Monthly Archives: September 2026

When Prayers Feel Thin

Posted on September 30, 2026 by Don Merritt

Have you ever knelt down to pray during a really difficult season and felt like your words were just bouncing off the ceiling? You try to articulate your worries, your grief, or your confusion, but the exhaustion is so heavy … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian living | Tagged Christian, Devotional, encouragement, God is Love, God's Faithfulness, inspiration, Jesus, Prayer | 3 Comments

Debunking Forgiveness Myths

Posted on September 29, 2026 by Don Merritt

Part 4 Few spiritual topics are weighed down by as many platitudes as forgiveness. Well-meaning people often offer cliché advice to hurting individuals, leaving them feeling confused, guilty, or trapped in unsafe environments. To practice biblical forgiveness, we must identify … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies | Tagged Christian, encouragement, forgiveness, God is Love, God's Faithfulness, God's grace, Jesus, mercy | 1 Comment

The Valley’s Purpose

Posted on September 28, 2026 by Don Merritt

Nobody ever volunteers for the hard seasons. If we had a remote control for life, we’d fast-forward right past the hospital waiting rooms, the job losses, the broken relationships, and the long, lonely nights. We want the green pastures and … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian living | Tagged Christian, Devotional, encouragement, God is Love, hope, Jesus, Peace of God, trust in God | 2 Comments

Anchored in the Storm

Posted on September 27, 2026 by Don Merritt

Some years back, I spent some time watching boats tied up in a harbor as a stiff autumn gale blew in off the water. The wind whipped the surface into whitecaps, tossed smaller debris around, and shoved hard against anything … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian living | Tagged Christian, Devotional, encouragement, God is Love, hope, Jesus, Peace of God, trust in God | Leave a comment

When the Fog Rolls In

Posted on September 26, 2026 by Don Merritt

If you’ve ever lived or driven through farm country in the late autumn, you know what a heavy morning fog looks like. It settles over the fields so thickly that you can barely see twenty feet ahead of your bumper. … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian living | Tagged Christian, Devotional, encouragement, God is Love, hope, Jesus, Peace of God, trust in God | 1 Comment

Love in Living Color

Posted on September 25, 2026 by Don Merritt

It’s easy to talk about love; we use the word all the time. We love pizza, we love a crisp autumn morning, we love baseball, and we love lazy summer afternoons. We print slogans on bumper stickers and sing catchy … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian living | Tagged Christian, Devotional, encouragement, God is Love, God's grace, inspiration, Jesus, life | 1 Comment

Selflessness vs. Pride: The Greek Frame of Mind

Posted on September 24, 2026 by Don Merritt

Part 3 Why is forgiveness so excruciatingly difficult? If we are honest, the main barrier isn’t usually a lack of biblical knowledge. The primary obstacle is pride. When someone harms us, our ego demands vindication or payback. We nurse grievances … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies | Tagged Christian, encouragement, forgiveness, God's Creation, God's grace, hope, inspiration, Jesus | Leave a comment

An Empowering Walk

Posted on September 23, 2026 by Don Merritt

Some people have the mistaken impression that walking with Jesus is a passive, restrictive kind of life—like sitting quietly on a shelf trying not to touch anything. They think of faith as a long list of things you aren’t allowed … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian living | Tagged Christian, Devotional, encouragement, God is Love, God's grace, hope, inspiration, Jesus | 3 Comments

The Gospel Cycle & The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

Posted on September 22, 2026 by Don Merritt

Part 2 Have you ever calculated how much someone “owes” you emotionally? We keep running tallies of offenses: three strikes, seven chances, or “I’ve reached my limit”. In Matthew 18:21, Peter thought he was being extraordinarily generous when he asked … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies | Tagged Christian, encouragement, forgiveness, God is Love, God's grace, hope, inspiration, Jesus | Leave a comment

Making Time for What Matters

Posted on September 21, 2026 by Don Merritt

We live in a world that is practically addicted to rushing. “Hurry up! Time is running out! Move it! Rush, rush, rush!” Between chime notifications, full email inboxes, appointments, and endless chores, modern life has a way of turning into … Continue reading →