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We know that every single chapter of our story is written by a Father Who is good, wise and loving; that even when things feel unfair or unjust, He is working it all out for good; that He hasn’t forgotten us or left us. He’s not pacing heaven, nervously wringing His hands. He’s in charge. That’s freedom.

Not the kind that depends on perfect circumstances. Not the kind that waits for governments to change.

But the kind that anchors your soul in unshakable love. So yes, even in the midst of tyranny, we are free.

Free to trust. Free to rest. Free to stop judging and start loving.

Free to be full of joy, even when the world around us is full of chaos.

Because freedom isn’t a place. It’s a Person.

And He lives in us.

Steve Martin

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Never forget this:

The view from above is not a private treasure. It’s a divine vantage point, given so that we can lift others up.

We didn’t earn it.
We don’t deserve it.
But we’ve got it.

So, while chaos rages, we set our minds above:

Not to escape, but to engage.
Not to avoid the pain, but to walk through it with grace.
Not to boast, but to bless.

Because one day, when all is made new, and God is All in all, we’ll look back on the chaos and realize:

It wasn’t chaos after all.
It was a perfectly written story – seen too early, from too low.

And grace was the thread holding it all together.

Steve Martin

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… Not quarrelsome, but lenient, pacific …  (I Timothy 3:3, CV).

… To be calumniating no one, to be pacific, lenient, displaying all meekness toward all humanity (Titus 3:2, CV).

There is a boxing-ring of conflict where the show of control and sensationalism is fought. The audience is charged, the cameras are rolling, the hype is electric. Yet, we have the freedom not to enter the boxing-square of an antagonist picking a fight. We can even leave the entire area, letting others duke it out above the sounds of cheering and booing. This is simply not our conflict, it is not our fight. We live in freedom – far on the outside of the conflict – in the wide-open spaces of joy and peace.

All is going perfectly as Father planned. We will continue to act out the role, written for us by Him: love, grace, acceptance, and freely following realizations that He has granted us, wherever they may lead.

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.

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In the Bible, animals are called nephesh chaiyah – living souls. Just like humans.

That doesn’t mean that they’re the same as us. But it does mean that they matter.

They breathe. They feel. They bond.

And when they look at us with those wide, trusting eyes, something in us responds. Because they’re not just “pets.” They’re soul-bearers. Living, breathing evidence that we were never meant to go through life alone.

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr. / Steve Martin
Animals in God’s Story

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Imagine facing this life without the heavenly lens.

No understanding of grace.
No awareness of God’s plan.
No assurance that the mess has meaning.

That’s where most people live – confused, afraid, bitter, hopeless. They’re trapped in the chaos without a clue that there’s a higher view available.

But we’ve been gifted that view.

That’s not a flex. It’s not a badge of spiritual superiority. It’s a gift. Pure grace. No room for boasting. We didn’t climb up to Heaven. Heaven came to us.

And that changes how we show up in the world.

We don’t just hunker down and wait for the chaos to pass. We enter into it with others. We listen. We cry. We stay. And when the time is right, we speak – gently, honestly, hopefully.

We share the view.

Steve Martin

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Chaos is real.

Not the poetic kind. Not the kind that looks good in a motivational meme. I’m talking about real-life chaos – the kind that knocks the wind out of you. The kind that shows up as a hospital visit, a broken relationship, an empty bank account, or a gnawing grief that doesn’t let go.

It’s everywhere. And yet …

In the middle of it all, we’re called to do something that feels almost absurd:

Set your mind on things above.

Not as a way to escape. Not to pretend that the chaos isn’t happening. But to see the chaos from a completely different angle: a divine one.

Steve Martin

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Let’s be honest: we’re weak. Fragile. Vulnerable.
And we’re not ashamed to admit it.

We’re living in these temporary, bruised bodies, trying to walk through disaster, disappointment, loss and grief. And yet somehow, through the Spirit of God, we’ve been given something astonishing – a kind of out-of-body perspective.

We can look at the mess around us and know – actually know – that this isn’t the end of the story.

We’re not here to escape suffering through denial. We’re here to walk through it with hope.

Why? Because we’ve seen something most people haven’t. We’ve been shown the ending.

And it’s beautiful.

Steve Martin

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The word “carnal” (Greek, sarkikos) in Paul’s letters often gets reduced in modern preaching to “worldly” or “sinful” – as in lust, greed or outward rebellion. But Paul’s use goes far beyond that. He’s not just talking about behavior; he’s talking about where your trust lies.

When Paul calls the Corinthians “carnal” (I Corinthians 3:1–3), he’s not blasting them for watching R-rated movies or listening to Roman pop music. He’s pointing out that they’re relying on human effort – on personality cults, divisions, status, ego – rather than on the Spirit.

In Romans 7-8, Paul contrasts the flesh with the Spirit. The flesh isn’t just sinning wildly; it’s the self-powered life – trying to do right, be holy, or earn God’s favor on your own terms. It’s the religious treadmill. The performance trap. The grace-less grind of trying to sanctify yourself.

So, yes – being “carnal” can absolutely mean trying to please God from the wrong source. It’s not just about “bad behavior.” It’s about misplaced dependence.

And Paul’s remedy isn’t “try harder.” It’s: walk in the Spirit (Romans 8:4–5). Live from the inside out, not the outside in. Let grace do the heavy lifting.

That flips the whole thing on its head. Carnality isn’t rebellion – it’s self-reliance. And freedom isn’t rule-keeping – it’s Spirit-trusting.

Steve Martin

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Surprised by Grace Again and Again

After all that I’ve seen, written and experienced, one thing keeps happening: grace continues to grow. Not just in me – but around me. It keeps showing up as more loving, more powerful and more life-changing than I ever thought possible.

I used to think that I had a pretty good handle on grace. But just when I think I understand it, it takes another turn. It stretches wider. It sinks deeper. It opens a door that I didn’t even know was there.

Grace still surprises me.

I’m awed by how it keeps breaking through my old assumptions. How it reaches into places that I once thought were unreachable – both in me and in others. How it keeps rewriting not only theology but relationships, memories, wounds and expectations.

There are moments when I’m stopped in my tracks by the thought, “If grace is really this good, why didn’t I see it sooner?” But then I realize: grace has been patiently revealing itself all along. It meets me where I am, and invites me further. Always further.

I used to think that grace was where the story started. Now I know – it’s also where the story goes. It’s the way. It’s the wind at my back. It’s the light in the next chapter that I haven’t read yet.

I haven’t arrived. But I’m not afraid anymore.

Grace is leading. And the journey goes on.

Steve Martin