“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

Autumn announces itself one leaf at a time.

The mornings grow cooler. Shadows stretch across the yard. Green leaves turn gold, orange, and red before releasing their grip on the branches. Soon they cover lawns, roads, and walking trails.

We admire their colors, but autumn is really a season of letting go.

A tree does not chase after yesterday’s leaves. It releases them and prepares for what comes...

Built on the Rock

Scripture: Matthew 7:24–25

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” — Matthew 7:24 (NLT)

During the Great Depression, thousands of workers came to the harsh desert along the Colorado River to undertake what seemed nearly impossible: the construction of Hoover Dam.

The challenges were immense. Before the dam could be built, workers had to divert the Colorado River through massive tunnels blasted into the canyon...

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” Psalm 139:23 (NLT)

Towering above the landscape, a volcano often appears peaceful. Its slopes may be covered with forests, flowers, or even small villages. Birds nest on its sides. Tourists snap photographs. From a distance, everything seems calm and stable.

Yet deep beneath the surface, something unseen may be happening. Pressure builds. Molten rock churns. Gases collect. The mountain looks quiet, but hidden forces...