Author: Jon Harris

Think about a time in the past when you’ve been wounded and then what you learned from it. How did you recover from the wound? What was God teaching you during that time? While you likely wouldn’t have wished for the challenge to occur, are you now better off because of it?

Recently a good friend observed that I’m now on the other side of a wound from the past year. This friend is a Christ-follower and quite wise when it comes to observing human behavior. My friend noted that I’m in a much better position to serve others because of what I’ve been through. And in turn, I can say that I feel stronger and have a deeper appreciation for God’s grace and mercy, and ultimately more gratitude for the suffering of Christ on my behalf. My suffering was nothing compared to his.

When I was suffering, my thoughts were mainly focused on surviving the situation. The best word I can use to describe what has transpired since is “abundance”. This is not worldly abundance; it is an abundance of faith, peace, wisdom, hope, and love.

In today’s reading, there’s the story of the widow who owes a debt but has nothing so the creditor has come to take her children as slaves. As if it wasn’t difficult enough to be a widow and poor, this woman was facing an excruciating reality, basically losing everything she had.

Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” (2 Kings 4:1)

What happens next is astonishing. She’s told to get as many jars as she can find and then to fill the jars with oil. Wait a second… where was this oil going to come from? How did it get there? All we are told is that the oil flowed until all of the vessels were full. Did Jesus reflect on this story when he fed five thousand people with just two fish and five loaves of bread?

She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.” (2 Kings 4:7)

There was so much oil that the widow was able to pay her debts and live on the remaining oil! We serve a God of great abundance. He gives so much then gives even more beyond our understanding.

I’m referring to this abundance as I reflect on our troubles in this life, and then when we see God move and carry us, and turn something awful into something for his glory. In my own crisis, not only was I brought through, my cup was filled and it has become my turn to bless others and point them to reasons for my own faith.

In your most recent life storm which has since passed, think about the “before and after”. What was God trying to teach you? Did you see some abundance in the outcome? Take a moment and pray over this. Ask God to reveal where he was during your trials. Have you thanked him for all he has done and is doing?

If you are in the middle of a storm, trust these words of Jesus. He experienced the most significant suffering of all time so he understands your pain, and he promises to be there with you forever after. The kingdom of heaven is yours and you will be comforted.

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:3-4)

The widow went from having nothing to abundance. Conversely, Jesus came from abundance as God, then stooped low as a servant, a man yet still God in the flesh, as he gave up everything for us. Through his sacrifice and defeat over death, we can go from nothing (dead in our sins) to life eternal. That friends, is abundance.

Today’s reading: 2 Kings 4-6; Matthew 5

Among the most valuable attributes of any organization is leadership excellence. Businesses, families, churches, schools, clubs, and non-profits all need and thrive (or fail) based on leadership.

One of the ways we can improve our leadership is through mentoring relationships. Mentoring, when done well brings wisdom, guidance, and vision and equips the mentee to grow and thrive in the real world.

You might not consider yourself to be a “leader”, so why get a mentor? Remember, leadership is influence, and every one of us has the ability to positively or negatively influence others. As Christ-followers we have been given the highest calling, to spread the gospel in the name of Jesus. We are called to influence our friends, families, co-workers, and anyone else along the path to be part of bringing them to salvation.

If you don’t have a mentor, get one. If you have a mentor, reach out to him or her and say “thank you” today and share back something you’ve learned and applied based on the relationship.

I’ve always considered my dad to be one of my mentors in business as well as in personal situations so today I say thanks dad for being a humble mentor and never giving up on me!

Based on today’s scriptures (God’s perfect wisdom), here are some things I’ve learned from my dad:

Keeping calm when under attack; diffusing the situation, and letting the other person melt down instead of yourself.

If a ruler loses his temper against you, don’t panic;
A calm disposition quiets intemperate rage. (Ecc 10:4)

Use your head! Pause and think before you act or speak.

Remember: The duller the ax the harder the work;
Use your head: The more brains, the less muscle. (Ecc 10:10)

He who speaks first, loses (in a negotiation). Too much talking and not enough listening gets you nowhere.

Fools talk way too much,
Chattering stuff they know nothing about. (Ecc 10:14)

Don’t ever give up. 

“Stick it out” is what my dad used to say. Oh, how as a kid I hated “not quitting” yet reflecting on the years of school, work, marriage, parenting, and my faith journey there is no better mindset than never, ever giving up.

Go to work in the morning
    and stick to it until evening without watching the clock.
You never know from moment to moment
    how your work will turn out in the end. (Ecc 11:6)

Have fun but don’t be reckless (ultimately we answer to God).

I used to think my parents were too strict, but as I age I reflect on it, my parents let me run fast in the direction where my heart wanted to go. They gave the “curbs” to help keep me in line, but I made the most of my youth and I pray my children do the same.

Please read the verses from today. There is great wisdom that is very well-written and even humorous!  Ecclesiastes 10-12; 2 Timothy 4

When the concept of praying for a spiritual revival came to me from a fellow believer, I’ll admit my first thoughts were “That’s for other people to pray about”, “Revivals are a thing of the past”, and “The world is too broken for that now”. These were all lies placed in my mind by the enemy who does not want us praying like this.

Several people within my organization have been praying for a spiritual revival at the company in the regions where we lead. Most, if not all of the areas on our list are spiritually dead (or so it seems). We’ve been praying for a while and thanks to God, more people continue to pray with us. Two months ago I posted on this site about the prayer for revival, requesting our readers to pray as well. Thank you to those who have joined!

We pray for “just one” conversion in each region to “start the fire”. Guess what? It is happening. At least three people from one of our plants have given their life to Jesus Christ in the last month!

Today’s reading: 1 Kings 5, 2 Chron 2, 2 Thes 3

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. (2 Thessalonians 3:1)

The verse above captivated me. Paul knew and believed in the power of prayer. How seriously do we take it? God freely gives, listens, and responds. He wants us to pray, and yet too often we fail. I can tell you all of the earthly things that I want and think about on an ongoing basis, but can I honestly tell you that I pray earnestly for heavenly things day in, day out, without ceasing?

Paul prayed for the message of Jesus Christ to spread rapidly. We should pray this as well. Nothing in this world is going to get better until we are shaken to repentance, to moral cleansing, to love and live as Jesus did. There have been revivals in the past and God willing, they will happen again. Pray over it, have faith that the same God who initiated past revivals is ready and waiting for us to pray, earnestly, on our knees, humbly to him. I believe he can and will answer this type of prayer.

1. Create a prayer list on your phone since most of us have smartphones that are with us 24×7. Built-in functions such as reminders can be set up on a recurring basis. Why not create a reminder to review your prayer list?
2. Most people use electronic calendars. I would be lost without mine. Would I miss a meeting with the person I report to at work? Never! Then why would I miss a meeting with the God of the universe, the one who created me, the one who loves me beyond recognition, the one who has never nor will he ever let me down?

Our big God wants us to pray big prayers. He can handle it! Don’t wait, the time is now.

As I observed our oldest son’s high school graduation this weekend, I was filled with pure joy (and some tears) for the experiences that have come throughout this journey. What a ride it has been! Reflecting on the ceremony I have some thoughts to share which can be applied to a literal and metaphorical graduation:

Be intentional in everything you do, don’t take anything for granted, relentlessly pursue your purpose, and stay positive. You don’t want to look at that graduation stage filled with regret about what you could have or should have done with your time here. Consider also the “graduation stage” as a metaphor for that final grand stage when we meet our maker. What thoughts will race through our minds as we reflect on what could have, or should have been?

For the Scriptures say,

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’”

Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.  (Romans 14:11-12)

It is less than ninety days until Peyton leaves our home to attend college far away. Like a bird leaving the nest for the first time, this is a natural progression. He was never meant to remain at home with us forever. Our job was to raise him correctly in a God-honoring way, to love him unconditionally, and to then let him leave, ultimately trusting God’s plan for all of us in this transition.

I wish I could say I was the best dad and for it to be true. What I can say is how much of a difference our faith makes during this time. With the mourning and some sense of loss, there is indescribable comfort and joy that comes from knowing God knew this time was coming, he has a plan, he loves us, and he holds us in his hands.

In a world that feels out of control, one of the most important (and few) assets we have in our control is our attitude so there’s a choice: Worry and wallow in sadness or choose joy, and put all of my hope and trust in the God who has never let me down.

Whatever you’re going through right now consider:

First off, God knows our pain and he knows our hearts. He is not far from our pain as Jesus experienced more pain than we could ever know. He felt it firsthand, so he understands it.

Even Death and Destruction hold no secrets from the Lord.
How much more does he know the human heart! (Proverbs 15:11)

Our attitude, our choice. Will we choose gladness and a happy heart?

 For the despondent, every day brings trouble;
for the happy heart, life is a continual feast. (Proverbs 15:15)

Instead of focusing on our own troubles, we can better serve God by focusing on others as our attitudes are contagious!

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart;
good news makes for good health. (Proverbs 15:30)

Pray for someone to cross your path today who needs a cheerful look and be ready… Graduation day is coming.

Today’s reading: Romans 14, Proverbs 14-15

In some places, one must be eighteen to purchase “dry ice”. That’s a fun fact that was shared with me this week by my son Peyton who has just turned eighteen. Due to his birthday, he did some research to find out what this milestone age could bring. There are other things he can do because of his age such as vote, rent an apartment, gamble, apply for a credit card, skydive, adopt a child, and much more!

While reflecting on Peyton’s birthday I thought about the most important things I’ve learned and hopefully am passing along to my family. One of those lessons or themes is “having faith, especially when it doesn’t make sense”. When it seems like there is a reason to doubt God, yet I hold firm and draw nearer to him, I then feel the most spiritually rewarded, the most joy, peace, and spiritual growth.

It didn’t make sense that I’d live or be barely harmed after being in two different vehicular rollover accidents as a teen. It didn’t make sense that I’d have a fulfilling career given my grades in high school and college. It didn’t make sense that I’d come to faith in Jesus Christ based on the recklessness and sins of my youth. The list has gone on and on throughout my entire existence on this planet.

But God.

God has been there through it all. There was some element of faith like a mustard seed since I was a kid. Even when I chose rebellion, there was still a voice calling me to righteous living; calling me to choose.

Similar to the freedoms granted to an adult, the freedom and salvation in and through Jesus Christ is absolutely a choice for us to receive or not. We do not receive it unless we actively partake. It is not a birthright, not due to our age, nor a result of the faith of our family or ethnicity.

Today’s reading: 2 Samuel 24, 1 Chronicles 21, Romans 4

In our New Testament reading, we are taught about Abraham whom God had promised to be the father of many nations. Abraham believed God despite his circumstances, especially when from a human perspective, it didn’t make sense.

And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. (Romans 4:19)

God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. The problem was Abraham wasn’t yet a father, he was old, and his wife was old. Abraham had good reason to doubt his body and the body of his wife. It didn’t make sense that at his age, he would become a father, yet clearly and simply, he still believed. From this, he was rewarded greatly and God counted him as righteous.

That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. (Romans 4:17)

Like verse 17, through our faith in Jesus Christ, we were dead in our sins yet brought back to life, we become a “new thing” out of nothing. Death to life.

Think of a time when a result “didn’t make sense” and it was clearly God’s hand that was in the situation the entire time. What was God trying to teach you? Does your gratitude reflect the gift?

Think of a personal life situation right now that doesn’t make sense for God to answer the prayer. What is God trying to teach you? What “buts” do you need to let go of and replace with faith? Journal your thoughts to review later, then see what God does in his mercy and love.

Over the last several months I’ve spent much time in and around manufacturing facilities. It has been a great learning experience to witness the production of goods from beginning to end. Most factory workers work very hard, mainly in facilities designed more for “production” rather than people’s comfort.

Given the heavy machinery and high volume of materials movement within a factory it is essential to ensure specific safety protocols are followed. One of the protocols is safety shoes to protect toes and feet. One wrong move from a fork-truck and a person could have a lifetime injury which is devastating to even think about.

Over time I’ve become accustomed to looking at people’s shoes and can easily identify safety shoes vs. regular shoes. This may sound like a strange habit however I started doing this to help influence the protocol so we can protect our team. Now I notice these shoes everywhere. My eyes and brain have been trained.

From shoes to hearts.

I recently attended two training sessions on the topic of servant leadership. In summary, servant leadership is all about leading people based on meeting their needs, not your own. These sessions are for us as leaders to influence the hands, heads, and hearts of our team members, and most importantly those who work on the factory floor as they represent most of our workforce. These team members are our lifeblood and they are in our care. They work in the toughest conditions and come from all walks of life, and they deserve more respect than any team member in the company.

For me now, safety shoes are a symbol of hard work; blood, sweat, and tears from people who in some organizations are potentially mistreated. On the train home from work tonight I saw many men and women wearing safety shoes, all looking tired. They were on their feet all day, likely doing something repetitive, and in today’s global climate, they were potentially concerned about their future.

Each pair of safety shoes represents someone’s son or daughter, maybe someone’s father or mother; and for sure a human soul loved by his or her creator. To lead well, we must lead like the greatest example of all time, Jesus Christ:

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)

In our recent scripture readings, we have King David who was a servant leader, focusing more on the higher purpose than his own needs. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers lined up to follow King David primarily because of how he led them. They knew his heart for God, they knew his calling, and they believed God was on his side. Soldiers were willing to leave families behind and risk their lives to fight for the cause.

All these men came in battle array to Hebron with the single purpose of making David the king over all Israel. In fact, everyone in Israel agreed that David should be their king. (1 Chronicles 12:38)

1. Who are the metaphorical “factory workers” or “soldiers” in your life and how will you serve them today?
2. David knew his purpose. For what purpose were you called and what steps will you take to live today according to that purpose? Remember God created us to know Him, make Him known, and for us to spend eternity with Him.
3. Our daily habits are the path to our future. David trained his whole life to become physically strong, to become a better leader, and to build his relationship with God. What are your daily habits bringing you toward and what do you need to change today?

Today’s reading: 2 Sam 3-5; 1 Chr 12; Acts 22; Ps 122

Most people know the story of David and Goliath. We know of the young boy David who eventually became a king, slaying a giant and rescuing the people of Israel. 1 Samuel 17 describes David as a sheepherder and the youngest of eight sons. When David stepped up to face Goliath the giant, he did so out of great faith. No armor, and only a slingshot and some stones in hand.

I remember hearing this story many times as a child and even as an adult teaching Sunday school, and reading to my children. What might be overlooked is that while the people of Israel (as well as Goliath) were surprised by David’s confidence and ultimately the result, David wasn’t surprised. David spent his youth literally wrestling, striking, and killing bears and lions, rescuing sheep from the mouths of these beasts. David knew the same hand of God which rescued him from lions and bears would also give victory over the giant Philistine.

³⁴ But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, ³⁵ I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. ³⁶ Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. ³⁷ The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:34-37a)

And your giant?

Let’s not think of this story as some fantasy nor “well that was someone else, David became a great king”. God was with David and he’s with you and me. He’s rescued us more times than we can count, so as you face your giant today just let go of the worry and put all your faith, hope, and trust in the one who rescued you before and will do it again. This power that rescues us is the same power that brought Jesus back from the dead, out of the grave. The same power that brings us to new life, once dead in our sins, and now alive through the promise of Jesus Christ.

Go face your giants today. While they may be huge, they are nothing compared to the strength and power of our God. After David gave his speech to King Saul, the king responded, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” Therefore, let this be the message to all of us today and every day: Go, and the Lord be with you.

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 17, 1 Chronicles 2, Acts 12

Last Sunday we observed Palm Sunday which was a joyful occasion to celebrate Jesus the Messiah, singing “Hosanna” which means “please save us”, similar to how the people celebrated Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem.

So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (John 12:13)

Just five days later the same people who celebrated and worshipped him, deserted him and cheered for him to be put to death.

We’re just like those people who called for his death when say “please save us” (and then he does), but we go back to sin. That’s the pattern shared with us as we continue our reading of Judges 4-6 and as Jennifer noted yesterday. Something bad happens, we ask for rescue, God rescues them (us), and then we choose sin.

All week I’ve thought about the song Hosanna as one of my ongoing prayers is for a Christian revival where I live and work. The lyrics (written by Brooke Fraser and Hillsong UNITED) talk about a revival, inferring us to earnestly pray, on our knees:

I see a near revival stirring as we pray and seek. We’re on our knees.

Today’s assigned reading also includes Luke 21 which was assigned to me over three months ago to be published today. The song “Hosanna” starts out referencing the King of Glory coming on the clouds and coincidentally (or not), the reference verse from the song is part of today’s reading. I’m not clever enough to make this up so we’d better pay attention.

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  (Luke 21:27)

This Son of Man is coming back, and each day brings us one day closer. Are you ready? And will you join me in praying for a revival, for those who are not ready?

When I was thirteen years old I shot a BB gun and broke a very expensive window of a nearby home. It wasn’t intentional nor an act of aggression, it was a thoughtless and irresponsible act by a kid who knew nothing about guns. I’d like to say it was “unlucky” but the immediate response would be “and what did you think would happen when you pointed a gun at someone’s home, then pulled the trigger?”

To make matters worse, I tried to hide the crime. I was fearful and filled with regret and sadness. When the whole thing came to light of course I was in serious trouble with my parents and our neighbors.

Corrective Actions

To reconcile, it was decided that I would be paying for that window, and first I must apologize in person to our neighbors. They were an older, retired couple who were known for being kind and generous (especially with Halloween candy). They accepted my apology and reminded me how much the window would cost to replace. I reassured them that I’d be paying for it but it would take some time.

In today’s dollars, the window would cost about $2,000 to replace so there was a lot of work to be done! My dad helped me by creating a paper ledger (my first lesson in the world of accounting) that would show the starting balance, and with each chore or paid task I’d write the description and update the balance. Since it was autumn there would be no high-paying lawn mowing or landscaping gigs so, unfortunately, the main thing I could do was babysit. No more weekend fun until the debt was paid and after three months I hardly made a dent in the amount due. It was going to take a long, long time to repay and I was miserable.

God, Justice, and Mercy

Yesterday at a Bible study meeting we discussed how God is both merciful and just, and I recalled my crime as a kid. God keeps his promises and he also loves us so he also shows us mercy. Here’s a great resource from The Bible Project which beautifully presents the Character of God.

For three months I labored heavily so that justice would be served, yet I received no mercy. For Christmas, I had hoped for some cash to help pay off the debt quicker. After the presents were unwrapped, my parents reminded me to open my stocking. Great, maybe I can sell some of the candy at school (in those days I was known as the candyman as I often sold candy to other kids).

My parents were watching me intently sifting through the contents of the stocking when suddenly there was a piece of paper; the ledger. Not understanding why the ledger was in the stocking, I looked at my parents, and they said, “look at it”. Then I realized, my parents crossed out the balance and had written “paid” on it. I couldn’t believe it! We all suddenly had tears in our eyes; it was the best gift I’d ever received.

My parents gave me a good lesson in justice and an even better lesson in mercy which better equips me to understand what Christ did for us in his work on the cross. Our debt of sin is astronomical and impossible for us to pay on our own.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) (Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT)

Call to Action

Think of a time when you were shown mercy and think through how you would retell the story, then pray for an opportunity to share with a non-believer. Pray that the Holy Spirit will give you the words and that the other person’s heart will start to soften to the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. Let your mercy story stand on its own until the right time for the parallel to be drawn. This is what I’m praying for. If one heart moves closer to eternity with God then shooting that window was very much worthwhile.

Today’s reading: Deuteronomy 23-26 and Luke 11

A very special person came back into my life this week as she returned from Canada to visit family for about six months. Her name is Pia and she is our neighbor, friend, and honorary “Dutch Grandma”. When I saw her I felt my spirit lifted and I couldn’t help but smile! Pia speaks openly about her faith so whenever we are together I feel God’s hand and promptings from the Holy Spirit to engage in uplifting and God-honoring conversation. Pia brings joy and a sense of family to our home, even though we have known her for only a short time.

While reading the scriptures for today (Numbers 22-25 and Luke 1) I was reminded of the feeling I had when being reunited with Pia. It was as though my own spirit lept!

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, (Luke 1:41)

Similar feelings came to me this week during our small group gathering. There are people in the group who I do not know very well however I felt joy from being near people who love Jesus. There is a bond that is unexplainable and eternal.

Those who see their need of Christ, and are desirous of righteousness and life in him, he fills with good things, with the best things; and they are abundantly satisfied with the blessings he gives. (Matthew Henry)

I pray a blessing on our readers today that your heart also leaps for joy with a renewed spirit. May your heart be abundantly satisfied with the blessings of God through Christ Jesus. May we recognize His handiwork in all of the plot twists and turns in our daily lives. Seek out your brothers and sisters in Christ today. Pray for them; that God opens your heart to meaningful conversations according to the purpose that you were designed to fulfill in this life, pointing to eternal life.