God, Family, Country. USMC Veteran đŚ đâď¸ âď¸đşđ¸ Host of the @3pillarspodcast where we focus on spiritual, mental, and physical fitness. đ âŹď¸
The final episode of Season 7, âA Fatherâs Guide to Lifeâ is available NOW.
All the lessons I have presented will fall on deaf ears unless I LIVE THE EXAMPLE in my childrenâs life. Let this episode be your vow to your children to walk the path beside them.
â˝ The United States is excited to host international fans for the FIFA World Cup 2026â˘, which coincides with our nation's 250th anniversary. American greatness, world-class hospitality, and sporting excellence will be on full display! đşđ¸
Waiting Well
Waiting can be hard.
Most of us would prefer quick, efficient, andâwhen possibleâinstant results and answers.
But waiting is a part of life.
We must wait for seeds to grow into food, for one season to fade into the next, for babies to mature into adults, and for trees to stand tall enough to finally offer shade.
Like it or not, waiting takes patience.
We can wait days, months, years, or even decades for a prayer to be answered, for an overdue apology, for the timing to be right, or for a dream to finally come to pass.
Waiting requires courage.
King David lived nearly 3,000 years ago, but he knew what it meant to wait for Godâs timing, to wait to be king, to wait to be rescued from his enemies. He wrote:
âWait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.â
Psalms 27:14 NLT
If David thought waiting on God was important enough to write it twice in one verse, we should probably pay attention. But waiting patiently for the Lord isnât an excuse to do nothing.
We can proactively wait on God by staying in communication with Him, by looking for His fingerprints in ordinary moments, by reading about His story and His plans in His Word, by worshiping Him no matter whatâs happening across the globe, by serving the people both inside and outside of our circles, and by thanking Him for the gifts Heâs already given us.
Just because a specific door isnât opening, or a particular opportunity isnât available at this moment doesnât mean that God isnât moving.
Even when we are waitingâGod is working.
Noah spent decades building an ark as he waited for God to do what Heâd said. Ruth journeyed with her mother-in-law and worked in the grain fields while trusting in Godâs provision after her husbandâs death. Joseph stayed faithful in prison for several years before his promotion to second-in-command of Egypt. John trusted Godâs ultimate will for his life, and wrote several books of the New Testament while sentenced to exile on the island of Patmos.
So, no matter what youâre facing today, you can ask God for patience and trust that He is in control of your future. No matter what uncertainty lies before you, when you rely on the Lord, you can be someone who waits well.
God, I often want immediate solutions for my problems. It can be so hard to wait, but I know that Your timing and Your ways are perfect. As I wait for You, help me to learn from the current situation Iâm inâfocusing on the blessings I currently have, and praising You for all the things Youâre still going to do. In Jesusâ name, Amen.
��� 11 U.S. cities are preparing to welcome the world for FIFA World Cup 2026â˘. đď¸ Hosting matches gives our great country a chance to show the very best of America.
GEORGE WASHINGTON: "A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined. To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace."
Working for Peace
One look at the world around us and itâs clear: peace isnât going to make itself.
Nations are warring and people are fighting. You may even have some personal relationships filled with bitterness and contempt. Thankfully, we can lean into Jesusâ wisdom in the seventh beatitude:
âBlessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.â
Matthew 5:9 NIV
Let's be clear, peacemaking is different than peacekeeping. In fact, Jesus assured us that as long as weâre on this earth, we will face trouble. There will be chaos, division, misunderstandings, and a need for making peace. And that is whyâŚÂ
Peacemaking requires action.
Yes, peacemaking compels us out of our own comfortable lives. But for those who are willing to step into the tender space of making peace, here are some thoughts to help you lead the way:
- Peacemakers lead the way with humility. No one is perfect and we all need grace. None of us are God, but we all need Him. Leading with a posture of humility is key.
- Peacemakers lead the way with empathy. Even when we disagree with someone, respectfully listening and seeking to understand their perspective is essential for making peace.
- Peacemakers lead the way with truth and grace. Any time Jesus interacted with people, He did so with both truth and grace. We must have both to accurately represent Him.
- Peacemakers lead the way to the feet of Jesus. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. Apart from Him, we are nothing. When we realize our mutual brokenness, as well as our mutual need for Christ, everything can change.
Seeking to be a mediator for those in disagreement doesnât mean that every problem will be solvedâimmediately or ever. But when we invite God into those spaces and commit to the hard work of peacemaking, He can do more than we can ask or imagine.
God, please help me to live at peace with others. Even when people hated, mocked, and even unjustly condemned YouâYou still showed them love, mercy, and forgiveness. And You invite us to experience and share Your perfect peace. Make me eager to spread peace instead of fear, and love instead of hate. In Jesusâ name, Amen.
Is Your Heart Pure?
What do you think about when you hear the word pure?
Do you picture a tall glass of crystal clear water? A freshly washed load of white sheets? Or maybe someone whoâs morally wholesome and good?
In the sixth of the beatitudesâa series of promises Jesus made about Godâs KingdomâJesus said this:
âBlessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.â
Matthew 5:8 NIV
The word "pure" means clean or blameless, free from corruption or contamination, purified by fire, or unstained by guilt. None of us can truly be pure on our ownâdespite our best efforts.
Before Jesus showed up, the highest ranking Levitical priests were charged with ministering and mediating in the holiest spaces (inside the tabernacle in the wilderness and, later, the temple in Jerusalem)âwhere Godâs presence dwelled on earth. But even they had to be purified over and over again.
Now, because of Jesusâ ultimate sacrifice on the cross, He has paved the way for us. His blood covered our sins, and when we accept the sacrifice, He makes us pure. Now and forever, we can âcome boldly to the throne of our gracious God,â where we can find mercy and grace when we need it most (Hebrews 4:16). Now, our bodies are the modern-day temples where Godâs Spirit has chosen to dwell.
Being pure of heart is not about being perfect, but trusting in Jesus to purify our souls.
As Isaiah once prophesiedâŚ
âCome now, letâs settle this,â says the LORD. âThough your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.â
Isaiah 1:18 NLT
Allow Him to make you pure.
God, I want my heart to be a reflection of your characterâpure! Please reveal the areas of my life and heart that are not in line with Your Word. Help me to let go of the bitterness, disappointment, and hurt I'm currently holding onto. I surrender my whole heart to Youâplease transform me from the inside out. I want to see You up close! In Jesusâ name, Amen.