CLA+

On a long family road trip, I spent hours driving through the sparsely populated states of Montana and South Dakota. As I drove, I began to notice a pattern: vast stretches of farmland were dotted with groves of trees surrounding a house. As I worked hard to keep our van in our lane due to strong winds, it dawned on me that the trees were there for more than beauty. They were also intentionally cultivated windbreakers designed to protect the home and its occupants from the powerful gusts of wind buffeting the landscape.

The prophet Isaiah once described a future in God’s care as a shelter from wind and storm. Having called God’s people to repentance (Isaiah 31:6–7), Isaiah also wrote of a future time when “a king will reign in righteousness” (32:1) and all who rule with Him will be “a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm” (v. 2). The resulting blessing is people who are able to see, hear, understand, and speak truth (vv. 3–4) in peace and safety.

While we still await the full benefits of this promise, we already see God at work through those who actively look out for the interests of others (Philippians 2:3–4). Christ’s Spirit helps us cultivate a safe space where people can flourish even in difficult times. This is a tangible way we can exemplify God’s loving care.

When Diana’s vision began to deteriorate, she grew concerned. She’d also been having trouble thinking and kept repeating herself. Her symptoms caused doctors to believe it wasn’t a problem with her eyes but something in her brain. They learned she had a large tumor in her brain that needed to be removed. Diana was concerned that the surgery would impair her ability to sing—something she’s passionate about and shares with her family. So her surgeon did something incredible and kept her awake for the pain-free surgery, asking her to sing during the procedure so he’d know he’d preserved that part of her neurological circuitry. The two even recorded a duet during the operation.

Like Diana, King David—who penned many of the Bible’s psalms—was passionate about singing. He often sang to God in both lament and joy. When he was delivered from his enemies, he acknowledged that it was God who set him “free from [his] enemies” (2 Samuel 22:49). Because of God’s good works, David declared, “I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name” (v. 50).

God continues to be at work in the world and in each of our lives, delivering us from the malady that plagues us all: sin. May we, like David, set our hearts on singing God’s praises for all He’s done.

Merriam-Webster’s 2023 Word of the Year was “authentic.” It means “not false or an imitation” and “true to one’s own personality, spirit or character.” People search for truth, but discerning fact from fiction can be challenging.  Editor Peter Sokolowski said, “Can we trust whether a student wrote this paper [or] . . . whether a politician made this statement? We don’t always trust what we see anymore. We sometimes don’t believe our own eyes or our own ears. We are now recognizing that authenticity is a performance itself.”

As what is real becomes less clear, authenticity is something most people crave. This kind of “crisis of authenticity” can be averted as we take in and live out the wisdom of Scripture. Jesus spoke to His disciples just before His arrest, trial, and death (John 13-17). Preparing his disciples for his departure from earth, He also “looked to heaven and prayed” for them (17:1). He prayed that the Father might “sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (v. 17). This implies that what God has revealed in the Bible doesn’t conform to some other standard of what’s true, but it is truth itself and the standard by which everything else is judged.

God calls us to align our lives with Scripture, to conduct ourselves according to its truth. Only by doing so can we become truly authentic, which is very much what the world needs today.

Read Shannon's Poem here.

--------

Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible.

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org.

Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

Right now, at this moment, the Spirit of the living God is talking to the rest of the Trinity about you. The eternal, ever-creating Spirit is speaking on your behalf. Help is here! The greatest force, the only true force, in the universe is your ally, your advocate.  “[He] keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good” (Romans 8:28 MSG).

You may be stuck in a dark place with no visible exit. If so, please hear this. When we are in times of weakness, it is all hands on deck as the Trinity works to bring about what is good for us. We do not know how to pray; that is okay. The Spirit knows, and he prays for you.

Read more Help Is Here

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

After I joined the board of trustees of a seminary, the long-term leader announced his retirement. I found myself among those tasked with searching for a new president. Together, we amassed a daunting list of qualifications. How would we find someone to fulfill such a complicated and vital role?

I wondered the same as I read God’s specifications for the tabernacle’s lampstands to be crafted of pure gold, with flower-like cups and almond flowers and six branches (Exodus 25:31-35). And the courtyard was “to have curtains of finely twisted linen, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts” (27:9-10). Who could fulfill such assignments?

God answers, “I have chosen Bezalel . . . and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills . . .  to engage in all kinds of crafts” (31:2-5). God also said, “I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you” (v. 6).

Where do we turn to fill a vacant role for a high-level leader, a volunteer at church, or to orchestrate an event? To the God who calls and equips His people. God laid out an ambitious design for His temple. Then He chose and equipped His people to implement it. God’s answer to His plans is God’s people.

Major update to Carey's 2025 church trends with stunning new data. Gen Z church attendance has quadrupled (4% to 16%), with young men leading at 21%. US data shows similar revival patterns.

...

Read the whole entry... »

What happens when no one’s asking the hard questions?
ECFA President Michael Martin talks with David Ashcraft, CEO of the Global Leadership Network, about the urgent need for accountability, care, and clear guardrails in leadership.

From the isolation many pastors and nonprofit leaders face to how transparency can rebuild trust, this episode offers practical insights and a call to action for leaders, boards, and teams alike.

Discover why vague expectations create hidden risks—and how intentional conversations and well-defined boundaries can protect leaders and strengthen organizations.

If you care about healthy leadership and culture, this episode is a must-listen.

It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by endless meetings, emails, and responsibilities. In this episode, Juliet Funt shares practical strategies to simplify your schedule, re-energize your leadership, and create “white space” to help you cut through the chaos and empower your team.

Watch video and download the leader guide: https://www.life.church/leadershippodcast/fortune-500-advisor-on-why-this-one-minute-will-change-your-workday-juliet-funt

Sign up for our e-newsletter today!

--------

Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible.

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org.

Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.