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

There’s a story about a farmer who planted wheat only to discover that an enemy came and secretly sowed weeds among the good seeds.  The farmer’s servant immediately wanted to uproot the weeds but was warned against it.  He was told to leave them be until harvest time when the reapers could separate the wheat from the weeds.

The farmer understood that weeds, though annoying, wouldn’t keep the wheat from reaching maturity and that trying to uproot them too early could be potentially dangerous to the good seed that was growing. So, he left them alone until the harvest.

Though confusing and probably a bit frustrating, the weeds were left to grow alongside the wheat. Only at the harvest, would the reapers do the separating. But in the meantime, the wheat grew among the weeds…

We must learn to grow among the weeds.  

We may never find ourselves in ideal circumstances.  There’s no such thing as a pristine environment.  There’s no escaping the presence of sin in a fallen world.  While we covet and crave a perfect situation, it’s unrealistic.  

Grow anyway.  Flourish anyway.  Mature anyway. Create anyway.  Be fruitful anyway – even among the weeds!

Jesus said that while we are in the world, we must not be of it!  We must learn to grow – even among the weeds! And God, in due season will bring about a harvest and do the separating!

I do not know all the particulars of your circumstances, but I want to encourage you to grow anyway! I know you see the weeds sprouting up and spreading around you, but don’t be discouraged or distracted!  

God planted you, and it is His will that you become who you were created to be, and nothing can prevent that!  

So, focus on your own growth, and trust God to deal with these weeds!  Don’t allow your energy or attention to be diverted from God’s plans and purposes for your life!  Trust God!

Grow anyway – even among the weeds!

²⁹ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. ³⁰ Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’ ”  

(Matthew 13:29-30, NRSV)

Grow anyway!

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

My mother used to say that lying was one of the worst things. She said that lying was the only thing you couldn’t defend yourself against. The surest way to incur her wrath was to lie. She may cut you some slack if you were honest, but lying was not tolerated!

She taught us that while we may guard against thieves and robbers, there’s no escaping a liar. Lies can only be endured and outlasted. There’s no point in chasing down a lie or rumor, you just have to let it run out!

I never knew my mother was such a sage. Her words return to me frequently. In these strange times, when it seems like nothing can be trusted, and so many have fallen prey to deception and lies, her words have never been truer.

The devil is still a liar. Only now, without subtlety, the enemy traipses about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. No longer skulking about in the shadows, but he is a bold-faced, loud, and blatant liar.

While many realize the lies, most make excuses for them or simply lack the will to resist. The worst among us, however, repeat these lies, and with some twisted notion believe that if they are repeated enough they will become true.

“The truth stands, and lies run out,”
my mother said.

These are the times we are living in. Too many have accepted or become apathetic about this distorted and destructive reality. We live in a time where telling the truth is so rare that it has become radical. It’s exhausting…

I can hear my mother’s words, “The truth stands, and lies run out…”

I wonder if there are any among us who have the courage or will to stand.

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers* all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
(1 Peter 5:8-9, NLT)

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,
just adam