19 Feb 2026
God is holy. He maintains His standards. We are the ones to make adjustments to suit His will for us. When He punishes us, it is out of love. As a father, He desires a relationship with His children. Even after allowing His children to be banished into exile, He restored them as He had promised. Punishment was meted for their sin, but He still restored them. Jeremiah 30:1-24.
Storm Peace
Can you rest securely when the storm winds blow? Years ago I heard the story of the farmhand employed by a man who lived in the city. Every evening before nightfall, the farmhand would secure all the gates and close down all the sheds and outhouses. Nothing was left to chance. There were no open doors left to bang around in the wind and no loose gates to accidentally swing open and cause trouble. He did his work thoroughly and made everything under his control as secure as he possibly could. If storms blew in during the night, they would not do any damage due to the faithful farmhand’s oversight, diligence, and faithfulness. Late one evening, the owner visited the farm and heard a weather report of an unusually severe storm approaching. The wind gusts were frightening and such a storm had never been experienced in the area before. In the dark, alarmed at the report, he sought out the old farmhand down at the cottage. “There’s a terrible storm coming,” he said, banging on the door. “Why aren’t you out there making everything secure? What needs to be done?” he asked in a panic. The old farmhand opened the door and held his lantern high. He looked at the owner and replied in a measured and dismissive tone as he turned away, “I sleep well on windy nights.” The Old Testament tells of a man who did not wait until the storms raged. Like the farmhand securing the farm, it was his custom to secure his family every day. Early every morning, as was his “regular custom,” Job took each one of his grown up sons and daughters to a safe place with God and secured pardon for any sins they might accidentally have committed. (Job 1:5) Have we done everything in our power during the good times to secure our loved ones against whatever tragedies and difficulties might threaten them? We, too, can sleep well on windy nights when destructive storms and gales threaten our families after we have placed them in the Lord’s keeping. Make it a “regular custom” so that we have peace even in the midst of storms. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (Jesus in John 14:27 NKJV) About the author: Elizabeth is a team writer for “Just a Minute” e-zine.
One-way Missionaries
They took a coffin, which they packed with their belongings, along with a one-way ticket. Yesterday, a friend of mine told me about “One-way Missionaries.” In the early 1900s, there was a group of missionaries who, when they were about to embark on a mission to a foreign land, would not pack a suitcase as most people would. Instead, they took a coffin, which they packed with their belongings, along with a one-way ticket. By so doing, they demonstrated their intention to die sooner or later in the new land they were adopting. A good example of this sort of commitment and intentionality was a missionary named “Peter Milne.” Milne selected as his mission a tribe of headhunters in the New Hebrides islands, in the south Pacific, off Australia’s coast. Every other missionary that attempted sharing Jesus with this group had been killed. Milne had no guarantee that would not be true for himself, as well. Still, he was not deterred, so off he went with his coffin. He spent more than fifty years in the islands, witnessing to the tribesmen about Jesus Christ. When he died of natural causes, the tribe buried him in a grave noted with this tombstone: “When he came, there was no light. When he left, there was no darkness.” These one-way missionaries understood the full implications of Jesus’ call to “take up your cross and follow me.” This was and is a call to give up fear, comfort, certainty, and security to follow in the way that the cross leads. This principle remains true. Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels” (Mk 8:34-38). About the author: Bruce Logue has ministered successfully as a church planter in Merced, California, offices at Starbucks, and loves people in the name of Jesus. He is also a spot on target writer!
Country Chicken
A Texas city slicker? I have just spent the last few days at a friend’s ranch in the Hill Country. It’s about 450 acres of gorgeous land, fabulous trees and about 30 longhorn cattle. The cattle, not unlike many of us Texans, boast quite an attitude. They are a handsome yet prideful lot. As usual, I was accompanied by my faithful Labrador, Valentine. She had a temporary identity crisis and attempted to be a herding dog instead of a retriever. Fortunately, the sound of a one ton bawling animal with horns the size of a compact car was enough to rattle her back to reality and she retreated. I am a native born Texan – third generation on both sides of my family raised in the Lone Star State. I like to think of myself as fairly well balanced and flexible, able to manage effectively both in high heels and boots. I was raised in Fort Worth, a good sized city that’s also called “Cowtown,” well in touch with my state’s ranching, cattle-raising and horse-loving roots. Fact is though, I can saddle a horse, but only if you give me enough time, and I can ride as long as the animal stays in low gear. Push it to a trot though and I stiffen up like a mesquite branch in a hard freeze. I confess that I am truly a city girl. No escaping that fact. I do own a pair of boots but they are five years old. Unless I have some mid-life growth spurt, they will last me until I face the grave. I am strong enough to heft a bale of hay, but not because I’ve ever done so. Those back muscles come from a pristinely clean fitness facility with gym rats wearing fancy workout clothes. My nails and cuticles are in much too nice shape to ever convince anyone that I might have scrubbed out a stock tank or helped deliver a foal. Yet, I love to escape the hectic pace of my urban life and pretend I am a rural cattle queen or high falutin’ horse rancher. As the old song goes, “The stars at night Are big and bright, Deep in the Heart of Texas” and I thrill to see them glitter in the black night sky. I love standing on the edge of a mountain (not a mountain by Colorado standards, but by, let’s say, Dallas standards) where I can see for miles – nothing but hills and trees and patches of pasture dotted with cattle or goats or horses. The verses from Psalm 50:10-12 seems to sum up that view: For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine … for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Honestly, I jump at the sound of deer tromping through the trees at night when I let the dog out. I rush back in the warm cabin when I hear coyotes yapping in the not too distant woods. I stay on the trails and rutted roads so as to not get lost when I go for a mid-day hike. I’m a city slicker and a country chicken. But the God I serve and worship from this hilltop sanctuary reminds me that this world – His earth – is in the palm of his hand. The 30 some-odd ornery longhorns eyeing me on my morning walk are a drop in the bucket of his creation. The birds flitting from feeder to fence that catch my attention and thrill my heart – he knows every feather of their wing and their chirp by heart. He knows all that and more and yet loves me beyond comprehension. He did not allow his only Son to die or send his Holy Spirit for those lumbering cattle or flighty feathered ones. He did all that and more for me. His hand of protection and his heart of love extend to me whether I’m safe in my seat-belted, security-system-ed city life or way out in the midst of this wide-open wilderness. I will return today to the traffic, the voice mail, a high-speed internet and infomercial life. It will be back to a ringing phone, a hungry washing machine, and the standard demands of family time. But after these few days away, I will take back with me the memory of those cattle on a thousand hills as well as the mind’s eye view of the rugged scenery and pleasant pastures. My citified stroll through the mall and my favorite well stocked grocery store will be tinged for a while with a bit of cowgirl swagger. Most important though, I will carry with me the reminder that God in His infinite creativity and immense love for humanity made this remarkable world for me to enjoy. He set up his system of creation and creature to rattle me from my self-imposed busyness and refresh my heart. There may be oh so many cattle on thousands and thousands of hills, but there is only one you … and only one me. And God’s love for us is as immeasurable as the shades of color in a Texas sunset. About the author: Amy C. Baker is an author and speaker. She’s a former human resources executive at Dell and now a full time wife, mom, author and communications consultant. Her first two books, Slow Dancing on Death’s Door and Seven Lessons for Career Success. She’s also recorded an audio CD of drive time devotionals. For more information on her ministry and the passion that fuels it, see www.amycbaker.com
18 Feb 2026
Jehovah let His children journey through the wilderness for 40 years to train them. Like the rest of us, they were stubborn and often went against His will. But due to His love for them, He showed them mercy over and over again. This Holy God was angered by their sin, but still kept His promise to them. Deuteronomy 1:1-8.
Trust Him!
Will we trust him even if he doesn’t live up to our expectations? For I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return. (2 Timothy 1:12 NLT) I don’t know how you expect Jesus to work in your life. There are times I’d like for Jesus to come into my life with ground-breaking revelations and speak audibly to me. I want him to come and make all my hard decisions for me and tell me which way to go. But, I know this is not likely. His role is not to live up to my expectations. He is Savior and Lord. He knows what is best and has bigger things to accomplish – things that I can’t even imagine. Jesus certainly didn’t come close to satisfying the lavish hopes of the people of his day, either. This is especially true of the hopes of many of his fellow Jews – only a few of whom converted to Christianity. He didn’t live up to many of their expectations of what a Messiah should do. Today, this problem still haunts us. People turn their backs on God because Jesus didn’t help them as they thought he should or protect them as they thought he would. He didn’t live up to what they expected for their Messiah. What God does for us is often not what we expect him to do because our expectations are not His. He has something better, richer, higher, fuller, more enduring, and more complete in mind for us. Trust Him … just trust Him! For He cares for you. So be humble under God’s powerful hand. Then he will lift you up when the right time comes. Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7 ERV) About the author: Dr. Faulkner was the very first person of note and influence who shared his content with us at HEARTLIGHT.org beginning in 1996. Paul Faulkner taught on the Abilene Christian University campus full-time for 35 years. He was honored in 1982 as the university’s Teacher of the Year. He wrote several books and was a much sought-after speaker and seminar leader along with his Marriage Enrichment partner, Dr. Carl Brecheen. Dr. Faulkner mentored many ministers and church leaders, shared his loving homespun humor and wisdom through many channels, and endeared himself to thousands. Our dear friend and mentor went to be with the Lord in 2022, but his legacy lives on in the lives of those he touched and made better.
Wildlife Preserve
Have you been to a wildlife office preserve? I write from a small office with a second-story view to the west. Far a field, over the top of the university’s administration building, I can see the American flag wave in the always-breathing West Texas wind. Closer to me, the dome of the small observatory lines the top of the science building. Just nearer is the old gymnasium, home to intramural sports after years of glory as the home of the Wildcats. I have glimpses of cars in a parking lot through the limbs of the trees. With most trees, the picture would be clearer in the winter. However with live oaks, leaves are constantly present. On weekdays, I can see groups of students hurrying to class just beneath my glass to the world. This time of year, I also see the tour groups – loosely bunched newcomers following the lead of a student recruiter. Parents and future collegians walking together a path that only the youngsters will tread next fall. Inside my office, my shelves bulge with books, papers, and bulging binders. Tucked away in cabinets are various supplies; and somewhere, there is a really old granola bar. As I sit at my keyboard and peck out these words, I can see electrical wires and various cables that connect this machine to my printer and my phone and the network that hooks me directly into the world-wide web. And down one of those long, vinyl-coated portals to civilization, I occasionally see a flash of movement and of color. These seeming apparitions used to startle me. Now I know that it’s just one of them. They seem fascinated with the maze of connections behind my computer. Like little wanderers on nature paths, they slowly move through the techno-mess I’ve created. They have no fear of me. During particularly long phone conversations, I sometimes reach over and block their progress with my finger. Patiently, they wait, and if I don’t move, they crawl aboard and I move them to my sleeve or to the edge of my computer screen. I rarely see more than one at any given time. I’ve heard that their life expectancy is two to three months. I have no idea of the age of the one sitting in front of me now. There was a time when I would undertake a rescue mission. Scooping the small creature in the palm of my hand, I would move quickly outside and gently place the small bundle of life on the limb of a tree or among the sheltering vines of the ivy growing in the flowerbeds. But, it’s cold now and I’ve never seen one of them living naturally during the winter – except, of course, in my office. It’s on those mornings that I find their little dried remains that I wonder if I’m doing the right thing by allowing them to stay so long with me. I experience some remorse as I sweep the tiny body into my hand and as I drop it with little ceremony into the trash. A couple of times through the day, I find myself looking for movement among the tangle of wires. A certain loneliness hangs heavily for a while. Ladybugs are the only member of the insect kingdom that evoke such feelings from me. As a boy, I learned early that the orange or red beetles with big black spots are beneficent citizens. They eat aphids. They don’t buzz when they fly or nest. And, amazingly, they seem to like people – never stinging or biting. When other kids were grabbing frogs and prodding snakes with sticks, I was pleased with the good-natured company of the ladybugs. Maybe that’s why I like sharing my office with them. Maybe that’s why I’m always pleased to see the replacement beetle take her place on the credenza there by the window. Maybe that’s why this odd occurrence of wildlife stirs my imagination. Whatever the reason, I’ve found myself thankful that God has provided me with a link back to His creation. For someone stuck in the world of words, numbers, and machines that spread information at close to the speed of light, the presence of a patient and plodding ladybug restores the sense of wonder that I too easily squander among those notations on my busy calendar. Less notations, more ladybugs – now that’s what this world needs. About the author: Joey Cope (Dr. Joe L. Cope) is the executive director of the Center for Conflict Resolution at Abilene Christian University. He teaches graduate courses in advanced conflict management, negotiation and mediation. The work of the Center includes mediation/intervention services and educational offerings through seminars, conferences and special courses designed for businesses, non-profit organizations, and churches. Cope is an attorney and received his certificate in dispute resolution from Pepperdine University School of Law. Cope is an elder of the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas.
The Jesus Filter
How do you process things these days? If you work with computers, as most of us do today, you may be familiar with the concept of a filter. A filter is used to screen information or sometimes it is used to adjust how one program relates to another. You can set up filters in many programs to allow specific information to be sent or used by another computer, program or person. In the same way, a filter can be set up to screen what information you receive. Probably the most familiar filters to most people are “spam filters.” These little programs screen out thousands of unwanted “junk” emails we would receive everyday if we didn’t have them. Now all of this is background for a thought I had yesterday. We were sharing the Lord’s Supper, and I thought about relationships and the self-examination we are suppose to do during the Supper. I thought of Paul’s comment about how he no longer lived, but Christ was the one living in him (Galatians 2:20). He was basically saying that everything in his life was now seen through the filter of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:16-17 says essentially the same thing!). Everything that happened to him, every relationship he had and every hardship and blessing he experienced, was filtered through Jesus. Every wrong that was done to him, every cruel word or action was filtered through the screen of Jesus. What really struck me about these few wandering thoughts of mine was this: what a completely different life we can have if we filter everything through Jesus! When we remember his sacrifice, his pain, his suffering, his love and apply those to the happenings and relationships in our own lives, then our world will take on a different appearance. Our relationships will take on a different feel and closeness because our feelings and words first pass through the filter of Jesus. Paul is writing from experience when he encourages folks in Philippi with these words: “Have this among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus ….” (Philippians 2:5 RSV). He had done that personally. He understood what it meant to look at things through the mind and eyes of Christ. He was willing to give up his own self-interest, his own rights, and his very own life. He was honest when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). How about applying the “filter of Jesus” to your life? I have to admit that I am still struggling with doing that all the time, because there are times when I don’t want to give up my rights to judge, feel hurt, and retaliate. Paul’s words are a good reminder to me! How about you? About the author: Russ Lawson is a former missionary to Africa and minister in Ohio. He now works with World Christian Literature Outreach and writes a weekly email devotional, Messages from the Heart. For more information about Russ, click here.
Some of My Very Best Gifts
Note from Jesus My Beloved, Far too often in your world, children and their fathers have great difficulty communicating. Sometimes this situation is because of non-communicative fathers. Other times, however, children go through periods where they don’t want to talk with their fathers because they feel their fathers cannot understand their problems or the world in which they live. On the other hand, some children are just rebellious and don’t want their father interfering in their lives. My Abba Father, your Abba in heaven, doesn’t want these obstacles to come between you and Him. Your heavenly Father wants you to know how to communicate with Him. He wants you to seek Him even when you don’t know what to say or when you don’t know how to say what’s on your heart. Today, I want to give three assurances that when you speak to the Father, He hears you: Remember that He is your loving Abba Father — you come to him as His beloved child (Romans 8:15-16). You can know that even simple words will be heard (Luke 11:1-13). The Holy Spirit intercedes for you (Romans 8:26-27). Providing you with words to speak to God and assuring you that God will hear you are some of the greatest gifts I can give you. Please be blessed and take great advantage of being able to speak with the Creator of the universe as your Father. Know that whenever and wherever you choose to draw near to speak to Him, he will listen to you! Verses to Live My first disciples wanted to learn how to pray. They had seen Me pray many times. They knew I would sometimes withdraw from everything and spend time with the Father. My disciples knew that one of the great blessings a teacher gave his disciples was to teach them to pray. So, their request was a good one. I hope you long for Me to guide you in how to pray. Please notice all the different times I prayed in My life and ministry. Pay attention to how I prayed, where I prayed, and what I prayed. Today, My beloved disciple, I want you to know that prayer is not about saying a lot of different or magical or profound words that sound religious. You are My Father’s child, too. Your prayers don’t need to impress Him. He longs to hear from you. So, please, don’t focus on your words, but on your relationship with the Father. Be honest and simple in what you pray. Recognize that only a few things are truly essential in life and in your Christian service and focus on them. Another time Jesus was praying, and when He finished, one of His disciples approached Him. Disciple: Teacher, would You teach us Your way of prayer? John taught his disciples his way of prayer, and we’re hoping You’ll do the same. Jesus: Here’s how to pray: Father in heaven. May Your kingdom come. Give us the food we need for tomorrow, And forgive us for our wrongs, for we forgive those who wrong us. And lead us away from temptation. Imagine that one of your friends comes over at midnight. He bangs on the door and shouts, “Friend, will you lend me three loaves of bread? A friend of mine just showed up unexpectedly from a journey, and I don’t have anything to feed him.” Would you shout out from your bed, “I’m already in bed, and so are the kids. I already locked the door. I can’t be bothered”? You know this as well as I do: even if you didn’t care that this fellow was your friend, if he keeps knocking long enough, you’ll get up and give him whatever he needs simply because of his brash persistence! So listen: Keep on asking, and you will receive. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened for you. All who keep asking will receive, all who keep seeking will find, and doors will open to those who keep knocking. Some of you are fathers, so ask yourselves this: if your son comes up to you and asks for a fish for dinner, will you give him a snake instead? If your boy wants an egg to eat, will you give him a scorpion? Look, all of you are flawed in so many ways, yet in spite of all your faults, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to all who ask! (Luke 11:1-13) And, My beloved disciple, even when you don’t get your words exactly correct, or when you can’t find the right words to express your heart, remember that I have given you the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is your spiritual DNA that connects you to God as your Abba Father. You are His beloved child. The Spirit will take your emotions, your confusion, and your concerns to the Father. When you don’t have words, point your heart to heaven and ask the Spirit to take your groanings, including those that are too deep for words, and present them acceptably to the Father. He is your Abba. You are His child. The Spirit is your assurance. Offer the Father your heart, your emotions, and your fears, and the Holy Spirit will make them all known to our Father! You see, you have not received a spirit that returns you to slavery, so you have nothing to fear. The Spirit you have received adopts you and welcomes you into God’s own family. That’s why we call out to Him, “Abba! Father!” as we would address a loving daddy. Through that prayer, God’s Spirit confirms in our spirits that we are His children. … A similar thing happens when we pray. We are weak and do not know how to pray, so the Spirit steps in and articulates prayers for us with groaning too profound for
17 Feb 2026
We also serve God who is holy. As He enables us, let us lead holy lives. With His help we can overcome any obstacle. The Holy Spirit has also been deployed to empower us to lead lives that please God. 1 Peter 1:13-16