Jonathan Munson, Executive Director

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God, my Savior.”  Habakkuk 3:17-18

Years ago, there was a bestselling book called the Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook. In a playful way, the authors shared practical tips for handling a variety of unexpected emergencies, such as encountering a mountain lion in the woods, escaping from quicksand, or accidentally dropping your cellphone in the toilet.

It’s one thing to imagine how we’d survive a hypothetical worst-case scenario, but what do we do when we face a real one? Divorce. Bankruptcy. A devastating diagnosis. A prodigal child. How do we hold onto faith when our world is falling apart?

Habakkuk wrestled with that same question. 

He lived during a dark season in Israel’s history when God’s righteous judgment loomed on the horizon. Soon, the Babylonians would destroy the land and take the people into exile, beginning a period of national, spiritual, and economic disaster– a bona fide worst-case scenario, if there ever was one. A modern equivalent would be like losing your home, your job, your savings, and your dreams for the future all at once. Such a catastrophe would rattle anyone’s faith, and Habakkuk openly admits he’s afraid (Hab. 3:16).

But difficult times don’t just rattle our faith; they also reveal its true object. Is our faith in God Himself, or is it in what God gives us? Faith based solely on God’s blessings is a fragile one indeed.

Earlier, Habakkuk writes, “the righteous will live by faith” (Hab. 2:4). Now, amid fear and uncertainty, he makes one of the most stunning declarations of faith in the Bible: “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,” literally meaning “I will jump for joy and spin around in delight because of my God” (Hab. 3:18).

He isn’t delusional or in denial. He’s making a deliberate choice. Though Habakkuk’s future looks bleak, he’s choosing to anchor His faith in God alone–no matter what. He isn’t trusting God for a positive outcome; he’s trusting God despite the outcome. This contradicts how many of us approach faith.

For years, I lived what I would call an “If” Faith.

If God fixes my circumstances…
If my finances improve…
If God restores my health…

In other words, if God made my life better, I’d trust Him. It’s the kind of faith that says, “God, I’ll trust You as long as things keep working out.”

But Habakkuk shows us something stronger: “‘Even If” Faith.

Even if life doesn’t go as planned…
Even if my prayers aren’t answered how I want…
Even if my fears come true…

This is a more mature belief that clings to God and refuses to let go, even if He does not do what we so desperately want Him to do. It’s the kind that Jesus showed in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed, “Not my will but Yours be done.” (Matthew 26:39). Jesus trusted God even if it meant the cross.

We can’t wait for a crisis to start building the “Even If” faith of Jesus and Habakkuk. It must be cultivated amongst small disappointments and setbacks in daily life. This isn’t easy. It requires us to keep praying, reading God’s Word, and walking in obedience, refusing to let trials extinguish the flame of devotion. In the face of challenges, we joyfully declare, “Lord, I trust You, because You alone are enough.” That’s the unwavering, unquenchable heart of “Even If” faith.

Whatever you’re facing, ask yourself:  Am I trusting God only if life goes my way? Or am I learning to trust God even if it doesn’t? 

One day, you could find yourself in a real-life worst-case scenario, and in that moment, what you’ve been building all along will be revealed. “If” faith will crumble into a million pieces, but “Even If” faith will stand strong, resilient, and rooted in the God who is still in control.

DIG DEEPER
Read “Keeping the Faith” by Bryant Wright

Bryant Wright, Founder

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16

Have you ever made this statement?

I just don’t have time to pray!

I have a question:

If you don’t have time to pray, how will you ever truly know the Father and His will for you each day?

Even Jesus modeled spending time with God by regularly setting aside time to pray.

Now, Jesus is God, so why would God (the Son) pray to God (the Father)? I can’t fully explain the mystery of the three-in-one relationship between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – but I can tell you that Jesus’ ultimate goal throughout His ministry on earth was walking 100% in His Father’s will. This meant staying close to His Father and prioritizing His time with God (the Father) over everything else. Before work, ministry, friends, and even family – His Father always came first.

If Jesus prioritized time with His Father, then so should His followers. Our ultimate desire in life should be to stay close to our Heavenly Father through prayer and reading His Word in order to fulfill His will. It’s about saying, “No matter what my schedule looks like or what pressures I’m facing, my number one purpose in life is my relationship with God. Everything else comes second.”

When we choose to put God first, we choose to spend time with Him. We won’t worry about checking off a list of rules, but rather building our relationship with the One True God by spending time alone with Him.

Jesus did.

Shouldn’t you?

DIG DEEPER
Read “Seeking God’s Will Through Prayer” also by Bryant Wright

Taken from a video by Bryant Wright, Founder

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick. Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9

Follow your heart. 

This is frequently among the many messages promoted in movies and television shows. The message is the same, whether it is Elsa in Frozen or Ariel in The Little Mermaid. Do what makes you happy. Trust your desires. Follow your heart. 

What can be wrong with that?

On the surface, this might seem like okay advice. But for the follower of Jesus these words are worth a reflective pause. (I’m not saying never watch a Disney movie!) But as believers we do want to use discernment with the messaging we receive.

Let’s face it– if we are honest, we know our hearts don’t always make good decisions, do they? Here are a couple scriptures to consider:

Jeremiah 17:9. “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”

Matthew 15:19: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, acts of adultery, other immoral sexual acts, thefts, false testimonies, and slanderous statements.”

Scripture gives us a clear picture: Our hearts are corrupted by sin and cannot be trusted. Even when we start with good intentions, sin can easily manipulate our motives. The book of Proverbs goes so far as to say, “One who trusts in his own heart is a fool (Proverbs 28:26).”

It doesn’t get much clearer than that.

The Bible is filled with examples of people who followed their own hearts, and it didn’t go well. Jonah’s heart told him to run away from Nineveh. He ended up in the belly of a large fish. King David’s heart told him to pursue a lady named Bathsheba. He ended up committing adultery and murder. The disciple, Judas’ heart, desired money. He betrayed Jesus and ultimately died by suicide.

The good news is that the Bible encourages us to trust and follow Jesus instead of trusting and following our hearts. We are told to trust the Lord with all our heart (Proverbs 3:5). We can trust in God because, as Hebrews tells us, Jesus is the “same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). 

Our hearts change constantly, often in the blink of an eye. But God’s holiness is steadfast and trustworthy. The closer we grow to Jesus, and the more time we spend in His Word, the more our desires will match His. Our hearts will begin to align with His.

The world says to follow your heart, do what makes you happy. 

Jesus tells us to die to ourselves, to put God and others before ourselves. Jesus’s ways will always stand in contrast with culture. 

Follow Jesus, not your heart.

DIG DEEPER
Read “Why You Should Guard Your Heart and 3 Ways to Do It” by Michael Kelley

Bryant Wright, Founder

“Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” John 20:19b-20

Shame.

We’re all familiar with it. Perhaps you haven’t quite lived up to expectations and your colleagues, boss or even parents like to point out how you’ve missed the mark.

Maybe feelings of shame and regret from poor life choices tag along like an un-welcomed shadow.

For those struggling under shame’s weight, don’t miss this:

Jesus did not come to shame you, but to die for your shame.

That’s the message of the Gospel.

When Jesus died on the cross, His followers were devastated. Not only did they question everything they had ever believed about Him, but they feared they might be next. So they hid in hopes of saving their own skin.

Then, on the third day after His death, He appeared – alive and in the flesh. Can you imagine all of the emotions the disciples must have felt? Confusion, fear, excitement – and most certainly some shame – for going into hiding for fear of being identified with Jesus. And for having lost faith in Him.

By showing the disciples His pierced hands and side, Jesus communicated the impact of the cross. The purpose of the cross was to take on ALL of mankind’s sin, shame, and guilt – including their own. Only through the cross can we experience the most incredible gift of forgiveness and love the world will ever know.

If you’re still struggling with guilt and shame in your life, surrender it to Jesus. Jesus already took care of it on the cross.

It’s time to exchange that shame for forgiveness and peace, once and for all.

My friend, that is the incredible beauty of the Gospel.

DIG DEEPER
Read “Free From Shame” by George Wright

Michael Kelley, Guest Contributor

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” Isaiah 55:1-2

When I was in high school, my physics class was given limited materials, mainly Popsicle sticks and wood glue, with which we were instructed to build a bridge with specific parameters. On the appointed day, we all brought our bridges to class, and they were placed over a gap between two desks. Then, small weights were systematically hung at the bottom of the bridges to test and see how much weight they could bear. Of course, in that environment, the greatest thrill wasn’t just winning the most sturdy bridge and watching as structure after structure was eventually obliterated under the increasing weight.

We knew they would all eventually be destroyed. We knew we couldn’t, for example, stand on top of them because these structures weren’t made to support that kind of mass.

There is a similarity between those science projects and the direction of our joy. If you look around you, you’ll see all kinds of things that you enjoy:

• Opening Day of the baseball season. 
• A steak perfectly grilled. 
• Birthday parties. 
• Christmas mornings. 
• A good movie. 

And here’s the thing:

We should enjoy them. Not only is there nothing wrong with doing so, but there is actually everything right with it.

So long as we understand that there is a difference between enjoying something and finding joy in something.

Take the first thing on that list—Opening Day. Freshly cut grass. The sound of a ballpark. The not-yet-too-hot sun of spring. But what if it rains? Or what if there’s an emergency at work and you miss the first pitch? Or what if there’s something crazy like a labor stoppage, and that day is delayed?!? Well, you might be disappointed, but you won’t be crushed. And that’s the difference between enjoying and finding your joy.

Like the physics bridge of old, all these things and so many more were simply designed to be a source of joy—not where we find our joy. No, the weight of that expectation would simply be too much, and they would eventually be pulverized underneath it. In fact, there is really only one thing that is strong enough to sustain the weight of human expectation—only one thing that is sturdy enough to bear up under the weight of our need for joy. 

And that is Jesus Himself.

Not only so, but only when we find our joy in Jesus are we actually free to enjoy all these other things rightly. That’s because we no longer look to those things to sustain our hearts but treat them as they were designed to be treated—as good things for our enjoyment. We are free to enjoy them without adding the weight of our hearts to them. 

So, our joy in Jesus is not only rightly placed but also becomes the foundation of our ability to enjoy other things rightly.

There are many things in life to enjoy today, friends. But only one that can bear the weight of your joy. 

Jesus alone. 

And He will never crumble.

DIG DEEPER
Read “Joyful Words of Praise” by Bryant Wright

Bryant Wright, Founder

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, according to our likeness.’” Genesis 1:26

One of the most mysterious and difficult doctrines to understand in the Bible is that we have a God who is three persons in one –  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Three completely separate persons with different ways of manifestation, yet the Bible also says that they are all one God. How can this be explained?

Well, here are a couple of ways people try and explain the inexplicable concept of the Trinity:

• WATER: Water has three states: solid, liquid, gas. We know the liquid state as water, the gas as steam, and the solid as ice. While very different forms, they are all the same compound – H2O. People sometimes offer this concept as a way to understand the complexity of the trinity…but in reality, it’s totally inadequate. Why? Because the Trinity is about three persons.
• ROLES: I am the father of my three sons. They know me one way. I’m also the son of my parents and they know me another way. At the same time, I am the husband of my wife, Anne, and she knows me another way. I am the same person but have three different roles. Some use this analogy to help us understand the Trinity of God in three persons, but it, too, is totally inadequate.

How is it that God the Son could pray to God the Father in heaven?

Really, the doctrine of the Trinity, to the human finite mind, is inexplicable. However, the doctrine of the trinity is taught in Scripture from the very first chapter in the Bible and is central in understanding the fullness, the greatness, and the uniqueness of God.

From the beginning, we realize that the God of Scripture:

• Is not Allah of the Quran.
• Is not one of the thousands of gods that you find in Hinduism, because, the God of Scripture is three persons in one. That is blasphemy in Islam. The One True God is blasphemy in Hinduism.
• Is completely contrary to the god you read about in cults like Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witness.

This is not to be critical of other religions. It’s simply a statement of fact. Because we live in a culture today where often very highly educated people say, “all religions are about believing in one god, the same god, they just have different ways of getting to him.”

But that is a statement of astounding ignorance because of what the Scriptures tell us about God. If you and I are to have the full picture of God, we must understand there is one God in three persons.

When God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.’” The word for God is “Elohim,” which, in Hebrew, means ‘God in plurality.’

One God in three persons, in perfect harmony, completing and fulfilling the will of God.

I hope you believe in this one true God.

DIG DEEPER
Read “The Infinite Mystery of the Trinity” by Bryant Wright

Taken from a sermon by Bryant Wright, Founder

“Jesus responded and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” John 3:3 

We all come into this world the same way… as helpless, crying infants dressed in our finest birthday suits. 

Rich or poor, we all come the same way. 

With that in mind, let me ask you some questions. 

When were you born? 
Before or after 1980? 
In the morning, the afternoon, or late at night? 

Now, where were you born? 
What state? 
Or maybe a different country altogether? 
Were you born in a hospital? 
In a home? 

These questions help us learn about a person. While they might be important, they are only about your physical birth. 

So let me ask you one more question—and this one is the most important of all: 

Have you ever been born again?
In other words, have you ever been born spiritually?

Understandably, this question can be confusing. 

It was confusing to a man named Nicodemus in the Bible. He was a religious ruler, and we see in John 3 that he approached Jesus at night. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus didn’t understand how someone could be born twice. Jesus responded, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

You see, we can be nice, polite, well-mannered people who go to church on Sundays and still miss the kingdom of God. That’s because religion and morals don’t make us born-again.

We’re born again when we come to the end of ourselves, turn from our sins, and surrender our lives to Jesus. When we trust in Jesus’ death on the cross, we become brand-new people, true children of God. 

Has there been a point in your life when you realized your need for a second birth? When we become followers of Jesus, the old you dies, and you are given new life through Jesus. Your new life – an eternal one – begins when you place your trust in Jesus. But then you are also promised eternal life in heaven with Jesus.

Your physical birth is important, but it is nothing compared to your second birth, your spiritual birth.

DIG DEEPER
Read “Saved From Spiritual Death” also by Bryant Wright

Bryant Wright, Founder

“I say to you, that many shall come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 8:11

Years ago, more than one generation often lived together in the same house, or at least close to each other. But as time moved on and families became fractured and scattered, the family reunion became a popular way for families to come together once a year and catch up with one another over food, drink, and fun. Today, for those of us fortunate enough to still have close family ties, family reunions can be a lot of fun. (Or they can be total misery!) Whether they’re good or bad depends on you and members of your family.

But today, I want to talk about the ultimate family reunion – one that we will all want to attend! I’m speaking of what happens when Christians die. Not only do we get to be with Christ, we also get to be with those who have died in Christ before us and are already enjoying an eternal family reunion in heaven – where everyone gets along, for all our flaws are gone. Won’t that be something? Well, it won’t be if you miss it!

The good news is that we can be sure we make the ultimate family reunion by believing and knowing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. And when we step over from this life to the next, He’ll welcome us home with the greatest family reunion we can imagine.

DIG DEEPER
Read “A Glimpse of Heaven” also by Bryant Wright

Jerry Maxfield, Guest Contributor

“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.…'” John 14:23

Obedience.  True obedience involves having our will tested according to God’s command and being found victorious.

Adam’s will was initially tested in the Garden of Eden.  Eve had been deceived by the serpent, who we know to be Satan, by half-truths and outright lies.  He had especially appealed to Eve’s pride.  Eve then approached Adam.  Adam absolutely knew better than to eat of that fruit, as God had given His commandment to him, even before Eve had been created!  But Adam directly disobeyed God’s instruction and thereby created a knowledge of good vs evil and right vs wrong for you and me today.  God had protected man from that awareness up until then.

Because of that original sin, we are suffering the consequences.  Many, many times each day we must decide whether in those particular instances to obey God’s command or not.  Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will obey My commandments”…His teachings…His example.

Do we always do the right thing? 

Unfortunately, not, even though as believers we may have repeatedly professed our love for Jesus. In His love for us, Jesus made a way to restore us to righteousness.  That is why we call Him Savior!  He took our sins–past, present, and future–upon Himself…and died doing so.  His death served as the atonement for our sins once and for all.  His resurrection verified and confirmed that act of sacrifice.

You and I must keep “short accounts” with the Lord.  We must confess our sin, repent, and turn from them to keep our hearts supple and receptive to His leading.  Oh, we will continue to be tested, but Jesus, in His sovereignty and wisdom, left us a Comforter and Guide in the Holy Spirit.  He is that “still small voice” within our hearts and minds, encouraging us to choose the right way.  Listen and obey!

May the Lord be your strength as you express your love for Him through obedience.

DIG DEEPER
Read “A Simple Act of Obedience” by Jonathan Munson

Bryant Wright, Founder

“Immediately they left their nets and they followed Him.” Matthew 4:20

When Jesus called his disciples to follow Him, the decision had to be made right then and there.

The Bible tells the story of Andrew and Peter going from being fishermen to fishers of men. We are introduced to them in today’s verse: “Immediately they left their nets, and they followed Him.” 

Frankly, this verse has always disturbed me. Imagine a stranger walking up to you while you are working. You don’t know this man, but He says, “Follow Me.”  It means giving up everything familiar in your life—your family, friends, and occupation—to follow Him. Yes, He’s dynamic and charismatic. But dropping everything and blindly following him? I can’t identify with that.

Fortunately, it didn’t really happen that way. Andrew and Peter actually had a lot of knowledge of and interactions with Jesus before being presented with that seemingly “all or nothing” question.

• John 1:35-42: They had been introduced to Jesus and spent a full day listening and talking to Him.
• Luke 5:1-11: They heard Him preach.
• Luke 5:1-11: They even saw how Jesus knew much more about fishing than they did.
• Matthew 4:23: They watched Him heal the sick in their hometowns.
• Matthew 4:18-20: Finally, after all that, they realized that Jesus was not just a man, but the Messiah – the God-man, and they truly became convicted of their sins. It was at this point that Jesus approached them and said, “Follow Me, and I’ll make you fishers of men.” Only at that point were they ready to drop everything and follow Jesus. They were fishermen, so the phrase “fishers of men” was easy for them to understand.

So, no, Andrew and Peter didn’t blindly follow Jesus. They had seen and heard enough to believe that He was the Man – the Messiah. (Some of the other disciples hadn’t spent that time with Jesus, but they knew immediately that He was the Messiah, so they dropped everything to become His disciples.)

The same is true for us. If we take the time to get to know Jesus from the Bible, we’ll recognize Him and be ready for the same calling, “Follow me. I’ll make you fishers of men.”

Are you ready? The call is there – just waiting for your response.

Choose to become a follower of Jesus today. If you need help with this, click the link below and find out more about how to follow Jesus.

DIG DEEPER
Read “How to Know Jesus” on our website