Tag: HopeInChrist

Done in Love

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Done in Love
Jimmie Aaron Kepler

I’ve been thinking on this verse today:

“Let all that you do be done in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV)

Now, that’s a short verse—but it’s mighty. And it stirred up a memory or two this morning while I sipped my coffee and looked out the kitchen window.

I couldn’t help but think of my grandma. She had this quiet, almost sacred way of hanging clothes out on the old wire line in the backyard. Every towel, every sock, every undershirt was handled with such care, like it mattered more than just being clean. She’d clip each piece with a wooden pin, smooth it out with her hands, and step back with a kind of pride you’d expect from someone painting a masterpiece.

And my granddad? He was a different kind of preacher. Not from the pulpit, but with his life. He’d wave at every neighbor driving by like they were long-lost cousins. Called folks by name. Always had time for a chat at the fence line or on the porch. He didn’t try to be impressive. He just showed up for people. And that was enough.

Truth is, most love in this world doesn’t wear a spotlight. Sometimes it’s just sitting at the kitchen table, sharing a pot of coffee and listening, really listening, to someone’s hopes, dreams, and hurts. It’s not fixing. It’s not rushing. It’s just being there, heart open and ears tuned in. It’s nodding at the right time, keeping quiet when needed, and holding space when there’s nothing else to give.

We don’t have to be famous or flashy. We don’t need big platforms or loud voices. What we need is to show up with love stitched into the seams of our everyday living. Folding laundry. Walking the dog. Checking on that neighbor who’s been a little quiet lately.

And here’s something I try to remind myself: be a good finder. The world’s full of folks pointing out what’s wrong. Be someone who looks for the good in everyone. Call it out. Cheer it on. It costs nothing, and yet it’s worth everything.

Love your neighbors and your friends like you’d like to be loved. Not just when it’s easy or convenient. But all the time. With grace. With kindness. With heart.

That’s the kind of love that lingers. The kind that changes families, neighborhoods, even generations.

So whatever you’ve got on your list today, big tasks or small, do it with love. And see what happens.

Blessings on your day,
Jimmie

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More Than the Sand

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This morning, as I walked along the shoreline, I paused to watch the waves stretch and retreat, leaving behind a glistening trail of foam. My feet sank gently into the damp sand with each step. I looked back and saw my footprints—temporary, already fading with the next breath of tide.

That’s when the verse came to mind. Psalm 139:17–18 (KJV):

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.”

Sand. There it was, clinging to my toes and scattered endlessly in every direction. I tried to scoop some up—just a handful—and watched as grains trickled through my fingers. I couldn’t begin to count even those, much less what lay beneath my feet and beyond my sight.

And yet, Scripture tells me that God’s thoughts toward me—toward *you*—outnumber every grain. Not only are His thoughts plentiful, they are *precious*. Cherished. Intentional. Full of love and care.

It’s easy, especially in today’s world, to feel small. Overlooked. Buried beneath responsibilities, distractions, and noise. But this truth reminds me that we are never forgotten. Never ignored. God’s gaze never wavers. His presence doesn’t clock out when the sun sets or when we drift into sleep.

“When I awake, I am still with thee.”

That line hits deep. It’s not just that He’s watching over us. It’s that He remains faithfully, patiently with us through every hour, every season, every storm. We are still with Him. We don’t have to strive or perform to stay in His favor. We simply need to remember who we belong to and how deeply we are known.

So here I am. Enjoying vacation, walking along the coast, breathing in salt air, listening to the hush of the waves, and feeling held by something far greater than the sea. The sand beneath my feet speaks of God’s immeasurable love. Each grain a reminder that I am seen, treasured, and never alone.

And friend, so are you.

Grace and peace,
Jimmie

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Refreshed by Giving: The Quiet Power of Generosity

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Refreshed by Giving: The Quiet Power of Generosity
Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Some Bible verses settle down into your soul and stay a while. Proverbs 11:25 is like that for me:

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”                Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

It’s plainspoken wisdom, but don’t mistake it for simple. Like a soft rain falling on dry West Texas soil, it seeps into the cracks of this worn, hurried, me-first world of ours.

I think back to my wife’s kitchen during those early years of our marriage, the first fifteen years or so. We were young and just starting out. No stock portfolio or retirement plan back then. No second home. Not even a second car for the first several years. But that didn’t stop her from giving. If someone came by needing a bite to eat, they left with a full plate and often a mason jar of sweet tea to take with them. She gave freely, joyfully. Oh, she might have them to rake a few leaves or clean the outside windows to help them keep their dignity, but she met their needs with respect and love.

We weren’t wealthy by any stretch, but somehow, that little house always felt like it overflowed. Looking back, I see it now. That was abundance.

Fast forward over four decades. My wife was terminally ill with melanoma. In those last days, even in home hospice care, she was still sending handwritten notes of encouragement to others. I can still hear her voice, frail but full of purpose: “Mail these for me. They need to know someone remembers them. They’re going through tough times too. They’ve got it worse than me.” When I looked confused, she added, “I’ve got you, family, and a home in heaven waiting. Mamma, daddy, Willie, and Aunt Mary are waiting to show me around. I’m sure they know I’m coming home soon. They’re as excited to see me as I am to get there to see them again.”

That’s what loving people looks like. That’s what refreshing others looks like.

See, generosity has this strange way of multiplying as it moves. A kind word shared. A hot meal during a cold spell. A phone call to check in on someone who’s been on your heart. These aren’t grand gestures. They’re seeds. And seeds? Well, they grow.

And over those long three and a half years of cancer treatments, our family, our friends, and our Bible fellowship class loved on us. They poured back into us. Meals delivered. Prayers spoken. Hands held. Hugs given. I don’t think they even realized how much they refreshed our weary spirits. But they did. God used them to meet needs we didn’t even know how to ask for. And they did this for weeks, months, and through several treatments and surgeries over that three-year period.

Again, that’s what loving people looks like. That’s what refreshing others looks like.

That’s the beauty hidden in this little proverb. When you give of your time, your presence, your encouragement you get something in return. Not because you’re keeping score, but because that’s just how God’s economy works. It opens the clenched fist of fear and scarcity and invites joy to come on in.

Have you ever walked away from helping someone and realized your own heart felt lighter? That’s not an accident. That’s the divine echo of “whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

Opportunities are everywhere if we slow down enough to see them. Maybe it’s helping your neighbor get their trash can to the curb. Maybe it’s sitting with a friend who doesn’t need fixing, just someone to listen. Or maybe it’s offering to mow the lawn for the single woman next door who’s caring for her aging daddy.

None of it has to be part of a grand plan. Just eyes to see and a heart willing to move.

Because generosity? It isn’t always about giving money. Most of the time, it’s about showing up. And when we make a habit of showing up for others, we often find ourselves standing knee-deep in blessing.

So today, go water someone’s garden. Speak life into dry places. Pour out a little hope where despair has pooled. And trust, really trust, that as you refresh others, your own soul will be filled.

In the end, you just might discover that giving is the very thing that fills you up the most. And the parched feeling in your soul? It’ll be refreshed.

Grace and peace,
Jimmie

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Treating Folks Right: What Leviticus Taught Me About Leadership

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Treating Folks Right: What Leviticus Taught Me About Leadership
Jimmie Aaron Kepler

You’d be surprised what a couple of verses tucked away in Leviticus can teach you about leading people.

“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.
The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born.
Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.
I am the Lord your God.”
— Leviticus 19:33–34 (NIV)

I didn’t expect a leadership lesson when I opened Leviticus. But those words hit me square in the heart.

The New Kid (Again and Again)

I grew up in a military family. That meant moving, often. Too often.  By the time I graduated high school, I’d been the new kid in town and school seven different times. Seven.

Walking into classrooms where everyone already knew the unspoken rules? That wasn’t easy. You sit in the back. There’s a social order in place and outsiders generally aren’t welcome. Eat lunch alone. Hope someone smiles. Hope someone invites you in.

And when they do? You never forget.

A Principle, Not Just a Policy

In today’s world, we hear a lot about inclusion and diversity. But Leviticus reminds us that God’s call goes deeper than policy. It’s personal.

Whether you’re leading a team or welcoming someone into your Sunday school class, this ancient command is still relevant: Love them as yourself.

Inclusion isn’t about checking a box. It’s about seeing people, really seeing them, and making room in your world for them.

Love in a Work Shirt

Love doesn’t always look like poetry. Sometimes it looks like listening, showing up, inviting someone to sit with you at lunch, or just taking time to learn someone’s story.

That’s the kind of love Leviticus 19:34 is calling for.

So today, look around. Someone nearby may be feeling like the outsider, the new kid, the one who’s unsure. You might just be the person God’s asking to make them feel welcome.

Grace and peace,
Jimmie

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Pitch Your Tent in God’s Backyard

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Pitch Your Tent in God’s Backyard
By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

This morning, I was fixing my usual tall blonde roast cup of coffee, nothing fancy, just hot and strong, and thinking about how much smoother the road of life rolls when I’m tuned in to the Lord.

The house was still quiet. The sun hadn’t quite burned through the mist hanging over the yard. I eased into the porch swing with my mug and watched a couple of squirrels doing their morning stretches up the old pecan tree.

That’s when a verse from deep in my soul whispered back up to the surface:

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you,”  John 15:7 (KJV)

Now, I’ve heard that verse since I was a boy in Sunday School, starched shirt and all. Even memorized it back as a kid when I was doing the old Bible sword drill program. But this morning it felt like the Lord underlined it just for me.

 What does it mean to “abide”?

I reckon it means more than just showing up to church on Sundays or offering up a quick prayer when you need a parking space or a clean bill of health.

“Abide” means staying put. Settling in.

Pitching your tent in God’s backyard.

It’s sitting long enough for the Word to sink in. Like rain soaking into parched Texas soil. Like morning light creeping across a wooden porch. You don’t rush it. You just stay. Like slowing down to watch the squirrels play in the trees.

And here’s the beautiful thing: when you start abiding like that, your prayers change. They quit sounding like a wish list for Santa Claus. Instead, they start sounding like quiet, honest conversations with your best friend.

And friend, He listens. Oh, how He listens.

Not always with fireworks or flashing signs, but in the peace that settles over you like a front-porch breeze. In the confidence that your heart is right where it belongs, resting in Him.

 Stay close, y’all.

Keep that coffee hot, your Bible open, and your heart tuned in. It makes all the difference.

Until next time,
Jimmie ☕️✝️

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If You’re Breathing, You’re Qualified

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If You’re Breathing, You’re Qualified
By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Good morning, friends, 

I don’t know where this finds you, maybe sitting at the kitchen table with that first cup of coffee, or maybe already knee-deep in the day’s to-do list. But wherever you are, if you’ve got breath in your lungs, you’ve already got reason to praise.

I was thinking on that this morning. Psalm 150:6 came to mind, 

“Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”

Now that’s not a verse wrapped in churchy language or theological hoops.
It’s plain as day. If you’re breathing, you qualify.

We’ve got this idea sometimes that praise is reserved for Sunday mornings, church choirs, and folks who’ve got it all together.
But truth is, real praise shows up in the quiet corners.
In hospital rooms. In traffic jams. In whispered prayers when the house is still and the weight of the world’s sitting heavy on your shoulders.

Some of the best worship I’ve ever given didn’t have a tune or a crowd, it was just a breath… and a thank you.

It’s not about polished words or perfect lives.
It’s about showing up, broken, tired, thankful, unsure, and saying, “Lord, You’re still good.”

It’s the kind of praise that bubbles up while you’re washing dishes or walking the dog. It finds its way into front porch conversations and midnight prayers. It’s the kind of praise that doesn’t always sound pretty, but it’s honest.

And maybe that’s what God’s looking for most, honest praise from folks who know what it’s like to wrestle with life, but still choose to lift their eyes.

So today, whether the sun’s shining on your hilltop or you’re dragging yourself through another valley,
Just breathe.
And praise.

‘Cause if you’re breathing, friend, you’re qualified.

“Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” – Psalm 150:6 KJV

I hope you like the picture. I took it from the mountain top in St Thomas United Staes Virgin Islands on October 21, 2024. The ships in the harbor are the Regal Princess (larger) and Serenity Princess (smaller). I was on a United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, and Caribbean cruise from Southampton England UK to Galveston Texas USA. Every where I saw the beauty and wonder of God’s creation. From the ancient cathedrals in England to the beauty of the moon in the sky and its reflection off the mid Atlantic Ocean, I praised God.

Stay steady,
Jimmie

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The Quiet Ones Who Carry the Earth

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The Quiet Ones Who Carry the Earth
by Jimmie Aaron Kepler

I’ve known a few meek folks in my time.

They weren’t the kind to raise their voices in a room.
Didn’t push to the front of the line.
Didn’t have to win the argument to feel seen.

But oh, they were steady.

I remember one old hippie—he lived down a dusty service road that was used mainly by the UFO folks or the vortex hunters near Sedona, Arizona. Name was Mr. Wyatt. He wore overalls, read his Bible every morning, and never said more than what needed saying. He’d show up with tomatoes from his garden when someone got sick, patch your roof if a storm blew it loose, fix your plumbing if the pipes froze and burst, and never once asked for thanks.

Another was a schoolteacher named Miss Claudette. Thirty years with chalk dust on her sleeves and calm in her eyes. You could walk into her classroom carrying the weight of the world, and somehow her presence alone lightened the load. No fanfare. Just quiet, persistent grace.

Jesus said:

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” – Matthew 5:5

Not the ones who shout the loudest.
Not the ones chasing applause or demanding their due.

The meek.

That word gets misunderstood nowadays. We equate it with weakness. With shrinking back. But meekness isn’t weakness—it’s strength wrapped in humility. It’s power with the volume turned down. It’s choosing gentleness when harshness would be easier.

The world will try to tell you to muscle up and shout louder.
To fight for your spot.
To bulldoze your way forward.

But Jesus flips the script.

He lifts the ones the world overlooks.

He crowns the quiet.

The meek aren’t trying to take the earth—
they’re already holding it together in unseen ways.

So if you’re one of the quiet ones—if you lead with kindness, walk in humility, and choose love over loudness—don’t let the noise drown you out.

God sees you.

And He’s already promised—you’ll inherit the earth.

Keep walking the gentle road, friend. It leads home.
Jimmie

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When the Load Gets Heavy: Let It Go and Let God Carry It

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When the Load Gets Heavy: Let It Go and Let God Carry It
By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

“Cast all your cares on Him, for He careth for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7

I was sittin’ near the corner table at the coffee shop this morning—the one by the window where the sunlight sneaks in just right—and overheard two fellas talkin’ about work and the world.

One wore a cowboy hat, tie, badge, and boots, the other a tie, suit, and tired eyes. Deadlines, budget cuts, tariffs, bombings of nuclear facilities, and meetings that should’ve been emails were discussed. They both chuckled, but it wasn’t joy—it was the kind of laugh folks use when the weight’s startin’ to buckle their knees.

It got me thinkin’.

In leadership, business, geopolitics, and plain old everyday life, burdens stack up like firewood before a storm. You’ve got expectations coming at you from every direction—bosses, clients, coworkers, your church family, even your own family. And if you’re like me, sometimes you carry it all in silence, like you’re afraid someone might think less of you if they see the cracks in your armor.

But let me tell you what I’ve learned, often the hard way…

You were never meant to carry all that alone.

See, there’s this old verse—ancient wisdom, really—that still speaks louder than a boardroom full of executives:

“Cast all your cares on Him, for He careth for you.”

That’s 1 Peter 5:7.

Now that word cast? It ain’t a polite setting down of your burdens. It’s more like flingin’ your troubles across the room and lettin’ the Lord catch ‘em mid-air. Like a child tossin’ their backpack at the foot of the bed after a long day. No shame. No hesitation.

Just relief.

And that part about He careth for you? Don’t miss that. He cares. Not past tense. Not conditionally. He’s not waitin’ for you to have it all together. He cares for you right now—in the mess, in the stress, in that inbox that never empties and the bills stacked higher than your faith.

That’s not weakness, friend. That’s wisdom.

Surrendering your worry to the One who spun the stars into place? That’s what strength really looks like. That’s what leadership rooted in faith feels like. It’s not about having all the answers—it’s about knowing who to go to when you don’t.

So if your shoulders are saggin’ today, if your heart feels heavy and your mind won’t rest, take a deep breath. Step outside. Look up.

And cast it all—every last anxious thought, every decision weighing you down—onto the One whose hands are strong enough to carry a cross, and tender enough to hold you through the night.

You don’t have to walk this road alone.

He’s already walkin’ with you.

Keep walkin’ in grace, friend.
Jimmie

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For Everything There Is a Season

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For Everything There Is a Season

I sat with my cuppa Earl Grey Tea this morning, steam curling like a prayer in the cool of the day, and watched the world slowly wake up. The trees swayed in rhythm to a breeze I didn’t summon. The sky, painted soft with morning light, didn’t ask my permission before turning from gray to gold.

And it hit me again — we don’t get to pick our seasons.

Scripture says it plainly, straight out of Ecclesiastes 3:

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up.” (vv. 1–3)

That passage has lingered with me for years. Maybe it’s lingered with you too. Especially in the quiet moments when we wonder, “Why now?” or “How long, Lord?”

Some Seasons Are Gentle, Others Gritty

There are times when everything feels like it’s blooming — new beginnings, fresh chances, laughter that comes easy.

And then there are other times…
When something once rooted deep gets pulled up.
When the walls we built start to crack.
When we ache, grieve, or feel plain worn out.

We’d all prefer the planting and building seasons. The springtimes of life.
But the breakdowns? The losses? The tear-streaked midnights?
Those seasons matter too.

A Time to Break Down… and Build Again

I’ve had my share of both. Haven’t we all?
Times when I thought something was ending, only to discover it was actually God preparing the soil for something new.

You might be in a season like that right now —
🔹 Maybe you’re healing from something that cut deep.
🔹 Maybe you’re tearing down something that no longer fits the life you’re called to live.
🔹 Maybe you’re planting seeds, unsure what (or when) the harvest will be.

Friend, let me say it plain: God hasn’t forgotten you.
His timing is seldom convenient, but it’s always right.
There’s purpose in your current chapter — even if it hasn’t fully unfolded yet.

Embrace the Season You’re In

You don’t have to rush through this.
You don’t have to have it all figured out.

Just lean into the One who holds the seasons in His hands.
Because the same God who brings the sunrise and springtime also sits with us through the storm and the winter.

A Closing Thought

So wherever this post finds you — whether in the “building up” or the “breaking down” — know this:

You’re not alone.
You’re not behind.
And you’re not forgotten.

There’s a time for every matter under heaven.
And right now? This moment?
It has meaning, too.

Grace and peace,
Jimmie

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Leadership as a Calling, Not a Spotlight

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The Weight of the Sword: Leadership as a Calling, Not a Spotlight
📖 “For he is the minister of God to thee for good…” — Romans 13:4 KJV
By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

In a world obsessed with influence, where likes, shares, and retweets are mistaken for leadership, the Word of God offers a sobering reminder: true authority is a ministry, not a performance.

Romans 13:4 doesn’t mince words.

Romans 13:4 KJV “For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” 

It’s not about power for power’s sake. It’s about serving others under the authority of God.

🔹 Leadership as Ministry

Paul reminds us that those placed in authority—whether government officials, pastors, community leaders, or even heads of households—carry a divine responsibility. They are not self-appointed celebrities. They are ministers of God. Servants with a sword—not for show, but for protection, correction, and justice.

And that sword?
It’s not ornamental.
“He beareth not the sword in vain.”

There’s weight in their words. Gravity in their actions. But also, accountability to the One who called them.

🔹 A Call to Pray for Our Leaders

Whether we agree with them or not, Romans 13 makes it clear: authority is ordained by God. And because of that, we’re not just allowed—but commanded—to pray for our leaders.

Pray for wisdom.
Pray for restraint.
Pray for courage.
Pray for humility.

Let them lead with justice tempered by mercy, truth spoken in love, and strength clothed in compassion.

🔹 Authority with Restraint

The verse doesn’t excuse tyranny or endorse blind obedience.
Instead, it offers a standard: those in authority should seek the good of the people they serve.

And if they deviate from that path, they too will be held accountable—not by the masses, but by the Master who placed them there.

🕊 Final Thoughts

Leadership is never about standing in the spotlight.
It’s about kneeling in the shadows, asking God for wisdom to do what’s right—even when no one’s watching.
So today, whether you lead a nation, a church, a classroom, or a family, remember:
You are a minister of God to others… for good.

Let’s live, lead, and serve with that truth etched on our hearts.

🙏 Let’s pray:

Lord, raise up leaders who honor You. Grant them wisdom, courage, and compassion. Let their authority bring peace and protection. And may they never forget they serve under a higher King. Amen.

Grace and Peace,
Jimmie

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