Nudging #68 - Feb. 5 "The Perfect Picture"

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The Perfect Picture

“You’re nothing but a mist, a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing.” — James 4:14 (MSG)

As a budding photographer, I’ve learned that fog is elusive—constantly shifting, moving, and vanishing. You have to act fast to capture the shot because with fog, it’s there one moment, and gone the next. But when the light and mist align, something extraordinary happens—a brief moment of breathtaking beauty—the perfect picture.

I think that’s what James had in mind when he spoke about our lives—we are all a mist—brief, beautiful, and then gone. Psalm 39:5 reminds us, “Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure” (NIV). Rich or poor, powerful or weak, young or old, no one outruns time. Left to ourselves, our days slip by—unremarkable. But in the Lord, our lives can take on lasting beauty.

Jesus is, “the light of the world” (John 8:12, NIV). He is the “bright morning star,” and when the mist of our lives reflects His light we become more than a passing vapor. We embody a radiance and beauty that transcends time. 

Light gives life. A stained-glass window without light is just darkened glass—its beauty unseen, its purpose unfulfilled. But when light floods through it, the colors glow, and its true design is revealed. In the same way, a life without Jesus is like mist in the dark—formless and unseen. But when His Spirit shines through us—even for a moment—we glisten with beauty.

The light of Jesus takes our ordinary moments and fills them with His glory. A song becomes more than just music, a sermon more than just words, and an act of kindness more than just a good deed. A whispered prayer, a cup of cold water given in His name, a word spoken in love—each one, touched by His light, carries a glory that outlasts us.

We’re not perfect, and no matter how hard we try, we cannot create lasting glory for ourselves. But we can reflect the glory of Jesus, the One who lasts forever. So let His love illuminate the mist that is your life. When you do, you become—in that moment—the perfect picture of His breathtaking beauty.

 


Nudging #67 - Jan. 31 “Hangry” or Worse?

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“Hangry” or Worse?

Michal, Saul’s daughter, was barren the rest of her life.

                                        (2 Samuel 6:23, MSG)

The night should have been special. My wife, daughters, and sons-in-law were all gathered around the table—a rare moment when our busy lives aligned, giving us the chance to laugh, talk, and simply enjoy being together. But I missed the moment.

I was physically present—seated among them—but my heart was elsewhere. My mind was consumed with irritation, criticism, and frustration. The restaurant was busy, the service slow,  the waiter inattentive… and I was fuming. (I wish I could say I was just “hangry,” but I wasn’t.)

Instead of partaking in the joy and beauty all around the table, I quenched it. My family felt the weight of my spirit, and my attitude affected them. My negativity left me empty, lifeless, and barren. I let my frustration dictate my presence, and in doing so, I missed out on the fun, beauty, blessing, and love—the real feast—that was happening all around me.

A fretting, distracted, and critical heart results in an empty, barren life.

Michal, the wife of King David, knew something of this. She was right in the midst of the presence of God, watching as the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem. But instead of celebrating, she sat in judgment. As David danced before the Lord, Michal watched from a distance, her heart hardened with contempt. She could have joined the celebration, but instead, she missed the moment—consumed with irritation, criticism, frustration, and pride.

The result? Barrenness—not just physical, but spiritual. She missed the joy of God’s presence and the life-giving, fruit-bearing abundance that comes from a surrendered heart. She was near the things of God (sitting right at the table), but she missed out on the fun, beauty, blessing, and love happening all around her.

There’s no shortage of things in our world—and in our lives—that stir criticism, irritation, or frustration. The Enemy works tirelessly to distract us, causing us to miss the blessing even when we're right in the middle of it. We can sit at the table and never taste the goodness set before us. Surrounded by worship, fellowship, and God’s Spirit, we quench it, stuck in our distractions. And in the end, we walk away empty, lifeless, and barren.

But there is a way back, and His name is Jesus.

We must turn away from the many distractions of the Enemy and “fix our eyes on Jesus.” He is the one who said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV)

Are you “hangry” or worse? Is your spirit barren? Lean into the abundant life that is Jesus. Enter into the celebration. Don’t miss the feast. Be present. Be life-giving. “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8, NIV)

 


Nudging #66 - Jan. 25, "Open the Tent Fly"

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Open the Tent Fly

Even the smallest light can dispel the greatest darkness.

                                    — J.R.R. Tolkien

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. (Isaiah 9:2, NLT)

When I was in my twenties I went on a three-day raft trip with my Dad and a couple of other guys. We were on the Smith River, deep in the remote wilderness of Montana. The experience was amazing. On the first night of the trip, Dad and I set up our pup tent, laid out our sleeping bags and quickly fell asleep. We were exhausted from a full day of rowing, exploring and fun. 

I tend to be a wild sleeper—prone to talking in my sleep, half-awake/half-asleep moments, and occasional sleepwalking. I awoke in our pup tent in the dead of night, enveloped in complete blackness. We were in the wilderness, with no streetlights or artificial light—just mountains and darkness looming all around—and in my half-asleep state, I panicked. 

I couldn’t see a thing, and I was scared. My dad tried to console me, gently saying, “It’s okay bud, I’m here with you. We’re just sleeping in a tent on our raft trip.” But in my half-asleep state, I couldn’t be calmed. Finally, my dad unzipped the tent fly and told me to look up. The stars were breathtaking—their light pierced the darkness and dispelled my fear. I came to my senses and peacefully went back to sleep. 

Even kind words in the darkness couldn’t bring me peace. It took the light to dispel my fear. Fear and darkness are intertwined. Just as light dispels darkness, it also dispels fear. The moment I saw the light, my fear faded. 

In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (NIV)

Are you in the dark? Jesus is the light we need. Just as the stars pierced the darkness that night in the Montana wilderness, so does the light of Jesus pierce through the panic and fear in our lives. His light brings clarity in confusion, comfort in anxiety, and peace where there is worry. Darkness, panic, and fear are no match for the light of His love and presence. 

Look to Jesus. Open the tent fly of your heart and let Him light up your life.


Nudging #65 - Jan. 23, "Seemingly Impossible"

The way

Seemingly Impossible

Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there! (Psalm 77:19 NLT)

Yesterday marked the fifth anniversary of my healing from a life-threatening pancreatic tumor. It’s a story filled with terms and phrases like: suffering, rare, unknown, insulinoma, failed attempts, trouble, doubt, seemingly impossible, Mayo Clinic, faith, prayer, and help.

As I sit here healthy and thankful, reflecting on Psalm 77, I am reminded of the sea, the mighty waters, and the hidden pathway I didn’t know was there. My story (and yours) is a part of the greater story of God’s people. 

When the children of Israel followed God’s direction away from the Egyptian army, they suddenly faced a seemingly impossible obstacle—the Red Sea. From their vantage point, it was hopeless. No escape. No salvation. Their path with God had led them to a dead-end… or so it seemed.

But the story didn’t end there. God parted the sea, making a way no one could have imagined. He delivered His people and destroyed their enemies.

God made a way where there seemed to be no way.

The same God that made a way for the Israelites thousands of years ago came to earth in His Son, Jesus Christ. He died on the cross to give us life. God loves us that much! Jesus is the “way,” the truth and the life (John 14:6, NIV)

What challenges are you facing today—illness, personal struggles, global crises, overwhelming doubt? We’re constantly surrounded by reminders of hopelessness. But remember: God is not limited by what we perceive as reality. He led the children of Israel down a pathway that no one knew was there—no one except God. 

Are you up against a seemingly impossible situation? Be encouraged: God knows... and He knows the way through.

Call upon and trust in Jesus—He is the God who makes a way.

 


Nudgings #64 - Jan. 10, "Surviving, but…Thirsty"

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Surviving, but…Thirsty

On the last day, the climax of the holidays, Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water shall flow from the inmost being of anyone who believes in me.” (John 7:37-38, TLB)

The celebration of Christmas and the New Year has passed, and we're all settling back into work, school, and the routines of daily life. As we reconnect, the common question arises: "How were your holidays?" and most of us respond with some variation of "exhilarating" or "exhausting"—or perhaps a bit of both. The whirlwind of the season—whether filled with joy or exhaustion—often leaves us feeling parched and longing for renewal. 

Now that we are back at it, we’re surviving, but…thirsty. 

Thirst is a signal, a reminder that the body needs water. When that need goes unmet, the consequences can be serious. The same is true for trees. When trees lack water, they can survive for a time, but they become vulnerable to the devastating effects of killer beetles. Beetles thrive on trees that are not adequately watered. When a tree is well-watered, it produces an abundance of sap—so much that if a beetle attempts to bore into it, the sap overwhelms and drowns the beetle. The tree’s health and protection come from its access to water. Without enough water, the tree may survive for a time, but it becomes vulnerable to attack, illness, and eventual death.

This simple truth mirrors our spiritual lives: without the living water from Jesus, we may survive for a time, but we become vulnerable to the Enemy's schemes and eventually, spiritual decay. The Enemy preys on those who aren’t filled with the life-giving water of the Spirit. But when we are well-watered by the Spirit, Jesus produces abundant life in us—so much that when the Enemy attempts to attack, he is overwhelmed and driven out. Our strength and protection come from our access to the living water of Jesus. 

Jesus invites us to come to Him for this life-giving water:

Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink… (Isaiah 55:1, NLT)

Those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. (John 4:14, NLT)

Jesus offers us the water of life to quench our thirst and empower us to thrive. Are you thirsting today? Come to the source. Let Jesus, the Living Water, fill you until you overflow, ensuring that you not only survive, but flourish.

 


Nudgings #63 - Jan. 6 "An Epiphany on Epiphany"

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An Epiphany on Epiphany

There were three things prefigured and promised by the gifts in the cave in Bethlehem concerning the Child who received them: that He would be crowned like a King; that He should be worshipped like a God; and that He should die like a man. And these things would sound like Eastern flattery, were it not for the third.

                            — G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

Thanks to G.K. Chesterton, I had an epiphany on Epiphany.

In the Christian tradition, Epiphany is a feast on January 6th that celebrates the Magi's (the three wise men) visit to the child Jesus, revealing Him as the Messiah to the world.

The “third” gift that the wise men brought, the myrrh, is the kicker.

The gold symbolized Christ's kingship, recognizing His authority over all, reminding us to honor Him as the King who lovingly reigns over our lives with justice and mercy. The frankincense, which was used in worship, in candles and incense, signifies Jesus' divinity, reminding us that He is Emmanuel, God with us, the only one deserving of our worship and adoration.

And then there is the myrrh.

Myrrh was commonly used in ancient times for embalming and burial preparations. Its inclusion as a gift for Jesus is startling. Myrrh points to Jesus’ sacrifice, showing that the Child came to die—so I could truly live. His suffering and death bridged the gap between me and God.

Without myrrh, the gifts of the Magi seem nice and flattering, but with it, they explode with meaning (an epiphany):

Jesus, my King and my God, came to die for me!

 


Nudgings #62 - Dec. 18 "The Ultimate Mystery"

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The Ultimate Mystery

Good news; but if you ask me what it is, I know not;
It is a track of feet in the snow,
It is a lantern showing a path,
It is a door set open.
       — G.K. Chesterton 1874-1936

Everybody loves a good mystery, and G.K. Chesterton has penned for us a tiny yet profound mystery novel in this brief passage. All the elements are present: an intriguing setup, a trail of hints, and the hope of revelation. A great mystery draws us in by what it withholds, and Chesterton offers just enough to stir our imagination and awaken something deep within us—a longing to know, to seek, and to enter in.

The beauty of his verse lies in the opening phrase: “Good News,” where he invites us into the very mystery of God. Like shepherds, drawn by an angelic announcement on a Bethlehem night, we hear whispers of “good news,” but ask, … what is it?

God and His ways are mysterious, yet He longs to be known. He is ever giving us clues—wooing us unto Himself with the beauty of creation, the depth of Scripture, and the quiet nudges of His Spirit. For those who long to know, to seek, and to enter in, the search is over. In the Christ of Christmas, the mystery is solved:

“The mystery hidden for ages and generations…is now revealed to His saints…Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:26-27).

Jesus is the track of feet in the snow, the lantern on the path, and the door set open. He doesn’t just point the way—He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

Chesterton’s tiny mystery novel is no mere story—it’s an invitation to encounter the ultimate mystery—the “Good News”—and His name is Jesus.

Merry Christmas.


Nudgings #61 - Dec. 12, "Unto YOU"

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Unto You

"Now I finally know the real meaning of Christmas."

I’ll never forget the Christmas Eve my family and I spent with our friend Jaeyoung in Daejeon, South Korea. It was a cold, snowy night—just the way Christmas Eve is supposed to be—and we walked from our apartment to Jaeyoung’s restaurant for dinner. 

The place was tiny, with only three tables, and it was packed when we arrived. Some people were seated and eating, while others waited for takeout. Jaeyoung and his wife were dearly loved in that part of the city for two reasons: their good food and warm friendship. 

We finally got a table, and Jaeyoung and his wife showered us with care and attention—they adored our daughters. The meal was delicious. As the evening wore on, the crowd slowly drifted away. One by one, people left to return home and celebrate Christmas Eve. Eventually, it was just us in the restaurant. We didn’t have anywhere else to go and wanted to be with our Korean friends. 

Jaeyoung pulled a chair up to our table. Though we spoke little Korean, he thankfully knew English well enough for us to converse. With a thoughtful glance around the room, he gestured to the strand of flashing lights in the front window, the picture of Santa taped to the door, and the tattered Christmas tree standing in the corner of his shop. Then, meeting my eyes, he asked, 'What is the real meaning of Christmas?'"

I paused, letting his question sink in. 

Is Christmas all about Santa, the Grinch, Rudolph, Frosty, gifts, toys, trees, decorations, and twinkling lights? These are all part of the season as we know it, bringing joy and color, filling it with fun and festivity. But Christmas is more than that—so much more.

I shared with Jaeyoung about God’s deep love for all people, and how He created the universe and made humanity as His most treasured possession. God desires a relationship with us as His children and in His great love He gave us free will, allowing us to choose to love Him sincerely. But our choices led to sin, which caused a separation between us and the holy God. The Bible tells the story of how God’s love relentlessly pursues us, calling us back to Himself. In the most incredible act of love, God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to save us from our sins. Jesus came, as God in the flesh, to reveal God’s heart and to pay the price for our sins through His death on the cross and His resurrection—offering us the hope of eternal life.

And then my mind went to Linus, standing on a dimly lit stage, answering Charlie Brown’s question, “Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” and I shared Luke 2:8-12 with Jaeyoung:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (KJV)

Then I said, “Jaeyoung, the real meaning of Christmas isn’t about Santa, gifts, trees, and lights. It isn’t even about the three wise men, Mary and Joseph, and a baby born in a manger. Look at what the angel said: ‘…unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior.’ … Unto ‘YOU!’” 

“Jaeyoung, Christmas is about you and me, and God’s love for each one of us.”

John the disciple says it well:

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9, NIV)

That night, in that tiny restaurant, the message broke through. Christmas isn’t just about the nativity scene or traditions. It isn’t even just about God’s miraculous act. Christmas is about us—and God’s love for us. 

I’ll never forget Jaeyoung’s response. After a moment of reflection, his face lit up with understanding. He put his hand on his heart, smiled, and said, 

"Now I finally know the real meaning of Christmas.”

 

 


Nudgings #60 - Dec. 5, "The Only Real Thing"

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The Only Real Thing

I have always been a big fan of Pooh, that "silly old bear."

A.A. Milne, the creator of Winnie-the-Pooh, wrote the beloved stories of the Hundred Acre Wood for and about his son, Christopher Robin. In the early 1900s, Pooh and his adventures captured hearts and imaginations, offering comfort and hope to a world reeling in the wake of World War I.

Sometimes, life clouds our view of what truly matters. The world—and even our own reflections in the mirror—distract and overwhelm us with news, conflict, endless controversies, and the harsh, undeniable passage of time. Stories like Winnie-the-Pooh help us rise above the noise, lift our imaginations and remind us of things that are real: friendship, hope, love, and Truth.

In 1996, the London Times reported that Christopher Milne (the real Christopher Robin) had died at the age of 75. In response, the poet Czeslaw Milosz wrote an anecdote in the voice of Winnie-the-Pooh, reflecting on youth, aging, time and eternity.

“Christopher Robin” by Czeslaw Milosz*

I must think suddenly of matters too difficult for a bear of little brain. I have never asked myself what lies beyond the place where we live, I and Rabbit, Piglet and Eeyore, with our friend Christopher Robin. That is, we continued to live here, and nothing changed, and I just ate my little something. 

Only Christopher Robin left for a moment.

Owl says that immediately beyond our garden Time begins, and that it is an awfully deep well. If you fall in it, you go down and down, very quickly, and no one knows what happens to you next. I was a bit worried about Christopher Robin falling in, but he came back and then I asked him about the well. “Old bear,” he answered. “I was in it and I was falling and I wore trousers down to the ground, I had a grey beard, and then I died. It was probably just a dream, it was quite unreal. The only real thing was you, old bear, and our shared fun. Now I won’t go anywhere, even if I’m called in for an afternoon snack.”

I love the exchange that Milosz created between Christopher Robin and the 'silly old bear.' As a child, I adored the stories of Winnie the Pooh—where toys were fast friends and the backyard was a world of adventure, limited only by my imagination. Milosz’s anecdote resonates deeply with me, giving voice to an unexplored realm in Milne’s beautiful story, where we all, like Christopher Robin, live in the midst of childlike hope, growing up, old age, and death.

The anecdote begins with Pooh describing the garden where he and his friends live. It is a place of peace and stability, where all abide happily together. Pooh has no idea what lies beyond the garden, nor does he care. Nothing seems to change—except for the fact that he says, “Only Christopher Robin left for a moment.”

Pooh knows that his friend Christopher Robin went somewhere. Wise old Owl says that "somewhere" is beyond the garden, where Time begins, and he describes this unknown place as an "awfully deep well." Pooh lives outside of Time and has no idea that Christopher Robin’s "moment" is the deep well of a lifetime (75 years), where he left the garden and entered the world of adulthood—with all of its adventure, hope, pain, joy, loss, and love.

Currently, I am surprised to find that I am like Christopher Robin was in his "moment." I am beyond the garden of childhood innocence and unchecked imagination, and Time is having its way with me. I, in my long trousers and graying whiskers, am free-falling headlong into the unknown deep.

Yet, as I fall, I realize that I am even more like Pooh, a "bear of little brain." Not because I face things I don’t understand or care about, but rather, because I forget to fully embrace and appreciate what I already know. I take for granted the fact that each day—and the moments and people that inhabit them—are precious gifts.

So here I am, in the midst of my "moment." It feels very real to me, yet I’m reminded that it isn’t—it’s, in fact, quite unreal. At this point, my imagination leads me to the only true thing: the Truth. There is something beyond this vapor of life I live. What began in a garden long ago ended victoriously on a cross, and all my "moments" were redeemed and transformed in the depths of an empty tomb.

The author of the truest of anecdotes is Jesus. In Him alone is the place of genuine love, forgiveness, relationship and “shared fun.” In Jesus Christ is found the “only real thing,” a place where Time is no more; where there are no more tears, regrets, and goodbyes—just life together, in all of its fullness,… forever. 

Jesus says, “I go to prepare a place for you”—a place where we can say, along with Christopher Robin, “I won’t go anywhere, even if I’m called in for an afternoon snack.”

*Milosz, Czeslaw. New and Collected Poems, (1931-2001), 2003, pg. 656.

 


Nudgings #59 - Nov. 21, "The Tree That is Me"

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The Tree That is Me

Years ago, I served as an administrator at an international school in South Korea, and one day, Jackie, the office manager, said this to me: "Mr. Roberts, you are 대나무 정령 (daenamu jeongyeong)—‘a bamboo spirit.’”

I asked Jackie and the other Korean staff members what that meant in their culture, and they offered the following insights: Bamboo, they explained, symbolizes righteous living in a disorderly world—a combination of upright integrity and accommodating flexibility, perfectly balancing grace and strength. They described how the bamboo tree is resilient and adaptable: it can’t be knocked down or broken in a storm but simply bends with the wind. Its hollow center represents purity of spirit and an openness to the divine—embodying someone who lives with resilience, grace, and quiet strength.

Wow, I was deeply humbled by Jackie’s kind words and her comparison of me to a bamboo tree. Yet, as I reflect on the tree that is me, I know I fall short of being a true 'bamboo spirit.'

But oh, how I long to become a “tree” for the Lord and His glory!

The Bible references trees 257 times—more than any other living thing apart from God and people. Throughout Scripture, God's followers are frequently described as, or compared to, trees. Consider these verses:

Blessed is the one … whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3, NIV)

The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. (Psalm 92:12-15, ESV)

Each of us is called to be like the trees in these verses: rooted in God’s Word, resilient in trials, and bearing fruit that blesses others. The tree that is me is a work in progress—ever growing and becoming in Him.

Jesus, You are the vine, and I am Your branch. May the tree that is me—whether a mighty oak of righteousness, a majestic cedar planted in Your courts, or even a humble bamboo swaying in the winds of Your Spirit—exist for Your glory.