How do we truly measure success?

If our worth isn’t defined by what we produce, then what standards should guide us? The way we choose our metrics—how we measure and qualify achievement—shapes not only our goals, but also our sense of fulfillment. Instead of simply counting results or focusing on the end destination, it’s worth asking: what really matters in the journey? 

Results or Reasons

Results matter, for sure, but not at the expense of the means and methods of achieving them. Our whys and hows are as important as goals we aim to reach.

Our motivations matter.  Our intentions matter.  Our methods do matter.  And I would dare say that these are at least as important as the outcomes we seek.

I reckon we need to begin to ask ourselves better questions, huh?

Reflections

• Are my actions motivated by love?  Do my actions elevate others? 

• Is what I’m saying, doing, or thinking helping to create joy in my life and in the lives of others? 

• Will my accomplishments only benefit me?

• Am I operating from a place of guilt and insecurity, or acting from a place of freedom and abundance?  

• Why am I doing this? How do I apply myself to the tasks before me?

These are better questions that allow us to examine ourselves while developing better ways of being that are actually life-giving and liberating for both us and others.  

The former ways bring exhaustion and frustration, only the latter yields contentment and confidence.

Get it?

²³ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; ²⁴ Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

The Search for Meaning

From the moment we are young, we begin a lifelong search for meaning. We quickly learn that certain actions bring rewards, while others lead to consequences. Over time, our sense of self-worth becomes tied to what we do—our achievements, our productivity, and the judgments of others.

The Cycle of Busyness

Society teaches us that what matters most is what we produce. The idol of productivity demands constant performance. When circumstances or challenges prevent us from “doing,” our identity feels threatened. This relentless system of busyness leaves even the most successful among us feeling empty, questioning our value, longing for meaning, and searching for peace.

No matter how hard we work, this cycle never delivers true contentment or confidence. Instead, it drives us to exhaustion, convincing us that our lives only matter when we are producing, achieving, or accumulating.

The Invitation to Rest

But there is hope. Thank God for Jesus, who reminds us that our value is not measured by what we produce. We are valuable simply because of who we are. Jesus says, “Consider the birds of the air”—they do not earn their worth, yet they are cared for.

Peace comes with His presence, and rest is not something we must earn. It is a gift of grace, freely given. We do not have to surrender to the grind to find meaning. Instead, we can ground ourselves in grace, remembering that our being, not our doing, defines our worth.

A Gentle Reminder

I need this reminder often, and perhaps you do too:

“…Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these…”
Matthew 6:28-29

Good morning. I love you all.

ihs,
just adam

In 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. posed a question that still resonates today: “Where do we go from here—chaos or community?” Despite the remarkable achievements of the civil rights movement, King recognized that deep-rooted issues—racism, militarism, and the flaws of unchecked capitalism—continued to foster poverty and despair for millions. Progress had been made, but the journey toward justice was far from complete. 

Where do we go from here?

Today, we find ourselves facing similar uncertainties. Our communities, our nation, and our world are once again at a crossroads. History seems to echo itself, not because we lack knowledge, but because we often fail to learn from its lessons. Even as we celebrate advancements, we are confronted by instability and doubt about what lies ahead. 

So, where do we go from here?

Can technology, politics, or human ingenuity alone lead us into a brighter future? The evidence suggests otherwise. Is it possible that a visionary leader will rise to inspire transformation and peace? Experience tells us this is unlikely to be the sole answer.

Perhaps, the solution is as familiar as it is overlooked. The wisdom of those who came before us—and the faith that sustained them—may hold the key. When we are anxious about the future, we do not need to have all the answers. Instead, we can trust in guidance greater than our own. 

As the Psalmist writes:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Psalm 23

Whether in our personal lives or in the public sphere, when uncertainty arises, we can find comfort in knowing that we are not alone on the journey.

We may not know every step ahead, but we can trust that there is a path—and a Shepherd—who knows the way.

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam 

January 16th, 2026

This morning, as I sit in the silence and sip my coffee, my heart and mind travel to all the places in the world, in this city, in my neighborhood, where there’s trouble, and I wonder what I can do to make a difference.

Do you ever do that?

The onslaught of terrible news and the absurdity and wickedness that is playing out right before our eyes, the malaise that seems to be stifling the hopefulness of the faithful – it is enough to make a soul wonder, ‘Where is God?’

Take a breath.

Feel your heart beating.

Hear the still small voice of the Spirit whispering, ‘I am with you…’

As I finish my coffee and head to work, I will remain sensitive to and aware of the Spirit. I will let the Spirit guide and empower me to find and to do some good. I will not yield to despair.

Where is God?

God is not here or there, yet God is somehow near, and even within, whispering amid the din of sorrow and suffering. So, I open my eyes, my heart, and I extend my hands, revealing kindness within.

I light a candle and turn my shoulders into these cold and bitter winds. I give myself to grace and kindness, and I begin again.

What can I do? Where is God? I can hear the voice of the Spirit, ‘I am with you..’ So, I will do some good, right where I am…

¹⁰ As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me;

While they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

¹¹ Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?

Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him,

Who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 42:10-11

That’s the goal for the day.

Now go and do some good!

Good Morning, I love you all.

ihs,

just adam

January 14, 2026

For most of my Christian life, and honestly for most of my life period,  I have wrestled with one thing or another. There always seems to be something going on. Struggles, conflicts, adversity, trials, afflictions, loss – I’ve seen and been through a lot. 

I have experienced internal striving, and sometimes external pressures – sometimes both at the same time.  Sometimes there were struggles with consequences for my own actions, and other times there were trials that I didn’t ask for, invite, or create. 

If it wasn’t one thing, it’s been another, but always something going on.

Have you ever heard a word from the LORD that was both confusing and comforting?  Jesus’ whole idea of an ‘easy yoke,’ has been both haunting and helpful, depending on the circumstance..

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:29-30

I have read, sang, meditated, written about this passage before, but today it just dawned on me that the ‘easy yoke’ that Jesus speaks of is directly related to one’s willingness to heed to His guidance and yield to the direction of the Holy Spirit.  

In a word – OBEDIENCE.

Sadly, most of us (present company included), are absolutely committed to learning things the hard way.  We resist surrendering as a sign of strength, and we commit ourselves to struggle unnecessarily, when submission is actually the goal.  

Plainly put – we make things harder on ourselves than necessary because of our own stubbornness of heart, pridefulness, and hard-headedness.  

‘I did it my way…’  (imagine my best impression of Frank Sinatra) 

But what if we may avoid some of life’s harshest lessons by learning how to listen, by learning how to be led, by being willing to accept corrections, and sometimes just by asking for help!?

Alas, I am a stubborn man.  Will you pray with me?

LORD, grant me more grace to LEARN from YOU. LORD, that I might accept this easy yoke and  find rest for my soul. 

Amen

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

January 9th, 2026

Slowing Down in the Mornings

I have been intentionally working to slow down in the mornings. This choice helps me carve out time to breathe, think, and pray before I get caught up in a daily routine that often pulls me in many directions.

Rethinking Discipline

In the past, I thought discipline meant always moving forward—staying on task, reaching goals, and taking care of every detail. I thought discipline was about checking off boxes and being productive. But over time, I’ve realized that discipline also shows up in moments of stillness.

Finding Maturity in Calmness

There’s a kind of maturity in calmness—the ability to resist the urge to be constantly busy. I now see that much of my busyness comes from internal reactions to anxiety, fear, and insecurity. These feelings show up as worries about being unprepared, fear of failure, and insecurity about my abilities.

Reflecting on Busyness and Drive

Even though my busyness can lead to productivity, it’s not always necessary. Likewise, my drive might lead to external accomplishments, but these successes don’t always bring true fulfillment or happiness.

Learning to Be Still

As I get older, I’m learning to slow down so my soul can catch up with my body. Being still isn’t the same as being idle; it’s an act of trust—trusting that God has everything under control.

So, as we close out the first full workweek of this new year, I pray we all learn to trust God more, lean into His promises, and accept the grace that allows us to rest, renew our minds, restore our strength, revive our spirits, and rediscover joy.

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thankfulness, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

January 7th, 2026

For the last several months my family has been living in a construction zone.  We had to have a new roof installed and because of the damage from the old leaky one, our living space was impacted.

Drywall needed to be replaced and repaired, electrical outlets and lighting repaired, but then we had the bright idea to go ahead and make some much needed updates…

We’ve watched our share of home improvement shows, and while there are disruptions in the plans, problems are resolved and things are beautiful in less than an hour…. 

I probably don’t need to say it, but reality is very different…

It’s been months of noise, dust, inconvenience, disruption – and we are still not done! Somehow by God’s grace we have learned to live in this construction zone…

We successfully navigated the holidays and the New Year – it was weird and awkward but progress has been made and the work continues…

I was joking with our contractor about how most people make it through the challenges of home repairs and renovations, he offered this sage advice, “You just gotta do the best you can…”

I offer those words to you this morning – just do the best you can!

When it feels like you’re living in a construction zone, somewhere between already and not yet, surrounded by dust and noise – just do the best you can.  

Some days will be better than others and sometimes progress will seem to lag, but just do the best you can, hang in there, and in the words of my wife, ‘it’ll be worth it in the end…’

Living in a construction zone?

Do the best you can, and it will be worth it in the end!

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 

1 Corinthians 2:9

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

January 1, 2026

The year has drawn to a close, and we stand at the threshold of a new one. As we mark this transition, we remember the experiences that have shaped us over the past twelve months. We reflect on all that has transpired, acknowledging both our joys and our sorrows, the lessons we have learned, the burdens we have carried, and the blessings we have received. Through it all, we have found opportunities to repent for our shortcomings and to rejoice in the growth and grace that have emerged from our journey.

Gratitude and Praise

In this spirit of reflection, we offer sincere praise and glory to God for His enduring goodness. We are grateful for what the elders have described as His “stubborn grace”—a grace that has sustained and protected us from “yonder to here.” This unyielding mercy has been our anchor through changing seasons and uncertain times.

Marking the Moment

As midnight arrived, a prayer rose from our hearts, marking the start of a new year. In keeping with tradition, the beans and greens have been lovingly prepared, symbolizing hope and prosperity. The laundry is complete, closets have been tidied, and the house has been dusted. Each act is a gesture of readiness for what lies ahead and a way of honoring the rituals that give meaning to our lives.

Embracing God’s Grace

Once again, we have taken time to remember, reflect, repent, and rejoice in the abundant goodness and grace that God has shown us. These practices root us, reminding us to be thankful and humble as we move forward.

A Fresh Beginning

With hearts renewed, we now resolve to step forward into the new year. We begin again. We resume our journey with hope. The witnesses of our past give us wisdom, our present blessings provide strength, and the promise of a hopeful future compels us onward.

A Promise for the Journey

We are encouraged by the words of scripture, which remind us of God’s faithful intentions toward us:

 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” 

(Jeremiah 29:11)

Happy New Year!

Good morning, and know that I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

It is a rare thing for me to ever leave the house without a watch on my wrist. It doesn’t matter what I am wearing or where I’m going, something feels off if I look down at my wrist and it’s bare.

Sometimes life is like that though, huh? We put together an outfit and head out feeling confident, only to realize that something is missing… 

Believers are clothed in the righteousness of God by grace through faith in Christ.  Whatever sin exposes, by our own doing or otherwise, is covered by grace so we don’t have to move through the world bare, ashamed, afraid, or exposed.  

Whatever circumstance has undermined our confidence and left us feeling undone… Whatever insecurity arises because of our frailty or forgetfulness… Whenever our carelessness catches us off guard… God has us covered!

Are you feeling uncovered because of something that you did or didn’t do, or because of something that was done to you? Accept the grace of God. Forgive and be forgiven.  God’s grace has us covered.  It is enough.

There’s no need to move through the world feeling afraid or ashamed – none of us is defined by our worst moments – mistakes or missteps!  So we need not to walk around feeling incomplete or as though something is missing.  God’s grace is enough for all of us!  Remember that, huh?

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;

my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.  Isaiah 61:10

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

There are times when it seems like everywhere we look there is trouble. The places, things, and sometimes even the people that used to give us comfort are no longer doing the trick.  We ride unpredictable waves of emotion up, down and sideways. We become tired,disoriented, frustrated and threaten despair.

What do we do?

In times like these, we need the Savior.

In times like these, we need an anchor.

Be very sure.  Be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the solid Rock…

When life and circumstances go awry, we need to ground ourselves in the One who promises to be with us.  We need to ground ourselves in the grace that gives us hope – the grace that stabilizes us amid life’s storms.  We need to ground ourselves in the unfailing character of our loving God.  We find solace in the non-anxious presence of Spirit, who gives us peace that surpasses understanding.

Be very sure.  Be very sure, your anchor holds, and grips the solid Rock!  

This Rock is Jesus!

In times like these, we don’t lose heart. We don’t lose hope.  We don’t give up. Breathe…

This is not the end.  

This is not our end.  

This is not your end!

We ground ourselves in this grace, and we keep on going…

⁷ But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. ⁸ We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰ always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. 

2 Corinthians 4:7-10 NRSV

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam