways! I was that Civil War soldier, getting shot at from both directions, and wondering why life was so hard.The prophet Elijah asked a question that still echoes today: "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him" (1 Kings 18:21). That word "halt" means to limp along, hobbling between two choices. Ever tried to walk with one foot on the sidewalk and one in the gutter? That's what spiritual fence-sitting feels like.Here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one: when we try to serve both God and the world, we end up serving neither well. The peace, the joy, the purpose we're looking for, it only comes when we go all in with Jesus.So today, which uniform are you wearing? Are you trying to mix and match, hoping nobody notices? Friend, it's time to choose a side. And let me tell you, God's side is the only one worth being on.Let's pray: Father, forgive us for our double mindedness. Help us to choose You completely, not just on Sundays but every day. Give us the courage to wear Your uniform proudly, no matter who's watching. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Commitment #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #AllIn #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out. https://linktr.ee/rttbros

The Rubber Duck and the Real Counselor"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety." — Proverbs 11:14There's this interesting practice in the computer programming world that caught my attention. Programmers keep rubber ducks on their desks, and not just for decoration. When they get stuck on a coding problem, they explain their code to that little yellow duck, line by line. They call it "rubber duck debugging."Here's the amazing thing: just by talking through the problem out loud, even to an inanimate object, programmers often spot their own mistakes. The duck doesn't say a word, doesn't offer advice, just sits there with that painted smile. But somehow, the act of explaining helps clear the fog.Now, that got me thinking. If talking to a rubber duck can help solve computer problems, how much more powerful is it when we bring our life problems to the living God?You see, we all get stuck sometimes. Life throws us these complicated situations where we can't see our way through. Maybe it's a relationship that's gone sideways, a decision about a job, or just feeling lost in the daily grind. And here's where a lot of us make our mistake, we either keep it all bottled up inside, or worse, we find our own version of a rubber duck, something that listens but can't really help.I knew a man who'd spend hours at the local bar, talking through his problems with whoever would listen. The bartender nodded, the beer bottles didn't judge, but come morning, his problems were still there, plus a headache. That's rubber duck debugging for life, talking to something that can't talk back with wisdom.But God offers us something so much better. David knew this secret. He wrote, "I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons" (Psalm 16:7). See, David didn't just talk at God like a rubber duck. He received counsel back. Real wisdom, real guidance, real comfort.And it doesn't stop there. God's given us His Word, which "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). That's not a one-way conversation. When we read Scripture while praying about our problems, the Holy Spirit illuminates truth we need to hear.Then there's the body of Christ, our fellow believers. James tells us, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed" (James 5:16). These aren't rubber ducks. These are brothers and sisters who can pray with us, share wisdom from their own walks, and sometimes tell us hard truths we need to hear.I learned this the hard way, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one. For years, I tried to sort out my problems on my own, maybe throwing up a quick prayer here and there, but mostly just spinning my wheels. It wasn't until I learned to be transparent before God, to dig into His Word for specific guidance, and to humble myself enough to seek godly counsel that I started finding real solutions.The programmer's rubber duck works because it forces him to slow down and articulate his problem. But we have access to the Creator of the universe, the Living Word, and a family of faith. Why settle for a one-way conversation when we can have genuine dialogue with divine wisdom?Let's pray: Father, help us to bring our problems to You with transparency and faith. Thank You for Your Word that guides us and Your people who support us. Teach us to seek Your counsel above all else. In Jesus' name, Amen.#RTTBROS #Nightlight #Prayer #ChristianCommunity #BiblicalWisdom #Faith #SpiritualGrowth #DailyDevotionBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out. https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Hunger For God #RTTBROS #Nightlight #God #Bible #spiritualhunger

The Egress #RTTBROS #nightlightThe Way to the Egress"And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words." — Colossians 2:4You know, P.T. Barnum was quite the character. Back in 1842, he opened his American Museum in New York City, and folks just couldn't get enough of it. The place was so packed that new customers couldn't get in because nobody wanted to leave. So old Barnum, clever as he was, put up a big fancy sign that said, "This way to the Egress!" People rushed through that door, thinking they were about to see some exotic creature, maybe something like a cross between an eagle and an egret. But you know what? "Egress" is just a fancy word for "exit," and those poor folks found themselves standing in the back alley, looking foolish.Now, before we get too judgmental about those museum goers, let me tell you, we all get fooled by fancy words sometimes. The Apostle Paul knew this was coming. That's why he warned the church at Colossae about being beguiled, or deceived, by enticing words.So many people get taken in by one of these prosperity preachers. They'd send their last hundred dollars to this television ministry because the man promises them a "hundredfold return." The preacher uses all the right Bible verses, quotes them out of context, wraps them up in smooth talk, and these dear people think they'd found the way to financial breakthrough. Instead, like those museum visitors, they find themselves out in the cold.The truth is, false teaching often comes dressed up in religious language. It sounds spiritual, it feels exciting, and it promises what our hearts desperately want to hear. But Paul says we need to be on guard against these enticing words that lead us away from the simple truth of the Gospel.So how do we protect ourselves? Well, the same way you'd avoid Barnum's trick. You learn what "egress" means. You get familiar with the real thing so you can spot the counterfeit. That means staying grounded in God's Word, not just the parts that make us feel good, but the whole counsel of God.When someone comes along with enticing words, promising easy answers to life's hard questions, remember old P.T. Barnum and his egress sign. Ask yourself: is this leading me closer to Jesus, or is it just leading me out the back door with an empty pocket and a red face?The Gospel doesn't need to be dressed up in fancy words. Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and offers us eternal life through faith in Him. That's not complicated, but it's powerful. And it's free, no twenty-five cents required.Let's pray: Father, give us discernment to recognize truth from error. Help us not to be swayed by smooth talk or fancy presentations, but to stay anchored in Your Word. Keep us from following signs that lead nowhere, and guide us always toward Jesus. In His name, Amen.#RTTBROS #Nightlight #Faith #Discernment #ChristianLiving #BiblicalTruth #DailyDevotion #SpiritualGrowthBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out. https://linktr.ee/rttbros

GOD'S REP #RTTBROS #NightlightGOD'S REP #RTTBROS #Nightlight"Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy." - Psalm 99:3 (KJV)In the annals of Scripture, we find a common thread woven through the stories of David and Goliath, Daniel's refusal of the king's portion, and our Lord Jesus Christ cleansing the temple. This thread is the unwavering commitment to uphold God's holiness and reputation above all else.Consider David, a young shepherd who faced the mighty Goliath. His motivation was not personal glory, but rather a zeal for the Lord's name. As we read in 1 Samuel 17:45, David declared, "I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied."Similarly, Daniel, when presented with the king's rich fare, "purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank" (Daniel 1:8). His primary concern was not his own comfort or advancement, but maintaining his purity before God.Lastly, we see our Saviour, Jesus Christ, cleansing the temple with righteous indignation. As recorded in Mark 11:17, He proclaimed, "Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves." His actions were not driven by personal gain, but by a fervent desire to preserve the sanctity of His Father's house.These examples teach us a profound lesson in discipleship. As followers of Christ, our primary mission is to glorify God and uphold His reputation in all circumstances. This may often require us to set aside our own desires, comforts, and even our personal reputations for the sake of God's name.In our daily walk, let us continually ask ourselves: Does this action, word, or decision bring glory to God? Are we more concerned with our own agenda or with advancing God's kingdom? By aligning our hearts with this divine priority, we can become more effective disciples, shining the light of Christ in a world that desperately needs it.May we, like David, Daniel, and our Lord Jesus, be found faithful in upholding God's holy name, for as the Psalmist declares, "Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy" (Psalm 99:3). Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Jillian Roberts Memorial #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Sheepdogs and Spiritual Warfare #RTTBROS #Nightlight"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." — Ephesians 6:11-12You know, I have a friend who was career military, a Navy SEAL to boot. He knows the guys like Dick Marcinko and Admiral McRaven and other heroes from that branch of special forces. He's one of the toughest men I've ever met in my life. The other night at church, I had to take my autistic son out of the service because he was becoming a little bit disruptive. I sat on a couch in the foyer and watched my friend do his diligence on the security team. He scanned the perimeter, checked the parking lot, actively watching everything that was going on to make certain that our people were secure and safe. After watching him for a while, I went up and put my hand on his shoulder and told him this: there are sheep, and there are wolves, and there are sheepdogs. Then I thanked him for being a sheepdog that protects us sheep from the wolves that would come to try to harm us.As I've been thinking about that statement and his watch care over us, it reminded me that those of us who have been involved in spiritual warfare for a long time have a duty to provide protection for those who don't even understand that they're in a warfare. They represent the sheep, as it were.It's our job as more mature believers to look out for pitfalls that may be in their way and spiritual attacks that are coming from the enemy of their souls. We need to have the sword of the Spirit engaged and ready to speak truth into their situations so that the lying deceiver won't gain any ground or foothold in their life.Paul tells us in Ephesians that we're not fighting against people, we're fighting against spiritual forces of darkness. The new believer, the struggling saint, they might not even realize the battle that's raging around them. But we who have been in the trenches, we know. We've seen how the enemy works.Just like my friend scanning that parking lot, looking for threats before they become problems, we need to be vigilant. We need to be engaged in warfare prayer, asking God to provide protection and provision and, most of all, His presence for them as they make their way through this sin-cursed world.You see, being a spiritual sheepdog isn't about being better than anyone else. It's about using the experience and wisdom God has given us through our own battles to help protect those who are vulnerable. It's about standing guard in prayer, speaking truth in love, and being willing to step into the gap when the enemy attacks.So let me ask you: are you a sheepdog? Are you watching over the flock with the same diligence my friend shows on that security team? Because the sheep need us. They need believers who will stand firm, who will pray without ceasing, who will speak truth when lies are whispered.History is just His story, and in God's story, He's called us to watch over one another. Don't grow weary in that calling.Let's pray: Father, make us faithful sheepdogs for Your flock. Give us eyes to see the spiritual battles around us and courage to stand in the gap for those who are vulnerable. Help us wield the sword of Your Spirit with wisdom and love. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #SpiritualWarfare #Prayer #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #Protection #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe, it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Anxiety To Serenity #RTTBROS #Nightlight"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him." — Psalm 62:5You know, I've been noticing something about our culture lately. We're all moving at breakneck speed, paddling furiously underneath while trying to look calm on top. Our phones never stop buzzing, our schedules never stop filling up, and somewhere along the way, we've convinced ourselves that being busy means being important.But here's the thing, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one: we were never designed to run on empty.There's an old story about a group of Western explorers trekking through Africa with local guides. After several days of hard travel, the guides suddenly sat down and refused to move. When the frustrated explorers demanded to know why, the guides explained, "We have traveled too fast. Now we must wait for our souls to catch up with our bodies."That really hit me when I first heard it. How often are we so busy doing that we forget about being? We're so caught up in the anxiety of what needs to happen next that we miss what God wants to do right now.The psalmist says, "My soul, wait thou only upon God." Not wait on God while scrolling through social media. Not wait on God while mentally running through tomorrow's to-do list. Wait only upon God. That word "only" is crucial, friends. It means undivided attention. It means solitude, silence, stillness.Now, I know what you're thinking because I've thought it too: "I don't have time for that." But here's the beautiful paradox of the kingdom, when we carve out time to be still before God, we somehow find we have more margin for everything else. When we stop trying to manufacture our own peace through frantic activity and instead receive His peace through quiet waiting, anxiety loses its grip.Jesus modeled this for us. Mark 1:35 tells us, "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." If the Son of God needed solitude with the Father, how much more do we?The second part of that verse in Psalm 62 tells us why this matters: "for my expectation is from him." See, anxiety comes when our expectations are tied to circumstances, other people, or our own abilities. But when our expectation, our hope, our trust is anchored in God alone, we find a peace that doesn't make sense to the world around us.Solitude isn't about escaping responsibility. It's about returning to the source of our strength so we can handle those responsibilities with grace instead of grinding our teeth through them. It's trading our anxiety for His serenity, our striving for His rest.History is just His story, and sometimes we need to get quiet enough to hear Him tell it. We need to turn off the noise, step away from the chaos, and let our souls catch up with our bodies. Because it's in those quiet waters that God does His deepest work.Let's pray: Father, teach us the spiritual discipline of solitude. Help us carve out time to wait only upon You, not with our phones in hand or our minds running ahead, but with undivided hearts. Replace our anxiety with Your serenity as we learn to anchor our expectations in You alone. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Solitude #Peace #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

The Mirror Test #RTTBROS #Nightlight"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." — Revelation 3:17-18You know, I came across a story that made me laugh, but then it made me think. A man was standing in a store, loudly complaining to the manager about his terrible shopping experience. He went on and on about how the staff had failed to help him, how incompetent everyone was. Finally, after running out of steam, he declared that the store must have a policy of only hiring complete idiots. The manager looked at him calmly and asked, "Sir, would you like an application?"Sometimes the very thing we're criticizing in others is exactly what we're demonstrating ourselves. We can be so blind to our own faults while being crystal clear about everyone else's failures.That's what's happening in the church at Laodicea. They looked around at their comfortable lives, their nice buildings, their respectable reputation, and they thought they had it all figured out. "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing," they said. But Jesus saw something completely different. He saw people who were spiritually bankrupt, calling themselves wealthy. They were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, but they couldn't see it.Here's what gets me about this passage: Jesus isn't being harsh for the sake of being harsh. He's holding up a mirror because He loves them too much to let them stay in their delusion. Sometimes the kindest thing someone can do is tell us the truth we don't want to hear.The church thought they were self-sufficient. They didn't need anything or anyone, including Jesus apparently. But self-sufficiency is just a nice way of saying pride. And pride is always, always blind to itself.Jesus offers them the cure: gold tried in the fire, white raiment, and eyesalve. In other words, real spiritual wealth that comes through trials, real righteousness that only He can provide, and clear spiritual vision to see themselves as they truly are. I've been that man complaining in the store more times than I care to admit, too soon old and too late smart. I've pointed out everyone else's problems while being completely blind to my own. I've felt spiritually comfortable when I should have been on my knees. I've thought I had it all together when really I was falling apart.The question for us today is this: are we willing to let Jesus show us the truth about ourselves? Are we willing to admit that maybe, just maybe, we're not as spiritually rich as we think we are? Because until we see our need, we'll never reach for His provision.Let's pray: Father, give us eyes to see ourselves as You see us. Strip away our pride and our self-sufficiency. Help us come to You with empty hands and open hearts, recognizing that without You, we truly have nothing. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #SpiritualBlindness #Humility #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #SelfAwareness #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe, it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

The Measure #God #Nightlight #RTTBROS #Justice #Mercy

Rise and Shine Matt 5:13-16 #RTTBROS #Nightlight

# Higher Ground #RTTBROS #Nightlight"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." — Psalm 121:1-2You know, I took this picture while driving through Idaho, and it stopped me in my tracks. Those clouds rolling over the mountains, that stormy sky pushing up against something solid and unmovable. It got me thinking about where we are right now, standing at the edge of a new year.There's something about mountains that draws us. Maybe it's because they remind us there are things bigger than ourselves. Those peaks don't shift with the weather. The storms come and go, the clouds roll in and roll out, but the mountains? They just stand there, solid and sure.As we step into this new year, a lot of us are looking at some storm clouds on our horizon. Maybe it's worry about what's coming, regrets about what's behind us, or just that general uncertainty that makes you feel like you're standing on shaky ground. And here's what I've learned, too soon old and too late smart as usual, we have a choice about where we fix our eyes.The Psalmist says, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills." Not down at the problems. Not sideways at what everyone else is doing. Up. To something higher, something solid, something that doesn't change when the storms roll in.But here's the thing, the Psalmist doesn't say his help comes from the hills. He says, "My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." Even those mountains, as impressive as they are, they're not the source. They're just a reminder of the One who spoke them into existence.God isn't just bigger than your problems. He made the whole playing field. The same God who raised up those mountains? He sees you right where you are today.As we head into this new year, maybe what we need isn't a detailed map of every mile ahead. Maybe what we need is to lift our eyes up, to remember who made the mountains, who commands the storms, who holds tomorrow in hands that were pierced for us.The storms will come. That's just life in this old sin-cursed world. But we serve a God who is higher than any mountain, steadier than any ground beneath our feet, and closer than the very breath in our lungs.So let me ask you, where are your eyes fixed as you look ahead? Are you staring at the clouds, or are you lifting your gaze to the One who made the hills?Let's pray: Father, as we step into this new year, help us remember that You are our solid ground. When the storms come, teach us to lift our eyes to You. Thank You for being the same yesterday, today, and forever. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #NewYear #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

New Year's Prayer 2026 #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Hard Tack #RTTBROS #NIGHTLIGHT

Arnold #Jesus #sermononthemount #Meekness #NIGHTLIGHT #RTTBROS

Living right side up #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Have you found it challenging to balance the demands of marriage and family while still having devotional time with the Lord? On today's edition of Family Talk, Dr. James and Shirley Dobson discuss their best-selling book, Night Light for Parents, an easy devotional for moms and dads to read every night. They also share personal stories of their own family life, and how a commitment to God and to each other can bolster your marriage. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/707/29?v=20251111

A Child Is Born #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Humble before God #RTTBROS #Nightlight

God Of The Odd #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Trusting God for Today's Needs #RTTBROS #Nightlight"Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." — Matthew 6:32You know, A.B. Simpson once said something that's stuck with me for years. He said Christ makes no less of our trust for temporal things than He does for spiritual things. Now, at first, that might sound a little odd. We tend to think spiritual trust is the higher, nobler thing. But Simpson understood something profound: it's actually harder to trust God for material needs than spiritual ones.Here's why. In spiritual matters, we can fool ourselves. We can say we're trusting God for things that are way off in the distance, things we can't see or measure. But you can't fake trust when it comes to rent and food and the needs of your body. They either come or they don't. Your faith gets tested in the everyday stuff, in the tangible, right now needs.When the sun is shining and everything's going well, it's easy to say we trust God. But let something come along that irritates and rasps and frets us, let the bills pile up or the pantry get low, and we find out real quick whether our trust is genuine or just religious talk.I think about the children of Israel in the wilderness. God fed them with manna every single day. Not once a month, not a year's supply dropped off at their tent. Every day. That wasn't cruel, that was kind. God was teaching them to trust Him one day at a time. Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 6:34, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself."The things of everyday life, the rent check, the grocery bill, the car repair, these are tests of our real faith in God. And honestly, I'm too soon old and too late smart on this, but I've learned that God often puts us where we have to trust Him for tangible matters precisely because that's where our faith becomes real instead of theoretical.Simpson asked a piercing question: Are you trusting God for everything? Not just the big spiritual things, the eternal salvation, but the everyday needs? Because your heavenly Father knows what you need. He's not surprised by your bills. He's not caught off guard by your circumstances.So here's the challenge: if you're not trusting God wholly in these everyday matters, you'll break down when the real tests come. But when you learn to trust Him for today's bread, for this week's needs, for the practical answers that must come, your faith becomes the kind that weathers any storm.Let's pray: Father, forgive us for thinking some needs are too small for Your attention or too big for Your provision. Teach us to trust You not just for heaven someday, but for our daily bread today. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Trust #Provision #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out. https://linktr.ee/rttbros

When Life Hurts: Learning from Job's Wife #RTTBROS #Nightlight"Should we accept from God only good and not adversity? In all this, Job did not sin in what he said." — Job 2:10You know, I've always found it interesting that we remember Job for his patience, but we rarely talk about his wife. She's gotten a bad rap over the years, but I think I understand her pain. See, she didn't just lose her stuff, she lost her children. Every single one of them. Her world had collapsed, and in that moment of raw grief, she told her husband to curse God and die.Now, Job's response is remarkable. He basically says, "Are we going to take the good from God's hand but refuse the difficult?" That's not resignation, that's perspective. Job understood something his wife had momentarily forgotten in her pain: God doesn't owe us an explanation for every hard thing that happens.Here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this: when bad things happen to other people, we're pretty good at keeping perspective. Your friend's house gets broken into, and you comfort them by saying it's just stuff. A child breaks their favorite toy, and you remind them these things happen. Someone spills coffee on your friend, and you're quick to say it was just an accident.But when it happens to us? Suddenly everything changes. That lost item becomes a tragedy. That broken toy feels like a personal attack. That spilled drink ruins our whole day. We take it personally because it is personal, it happened to us. And then we make ourselves miserable.Job knew something we often forget: accepting only the good from God while rejecting the difficult isn't faith, it's entitlement. Real faith trusts God in the blessing and in the trial. It doesn't mean we won't hurt or grieve or struggle. Job's wife was hurting deeply, and God understands our pain. But somewhere in that pain, we have to choose whether we're going to trust God's character even when we can't trace His hand.I think about Jesus, who suffered more than any of us ever will, and He did it voluntarily for our sake. When we're facing our own trials, remembering His suffering for us helps put things in perspective. He's not a distant God who doesn't understand pain. He entered into it fully.And here's the truth: God has purposes in our suffering that we may never fully understand this side of heaven. Sometimes suffering produces patience, sometimes it produces compassion, sometimes it produces a deeper dependence on God. But always, always, God is working something eternal through our temporary pain.So when life hurts, and it will, we have a choice. We can respond like Job's wife in her moment of grief, demanding God explain Himself. Or we can respond like Job, trusting that the same God who gives good gifts is still good when life gets hard.Let's pray: Father, when life hurts and we don't understand, help us trust Your character even when we can't trace Your hand. Give us Job's perspective to accept both blessing and trial from Your sovereign hand. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Suffering #Trust #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out. https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Brite Hope #RTTBROS #Nightlight

A Matter of Heart #RTTBROS #Nightlight"For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ." — Colossians 2:5You know, we live in a world where we expect instant everything. FaceTime someone across the planet, watch news unfold in real time, send a text and get annoyed if there's no response in thirty seconds. We've gotten spoiled.But when Paul was writing his letters to the churches, it could take weeks, even months, for those words to reach their destination. Here's a story that drives this home: Andrew Jackson fought the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815, a victory that made him a national hero. The thing is, that battle was fought two full weeks after the peace treaty ending the War of 1812 had already been signed in Europe. The news just hadn't reached him yet.But here's what gets me about Paul. Despite all those delays, despite never even visiting the church at Colosse, his heart was completely invested in those people. He's with them in spirit, rejoicing over their faith, praying for folks he's never met face to face.That tells me something important. The depth of our love for people isn't measured by how close we are physically. It's a matter of the heart.Paul says in Philippians, "For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state" (Philippians 2:20). He's talking about Timothy, a young man who genuinely cared about people from the heart.What makes someone effective for God isn't their talent or their gifts. It's their heart. Do they genuinely care about people? I think about folks in my own life who've made the biggest difference. It wasn't the most talented or the most gifted. It was the ones who cared, who checked in, who prayed when I didn't even know I needed prayer.That's what God is looking for. Not the most talented people, but people with hearts that care, hearts willing to be invested in others even when it costs something.So who has God put on your heart lately? Don't ignore that. That might be the Holy Spirit prompting you to pray, to reach out, to care. We can be physically distant but spiritually close. And that kind of caring, that's what changes the world.Let's pray: Father, give us hearts that genuinely care about people. Help us invest in lives because we want to. Make us people who naturally care for others. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Love #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #Caring #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Finding Joy Right Now #RTTBROS #Nightlight"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24You know, I've noticed something about human nature, and I'm as guilty of this as anyone. We spend Monday wishing it was Friday. We spend winter dreaming of summer, and come July, we're already longing for fall. We're always living in the next season, as if joy is just around the corner, waiting for us to arrive.Here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this: joy isn't a destination we reach when circumstances align perfectly. Joy is a choice we make right now, in the middle of whatever we're facing.There's a simple formula that really changed how I think about this. Joy equals your current circumstances minus your expectations. When we load up our today with expectations about how things should be, we rob ourselves of the joy that's available in how things actually are.The Apostle Paul understood this. Sitting in a Roman prison, chained to a guard, he wrote these words: "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). How could a man in chains write about constant rejoicing? Because Paul had discovered that joy isn't found in perfect circumstances. It's found in the presence of a perfect God, right here, right now.Most of us are standing in the middle of blessings we prayed for last year, but we can't see them because we're too busy looking ahead to next year's wishes. We're so focused on where we're going that we miss where we are.Jesus said, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself" (Matthew 6:34). Today has enough in it to concern ourselves with, and hidden in that truth is this: today also has enough joy in it if we'll stop demanding it look different than it does.So here's my challenge to you. What if we stopped waiting for Friday and found something to be grateful for on Tuesday? What if we stopped postponing joy until retirement, or until the kids are grown, or until we get that promotion? What if we looked at our current circumstances, released our grip on how we think things should be, and asked God to show us the joy that's available right now?God made this day. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but this one right here. Don't wait for someday to be joyful. Someday has a way of never quite arriving.Let's pray: Father, forgive us for postponing joy. Help us release our expectations and open our eyes to the blessings You've placed in this very moment. Teach us to rejoice in the day You've made, just as it is. 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

How To Walk #spiritualwarfare #perserverance #RTTBROS #Nightlight #mission

Power In Weakness #humility #Nightlight #RTTBROS #spiritualwarfare #perserverance

Finding vs. Building: The Truth About Becoming #RTTBROS #Nightlight"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 5:17You know, I keep hearing this phrase everywhere I turn: "You need to find yourself." It's become the mantra of our age, plastered across Instagram posts, repeated in self-help books, preached from stages. The message is clear, just look inward long enough, dig deep enough, and somewhere buried inside you'll discover your "true self" waiting to be unearthed.But here's the problem with that whole idea. It turns life into an endless archaeological dig, always excavating, always searching, never building anything. People spend years, even decades, looking inward, asking "Who am I?" while life passes them by. And the irony? The more you stare at yourself in the mirror of introspection, the blurrier the image becomes.The Bible has a completely different approach. It doesn't tell us to find ourselves, it tells us we're lost and need to be found by God. It doesn't say there's some perfect version of you buried inside waiting to emerge. Instead, it says something far more radical: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."Did you catch that? A new creature. Not a discovered creature, a new one. God isn't interested in helping you excavate some hidden self. He's in the construction business, not the archaeology business.Think about it this way. When Nehemiah saw the broken walls of Jerusalem, he didn't sit around trying to "find" the walls. They were rubble. Instead, he said, "Come, and let us build" (Nehemiah 2:17). That's the pattern God uses. He takes what's broken, what's incomplete, what's lost, and He builds something new.Here's the truth our culture doesn't want you to know: looking inward is exhausting because you were never meant to be your own reference point. But when you stop the endless navel-gazing and start moving forward with God, everything changes. You and God together begin constructing who you're meant to be. He's the master builder, you're the willing worker. He provides the blueprint in His Word, the power through His Spirit, and the purpose that makes it all worthwhile.Paul understood this. He wrote, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). Notice he didn't say "I dig inward." He said "I press forward." That's movement, that's construction, that's building something.Stop wasting your life trying to find yourself. You're not lost in some internal maze. You're right here, right now, and God is saying, "Let's build something together. Let's construct the person I created you to become."The difference between finding and building? Finding looks backward and inward. Building looks forward and upward. Finding asks, "Who was I meant to be?" Building says, "Who will I become with God?"So today, stop digging. Start building. Partner with God in the construction of the person He's calling you to be. Because history is just His story, and you get to be part of what He's building in this world.Let's pray: Father, forgive us for wasting time trying to find ourselves when You've been waiting to build us into something new. Help us stop looking inward and start moving forward with You. Give us the courage to partner with You in becoming who You created us to be. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Identity #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #NewCreation #BiblicalTruth #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Today we're joined by Anthony Crislip of Akron, Ohio's THE NIGHTLIGHT cinema for the vanity projects of the two most controversial broadcasters of the 90's. Both Howard Stern and Jerry Springer helped reinvent their respective mediums, whether for better or worse, but they only ventured onto the big screen once (and within one year of each other). We see if these *very* 90's star vehicles are as unwatchable—or unlistenable--as the shows their stars hosted: Betty Thomas' 1997 Howard Stern biopic PRIVATE PARTS, and Neil Abramson's 1998 Jerry Springer comedy RINGMASTER.You can find out more about The Nightlight at https://nightlightcinema.comUnwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. Unwatchables Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unwatchablespod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/UnwatchablesPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.unwatchablespod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com

Pivoting in Faith #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 8:28You know, I've been thinking lately about something we don't talk about enough in the Christian life, and that's the art of pivoting. Not giving up, mind you, but pivoting. There's a world of difference between the two.I was watching a basketball game the other day, and I noticed something. When a player gets trapped or blocked, they don't just stand there or throw the ball away. They pivot. They keep one foot planted and swing around looking for a new opening, a better angle, a different opportunity. That one foot stays anchored while the rest of them adjusts to find the way forward.That's exactly what faith looks like when life throws us a curveball.Think about Joseph for a minute. This young man had dreams, literally God-given dreams about his future. But what happened? His brothers threw him in a pit. Did he give up? No, he pivoted. He ended up as a slave in Potiphar's house and made the best of it. Then he got falsely accused and thrown in prison. Did he quit? No, he pivoted again. Every seeming dead end became a stepping stone to something greater. That pit led to a palace, but not in a straight line.Or consider Paul. He had his heart set on going to Rome. But God gave him a vision of a man from Macedonia saying, "Come over and help us" (Acts 16:9). Paul didn't dig in his heels. He pivoted, went to Macedonia instead, and that pivot changed the course of history.Here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this: the key to pivoting isn't losing your foundation, it's keeping one foot planted in faith while you adjust everything else. When you pivot, you stay anchored in God's character, His promises, His Word. You're not abandoning the journey, you're just taking a different route.Giving up says, "God isn't working." But pivoting says, "God is working differently than I expected, and I trust Him enough to adjust."Maybe you're in a season right now where everything you planned has fallen apart. Don't give up. Pivot. Keep one foot firmly planted in your faith in God's goodness, and look around for where He might be opening a different door.Because here's the truth, history is just His story, and sometimes the detours are where the best chapters get written.Let's pray: Father, when life doesn't go according to our plans, help us not to give up but to pivot in faith. Teach us to stay anchored in You while we adjust to Your better way. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Trust #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #Perseverance #GodsPlans #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

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

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

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

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

I'm taking a little break in December. Call it some curiosity R&R — curiosity respite & re-airs. I'll get a production break, and my radio audiences will continue to enjoy uninterrupted listening, thanks to Pacifica Radio Network, with four great C2BC Classic re-airs. We'll be back with a great lineup starting January 1st. Of course, I don't want you to miss out, so here's a peek at what my radio audiences will be getting in case you'd like to listen along. Maybe you've heard these episodes before, maybe not. They're a wonderful sample of curiosity in action. I hope you enjoy them. And for those of you nice enough to subscribe and actually read this post, some vaguely-related pictures to repay your loyalty. :) Thanks, as always to Sean Balick for our theme music. "The Little Powder" and "Night Light" by Nursery, via Blue Dot Sessions.

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

Happy Thanksgiving! Liz and Sarah share a veritable cornucopia of practical hacks from listeners. Some faves? Use a hotel room pants hanger to clip the curtains closed. Put whitening mouthwash in your water flosser. Attach a house key to your dog’s leash. And so many more! Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox! LINKS: Luggage Strap: https://amzn.to/4r8kxD8 Plug-in Night Light: https://amzn.to/49rzIRM Expo Markers: https://amzn.to/4icUQO2 Contact Lenses Cases: https://amzn.to/47Zo4uP Satin Pillow Case: https://amzn.to/43D7LCH Asobu Cold Brew Maker: https://amzn.to/47FiAqm Cold Brew Pitcher: https://amzn.to/4iaZj3B Rolling Cart: https://amzn.to/49JE9HR Whimsical Binder Clips: https://amzn.to/4r4s2uY Dryer Sheets: https://amzn.to/3JEDNYo Roomba: https://amzn.to/3LNLFY4 Tackle Box: https://amzn.to/43yHghN Whitening Moutwash: https://amzn.to/3LEDygB Grooming Kit (for the car): https://amzn.to/4roSEar VFM No Show Footie Sock: https://amzn.to/49Ps43G Hulken Bag: https://amzn.to/4r1HiIY Universal Fit Car Gap Filler: https://amzn.to/4oKSTKSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.