Tag: inspirational Bible verse

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

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at Jimmie’s books available in paperback, ebook, audio, and large print