Devotional

Share Your Fruit

My wife shared an intriguing story the other day about a divine encounter on the pickleball courts.  She befriended a player from India some time ago who wanted to learn the sport and she took the time to teach him.  He approached her and exclaimed how today was a special day because it was Diwali and he’s fasting in honor of creation.  He then proceeded to ask her if she had any ‘belief’.  She then had the opportunity to share her belief in Jesus as the only way to God, and how she worships the Creator, God, and not created things.  A discussion followed that allowed for seeds of the Gospel to be shared before it was time to resume playing.

As she shared this story with me, the Holy Spirit dropped the visualization of how we have an opportunity to share the Fruit of the Spirit with others which holds the seeds of the Gospel of Jesus.  Wow, I had never thought about that!  My wife in previous encounters shared the fruits of Kindness and Patience with this player by taking the time to teach him and build a relationship that led to a conversation about faith.

Consider how each day as Christ followers, we get the same privilege to freely share the Fruit of the Spirit with those around us.  It may be celebrating with the fruit of Joy, giving the fruit of Love, sharing the fruit of Gentleness, etc.   

Share the Fruit and let the Holy Spirit do His work on the lives around you.  At some point, they will take a bite of the Fruit and the seed of the Gospel will be revealed inside.

Stories of Faith

From Poverty to Purpose - Pastor Robin’s Story Part 2

When Pastor Robin first set foot in Malawi, Africa, the air felt different—thick with heat, dust, and spiritual resistance. He and his wife rented a small, creaking house on the edge of a quiet village. What he didn’t know then was that this place would become both his greatest test and his greatest testimony.

The first few months were anything but peaceful. At night, shadows would gather outside their thin walls. People would hurl rocks at the house, shouting words he didn’t understand but could feel in his spirit were filled with anger and fear. Once, a man tried to break in while him and his wife were in the small home, and he immediately began to pray.

The thief couldn’t get in, and soon the attempts to break in subsided - just as quickly as the attack came, it left.

It left Pastor Robin wondering… “Lord, did I misunderstand You? Did You really send me here?”

There were moments he nearly packed up and left. It wasn’t the poverty that broke him—it was the isolation, the hostility, the feeling that he was giving his life to something no one seemed to want. He had left his family, his culture, and his comfort to obey a call that now seemed unbearable.

He realized that obedience was never meant to be easy—it was meant to be refining. The opposition wasn’t proof that God had abandoned him; it was proof that he was standing in enemy territory, doing Kingdom work where darkness still ruled.

He chose to stay.

In life and in business, we all set out to build something. Maybe it’s not a church in Africa—maybe it’s a company, a dream, or a calling that doesn’t seem to benefit anyone but yourself.

Yet even then, it’s easy to grow weary. You lose a client. The deal falls apart. The breakthrough doesn’t come.

Now imagine facing those same hardships—but not for your gain, rather for obedience to God. That’s the kind of endurance Pastor Robin had to find.

True obedience costs something. It asks for perseverance when quitting feels reasonable, faith when the harvest hasn’t come, and trust when the stones start flying.

So when the road feels heavy and your work seems unseen, remember: God doesn’t measure success by outcomes—He measures it by obedience. Pastor Robin stayed, and because he did, light took root in the soil of Malawi.

30 by 30

Now, in the next stage of his journey, Pastor Robin and his team have a new goal in sight: to build 30 churches in Malawi, Africa, by 2030.

I once heard Dr. Myles Munroe, in one of his sermons, say something along the lines of, “If your dream doesn’t scare you, then it’s not big enough, it’s not from God. God will give you a dream so big that the only way it’s possible is if he completes it. He wants to make sure that you know he is the only one capable of helping you complete it - he wants to make sure you know who to give glory to.”

When I think of Pastor Robin’s “30 by 30” mission, Dr. Myles Munroe’s message is what comes to mind.

If you missed Part 1 of this story, read it here.

To learn more about Pastor Robin’s ministry in Malawi and how you can support, please visit:

Financial Update

Interest Rate Update

Months ago, we began following the abstract game of tug-of-war that seemed to be occurring between President Trump and Fed Chairman Powell.

Trump had been consistently calling for Powell to begin cutting rates, stating he was “too late”, while Powell said that cuts were unnecessary and they were fine where they sat at 4.25%. 

Since then, the federal fund rate has been cut twice, once in September by 25 basis points (0.25%) and more recently, last Wednesday, by another 25 basis points, bringing it to 3.75%. 

That marks two consecutive rate cuts in short order, suggesting a shift in the central bank’s posture.

Why does this matter? Lowering interest rates typically means the Fed is seeking to ease monetary conditions: borrowing becomes cheaper, investment and consumer spending are encouraged, and the economy gets a potential boost. 

With the rate now lower, households may soon find mortgages and loans somewhat cheaper, while savers will earn less on cash and short-term instruments. 

At the same time, in an environment of weaker demand, the price of goods and services could be under less upward pressure, although inflation remains elevated. In fact, the Fed noted “downside risks to employment” had risen. 

Analysts at institutions such as Goldman Sachs had revised their forecasts to expect rate cuts this year, partly because labor-market growth was slowing and unemployment was ticking up. 

The October cut reaffirmed that concern, especially given the backdrop of a government‐data blackout, which added uncertainty to the outlook. 

If this rate‐cut cycle continues, one possibility is that consumer prices moderate further as credit costs drop and demand is stimulated—but you also risk reigniting inflation if conditions tighten again. 

Meanwhile, the cost of borrowing goes down for business investment, potentially spurring spending and hiring, but if the economy is already cooling, those benefits may be muted. In short, the Fed appears to be shifting from outright inflation-fighting to a more balanced stance that accounts for growth risk. 

That means goods might become a little less expensive in real terms, borrowing becomes less burdensome, but savers might feel pinched.

However, if cuts persist too long, they can also reignite inflationary pressures as demand outpaces supply. Lower rates often weaken the dollar, boost asset prices, and reduce returns on savings. 

While easing can support growth and prevent recession, it risks creating financial bubbles or eroding purchasing power if inflation rises again. The key challenge for the Federal Reserve is balancing growth support with maintaining price stability and long-term economic confidence.

Health Nuggets

Made for the Sun

A few months ago, we touched on the Benefits of the Sun in the article: Sunlight - Time for a Rethink. 

I recently came across an article by Andrew Torba, describing more benefits of being in the sun and limiting screen time, which I would recommend our community to read.

Here’s a link to the article: You Were Made for the Sun, Not the Screen 

It is very informative and encouraging for us to make new changes in the coming year.

Note: Health Nuggets are opinions and not medical advice.

Tech Update

AI and the Church

It’s not often you find pastors bringing sermons on topics that are relevant to issues of the day, and addressing them from a solid Biblical perspective.  When I heard this message online the other day, I was quite impressed and thought of sharing it with our community.   Austin Hamrick, from Cornerstone Chapel, Leesburg, VA, gave a great message on The Rise of AI and Future of the Church, which I encourage you to listen to. It provides practical examples of AI’s impact, both good and bad, and teaches us how Christ followers can respond. 

One of the key takeaways for me was his point that we should “patiently wait on the Lord for answers, rather than seeking the easy AI generated results.”  If you missed last week’s newsletter, the devotional on Waiting on God is right in line with this point.   

We can benefit from using generative AI tools to get answers to many things, but let’s not let AI become our substitute for God’s wisdom.  We need to be intentional about querying God, listening, and waiting for His voice.  Not hearing his voice?  Ask the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of Truth and revealer of all things.

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