In your mind you picture a neat driveway with folding tables, some signs, and friendly people carrying away your unwanted items while handing you cash.

Then reality sets in. Your house looks worse rather than better because everything you own is sitting in piles on the floor waiting to be sorted, priced, and moved outside. You find things you forgot you had and can’t decide whether to sell them, keep them, or just deal with them “later.”

But garage sales are usually worth the hassle. You clear space, make a little money, and finally get rid of things that have been sitting around for years. And if you keep the process simple, it doesn’t have to take over your life for a month (or more).

If you only have a few days, you can still pull together a successful garage sale. The key is not doing everything – it’s just doing a few things well.

Here is a simple garage sale checklist to help you plan a garage sale in just one week.

Day 1: Choose the Date and Set a Goal

Start by checking the weather and picking your sale day – usually Friday or Saturday morning works best.

Then decide what your goal is. Are you trying to:

• Clear out space?
• Make some money?
• Get rid of things quickly?

This matters because it will help you decide what to focus on and where to put your effort. If your goal is simply to declutter, you don’t need perfection, you just need progress.

Day 2: Walk through Your House (Quickly)

Just walk through your house with a laundry basket or box. Do not start by opening every closet and reorganizing. That is how you will end up on the floor looking through kindergarten papers and old birthday cards.

Start with obvious things:

• Clothes no one wears
• Kitchen gadgets you forgot you had
• Decorations you no longer use
• Duplicate items
• Books you are realistically never going to read again
• Toys your kids don’t play with

Day 3: Sort and Group Items

Now take what you’ve gathered and sort it into simple categories: Kitchen items on one table, kids’ items together, home décor in another spot, and so on. Grouping items makes your sale easier to shop and easier to manage.

Day 4: Price Simply

Knowing how to price garage sale items is where many people get stuck, but you don’t need to. Use stickers if you want, but signs can save a lot of time. “Everything on this table $1” works fine.

And remember, the point is usually to get rid of things. Every year, people drag boxes back into their houses because they couldn’t bear to sell a basket for fifty cents less than they hoped.

Day 5: Get the Word Out (Briefly)

When organizing a garage sale, posting in local Facebook groups and on Facebook Marketplace is usually enough. And place a simple sign at your corner. Include clear dates and times, your general location, and maybe a few larger items you have.

Day 6: Set Up What You Can Ahead of Time

If possible, set out tables, boxes, or areas the night before. Even a little preparation will make the morning go more smoothly. Find a container for money. Gather grocery bags for people carrying smaller purchases. Make sure you have enough change and small bills to start the day with.

Day 7: Sale Day – Keep It Simple

Start early so you can relax a little. People may ask strange questions. Some may try to negotiate aggressively over a twenty-five-cent item. Early shoppers will come before your posted start time. That’s all part of it. Be willing to negotiate some – especially later in the day. It’s often better to take slightly less than you hoped than to bring the item back in your house.

At the end of the day, your house will feel lighter, cleaner, and less crowded. At least until next year when you find yourself standing in the garage wondering where all this stuff came from.

The post How to Plan a Garage Sale in One Week: A Simple, Realistic Guide appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

Do we ignore the signs God placed in the Bible and chalk them up to a different time and excuse ourselves from the reality that God is the original architect of waiting longer and lingering? “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done” (Genesis 2:2-3 NIV). God didn’t rest because He was tired, He rested to demonstrate a pattern of living that included fellowship with Him outside of work.

Waiting longer and lingering in God’s presence creates an atmosphere of PEACE. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. God has been calling His loved ones into a place of lingering longer since day seven of creation, and reiterates that call in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” God’s very existence should entice us to draw nearer to Him and experience His overwhelming omnipresence.

It is interesting to find that individuals showcased in the Bible that waited and lingered longer had an extra portion of peace, power, and purpose. Joshua in the book of Exodus is one of those individuals. Joshua was the loyal attendant, military commander, and designated successor of Moses. This great responsibility was because in Exodus 33:11 we see the character and practice of Joshua. “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.” Joshua went on to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River, into the Promised Land and conquer the “giants” and secure what God had promised. Warring victory can only come from lingering longer in God’s presence before we tackle the struggles that face us.

Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 lingered longer in the temple, crying and despairing for a child that humanly was impossible because of her infertility. “In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk” (1 Samuel 1:10, 12-13 NIV). Hannah’s extended time lingering longer in the presence of the LORD miraculously opened her womb and she became pregnant and gave birth to Samuel. Samuel’s purpose was showcased in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. He was a mighty man of God for his time that was birthed from his mother’s prayers.

In the New Testament (Luke 10:38-42), the sisters Mary and Martha (the sisters of Lazarus) represent the modern pattern of busyness. Jesus had come to spend time with the family and Martha was busy with the food and house preparations to make sure everything was wonderful for her guests. Jesus was talking to the guests. Mary was sitting at His feet, waiting and lingering longer at the tremendous words spilling out to the emotionally and spiritually hungry individuals in His presence. Martha was appalled that Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet and not helping her in the kitchen. Martha even confronts Jesus and asks Him to make Mary come and help her. Jesus’ reply, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” More than our physical busyness, God desires our sitting at His (Jesus’) feet lingering longer.

Finally, Jesus also demonstrated as God did on that seventh day of creation, the need to linger longer and enjoy the fellowship God intended outside of work. This fellowship refreshed, rejuvenated, and empowered Jesus to complete His earthly ministry all the way to the cross. It is recorded at least nine times in the Bible that Jesus retreated from the crowds to be alone with God.

Since God and Jesus both found it important to pull away from the busyness of work to enjoy fellowship of God’s presence to refresh, rejuvenate, and empower the realignment with the peace, power, and purpose of God, shouldn’t we also do the same? Let’s not count lingering longer in God’s presence as wasted time. It is essential time to our physical, mental, and spiritual health. It is time that builds our “Full Armor of God” to withstand the attacks of the enemy (Ephesians 16:10-18). God has provided, through His and Jesus’ examples, that lingering longer in His presence is vital to our successful navigation of the modern day stressors.

The post Wait Longer and Linger appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

Many of us tell ourselves we will open our homes again when things are calmer. When the house is cleaner. When the schedule feels lighter. When we have the energy to cook a proper meal. But real Christian community was never meant to depend on ideal conditions. In fact, the quieter and darker months after the holidays may be the most important time to practice it.

Hospitality does not require a spotless home or a three-course meal. It does not demand matching dishes, carefully planned menus, or “Christmas” energy. Scripture calls us to show hospitality without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9) – not without mess. Biblical hospitality is not about impressing others; it is about creating a space where someone else feels welcomed and loved.

Why Messy Hospitality Matters after the Holidays

If you wait until your house is immaculately clean and your energy is high, you will never open your door this winter. So I want to challenge you to embrace messy hospitality. This is inviting people into your real life – unfolded laundry, mismatched socks, and all. We don’t need a perfectly decorated house to provide spiritual warmth. Letting a friend see a messy living room lets her feel less alone in hers.

Winter hospitality looks different, and that’s okay. It might mean simple soup and bread. It might mean inviting someone over for coffee at the kitchen table with mismatched mugs and honest conversation. Messy hospitality says, You don’t need to be impressed – you just need to be here. The busyness of Christmas fades, but the need for connection does not.

Community after Christmas often happens in smaller, quieter ways. A simple invitation can remind someone that they are seen and remembered in a season that is often isolating.

If you are wondering what messy hospitality might look like in practice, start small. Invite someone over for soup on a weeknight. Open a package of crackers and slice cheese. Host dessert instead of dinner. An afternoon coffee and a couple cookies.

Invite someone to join you for leftovers after church or to join you for a walk. And keep your invitations simple: “Our house is a little chaotic, but we’d love to see you.”

Make it clear that they are free to come as they are – really. Sweatpants and slippers are welcome. Sitting on the couch under a blanket with a cup of tea provides more welcome and warmth than the finest dinnerware and most elaborate menu ever could.

And this needs to be easier on you too. Set a timer for fifteen minutes and clean what you can. Whatever isn’t clean when the timer goes off stays messy. You don’t need to apologize for what you didn’t do. Hospitality flourishes when hosts are at ease.

Don’t wait until your house is flawless or you feel “ready” for guests. Invite one person over this Tuesday precisely because you’re tired. Hospitality isn’t a one-way street. Your burdens and isolation will be lightened in community as well.

The post Community after Christmas: Messy Hospitality in 2026 appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

I researched the following three categories: Spiritual Health, Emotional Health, and Physical Health as possible changes people attempt to make in a new year. I was looking for statistics of the number of people who begin a New Year’s resolution as compared to those who successfully complete those same goals. I was surprised by what I found.

Physical Health resolutions range from 48%-79% of respondents identifying this as their choice depending on the survey cited. I was surprised that Spiritual Health isn’t a category. The closest possible option was looking at Emotional and Mental Health combined or as separate categories. Emotional and Mental Health aren’t easy to categorize because of the personal variables that feed into assessing baseline levels. A 2024 Forbes Health/OnePoll indicated 36% of respondents cited they resolved for improved mental health.

The question is, “How many of those choosing to make a pledge successfully complete that resolution?” Again, depending on the source of the survey you can find different statistics. A 2020-2021 survey stated that at a 1-year follow up 55% of respondents considered themselves successful. However, it also found that people who chose starting a positive habit versus stopping a bad habit saw almost a 60% success rate. A different survey found that after two years only 19% still considered their original resolution successful.

What were the two biggest take-aways I discovered that improve the success rate of accomplishing the resolutions?

1. Make small easy to accomplish goals.

Personal paced, small changes over time will make a long-term impact into your life.

2. Frame your resolution as a positive, ”I will” versus a negative, “I’ll give up or stop.”

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

Specific Small Step Positive Actions to Add to Your 2026

Spiritual Health

● Faith vs Fear framing of your life events. This can only be accomplished by saturating your surroundings with scripture. You can be very creative to achieve this by varying your intake into reading your Bible, listening to an audio Bible, and/or watching scripture videos.

● Think on these things, as Philippians 4:8 exhorts: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praise worthy – think about such things” (NIV).

Emotional Health

● Learn the full Serenity Prayer. Ask God to help keep you focused on what you can do, and knowing that He will make all things right.

● Stay in your own lane. Many times we take on someone else’s burdens that really are not ours to bear.

● Guard your heart (Proverbs 4:23 TLB), “Above all else, guard your affections [heart]. For they influence everything else in your life.”

● Protect against information overload. Overload can be both struggles as well as joyous. Each of us has a maximum capacity of information we can contain within

our “mind banks” before we begin to have difficulty sorting and sifting through the cacophony of noise.

Physical Health

● Rest without guilt. Rest may include stepping away from electronic devices and hearing the sounds of nature.

● Resting could include a nap or a walk.

● Manage sugar, caffeine, and carbohydrate intakes. Each of these metabolize quickly and create a physical and mental spike, but ultimately a mental and physical drop in energy….after the high.

What do you see that you can choose to do in 2026 that can improve your life? Pick one area that has been shared and pick one easy and simple act that you can articulate a positive “I can” statement to accomplish your goal. Write your I can statement on a small card (post-it) and place it where you will see it every day. Let a trusted friend know your resolution. This friend becomes an accountability partner, not a nag. Commit your resolution in prayer to God and expect that He will give you the desires of your heart that are pleasing to Him.

The post What Are You Doing Different In 2026 appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

S.A.D. Contributing Factors

• Reduced sunlight exposure
• Drop in serotonin levels (mood regulation)
• Disruption in melatonin balance (affects sleep and mood)

S.A.D Statistics

• 5% of U.S. adults experience S.A.D.
• Women are 4 times more likely to experience S.A.D.
• 9-10% of people in northern and cooler climates experience S.A.D. as compared to 1-2% of people in southern and warmer climates
• S.A.D. symptoms last about 4-5 months (October to March)

S.A.D Symptoms

• Persistent low mood, sadness, or hopelessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Low energy, fatigue, or feeling of “slowing down”
• Oversleeping
• Craving carbohydrates and weight gain
• Difficulty concentrating
• Social withdrawal (hibernation tendency)

God created the sun, moon, and stars on the 4th Day of Creation to regulate seasons, days, and years (Genesis 1:14-19). Possibly our modern-day, fast-paced, electronic-driven life-style has caused a disconnect from living in God’s rhythm. God’s design was to wake up with the daylight and to go to bed not long after dark. Our modern lights have caused us to burn our candles at both ends. We are more tired and out of rhythm than we are probably aware.

Summer gives us heat and light that lasts up to 15-hours in some places. Plenty of time to get up and run, play, and work. Outdoors is the place.

Fall/Autumn brings crisp morning and evening air with a continuation of heavy heat in the mid-day to keep us wanting to be outdoors, but the time of light is growing shorter.

Winter for many is the hardest season of all. While winter brings skiing, sledding, and hot chocolate and family gatherings…it brings with it “Doldrums of the Darkness.”

What happens in nature that we as humans could take as antidotes and not fall into S.A.D. as deeply. Winter is a time of rest. Trees, flowers, and even animals have a hibernation from the work of summer and fall. Winter is a time of silence and solitude that allows you to step outside on a crisp cold winter morning, and hear the silence. No leaves blowing, no birds chirping. Winter is a time of anticipating Spring.

Spring is the bursting forth of new life, longer days, fresh smells, and sounds of joy.

Let’s look at some strategies of rest, silence and solitude, and anticipation that can boost our morale and carry us through the “Doldrums of the Darkness.”

Rest

Remember you are created to experience rest. We are created in God’s image and Genesis 2:2 states, “By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all His work.”

Remember, our modern day life may have pushed us further from rest than we think. Allowing our bodies to be regulated by the morning light and evening light can benefit our health. Once it is daylight, open the curtains, go outside to breathe in the crisp air. Oftentimes during the doldrums, it may seem you can’t shake that sleepy, groggy feeling.

Keep moving. However, if during mid-day you just can’t do one more thing, treat yourself to a nap and do so without guilt. 10-minutes can be just enough. You’ll find what is best for you. Repeat the exposure to light when you wake from your nap.

Exercise and keep moving during the light of day. Rest, other than your quick nap, should wait for darkness when you have completed your work; then you can rest.

Resting also includes reduction of body metabolism. Therefore, there is a need to reduce calories particularly sugar, carbs, caffeine, and alcohol.

The light rhythm that God created and nature adheres to is viewed in hibernation. We as humans often become gluttons for the comfort foods, holiday spreads, and uncontrollable boredom snacking during winter. This is the perpetual 10-20 pounds each person tries to shed before summer, not quite making it and repeating this winter process again and again.

Bears, squirrels, and other hibernating animals put on weight by stuffing themselves for the long winter nap. It is that excess, high calorie food that sustains and is slowly burned off to maintain the basic life functions as they sleep. By spring, the food has been metabolized and the animals wake up ravenously hungry. As humans we NEVER stop eating and the food can’t fully metabolize as we eat 3-meals a day and snacks, 7-days a week.

The Rest routine may vary and need adjusting depending on your phase of life (parenting small children, parenting teenagers, being in the sandwich generation between young adult children and aging parents, final working years’ push, or retired). Rest will look different in each phase…but remember:

1. Sun up, sun down, complete your work while it is day
2. Take extra rest when needed without guilt
3. Keep moving and soak in sun and air as often as possible
4. Reduce calories or foods that trigger boosts of energy that ultimately results in an energy crash

Silence and Solitude

What’s the difference between rest and silence and solitude? Rest is a shutting down of your body, while silence and solitude is a shutting down of your mind and your thoughts.

The symptoms of S.A.D. can lead to increased mental thoughts and mind gymnastics. Your body is experiencing less than energetic power to cope and sort through less than positive imaginations.

While rest is manifested by physical interventions, silence and solitude is captured by spiritual routine.

Step #1 is taking every thought captive. If left to our own, thoughts tend to take a downward spiral. If not captured early in their development, thoughts take the path of least resistance and can tail-spin into the worst case scenario.

Antidote to capture thoughts:

2 Corinthians 10:5

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Step #2 is establishing the plumb line to which these thoughts will line up…”the knowledge of the One True God.” There are many philosophies and self help books that will steer you to their “answer” to your problem.

Antidote to establish the plumb line for your thoughts:

John 14:1

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.

Read your Bible and Pray everyday. Start in the Psalms and Proverbs. Read the book of John.

Step #3 is to nurture hope. Hope is achieved with the same antidote as Step #2. Read your Bible and Pray everyday. Hope is only found in “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).

Anticipation

Anticipation is the embodiment of hope. We can thank God that He doesn’t allow any season to last too long. Each season has its benefits in the scheme of creation. But, left to being only one season contributes to pitfalls and dangers.

Spring is assuredly coming because we have seen it and can count on it. Just like the sun rises each morning, we can count on it, because we have seen it.

We can count on God making all things new in our lives as we walk through the darkness to the other side. Jeremiah 29:11 states God’s intention for His children: “‘For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,” says the LORD, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”

Rest your body.

Feed your spirit.

Anticipate that God as ALWAYS will provide the warm sunshine you need.

The post Doldrums of the Darkness (Seasonal Affective Disorder) appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

As children, time seems to drag on and on each year from birthday to birthday; holiday to holiday, and seems like eternity. Even as adults certain experiences seem to drag on unbearably, or quickly end in a feeling as of a blink of an eye.

I’ve often wondered, imagined about the events (usually deeply spiritual moments) that are hours long, but time seems to stand still. Is it because the presence of our timeless and eternal God and Father has broken into our linear time and time actually stood still?

Could the slogan “time sure flies when you’re having fun” be replaced with “time stands still in the Presence of God?” Does the standing still of time explain how in the wilderness the Israelites’ shoes didn’t wear out? Did their shoes not wear out because they were ever in God’s presence of the cloud by day and the fire by night?

Does time standing still explain the ability for Sarah to appear attractive and desirable twice in her later years and to also give birth LONG after it would seem normally possible? Sarah was desired by the king of Egypt at age 65 and later desired at age 90 by the king of Gerar, and this second attraction was just before she gave birth to her only child Isaac.

What are we missing in this life when we focus so much on time? While time is important, have we given it more rule over our lives than God would desire? Throughout history it has not always been as it is now. There was no “adolescence” or “retirement” until the mid to late 1900s. People and ages were not so heavily segmented. Often, children began work at an early age to assist the family in their livelihood or trade. When  older members could not do heavy work any longer, they took care of the cooking and childcare while the able bodied youth and adults worked from sun up to sun down.

I’m not advocating child labor or slavery. However, have we robbed children and ourselves the cross-generational aspect of life that God intended for us to share? Have we lost the ability to have fun and therefore slow down the clock? Have we quit desiring to create a family that lives and laughs together?

When I started reflecting on my own family celebrations, milestones, and anniversaries, I couldn’t believe that 10, 20, 30, even 50+ years have passed. Has the time passing been easy or without hardship? No, there are many struggles that have transpired over the years, but we must be having fun because it sure has seemed to fly.

Within my family circle we have ALWAYS depended on God’s presence to get us through. Has that then allowed our family to experience God’s timelessness? I’m not sure, but I sure do want to pass on to the next generation(s) that having fun is not just in the activities we do, but in the Presence of the God we keep.

Let us cultivate God’s Presence in every moment of our life, at every age of our life. God’s Word (Psalm 16:11) states, “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Begin those pleasures forevermore right here, right now so that we can say, “Time sure flies when you’re having fun!”

The post Time Flies When You’re Having Fun appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

I guess I think of summertime as being less scheduled than other times of the year. We do not seem obligated to stick to routine. But one thing that should not be thrown aside is our faith because even when life is laid back, our life with Christ needs to keep rooted, steady, and growing. The spontaneity of summer can make it harder to stick to our habits, but here are some practical ways to keep from slipping into a summer spiritual slump:

Make your quiet time summer friendly.

Do not give up your quiet time; just revise it a little. Even if you are on the go or off your routine, consistency is possible with some creativity.

• Listen to audio devotionals while driving or walking.
• Read your Bible outside with your coffee or while the kids play.
• If you need to, switch to focusing on a shorter passage or even a verse each day but meditate on it several times throughout the day. Use a sticky note to put it around the house where you will see it again and again.
• Use your time wisely. When you normally might scroll your phone waiting for kids at practice or at appointments, use your phone instead to read Scripture, listen to worship music, or pray.

Pack your faith along with your flip-flops.

Vacation should not be a break from God. In fact, time away and a change of scenery can be a perfect time to refresh your relationship with Him.

• Bring a small devotional or Scripture journal.
• Choose and share a verse or passage each day.
• Download Bible stories or Christian podcasts to listen to on long car trips or while stuck in an airplane seat.
• If you have kids with you (and even if you do not), be intentional about praising God’s creativity and care.
• Make a vacation gratitude book. Whether you are in the crowds at Disney World or in the quiet of a national park, there are so many things to be thankful for. At the end of each day, take the time, either alone, or with your family, to write down everything good God gave you that day. This can be an awesome keepsake from your trip.

Keep church on the calendar.

Even in all your busyness, prioritize church. If you can, make it non-negotiable that you are going. Staying in church will help anchor the other areas of your faith all summer (and year) long.

• If it really is not possible on a weekend, find something midweek to participate in.
• If away on a trip, find a church you can visit or stream your home church.
• Volunteer to help at VBS or a summer outreach. Actively seek out ways that you and your family can stay involved.

Make good use of your down time.

This is not strictly limited to summer, but it is when we often have a little more unstructured time.

• Play faith-based games on road trips, like Guess the Bible Character or Bible 20 Questions. (Our play Bible trivia in the 93.7 Light mobile app!)
• Have an informal, spiritual book club. Read a book on a spiritual topic together with a friend, your spouse, or your teen, and informally talk about it on a phone call or on a walk.
• Be intentional to include God in your day. God never forgets about us, but we certainly get so busy or involved that we let days go by without giving Him a thought. Write Bible verses with your kids in chalk, take dinnertime to ask your family or yourself, “How did you see God today?” Ask open-ended questions and share, yourself, what you are learning, and always use creation to point others to, or remind yourself of, the Creator.

With just a little bit of intentionality and grace, you can avoid a spiritual slump. Summer can actually be a time of spiritual growth and refreshment in your walk with Christ. So put on your flip-flops, but keep your heart rooted in Him.

The post Faith in Flip-Flops: Staying Spiritually Grounded in the Summer Slowdown appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

Whether you have a small patio, a sunny balcony, or just a corner by your kitchen door, growing fruits and vegetables in pots and containers is a practical way to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce. Container gardening saves space and gives you more control over the soil, sunlight, water, and pests. It is perfect for city homes, renters, and those who just may not be able to get out there in a full-size garden. But not every plant thrives in confined spaces, so here is a realistic guide to the best fruits and vegetables to grow in containers for a successful harvest.

Top Vegetables That Grow Well in Pots

Tomatoes. Well, technically a fruit, according to my son, but tomatoes are one of the most popular container foods. Choose a dwarf version or a variety that stays smaller, like Patio Princess or Bush Early Girl. Use a pot at least 5 gallons in size and place it where it can get 6-8 hours of sun every day.

Peppers. Bell peppers, banana peppers, and chili peppers all do well in containers. They love warm weather and full sun. Use a 3–5-gallon pot and keep the soil consistently moist.

Lettuce and Greens. Loose-leaf lettuce, kale, and spinach grow quickly and do not need deep pots. 6 inches is deep enough. They like partial shade and cooler temperatures, so they even grow in the fall.

Radishes. These are ideal for beginners because they are fast-growing and small and can be harvested in just a few weeks. Do not plant them all at once and you can keep your harvest going.

Carrots. Choose short or round varieties like Thumbelina or Little Finger. Use a deep container (at least 12 inches) with loose, sandy soil for best results.

Green Beans. Bush beans work better than pole beans for this. They grow quickly and do not need much space. They just need full sun and regular watering.

Best Fruits to Grow in Containers

Strawberries. Strawberries grow well in hanging baskets, window boxes, or traditional pots. They need at least 6 hours of sunlight and well-drained soil. Ever-bearing or day-neutral varieties will provide multiple harvests. (Day-neutral plants produce throughout the season, not just at a specific time and fruit despite the length of daylight.)

Blueberries. I saw you can grow “regular” blueberries in pots, but a dwarf variety just seems more doable to me. Blueberries prefer acidic soil, which is easy to maintain in pots. Growing at least two different varieties will allow for cross-pollination and more fruit – mature dwarf plants yield 3-5 pounds of fruit. And they have beautiful colors in the fall.

Dwarf Citrus Trees. Another beautiful addition to your deck or patio, dwarf lemons, limes, and oranges are ideal for containers. Meyer lemons, a dwarf variety, have fragrant blossoms, can self-pollinate, and tolerate moving indoors for the winter. They need sun and well-drained soil but produce sweeter and less acidic fruit.

Figs. There are dwarf varieties of fig trees, like Petite Negra, that do not require a lot of space to grow. They need full sun and a container that holds at least 10 gallons of soil.

A few final tips to make your patio garden a success: use potting mix, choose the right size container with proper drainage, water consistently – most containers do dry out faster than the ground – and choose plants that match your climate and space. With the right selection and care, container gardening can produce an impressive amount of fresh food right outside your door.

The post Best Fruits and Vegetables for Pots and Containers appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

During the party, one of the conversations we had between cousins was the concern about our children and grandchildren. The family get-togethers aren’t on the same spontaneous level of just showing up at Grandma and Grandpa’s for a Sunday dinner, a cousin play date, or just to eat ice-cream or popcorn as a family. Families are missing these types of gatherings. With that, children are not observing or experiencing the unconditional love of a hug. Not a hug to get something, but a hug to give something.

I get teary as I’m writing when I think about that bond of hugs that are being missed, not only in our family, but our friends, and close community connections.

The next day was Sunday, so I headed to church with an eagerness to make sure I hugged everyone with a much more intentional hug. I held them longer and squeezed a little harder. No one resisted. They actually leaned into the hug and returned the embrace.

This reminded me of a study I read years ago. I couldn’t find the original study, but I did find medical documentation explaining why it is so important to “hug the ones you’re with!”

• Stanford University, Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA states: “Skin-to-skin time in the first hour after birth helps regulate the babies’ temperature, heart rate, and breathing, and helps them cry less.”

• National Library of Medicine states the two following facts: 1) Touch is a primary sense, and in early infancy, it may be the most important sense. 2) Physical contact with infants also affects caregivers…contact stimulates the release of oxytocin, which is associated with nurturing behaviors and positive mood states.

Remember, Jesus said we should come as little children. Often we get all grown up and busy in our days and we forget the simple embrace of love that can rejuvenate both parties within the hug. I wonder is this the cause of so much unrest in our society today? Is the anger, frustration, and lack of hope because we have lost the art of hugging or the loss of opportunities within families to demonstrate unconditional love?

I am still making an effort to deeply hug those with whom I have that pleasure. My hugs may not change society, but it can change me and the person to whom I’m giving the hug. I encourage each of us to take every opportunity to intentionally “hug the ones we’re with,” because we are God’s hands and feet and His chosen method to express Himself here on Earth. God is LOVE…so let us reflect His love one to another.

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But it doesn’t happen all at once. The calendar saying “spring” doesn’t make winter disappear overnight. There are still gray skies, chilly mornings, and unexpected storms. We want the warmth and light of spring and summer, but it seems as if it will never come.

Our lives sometimes feel like that. We know God is always working, but we feel stuck waiting for Him to answer our prayers, waiting for a situation to be resolved, waiting for a new chapter to begin. So let’s take a look at nature to see what it can teach us about God.

The seasons always change in God’s perfect timing. No matter how long winter lasts, spring will come. The Bible says there is a season for everything and a time for every event that happens (Ecclesiastes 3:1). When we feel that we have been waiting for such a long winter season, remember that God has been working the whole time. The trees and flowers do not panic. They rest in waiting, knowing God will bring growth at the right time.

Growth happens below the surface. In the spring, we do not always see growth. Flowers haven’t bloomed, and the trees are still bare. But growth is happening beneath the ground, and roots are growing deeper.

We may not see any growth in our lives either, but in our patient waiting, God is strengthening us and deepening our trust and dependence on Him. The waiting isn’t wasted time; it is when most spiritual growth occurs. We do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Storms come before blooms. Spring in Ohio means rainstorms (sometimes snowstorms!) and unpredictable weather. But when that is over, we will have flowers, green grass, and new life. Our lives often work the same way. In the storms of life, God is doing amazing things. The storms are not meant to hurt us but to nourish us, to feed us, and prepare us to bloom. When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow (James 1:2-3).

God’s plan is always greater than we imagine. Despite the dreariness of March, we see hints of encouragement – a robin in the lawn, daffodils pushing up through the ground, and buds on the trees. These give us hope for what is coming.

Even if you haven’t yet received what you are waiting for, look for the small signs of God’s grace, goodness, and faithfulness in your life. God is working, and what He does is always bigger than we can even imagine. No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9).

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American Football Origins and Early Development

American football has evolved over more than a century. What we know as American football can be traced back to the late 1880s. The first intercollegiate football game occurred between Rutgers and Princeton on November 6, 1869. Football of that time actually was a combination between soccer and rugby.

Walter Camp introduced significant rule changes in the 1880s that included: establishment of the line of scrimmage, the systems of downs, and the concept of a set number of players per side.

The Rise of College and Professional Football

College football became very popular across the United States during the early 1900s. However, during the rise of football, there was a lack of safety initiatives. This led to President Theodore Roosevelt to push for reforms. His influence led to the formation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States in 1906. This organization was later renamed as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The first professional football player was William “Pudge” Heffelfinger who was paid $500 on November 12, 1892, playing for the Allegheny Athletic Association.

In 1920 the American Professional Football Association (APFA) was developed, and renamed the National Football League (NFL) IN 1922.

Significant Innovations of American Football

The NFL introduced a structured schedule and a championship game that eventually became what we recognize now. The NFL also introduced the forward pass rule that added to the excitement and unpredictability of the game.

The NFL and American Football League (AFL) merged in 1966 (the full merger of the AFL-NFL was completed in 1970), leading to the first AFL-NFL World Championship game in 1967, now known as the Super Bowl. This inaugural game was played between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers won with a 35-10 score.

The Vince Lombardi Trophy is awarded to the Super Bowl champion. This trophy honors the legendary Green Bay Packers and their coach who led his team to victories in the first two Super Bowls.

Football governance continues to negotiate technological advancement and rule changes to advance player safety.

Notable Dynasties

• 1970s: The Pittsburgh Steelers won four Super Bowls in six years (1975, 1976, 1979, 1980), and gained the title “Steel Curtain.”
• 1980s: The San Francisco 49ers, under quarterback Joe Montana, won four titles (1982, 1985, 1989, 1990).
• 1990s: The Dallas Cowboys secured three championships in four years (1993, 1994, 1996).
• 2000s: The New England Patriots, led by quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick won three Super Bowls in four years (2002, 2004, 2005) and continued with additional titles in 2015, 2017, and 2019.
• 2020s: The Kansas City Chiefs have rallied and been a formidable force winning Super Bowls in 2020, 2023, and 2024.

Super Bowl LIX 2025

February 9, 2025

The clash between the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs is a continuing battle for team dominance in the 2000s.

However, the battle between the top two American football teams is now history. The Kansas City Chiefs, while fighting to stay alive, did not accomplish winning three Super Bowls in a row. The Philadelphia Eagles add another win to their 2000 Dynasty with a 40 point win over the Kansas City Chiefs’ 22 points.

Share with us your reflections on American football and the amount of focus that is given to this sport and how football has been or not been part of your family’s heritage.

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Every year as I am putting away my Christmas decorations, I think about getting rid of some of them. I have limited storage space, so it just makes sense to clear out some of the ornaments that are no longer in great shape or the garland I don’t use much anymore. But I rarely do. I have all kinds of reasons why. Maybe a relative gave it to me, maybe I’ll use it next year, maybe . . .

It isn’t just Christmas decorations. I think many of us have a lot of “extra” around our homes. Whether it is books, craft supplies, some sort of knick-knack collection, or clothes that no longer fit, we have stuff in our homes, sometimes a lot of stuff, that is hard for us to part with.

That is why there is a concept called “Swedish Death Cleaning.” Apparently, it was trending last year (there is even a reality TV show about it), but I just recently heard of it. A few years before, the Marie Kondo method of decluttering sparked interest with her advice to choose to keep only what “sparks joy.” Swedish death cleaning is a little different.

What is Swedish Death Cleaning and How Can It Help You?

The term comes from the book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnussen. While there are personal benefits to living without a lot of clutter (many people report feeling less stress and more focus and control when their surroundings are clear), Magnussen promotes getting rid of our possessions for the sake of our families. Maybe not when we are young and starting out, but when we are approaching middle age or beyond, when we are starting to wonder about our later years, is a good time to begin thinking about all we have accumulated.

Many of us believe that the stuff we value and hold dear will automatically be valued by others – but most likely the things we hold onto and fill our homes with will end up out front in a yard sale. Our collections, our letters, our stuff, is ours and means more to us than it could ever to someone else, and Magnussen asks us not to burden our family with possibly months of sorting and deciding. Leaving it all for our family to deal with also takes the power away from us to determine where our belongings will actually go.

The author encourages us. She says the process is not sad – it can be a good thing to remember why each item holds special memories for us, and she also gives concrete tips, such as starting with the largest objects, like furniture, and objects that hold little emotion

first. It is not meant to be a speedy process. Even Magnussen took almost a year to go through her belongings. It isn’t so much about throwing things away as it is about deciding what truly matters.

Living with Intention

I think you will find much of Magnussen’s advice to be helpful, but let me encourage you with one additional tip: while you sort through your belongings, with your death in mind, to determine what is most important, give some serious thought not only to what you do with your stuff but also what you do with your time. Whether we are around for one more year or fifty, what we do with our time, our lives, is what truly matters.

Preparing for our death can bring clarity to our lives. Death “living” helps us ask and answer if what we are doing right now specifically in this moment and with our lives in general is important. Is it worthwhile? Is it pleasing to God and helpful for others? Is this the best way to make our lives count for something?

Reading the Swedish death cleaning book helped me know how to deal with my clutter, but the whole idea made my wonder about my time. I hope it is helpful for you too.

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Guess what? 2025, it is here and God has been here waiting for us to arrive!

God is never caught off-guard of where we are or in what condition we find ourselves. Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,” says the LORD, “plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

The context of the story surrounding Jeremiah and this message can apply to us as we may see our current situation(s) impossible and hopeless. The time period is after the Israelites had been captured and taken into Babylonian captivity under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar. The Israelites were in captivity for 70 years when Jeremiah’s message came to them. Jeremiah was part of those remaining in Jerusalem and he was sending a message to those in captivity. The ruling class of Jerusalem was unhappy with Jeremiah, and sending this message placed Jeremiah in grave danger.

Jeremiah was sending a message of hope to the captives. Jeremiah earlier in the same chapter stated (vs 5-7):

“Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters, multiply there and not decrease [in number]. Seek peace and well-being for the city where I have sent you into exile, and say to the LORD on its behalf, for in its peace (well-being) you will have peace.”

God is standing in our present with open arms declaring to us, “I’ve been waiting for you to arrive.” God has love to lavish on us because we are His children. He has gifts to offer us through that love. Just as Jeremiah told the people in exile, God has “plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope,” God today is aware of our current condition and circumstances. Our grandmothers in the driveway knew our condition and loved us just the way we were. They were still overjoyed to have us come into their presence. The question is, “Will we stay in the car?”

What does it look like to get out of “the car” and into the presence of God? The first step is admitting we have an estranged relationship with God. While many of us may have gone to church as kids, we have not walked in a close loving relationship with God our Father and Creator. Secondly, we need to ask God for forgiveness, and ask Him to come into our lives as the savior and director of our lives.

Finally, as we get out of “the car” we need to run into the arms of Jesus and begin to read our Bibles and fellowship with other believers so we can get to know the true LOVE NATURE of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

If you have additional questions of what this really means or how to begin this relationship with God, give us a call at (937) 424-1640. We’d love to talk to you about it!

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I figure I’m doing a good thing. We’re familiar with the verse in Proverbs that says a merry heart does good, like medicine. And you know that’s true. We distract children from the pain of a shot or a scraped knee with a funny face or a silly song, and even as adults, when someone or something makes us laugh, we momentarily forget our troubles and worries.

But according to the Mayo Clinic, laughter can literally help heal your body. Laughing forces more air into your lungs so more oxygen goes into your body. It increases the endorphins released from your brain. These not only make you feel good, but they affect your cardiovascular system, decreasing your blood pressure and heart rate and improving your circulation. Long term, laughter fights the effects of stress on your body and can improve your immune system, relieve pain, improve your mood, and even help you lose weight.

God didn’t have to create us with a sense of humor, but He did, simply for our enjoyment and health. We have times of joy and laughter now, but there are several passages in the Bible that speak of laughter in the future, when our hearts and bodies are free of pain and worry and we have full freedom and joy in the Lord. That seems almost unreal now because of the world we live in, but the moments of joy and laughter we experience here give us another glimpse into the world to come.

One more thing laughter does is encourage connection with others. Almost everyone likes to hear a joke. Telling one is an easy way to make difficult situations a little easier or break barriers and forge the beginning of a relationship with a coworker or someone you regularly encounter. They might laugh at your joke now, but, through you, may eventually come to know the joy that lasts forever.

So where do bad rainbows go? To prism. But it’s a light sentence and gives them time to reflect.

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I want to show you, from God’s Word, why we have an obligation to influence the direction of the United States of America!

First of all, we are ambassadors for Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us this in Second Corinthians 5:20. What is an ambassador and what do they do? An ambassador is a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government as the resident representative of his or her own government. What does this mean for believers in Jesus? Paul said in Philippians 3:20 that our citizenship is in Heaven. If we are ambassadors, then we have been sent from our home country Heaven, by our King Jesus, to represent His values in the land to which He sent us. As citizens of these United States, we’ve been given the right to influence who leads this nation and the direction those leaders take the nation. Luke 12:48 reminds us that to whom much is given, much is required. That verse isn’t just talking about financial resources, it includes influence as well.

So then if we as believers in Jesus Christ, living temporarily as citizens of this nation, are supposed to make a difference here for our home country Heaven, what does that look like? In Matthew 5:14 Jesus told us to be the light of the world. One verse earlier He commanded us to be the salt of the earth. In order to influence this country for our home country we, as followers of Christ, must be Salt and Light!

Salt, before the days of refrigeration was the primary means of preserving food. So, when Jesus says we are to be salt, our job is to help preserve our culture from spoiling or becoming rotten. To be the light of the world is to help dispel the darkness that keeps people wandering around lost. How are we doing? Not so good!

Don’t misunderstand, we can’t make people behave. People that don’t know Jesus, don’t have our moral compass. We should share the Gospel with everyone we can and let the Spirit of God do His work. But there are some things we can do, things that our country still allows us to do and things our Ambassadorship requires of us.

We can speak out about the darkness and rottenness in our culture. We can work to have ungodly practices and laws ended. We can work to get people elected who still believe there is a God to whom we must all give an account.

Using our freedom to vote is a minimum requirement for all believers in this free nation. We have not been called by God and left here to go along and get along. We are here in this temporary kingdom by God’s providence to make a difference for His Eternal Kingdom. So, let’s embrace our Ambassadorship this November and support those issues and candidates up and down the ballot who most closely align with Biblical principles and the priorities of our King of Kings!

Tracy Figley

CEO of Strong Tower Christian Media

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Depression is on the rise.  In the article, “U.S. Depression Rates Reach New Heights,” published in Wellbeing, (May 17, 2023), Dan Witters reports, “The percentage of U.S. adults who report having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetime has reached 29%, nearly 10 percentage points higher than in 2015.  Over one-third of women (36.7%) now report having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetime, compared with 20.4% of men, and their rate has risen at nearly twice the rate of men since 2017.”

These statistics are mentioned to let everyone know that depression is a real issue in our world today.  Depression in the 10 years leading up to the pandemic…increased by about 40% among young people according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Depression can be diagnosed on a scale from mild to severe. This blog is not to downplay the importance of securing a support system or scheduling an appointment with a Christian doctor or mental health provider.  This blog is to encourage individuals to fill our minds with the positive Word of God to align our spirit, soul, and body to God’s ultimate plan (Jeremiah 29:11).  The enemy attacks us in our mind with thoughts of worry, fear, and anxiety.  The enemy is out to destroy us and separate us from the LOVE of GOD!

Depression is found in and out of the “Church” contrary to what many people may believe. There are myths and misconceptions that may keep Christians from seeking professional help or admitting to a trusted friend or pastor they are experiencing depression. Christians have often taken the stoic (free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief) stance and suppress that they are experiencing some form of depression out of fear they will be labeled with one of the following myths.

• Myth 1: Depression is caused by a lack of willpower.
• Myth 2: Depression is caused by unconfessed sin.  Suffering is punishment from God.
• Myth 3: Depression is self-pity.  If you’re depressed, you’re just feeling sorry for yourself.
• Myth 4: Depression is caused solely by a chemical imbalance.
• Myth 5: Depression is due to lack of faith.

I have my own personal thoughts on the above myths.  My thoughts are based upon my own journey through depression as a Christian, as well as my professional background in counseling and education. I want to remind you, if you are experiencing depression my number one suggestion is to secure a support system (pastor or trusted confidant) or schedule an appointment with a Christian doctor or mental health provider who can assist you.  It may take both the spiritual side (prayer and scripture) and the physical (counseling and medication) to advance you out of the depression depending on the severity and longevity you are experiencing.

An Argument Against the Myths of Depression

I disagree that depression is due to a lack of willpower.  As stated earlier, Satan is always attempting to influence our thinking.  A person who might look at this myth gets trapped in a never-ending loop of self defeating efforts to try and do better.  This trying to do better often feeds into increased depression because the person is unable to achieve relief.

I do agree that depression can, but not always be due to unconfessed sin.  I definitely do not believe that depression is placed upon a person as punishment from God.  The same never-ending cycle of someone looking for that next sin they need to confess can feed into increased depression, just like the myth of lack of willpower.  As we become more and more like Christ in putting on the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control; we have more of God’s power to overcome the enemy and his attack on our minds.  As we can take the focus off the negative and place it on the positive, God is faithful to complete the work within us that He began (Philippians 1:6).

Myth number 3 falls into the same category as myths 1 and 2.  I don’t agree that depression is caused by self-pity.  However, depending on a person’s make-up, they may begin to feed self-pity that compounds and deepens the depression.

Myth numbers 4 and 5 are probably the most controversial within the Body of Christ due to their complexity.  I do believe that over a period of time a person’s chemical brain make-up can change due to depression.  Are some people more susceptible to depression than others because of their chemical make-up?  Chemical brain make-up can change due to trauma.  Trauma often proceeds depression because a person has a difficult time coping with the changes caused by that trauma. The issue is, if you are experiencing depression, there may be medication that can help you realign the chemical balance in your brain. Additionally, diet and exercise have been found to have longer lasting results and creates less dependence on a substance for the healthy recovery of your brain’s chemical make-up.

Myth number 5 may be used unwittingly as a weapon by those not or never having experienced depression. There is a fine line between faith and trusting that God will make all things right, and condemning oneself that they are depressed because they themselves lack the amount of faith necessary to recover. People then compare themselves to others they have seen and individuals in the Bible that experienced miraculous recovery, and then see themselves as “the one God did not heal.”

This article is speaking in general.  Each person’s experience is different.  If you are the person experiencing depression, reach out to a trusted friend first, and tell them about this article and how you are struggling.  If they are the true friend, they will not condemn you or state any of the above myths.  They can pray with you and give helpful encouragement and possible next steps.

The next section of this article is focused on the title, “The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength.”  If you’ve read this far, you may have experienced a sense of hopelessness.  I want to provide some of the scriptures that I have found helpful for me. 

I’d like to start with a hymn from my childhood called, “Reach Out to Jesus.”  Music choices can often lift the depressive spirit or thoughts we may be having in our head.

Is your burden heavy as you bear it all alone? 

Does the road you travel harbor danger yet unknown? 

Are you growing weary in the struggle of it all? 

Jesus will help you when on His name you call.

He is always there, hearing every prayer, faithful and true. 

Walking by our side, in His love we hide, all the day thru. 

When you get discouraged, just remember what to do,

reach out to Jesus, He’s reaching out to you.

Is this life you’re living filled with sorrow and despair? 

Does the future press you with its worry and its care? 

Are you tired and friendless, have you almost lost your way? 

Jesus will help you.  Just call on Him today.

Often, depression is seeing life with no options or hope.  “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12).  The Bible is full of verses that provide hope if we choose to take them into our lives just as regularly as we might take in the prescribed medicine or exercises provided by a doctor or mental health professional.  Here are just a few of the many hope-filled, joy-filled scriptures within the Bible. 

“‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”

Lamentations 3:24

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:5

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Romans 15:14

“…Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10b

“Remember the word you gave me.  Through it you gave me hope.  This is my comfort in my misery.  Your promise gave me a new life.”

Psalm 119:49-50

The hope we need to face each day is not of our own making.  Our strength, our hope, and our courage is us being in Jesus and Jesus being in us.  We can find this oneness in Christ when we read about “The Vine and the Branches” in John 15:1-17, as well as reading Psalm 91 with the vivid picture of us dwelling in the presence of God.

The joy of the Lord is our strength in whatever circumstance we may be.  Therefore, let us be of good courage through the strength of Christ as we face each and every day.

The post The Joy Of The Lord Is Our Strength: Depression and the Christian appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

You can see the story yourself in Genesis 37-50 to get all the details – if you do not know the story already, you will not regret reading it. It’s one of the longest and most picturesque narratives of the Bible, so I do not really even have the space here to summarize it. But I do want to tell you about a particular part of Joseph’s life. Joseph was a favorite of his dad, hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, accused of rape, a prisoner, an interpreter of dreams, a savior of his people, and leader of the known world, but when Joseph is mentioned in Hebrews 11, the chapter that records many people known and commended for their faith, this is what it says: By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones (Hebrews 11:22).

What?? Of all the things Joseph endured and accomplished, this is what the writer of Hebrews praises Joseph for? Mentioning the Israelites leaving Egypt and telling them what to do with his bones? Why does that rate being in the same category with those who conquered kingdoms or left all they knew or were beaten or killed? Joseph was abused, mistreated, forgotten, and used mightily by God, but here in Hebrews, none of that is recognized. What was it about Joseph’s words that revealed such faith?

When Joseph was about to die, he told his family that God will bring them out of Egypt and into the land that He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and because he knew God would one day do this, Joseph wanted to be part of it and made his family swear that they would carry his bones with them to the Promised Land.

The Promised Land looked further away now than before – none of the Israelites were in the land now, and it would be over 300 more years until God sent Moses. I don’t know if by the time of Joseph’s death, the Israelites were already coming under oppression or if they were just so entrenched in Egypt that they could not get out, but it seems they couldn’t. But Joseph knew one day they would. God had promised, and Joseph believed. The last verse of Genesis says that Joseph was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.

His faith was so strong that it was passed down from generation to generation. Moses records in the book of Exodus that he brought the bones of Joseph with him out of Egypt because Joseph had made the Israelites swear that they would. So Joseph, most likely in a King Tut-like coffin, was carried across the Red Sea, all around the wilderness for forty years, and then, finally, into the Promised Land, where, according to the very end of the book of Joshua, he was buried in the burial plot of his father, Jacob.

Joseph died before God completely fulfilled His promise – and so did Abraham, Moses, Samson, the prophets, and all the others in the chapter of faith, but Joseph had seen God’s goodness in his life and knew God will one day soon come bring all His people into the place He has promised for him and for us.

The post Does God Keep His Promises? appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

Can you imagine what you would feel If you were in an emergency; hit “on” to your device, and the screen is BLACK? What emotion would come over you?

I had to quickly tell myself, “BE STILL, don’t panic, and pray!” Each experience caused me to do a “troubleshooting” process. What were the circumstances that occurred before each event? Was there anything that was similar between the experiences?

Daily experiences often cause me to have what I call, “God Moments.” I immediately thought about our personal spiritual lives as I thought about the loss of power and black screens to my computers. I realized we need reserves and need to stay charged up in our Christian walk. We need to have faith and simultaneously check our connection to the source and resolve any issues that might hinder our best performance. I summarized what I learned from my black screen experiences that I could apply to our spiritual life.

First, fill the tank (in some manner…plug in to the source).

“God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble” (Psalms 46:1). Too often our first go-to is our own strength to get through our crises. We pull on our intellectual wisdom and past experience. However, our strength is not sufficient because the Bible declares God’s words, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”(Isaiah 55:8-9).

We need to fill our tank with the WORD of God. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). We need to praise and worship God because, “The joy of the Lord is your strength. You must not be dejected and sad!” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Make sure you have asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. He is the only source of power on which we can depend. Jesus died and rose from the grave to restore us to right relationship with God. Jesus promised that he would send Holy Spirit to be our comforter, teacher, and power source to guide us as “an advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth” (John 14:16-17a). “We get our new life from the Spirit. So we should follow the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

Continue to pray and peek (check the battery, is it critical and in the red or is the battery now green?)

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Prayer is our continued connection to God. Our prayer life should be like the set of a bird’s wings; one side prayer and the other side praise.

Counting your blessings every day is peeking at the goodness of God and the progress of His filling and providing for you. We need to remember the accomplishments of our God. What have we seen God provide for us? Do we count God’s marvelous works as unable to meet our needs for today? “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Continue praying and keep filling from the source. Be at rest (peace) and give time without continued peeking. Go about doing the next right thing and trust God will make all things right.

We need to realize that we are leaky vessels and do not hold a never-ending charge of God’s presence. Being a Christian is a daily relationship talking to God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit). As we input the Word of God daily, pray and praise daily, we will gain a peace that passes all understanding and keeps our hearts and minds stayed upon Him (Philippians 4:17).

Stress and worry drains the tank of energy. The Peace of God fills the tank. Holy Spirit and His nudgings of Truth through the word, prayer, and praise also helps to seal some of those cracks in our tank and improves the longevity of the fillings. But, we must NEVER forget, God walked with Adam every day in the cool of the day. God wants to do the same with us, and therefore, we can assume, God is a daily moment by moment filling God that doesn’t want us to store up for a lifetime at one filling.

Remember the first glimpse of screen light turns up our FAITH.

There are times we have been chugging along and we forget the wonders of God’s interventions and blessings in our lives. We can miss the small actions that are the beginning of the refueling of our lives because we are still focused on all the negative and lack we are experiencing.

In my own experience, I have found God doesn’t give the full end of the story’s picture. He gives small glimpses of encouragement that keeps me going, knowing that God knows where I am and what I’m experiencing. I can know that He has never failed me, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Our walk with God is by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). But, glimpses along the path sure do go a long way to keep us putting one foot in front of another. I heard recently, “If I can see your Face (God), I can finish the race” (Author Anonymous). God said through Jeremiah the prophet, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (29:11). We need to daily keep seeking for the glimpse of God’s power in our lives.

Trust God to be your source and stay plugged in at all costs.

It was amazing that as I have worked on this article, I’ve had to put into practice my words. I think that is a God Moment to confirm to me that I cannot write to others what I am not living. I woke up this morning with a feeling of dread. A feeling that I could compare to a “Black Screen” moment. I did not have a desire to get out of bed, I didn’t want to go to work, I wanted to hide in my house for the day. Many years ago, this was a daily experience and I had to push my way with Christ through those dark days to where I am today.

I quickly realized I was in a spiritual battle to trust God to be my power source. I needed to recharge and power up at all costs. I sat longer and was quiet before I started my morning routine. During my quiet time I was crying out to God expressing my weakness. I finally had enough energy to open my Bible and complete my normal morning devotionals. As I plugged in to my daily routine, I could sense the fog of my mind and body lifting. By the time I left for work, I was able to pray and praise God with my normal energy and taking in the sounds and sights that continue to remind me of God’s GREAT love and compassion. I could have been defeated for the day if I had not recognized that my power source was needing to be plugged in at all costs.

I cannot afford to function on a low spiritual battery. People in my sphere of influence may need me to be the spark of energy they need in their lives for that day. I pray that you will find God as your power source and that you establish a routine that keeps you charged up and running on full each and every day.

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The moral of the story is that through slow and steady progress the Tortoise won the race.  The Hare had such a burst of early energy in the race, along with the pride of self, the Hare decided he could stop and sit along the side of the road, take a nap, and still burst forth and win in the end.

How do you want to face the challenges and choices of this new year?  People often make resolutions to begin a new year with great intentions to finish the race strong.  Often, however, the energy and excitement of the new year is not enough to sustain the hard work and consistency necessary to achieve the end results.

If you are thinking about resolutions for this new year, you can use the following encouragement to help you win the race with slow and steady steps to the finish line.

Pros of Setting Resolutions

• Adds motivation to change

• Provides guidelines for improving life

• Creates a clean start

Cons of Setting Resolutions

• Increases anxiety

• Sets up for possible failure

• Hesitant approach of the future

It is best to set realistic expectations couched with moderation.  It is also good to place your goals in a positive framework like, “I will attempt or try _____.”  The more traditional tone of resolutions is, “I will quit ______.”  Once you hear or say quit, the battle of will-power over long entrenched habits begins.  Having a positive “I will try” gives room for measured positive successes over time versus a cold turkey, 180° about-face.

Measured positive successes are like a military campaign.  A battle or two may be lost, but the overall war is won. This goes back to the realistic, moderate, measurable “expectations” you place upon yourself.

Three top resolutions you may make and realistic suggestions to achieve success.

1. Losing 50 pounds in one or two months is not realistic with the expectation of maintaining the weight loss.  Reducing sugar intake, chips and cookies, as well as increasing the amount of water you drink rather than soda or other sugar infused drinks is a great start.  Did you notice, exercise wasn’t even suggested.  Increasing exercise to lose weight may be the #1 New Year Resolution that fails.  Slightly changing eating habits has a longer sustainable possibility.  Then, when the weather starts to warm up, a short walk around the block or some other outdoor activity can add to your “exercise” routine.  A natural outdoor activity does not add the cost of a gym membership or anxiety of consistently getting to the gym, so as not to waste your investment.
2. Praying for one hour a day (without) interruption may not be realistic because of your stage of life.  You may have small children and NEVER get a full hour of anything.  You may be juggling a job or two as well as family obligations that may put you in the middle of caring for your children, grandchildren, and your parents.  A great place to start is 5-15 minutes a day. This may be during your morning or evening bathroom routine.  Let that be your uninterrupted time with God.  Then, throughout the day maintain an attitude of prayer and send up whispers of praise or petition to God our Father.  Eventually you may see that time of prayer expands naturally without you having to punch a time clock.
3. Getting out of debt within 6 months.  If it took you 5, 10, 20 years to get yourself in over your head, it may take 3-5 years to get out.  For getting out of debt, just like losing weight, choose small realistic, measurable goals that you and your family can live with.  Rather than eating out several nights a week, see if you can save money by eating at home.  You can also start a “We Saved That Money” jar and place what you might have spent aside.  This jar can be used for small unexpected emergencies that you might have normally charged.  Once you can maintain that success, see other options of less spending in another area and divert those savings to paying off small bills that nag at you and disrupt your peace.  This slow and steady process will focus you in the right direction for digging yourself out of the money pit.

The goal of New Year Resolutions is to activate positive change in our lives.  The most important positive change in our life is making sure we have a solid faith in the redemptive work of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection.  That redemptive work connects us back to God as Father.  Knowing the LOVE of the Father and His daily unlimited desire for our best (Jeremiah 29:11) is the best New Year Resolution anyone can make.  Therefore, we can make plans for our future and know that we are not alone in the process to achieve those goals.  May 2024 be your BEST year ever because you face it with the JOY of Jesus as your STRENGTH! (Nehemiah 8:10)

The post Are Your Resolutions The Tortoise Or The Hare? appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

I don’t think that is just a kid thing. When an event or occasion you have been planning for and working toward for days, weeks, or even months is just suddenly over, there is a natural let-down. Your mind and body have been busy thinking and planning and baking and shopping and wrapping and worshipping and visiting. But then it stops. The Christmas music stops, the parties are over, the people go home, and there is nothing to do.

For some people, that may be an amazing feeling. I’m done. I can relax and rest for a season. But for others, that same tired feeling leads to depression. And more than physical exhaustion, what if, despite you putting all your energy (and possibly too much money) into making the holiday time the best you could, you still had unmet expectations and things just didn’t go as you had hoped?

Sometimes, just getting back into your pre-holiday routine can do wonders for you. Eating healthier food, getting more sleep, and, if possible, spending time walking or other activities outdoors will help restore your energy and a sense of balance. If you did make family or financial mistakes, take the time to rationally think about ways to avoid that the next time the holidays roll around.

But if your sadness is a little more, if it really can’t be fixed by putting the cookies away, I want you to try to remember one thing. The same Emmanuel, the same “God with us” that you put so much energy and time into celebrating in December is still here in January. We might feel different, but He doesn’t. He didn’t change, and He is still there wanting to listen to and help you. And the good news that He brought when He came to earth is still the most amazing news of all. We who were condemned to die now can live forever. And that is something to celebrate even on the coldest, darkest, and saddest day.

If you are having trouble remembering that, get yourself some reminders. Read and think about God’s Word, listen to the encouraging reminders in the music of Hope 100.7 or the messages of 93.7 The Light – not just in the car on the way to work but at home when you can use some help. And make sure you are heading to church. There is no better way to get your mind off your own struggles and be reminded that the news of Christmas is a year-round joy than to be in the presence of God and fellow worshippers.

The post Where Is God In January? Post-Holiday Blues appeared first on 93.7 The Light.