Are You A Pantser or a Plotter #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Divine Design: Finding Balance Between Planning and Providence

"A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps." - Proverbs 16:9 KJV

Just as writers approach their craft as either "plotters" or "pantsers," many of us navigate life with similar tendencies. Some meticulously plan every detail, creating life's outline before living its chapters. Others embrace spontaneity, letting their story unfold organically, trusting in the moment's inspiration.

The Scripture provides examples of both approaches. Noah was given detailed blueprints for the ark - a divine "outline" to follow precisely. Meanwhile, Abraham was simply told to go to a land that God would show him later, walking by faith rather than a predetermined plan.

Consider Joseph, who interpreted Pharaoh's dreams and created a detailed fourteen-year plan to save Egypt. Yet his own life story hadn't followed any outline he could have written. The path from favored son to slave to prisoner to prime minister wasn't plotted on any human map.

King David, the great strategist who planned battles with precision, also wrote spontaneous psalms of praise and danced before the Lord with abandoned joy. He understood the balance between careful planning and Spirit-led spontaneity: "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jeremiah 10:23 KJV).

For those of us who are "plotters" in life, we must remember that while "The preparations of the heart in man" are good, "the answer of the tongue is from the Lord" (Proverbs 16:1 KJV). Our most carefully crafted plans must remain flexible to divine editing. Sometimes God's greatest works in our lives come through unplanned chapters we never would have written for ourselves.

Conversely, those who are "pantsers" might need to remember Solomon's wisdom: "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want" (Proverbs 21:5 KJV). While spontaneity can be beautiful, certain aspects of our spiritual lives - like prayer, Bible study, and fellowship - benefit from intentional planning and discipline.

The key is finding holy balance. We need both the discipline to plan and the flexibility to follow God's unexpected leadings. After all, God Himself is both the ultimate Plotter - having planned our salvation before the foundation of the world - and the Master of divine surprises, working in ways that eye hath not seen nor ear heard.

Prayer: Lord, help us find the balance between careful planning and faithful flexibility. Give us wisdom to know when to plot our course and when to trust Your unexpected leadings. May we neither be bound by rigid plans nor carried about by every wind of circumstance. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Reflection Question: In your spiritual journey, are you more of a "plotter" or a "pantser," and what specific steps can you take to develop a healthier balance?

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Standing Strong #RTTBROS #nightlight

Standing Strong: Building Faith Before the Battle

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." - Luke 16:10 KJV

When we read of Daniel's courageous stand in Babylon, refusing the king's meat and wine, it's tempting to view this as his first moment of spiritual boldness. However, like a mighty oak that withstands storms because of its deep roots, Daniel's courage in that crucial moment stemmed from countless smaller decisions of faithfulness made long before.

Consider how a soldier trains in peacetime. No commander waits until the heat of battle to begin preparing his troops. Yet sometimes we approach our spiritual lives this way, expecting to stand firm in major trials without having exercised our faith in smaller challenges.

The Scripture tells us, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Ephesians 6:10 KJV). This strength isn't manufactured in a moment of crisis - it's developed through daily disciplines and choices. Each time we choose God's way in small matters, we lay another brick in the foundation of our faith.

Think about Joseph, who likely learned integrity in small things while tending his father's sheep, long before he would need that character to resist Potiphar's wife. Or David, who developed his trust in God while protecting his flock from lions and bears, before facing Goliath in the valley of Elah.

In our contemporary world, where religious freedom still allows us to worship openly, we must recognize these opportunities as training grounds for our faith. Every church service attended, every private prayer offered, every Scripture memorized is like spiritual weight training, building strength for future challenges.

As the prophet Jeremiah warned, "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?" (Jeremiah 12:5 KJV). We cannot expect to stand in the day of great trials if we haven't been faithful in the small daily tests of our faith.

Prayer: Lord, help us recognize that today's small acts of obedience are preparing us for tomorrow's greater challenges. Give us the wisdom to be faithful in the little things, knowing that these moments are building our spiritual strength for the battles ahead. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Reflection Question: What small acts of faithfulness are you neglecting today that could weaken your spiritual strength for tomorrow's challenges?

Troubles Like Tribbles #RTTBROS #Nightlight

When Troubles Multiply Like Tribbles

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." - 1 Peter 5:7 KJV

In one of Star Trek's most memorable episodes, the crew of the Enterprise encounters seemingly harmless creatures called tribbles. These small, furry beings appear innocent enough at first - much like our initial worries and concerns. However, tribbles possess an extraordinary ability to reproduce rapidly, soon overwhelming the entire starship with their presence, infiltrating every system and compartment until they become an insurmountable problem.

How often do our troubles follow this same pattern? What begins as a single concern, when dwelt upon and fed by our anxiety, can multiply until it seems to consume every aspect of our lives. Like tribbles, our worries appear to breed exponentially when we give them our constant attention and energy.

The Enterprise crew discovered that the more they fed the tribbles, the faster they multiplied. Similarly, when we feed our troubles with constant attention, negativity, and fear, they grow beyond their actual size. As Solomon wisely observed, "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad" (Proverbs 12:25 KJV).

Just as Captain Kirk and his crew had to shift their focus from the overwhelming number of tribbles to finding a solution, we too must learn to redirect our attention from our multiplying troubles to the God who holds all solutions. The Lord reminds us, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee" (Isaiah 41:10 KJV).

The resolution to the tribble crisis came when the crew stopped merely reacting to the creatures' presence and instead developed a strategic solution. Likewise, our breakthrough often arrives when we stop feeding our troubles with worry and instead nourish our faith with God's promises and possibilities.

Remember, our God specializes in problem-solving. He parted the Red Sea, brought down the walls of Jericho, and raised the dead to life. No trouble - no matter how rapidly it seems to multiply - is beyond His control or His care.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive us for the times we've allowed our troubles to multiply by focusing on their presence rather than Your power. Help us to cast our cares upon You, knowing that You are greater than any problem we face. Teach us to feed our faith instead of our fears. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Reflection Question: What "tribbles" in your life need to be handed over to God's capable care today?

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The Alter: God's operating table. #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Altar: God's Operating Table

"And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony..." - Exodus 25:22 KJV

Throughout history, altars have served as sacred meeting places between God and humanity - points of divine intersection where transformation occurs. Just as a surgeon's table represents the place where healing and necessary change take place, God's altar is where our spiritual surgery happens.

Consider Abraham on Mount Moriah. When he laid Isaac on the altar, it wasn't just his son being offered - Abraham himself was being transformed. His understanding of God, his faith, and his very identity underwent a profound change. The altar became the place where his ultimate surrender led to his greatest revelation.

In our modern context, we often shy away from altar experiences, preferring comfortable pews to places of sacrifice. Yet, the altar remains God's chosen place for divine surgery. It's where our old nature meets divine scalpel, where our weaknesses encounter His strength, and where our limited understanding gives way to His infinite wisdom.

King David understood this principle when he declared, "I will not offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing" (2 Samuel 24:24 KJV). True transformation always comes at a cost - the cost of our pride, our self-sufficiency, and our personal agendas.

The altar experience isn't meant to be comfortable. Like surgery, it may involve pain, but this pain leads to healing. When Jacob wrestled with God at Peniel, he left with both a limp and a blessing. The altar changed him so thoroughly that even his name was transformed from Jacob to Israel.

Today's churches sometimes emphasize comfort over transformation, creating spaces where we can observe without being observed, hear without being heard, and attend without being attended to by the Great Physician. But just as a hospital without operating rooms fails its primary purpose, a church without active altars risks becoming merely a spiritual social club.

The invitation remains: Will you come to the altar? Will you allow the divine Surgeon to perform His perfect work? Remember, it's at the altar where our lives are not merely altered - they are transformed.

Prayer: Lord, give us the courage to approach Your altar, knowing that while transformation may not be comfortable, it is essential for our spiritual health and growth. Help us understand that Your altar is not a place of destruction, but of divine reconstruction. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Reflection Question: What areas of your life need to be placed on God's altar today?

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The Highway Of Holiness Isa. 26 #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Highway of Holiness: Finding Perfect Peace in Life's Desert Seasons

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." - Isaiah 26:3

Life often feels like navigating treacherous paths, much like a novice rider on an unpredictable horse. One wrong step, one moment of distraction, and we can find ourselves sliding dangerously off course. The prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of God's provision - a highway of holiness where even the simplest traveler can walk safely.

In the Hebrew text, the phrase "perfect peace" is actually written as "shalom shalom," emphasizing the completeness of this divine peace. This isn't just the absence of conflict; it's a profound state of wholeness encompassing our physical, spiritual, and relational well-being. Like a tightrope walker who maintains balance by focusing on a distant point rather than their feet, we find stability by fixing our gaze on God rather than our circumstances.

What makes this promise particularly remarkable is its context. Isaiah delivers this message of peace within what scholars call the "little apocalypse," a section describing end-time tribulations. If God can provide perfect peace during humanity's most challenging period, surely He can grant us that same peace in our present struggles.

The transformation God promises is as dramatic as a desert bursting into bloom. Just as visitors to Israel marvel at wildflowers painting formerly barren landscapes in vibrant reds and purples, God can turn our spiritual wastelands into gardens of beauty. When we feel parched and depleted, He promises streams in the desert - sources of refreshment in unlikely places.

These divine streams serve multiple purposes. First, they strengthen the weak - those who feel like life has knocked the wind out of them. Like a solar plexus blow that leaves one gasping, life's challenges can leave us feeling powerless. Yet God's Spirit acts as our "strengthener within," replenishing our depleted resources.

For those paralyzed by fear of uncertain outcomes, God's streams provide courage. We may not know how situations will unfold, but His presence infuses us with the boldness to move forward. This isn't just about emotional fortitude; it's about trusting in His guidance even when the path ahead seems unclear.

The healing properties of God's streams touch every aspect of our being. Like ancient remedies that prove their worth despite modern skepticism, God's healing power works in ways that often defy conventional wisdom. Whether the wound is physical, emotional, or spiritual, His restorative power flows freely to those who seek it.

Just as the Book of Revelation describes the river of life flowing through heaven for the healing of nations, God's healing streams can reach the deepest hurts in our personal lives. Everyone carries some form of pain, particularly those who have walked life's path for many years. These wounds need more than mere bandaging; they require the deep healing that only God can provide.

The highway of holiness isn't about perfect performance; it's about perfect trust. When we keep our minds focused on God, He transforms our desert experiences into opportunities for growth and renewal. Like spring flowers breaking through parched ground, new life emerges in places we least expect it.

This divine pathway offers more than just safe passage through life; it promises transformation of our entire being. God isn't interested in merely getting us through difficult seasons; He wants to use those very seasons to reshape us into something beautiful. Through His perfect peace, steady guidance, and healing streams, we can navigate life's challenges with confidence, knowing we walk on His highway of holiness.

Anchored In The Truth #RTTBROS #Nightlight #Normankissinger #NK

6 Guidelines For Life: Mind Your Ego #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Mind Your Ego

Proverbs 16:18 - "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

When blessings flow abundantly, our hearts can subtly shift from gratitude to pride. Recently, as successes multiplied in my life, I caught myself speaking more of my achievements than God's grace. Like Nebuchadnezzar walking upon his palace roof, declaring "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" (Daniel 4:30), I too was forgetting the true source of my prosperity.

How easily we forget Paul's sobering question: "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7). Every blessing, every gift, every success flows from God's generous hand, yet pride whispers that we are self-made.

Moses warned Israel of this very danger in Deuteronomy 8:17-18: "And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth." Prosperity's true test lies not in its acquisition but in maintaining humility amidst abundance.

James reminds us that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17). When blessings multiply, may we multiply our thanksgiving rather than our boasting. For the truly blessed soul remembers to kneel lower as God lifts higher.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as thou pourest out thy blessings, keep our hearts humble and grateful. May we never forget that every good gift comes from thy hand, and may our successes draw us closer to thee rather than away. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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The Fifth Gospel Matt 5:16 #RTTBROS #nightlight

The Fifth Gospel

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." - Matthew 5:16 (KJV)

Gypsy Smith once said, "There are 5 Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and The Christian. But most people never read the first 4."

This profound statement reminds us of our duty as followers of Christ. While the four Gospels in the Bible are essential for understanding the life, teachings, and sacrifice of Jesus, there is a fifth "gospel" that we often overlook - our own lives.

As Christians, we are called to be living testimonies of God's love and grace. Our actions, words, and attitudes should reflect the teachings of Christ in such a way that others can "read" the gospel through us. Just as the written Gospels share the good news of salvation, our lives should proclaim this same message to those around us.

Consider how your daily interactions might be "read" by others. Do they see patience in times of frustration? Kindness towards those who are difficult? Forgiveness when wronged? These are the verses of our living gospel, written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God.

Let us strive to make our lives a gospel worth reading, one that draws others to the love of Christ. May we be mindful that for some, we might be the only Bible they ever "read." Let our lives shine brightly, reflecting the light of Christ, so that through us, others may come to know the transformative power of God's love.

As we go forth, let us remember that we are not merely readers of the Gospel, but living epistles, called to share the good news through our very lives.

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In the end we win #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Anointed #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Anointed One's Promise: Finding Peace in His Power

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." - Isaiah 11:1-2 (KJV)

In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, we often find ourselves longing for true peace and wisdom. The prophecy of Isaiah paints a magnificent picture of the Messiah, the Anointed One who would come with the fullness of God's Spirit. This divine equipping wasn't just about power – it was about bringing transformation to a broken world.

Consider how Jesus demonstrated this perfect wisdom during His earthly ministry. When faced with trick questions about taxes or marriage in heaven, He responded with such profound insight that even His critics were silenced. This same Jesus, who could silence the learned with a word, also had the tender compassion to reach out to the outcasts, the broken, and the forgotten.

The promise of the Messiah extends beyond mere human wisdom – it speaks of a fundamental transformation of nature itself. Isaiah's vision of wolves dwelling with lambs and lions eating straw like oxen isn't just poetic imagery. It's a promise of complete restoration, where even the natural order of predator and prey is transformed by the power of God's peace.

One of the most beautiful aspects of Christ's anointing is His heart for the poor and broken-hearted. In a world where success is often measured by material wealth, Jesus turned the tables by declaring that His good news was specifically for the poor. He came to bind up broken hearts, to proclaim liberty to captives, and to transform mourning into joy.

Just as the Messiah was anointed with the Spirit of God, we too are called to walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. This isn't about emotional displays or religious fervor – it's about allowing God's power to flow through our daily lives, transforming our relationships, our work, and our ministry. As the apostle Paul commanded, we are to "be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).

The justice that Christ brings isn't based on limited human perception. Unlike earthly judges who must rely on what they see and hear, the Messiah judges with perfect righteousness. In a world where justice often seems elusive, we can take comfort in knowing that one day every wrong will be made right under His perfect rule.

Perhaps you're walking through a season where everything seems to be falling apart. Take heart in the promise that God specializes in bringing beauty from ashes. Just as a renovation requires tearing down before rebuilding, sometimes God allows deconstruction in our lives to prepare us for something more beautiful than we could imagine.

The transformation Christ brings isn't just external – it's deeply personal. When heaviness weighs on your spirit, He offers a garment of praise. Like ancient kings who were anointed with oil, He anoints our heads with the oil of joy. This isn't just positive thinking; it's a divine exchange of our sorrow for His joy.

As we look forward to the ultimate fulfillment of these promises, we're called to live in their power today. Through the Holy Spirit, we have access to divine wisdom, understanding, counsel, and might. We're not waiting for some distant future to experience God's transformative power – we can walk in it now, allowing His anointing to flow through us to a world in desperate need of His touch.

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