Recently one of my neighbors hollered this at someone in his household. It made me stop and think, isn’t it enough if I say I am sorry?

But God reminded me that words of apology are not enough. We must follow up an apology with change – a change in heart that is followed by a change in our behavior.

Please consider these verses:

Acts 3:17-20a:  “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…”

Matthew 3:7-10: “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Proverbs 28:13: “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”

In Psalm 139:23-24 King David sought God to bring about changes so that he would live according to His righteousness: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

When we apologize, but fail to live changed lives, it is hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is a very common reason why people stay away from worship gatherings. Too often people are hurt and receive an empty apology – words without repentance.

That is what “sorry” without repentance is – an empty apology. 

As God’s people, we are to forgive, even if the apology is empty. But God wants us to be wise, and forgiveness and trusting someone are not the same. Trust is restored when we apologize and follow it up with repentance. Trust may not be instantly restored, depending on the depth of the wound.

This is why it is important that we follow David’s example in Psalm 139 and ask God to search our hearts. We may think we know our hearts, but God alone truly knows our hearts. 

Please consider what God says in the following verses about our hearts:

Proverbs 21:2: “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7: “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

In Hebrews 4:12 we are taught that we need to spend time in God’s Word because His Word teaches us what is in our hearts: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

How do we get a clean heart so that we can repent? Psalm 51:10 tells us: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” It is God who cleans up our hearts, through His Holy Spirit, using His living Word!

Apologizing is serious business. The most important apology is to God. We must come to Him, humbly, acknowledging our sinful state and our need for Jesus. Sorry is not enough. That confession must be followed up with a changed lifestyle. True change is empowered by the Holy Spirit, who indwells everyone who truly means “I’m sorry God.”

It is an amazing gift from God to experience the removal of our sinful desires and thoughts, as His Spirit replaces them with God-honoring thinking and behavior.

Apologizing to people is also serious business. Glib words of apology are meaningless. When we belong to Jesus, our words must be meaningful, and repentance proves their validity.

How might your “sorry” not be real? What will you do to seek God’s help in changing that? If Jesus isn’t your Lord and Savior, what possible reason could hold you back from making a commitment to the One who created you and loves you more than anyone else?

Can I help you come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior? Can I help you develop a pattern of deep study of God’s Word? What changes might you experience as you submit to God that would improve your life?

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Each day reveals various ways people are suffering. People may have illnesses that are unable to be diagnosed. Babies are born with multiple complications. Young children are ill with cancer. Horrific traffic accidents result in lives that will never recover. Earthquakes in diverse places. Hurricanes that devastate whole communities. Medications that are supposed to bring healing result in debilitating side effects. Loss of jobs, leading to financial distress. Suicide. Mental illness. Human trafficking. Marital issues. Family members, children and grandchildren not loving and walking with Jesus. Death of a loved one. Rejection. Suffering seems endless, but God!

What is taking place in your life? 

What is happening in the lives of your loved ones? 

What is threatening to cause fear to overcome you?

Perhaps you are struggling with some hard questions:

Is God the source of suffering?

Why isn’t God stopping the pain and bringing healing to me, to those I love?

How can a loving God not intervene in my situation and make it better”?

Why is life so hard?

These are challenging questions.

But God!

In the midst of my struggles and suffering I purpose to remember 2 Corinthians 10:5 on a daily basis to help me through my challenges: “We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Our only hope for handling our struggles in a manner that enables us to experience peace in the midst of our hardships is through a personal relationship with our Creator God, through His Son Jesus. If you do not have this relationship, please contact me. This is vital to a peaceful mind in the midst of struggles.

When I find myself allowing fear, or the “what if’s”, to dominate my thoughts, I remember Jesus. 

I remember that He walked in a human body, so He understands our struggles.

I remember that He experienced rejection.

I remember that He trusted His Father for daily provision.

I remember that He always spent time in prayer with His Father.

I remember that He did not pull back from suffering, but instead willingly took the brutal beatings that man inflicted upon Him.

I remember that He willingly paid the penalty for my sins, and everyone’s sins, though He was sinless.

These remembrances help me take my thoughts in a Godly direction so that His Spirit works deep inner peace in me, no matter what I am experiencing.

This is hard. But God makes it possible.

This requires me to ask God to teach me through my sufferings. He shows me that He is powerfully in control of my life, and each person’s life. This truth is revealed in the story of Joseph.

Joseph, whose story is in Genesis 37-50, states this truth in Genesis 50:20: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers – his family! He was imprisoned, more than once! He was lied about (Genesis 39). But Godwas with him through all of it.

But God prevailed for Joseph through these trials, and raised him up as a valued servant. God prevailed for the Israelites through Joseph. God revealed His sovereign control, and this helps me bring my fearful thoughts to a place of faith in Jesus.

When I am suffering, I realize that I’m expecting this life to be easy. That is a lie from the enemy of our souls. Jesus clearly warned us that this life would be hard: John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” But God has given His people victory though Jesus. 

One day true worshippers of Jesus will experience eternity with Him. That is where life will be without pain and suffering, because there will be no sin there. But for now, we must see our suffering through the lens of the Bible. 

Romans 5:3-5 gives us clarity on the Godly perspective in suffering: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Suffering has very good purposes. When we belong to Jesus, we need to view our challenges differently than people who have no hope for eternity. 

I am getting better at understanding and appreciating what God is doing in me through my sufferings. I want to be like Jesus.  Since Jesus was perfected through suffering, why shouldn’t that be my experience? Consider Hebrews 2:10: “God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.”

How do I take my thoughts captive to Jesus? I might write down what I’m struggling with, and then search God’s Word for the truth that relates to the situation. That is what helps bring clarity in my suffering. Romans 5:3-5 helps me in this process.  I remember the victories God gave Joseph. Hebrews 11 helps me to take my thoughts captive to Jesus because I am reminded that living by faith is key. The reminders of all those who lived by faith helps me to focus on the Lord in my struggles. The Psalms assist me in working through my struggles.

I want the character of Jesus worked into me. God shows me who He is, and that changes my thinking. Focusing on God’s character is vital to getting my thinking in proper order. My character is built as I walk with Him through my sufferings, recounting His love, mercy and grace. That mindset changes my fear to faith. God can do that for you also.

What is your struggle? How willing are you to face it head on with God, through His Word? 

Can I help you? Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

John 21:25 states: “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

But God chose to give us what we need to know through the 66 books of the Bible. It is more than enough information than we can digest in a lifetime! 

When we consider what the Bible tells us about Jesus, and His loving deeds on behalf of people, we should be in awe of His mighty unmatchable power. When we consider that we have only a small portion of His power displayed, that is mind-boggling! 

Jesus is God, and even in His human form, His power was unmatchable. 

Luke 4:29-30 reveals that He could walk through a crowd without being stopped: “They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.” This event took place prior to His resurrection. After His resurrection He miraculously appeared to His disciples. John 20:19: “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

No one else can match this display of God’s power!

Certainly, Jesus’ display of His power to heal physical ailments was unmatchable. Luke 22:49-51 reveals an amazing healing by Jesus: “When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.” Clearly putting a piece of an ear back on a person without surgery or any other adhesive was amazing! I would think that this servant, Malchus, had a lot to talk about when he went home!

Jesus’ miracles reveal how mighty His power is. 

Lazarus was a man who also had an incredible testimony of the power of God through Jesus! 

Luke 11:38-44: “Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Please note that Jesus and His Father worked intimately together. Jesus used His power for good – always! He never misused His power. He always stayed connected with His Father.

God’s people, through Jesus’ equipping, can display His amazing power. We cannot do anything without His Holy Spirit working in and through us. 

What ways does the Holy Spirit display God’s power for His people? 

He will teach us [John 14:26], guide us into all truth [John 16:13], and equip us with all we need to serve and obey God [Hebrews 13:21]. It is His Spirit’s power in us that makes all of this possible. How awesome is our God!!!

The greatest display of God’s power is Jesus’ resurrection. While others in the Bible were brought back to life after a death experience, only Jesus paid our debt for sin, and rose to tell about it. No one else can make that claim with validity. 

Jesus displayed His power daily as He interacted with people. Whether it was feeding thousands from a few loaves and fish, healing the sick, raising the dead, it was all to cause people – cause us – to understand that He deserves to be honored and praised, obeyed and exalted. 

Jesus used His power to touch lives for His kingdom. Consider John 4, and the woman at the well. Jesus showed her His power when her life was changed, as well as those of her village were touched by Him. Jesus took her from a position of shame to one of honor! 

Jesus wants to touch our lives so that we are changed. He wants to take us from sinful lifestyles to His righteous way of living. He does the work in us through His powerful Holy Spirit who regenerates everyone who will accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. 

The AMPC in Philippians 1:6 states this work He does in us this way: “And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” The changed lives of Christ’s followers are a testimony to His mighty power. 

How often each day do you ask God for His powerful equipping and help? Do you count on the power of God to help you, or do you discount His power? Most people discount the power of God. They want to take credit for their ingenuity, their skills, etc. But God deserves all the glory! We are nothing without Him. With Jesus we are VIPs! He gives us value. His power makes it happen.

In what ways have you experienced God’s power today? Perhaps you experienced miraculous timing of events that you know He orchestrated and arranged? How often during your day do you stop to praise and thank God for His power that gives you breath? 

I would love to hear from you how God’s power has been displayed in your life. If you do not have a living relationship with Jesus, let’s talk about how you can know Him and be changed by Him.

You can write to me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

I enjoy reading quotes from people that make me think about my relationship with God. Perhaps you might be encouraged by one of the following quotes. This is not a recommendation of anyone, as I don’t know who all these people are, but their quotes touched me:

You must keep all earthly treasures out of your heart, and let Christ be your treasure, and let Him have your heart. C.H. Spurgeon

Self-help doesn’t help. My self is the problem. Jared Wilson

Spiritual maturity is marked by spiritual knowledge being put into action. Gal 4:19.

Edward Bedore

A Christian without meditation is like a soldier without weapons, or a workman without tools. 

Thomas Watson

All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His power and presence to be with them. J. Hudson Taylor

Obedience to God releases His blessings and joy, here and hereafter…. Humbling acts of service to others, as Jesus modeled when He washed the feet of His disciples, releases joy in our hearts.

Bill Bright

It is tragic to go through our days making Christ the subject of our study but not the sustenance of our souls. Vance Havner

Truth is true whether you believe it or not. Truth does not require belief in order to be true, but it does deserve to be believed.  Doug Powell

Other men may preach better than I, but no man can preach a better gospel.  George Whitefield

If those who hold influence over others fail to lead toward the spiritual uplands, then surely the path to the lowlands will be well worn. J. Oswald Sanders

My conscience is captive to the Word of God. Martin Luther

Sometimes when we get overwhelmed, we forget how big God is. A. W. Tozer

Go to the Bible looking for God. Find Him, and application will follow. But go looking for application, and you may miss both. Trevin Wax

Life and death hang on our ability to hear God — and to hear God, we have to read. He reveals himself, his will, and his gospel through words. Therefore, you can argue that reading the Bible is the most important thing we’ll ever do. Marshall Segal

God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which he must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.  A.W. Tozer

Every work of [God] serves to display His glory, and set off the greatness of His majesty. John Gill

God will not send trial without the intention of blessing; therefore, where the trial is great, we may be sure that the blessing intended is great also. P.B. Power

True peace comes not from the absence of trouble but from the presence of God. Alexander Maclaren

There is a core difference between sharing the gospel with the lost and imposing a specific moral standard on the unconverted. Rosaria Butterfield

Conviction is worthless unless it is converted into conduct. Thomas Carlyle

A Christian with faith has nothing to fear from the facts. Paul Johnson

Everyone is looking for power in a program, in a methodology, in a technique, in anything and everything but that in which God has placed it—His Word. He alone has the power to change lives for eternity, and that power is focused on the Scriptures.  —R.C. Sproul

Please let me know which quote means the most to you and why. 

You can write to me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

The formation of the Sabbath rest began in Genesis 2:2: “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.”

Was God tired? I don’t see any reason to believe that Almighty God was tired – ever!

But God has a deeper meaning for our lives in His setting the example of us taking a Sabbath rest.

The original word in Hebrew is “sabat”, which means to stop work. It conveys the concept that we are to cease the activities that we do throughout normal life so that we can focus on God. 

Why do we need to focus on God through a Sabbath rest? It is necessary because life’s activities require focus and attention. But God, being our great Provider and Redeemer, wants to be certain that we recognize Him as our Provider, and not fall into the trap of thinking that we are the source of our provision in life. When we fail to recognize God as our Provider, we start to slip away from Him, and that can be spiritually dangerous. 

What does God provide for us? He provides everything we need for our earthly and eternal existence. He may not be the one who builds our homes, but He is the One who equips tradesmen, architects, and everyone else who has a part in constructing a house. He gives the wisdom and knowledge to do all that is necessary. 

A Sabbath rest helps us to recenter our thoughts on our great Creator God!

If this were not significant in our relationship with God, He would not have included it in His foundational ten commandments: Exodus 20:8-11: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

The Sabbath also points to Jesus. He is our Sabbath rest. In Him we find who we truly are meant to be. In Jesus we find fulfillment. In Jesus we find we can cease from striving, and rest in His providing. He secured our eternal reconciliation with our Father God! 

Jesus makes us acceptable to God. We can do absolutely nothing to earn reconciliation with the Father. Only through Jesus can we find the true Sabbath rest we yearn for.

When Jesus finished His work on the cross, resurrected and ascended, He rested next to the Father on His throne. Hebrews 10:12 states: “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.” Jesus had no more work to do to accomplish our atonement. This is why everyone who accepts Jesus’ offer of salvation can also find true rest in Him. No more striving to please God. But God looks for us to serve Him, not so that we earn His love, but so others will know Him personally and experience eternal rest with Him through Jesus.

Remember what Jesus taught about the Sabbath in Matthew 12:8: “For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” In Mark 2:27 He gives us the correct perspective on the Sabbath, which reveals the gift of Sabbath rest: “And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

The true Sabbath rest is a gift from God. Our world has lost the value of resting and ceasing from striving. The world influences us to want more, to want better, to not be satisfied until we reach some sort of pinnacle. However, that pursuit of satisfaction can only come in Christ?

The wealthy, who don’t have God’s perspective, just keep striving for more. They rarely enjoy what they have because they think they’ve gained their wealth through their own ingenuity. 

I think of the phrase – “he’s a self-made man”. That is a lie. God gave him life. God is the only reason anyone has worldly success. Worldly success seems to me to be a test. Will it cause someone to rest in God, or to exalt oneself. It reminds me of the parable Jesus told about the rich young ruler:

Matthew 19:16-22: “And behold, there came a man up to Him, saying, Teacher, what excellent and perfectly and essentially good deed must I do to possess eternal life? And He said to him, Why do you ask Me about the perfectly and essentially good? There is only One Who is good [perfectly and essentially]—God. If you would enter into the Life, you must continually keep the commandments. He said to Him, What sort of commandments? [Or, which ones?] And Jesus answered, You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. The young man said, I have observed all these from my youth; what still do I lack?  Jesus answered him, If you would be perfect [that is, [b]have that spiritual maturity which accompanies self-sacrificing character], go and sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; and come, be My disciple [side with My party and follow Me]. But when the young man heard this, he went away sad (grieved and in much distress), for he had great possessions.” Amplified Version

The ruler’s heart was held by his riches, and his thought that he was the source of those riches. 

We cannot find true rest for our souls until we acknowledge that God is at the heart of everything in our lives. 

Only in Jesus can we find the true Sabbath rest. In Him we find rest because He did the work to secure our reconciliation with our Creator God. It is peace at its fullest. A peace we cannot earn. A peace we don’t deserve. But God’s mercy and grace covers us. 

God runs the world!

God made creation for us to enjoy Him and to find rest in His Son, Jesus!

God equips – in all ways!

God wants us to rest in Him. Jesus can help reorient our lives to His ways. His ways are best for us!

Will you take time to have Sabbath rest in Jesus? If He is not yet your Lord and Savior, may you take that step to confess your need for His forgiveness and cleansing from your sinful ways, and find true rest in Him. 

Please write me about how you find taking a Sabbath rest has been beneficial in your life. You can write to me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

God’s word helps us answer this question. 

Romans 8:6 states: “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

What God is conveying to us is that if our thoughts are influenced by the things of this world – money, cars, houses, social media popularity, sex, selfish desires, etc. – then “the flesh” is governing us. The result of that is spiritual death, eternal separation from our Creator God.

But God has the way out of spiritual death. 

Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son, is the only way we can be saved from eternal death and brought into eternal life. 

If Jesus is not yet your Lord and Savior, why are you waiting to take this step? You can confess your sins, admit you are powerless to do anything about that condition, and ask Jesus to forgive you and cleanse you from your sins. 

Jesus is amazing! 

He wants to be your Lord and Savior. 

He wants to help you.

He wants to guide you and equip you to serve Him.

He wants to do so much more than we can imagine.

How do we know if we are governed by the Spirit of God?

We can know that we are governed by the Spirit of God when we examine our lifestyle, our thoughts, and our choices. As we examine ourselves, we can compare our behavior with the Word of God. We can ask ourselves self-examining questions:

1. Is God the most important Person to me each day?
2. Do I thirst to know Him better?
3. Do I want to spend time with Him every day in His word and in prayerful communication?
4. Am I less selfish now than I was in the past?
5. Am I experiencing God’s Spirit transforming me so that I am more like Jesus?
6. How excited am I about Jesus, and sharing His Gospel with others.

We can use the Bible to help us with determining if God is governing our lives.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us that we are to: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

We can ask ourselves, based on this verse, the following questions:

1. Do I trust the Lord?
2. How much do I trust the Lord?
3. How often do I lean on my own understanding?
4. Am I truly submitting to the Lord or do I resist Him more than I submit?
5. Am I trusting God to help me, to make my paths straight?

Based upon Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”, we can ask ourselves further questions to determine who governs our mind:

1. What evidence of God’s Spirit is in my life based upon the attributes given in this passage?
2. How has that evidence increased as I walk with God?
3. What might need to be improved in my relationship with God so that His Spirit works more of Christ’s character into me?

When God governs our minds, we experience inner change that impacts how we interact with God and people. 

Once we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, His Spirit works methodically to produce His character in us. We should not be impatient with this process. I’ve walked with Jesus for 39 years. His Spirit still has a lot of work to do in me. But God shows me what He has already done, and that encourages me to trust Him for further transformation. 

When God governs our lives, we are able to experience His mercy and grace in abundance!

Will you make the effort to do a scriptural check to determine who is governing your life? 

If you determine it is Jesus who governs your life, how surrendered are you to Him?  Might you need to surrender further to Him?

I would enjoy hearing your story about your relationship with Jesus. If you don’t have a relationship with Him, please contact me. 

You can write to me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Jessa Anderson is a singer I heard many years ago at a Word of Life retreat. The following words are from her song “Idols”:

I am so like a bird in flight, I try to build my home

I set my eyes on anything that shines and tells me it will make me whole

I stack the walls surrounding me with promises and pretty things

But when I see what winter brings, I fly //

And as it turns out, this fickle heart in my chest

Sometimes it beats for everything but what is best

But when I turn down this voice I hear in my head

I give you room to speak and offer life instead

So take all of these idols, all of my idols and lay them to rest

So take all of these idols, all of my idols//

And all this time, addicted I, desperate for more and more

I chase the high but every single time, I come down lower than before

These empty words are on repeat and I can see they’re killing me

But still I find that I believe the lies//

I am a well run dry, I am a clouded, starless sky

Without Your breath of life I would surely die

But You gave your life for mine

Jessica’s view on what idols are like is sobering. Idols divide us from God, and cause us to think that we can build our own lives. The problem is, without Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we “set our eyes on anything that shines.” Why? Because they lie to us, they tell us they “will make me whole.” The “they” is anything or anyone we hold up as more important than God.

Idols promise satisfaction, provision and protection, but they are unable to fulfill those promises.

We may think “But we don’t build a statue and worship it”. However, that is still exactly what some people do. I see those statues in some people’s yards. 

Webster defines idol as: “an object of extreme devotion.” Jesus warned in Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].” This comes from the Amplified Version, and it makes clear that anything we value more than our great God is an idol.

We brag or boast about our spouses, children, investment accounts, homes, cars, etc. that when examined carefully reveal that we idolize one or more of these people or items. 

I have had to examine myself to be certain that I keep God as my priority. I may catch myself looking for something or someone other than God to be to me what only God should be in my life. 

Spouses, children, money, etc. are not bad. We need them to exist, but when we elevate them to a place in our lives where God alone belongs, we are in dangerous territory. Colossians 3:5 states: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

People may think that idols are harmless. They may say a statue is only for remembrance. But God tells us that idols are not to be any part of our lives. 1 John 5:21: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

Isaiah 44 paints a clear picture of our foolishness when we think we can fashion an idol, and have it perform for us. But God makes it clear that anything we create with our hands to rely upon for provision, protection or any other need we have is ridiculous. 

Isaiah 44:9-20: “All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified; they shall be put to shame together. The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint. The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the (other) half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!” And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!” They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, “Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

The central problem is the word “I” in the above passage. When we attempt to make life about us, it gets in the way of our relationship with Jesus. Jesus wants us to be fully dependent upon Him. He wants to be the source of our provision, protection, and all else we need. 

Our world likes to create idols. We even have a TV show called American Idol. The Bible is clear, 

1 Corinthians 10:14 exhorts us: “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

How might idolatry be interfering in your relationship with Jesus and with others? What might be your idol? As you consider this, will you take time to ask God to help you examine your heart to see if you have elevated something to idol status?

You can write to me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to discuss Jesus, and a deep abiding relationship with Him.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

I couldn’t be satisfied with the status quo. I hear people say “I’m only human.” I do not find anything in the Bible where God gives His followers an excuse to maintain the status quo. 

Consider the apostle Peter: Jesus warned Peter that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. Peter did just that. Jesus didn’t excuse Peter’s sinful denial, but instead called Peter to an intentional pursuit of holiness and excellence for God’s kingdom. 

Peter’s denial: Matthew 26:33-35: “Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.”   Luke 22:56-62: “Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”

Peter’s restoration: John 21:15-19: “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Jesus matched each denial of Peter’s with a call to serve Him. Peter faithfully and intentionally continued forward serving God until his earthly death. 

2 Timothy 4:7, spoken by Paul, could be claimed by Peter, and every Christ-follower who pursues God, intentionally and with excellence!  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Being intentional in our relationship with God reveals our love for him. 

Mediocrity has no place in the Christian walk. Intentionality in pursuing Christ and his kingdom and his desires reveals a heart for Christ. 

The following verses provide guidance in how we can walk intentionally with God. There is no room for the status quo!

Micah 6:8: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Note that these are not simply suggestions, but requirements from God for all those who follow Christ. It requires effort to remain faithful. God provides the power, through His Spirit, to enable us to increasingly walk justly, kindly, and humbly with Him.

Proverbs 3:5-8: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” Once again we note that these are not suggestions, but commands. Why should God command these? It is because His ways are superior to our ways, and we need His standard clearly written for us to follow. If what God expects is not clear, we would tend to waiver and fall into worldly ways. God wants what is best for us – “healing and refreshment to your bones”.

What is your relationship and fellowship like with God? Is there some way you can be more intentional in your seeking and following Him? Perhaps you might spend more time in God’s word and studying it with others? If you are intentional in following Jesus, how might God be directing you to help others to know Him more intimately?

I would enjoy hearing your experience with Jesus. Please share how God is working in you life. You can write to me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Merriam Webster defines status quo as follows: “Status quo is a Latin phrase that literally translates to “the state in which.” In modern usage, it refers to the existing state of affairs or the current way things are. People who “maintain the status quo” are usually trying to keep the present situation unchanged, which can be viewed as either maintaining stability or resisting necessary progress.”

But God expects that we will walk intentionally with Him, and in doing so we will be changed to be more like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ [for those who have an abiding relationship with God through Jesus].

2 Corinthians 5:17 states: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

We have been raising butterflies. They are a wonderful picture of transformation. The caterpillar’s original state is gone – passed away. It goes through a complete change and wiggles its way into its next stage of life – the chrysalis. We watched it flop around in this stage for a few days, until it fought its way out as a beautiful painted butterfly!

The old was gone and the new had come!

There were some struggles as the caterpillar formed into the chrysalis and then broke through that “skin” to come out as a butterfly. It is beautiful to watch how wonderfully God created His creatures.

We are each created by God.

We are each created by God to turn to Jesus so that we can turn from our sinful ways.

We are each created by God to put on the new lifestyle He works in us so that we become like Jesus.

All of this requires that we don’t settle for the status quo. We must be intentional as we pursue Christ and His lifestyle.

Jesus shows us how to have an abiding and intentional relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Jesus shows us how to intentionally abide in this new relationship when we experience suffering and challenges. 

Jesus shows us how this new relationship provides hope. It is hope based in His work on the cross. When Jesus rose from the grave He secured our eternal future with God [for all who love Jesus and intentionally walk with him]. 

This new relationship with God begins the moment we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. It is not about us. We often mistakenly think that God’s gift of eternal life is all about us. It is about Him being glorified as He transforms us.

God created us. God planned our redemption when we, through Adam, rejected Him. We are incapable of doing anything to bridge the gap between God and us. He had to do all of the planning for our redemption. He had to willingly sacrifice His Son so we could be restored into a relationship with our Him, the living God. 

Therefore, we must be flexible in God’s hands as He transforms us into Christlikeness. The caterpillar had to submit to the changes it had to undergo in order to be turned into a butterfly. That transformation is a miraculous work of God in His creation. Our transformation is a miraculous work of God in us, His creation.

When we admire the beauty of the butterfly, we can be encouraged, because God is making us into something He sees as beautiful. It is not the same beauty the world looks for. God’s beauty is developed as our heart is transformed from the old sinful self to the new creation we are in Christ. God is not done with us. 

The final transformation into our eternal existence will be far superior to anything we can imagine. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52: “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

We cannot sit back and be satisfied with the status quo. We must intentionally pursue excellence for God. Some people may view this as perfectionism. However, when we belong to Jesus it is not perfectionism. 

The online dictionary defines perfectionism as follows: “Perfectionism is a personality trait characterized by a relentless drive for flawlessness and the setting of exceedingly high, often unrealistic standards.”

God gives us realistic standards. God’s standards look unrealistic until we recognize that God is working in us to create a new life with a new lifestyle. He will create them, by the power and work of His indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in every true follower of Jesus. 

This desire for holiness and intentionality in our relationship with God comes from Him. I’m not compelled to follow Jesus out of fear of punishment, but I pursue Him because of His love that He has placed inside of me. I’m not pursuing perfectionism, but I am pursuing holiness and excellence for my amazing Lord and Savior. 

When God looks at me, He sees me through the blood of Jesus. That is amazing!  I’m in awe of the goodness of God. He no longer sees me as broken, but as whole! 

I have found in the 39 years I have intentionally pursued Jesus that His Spirit has made amazing strides in changing me from my old self to the new person I am in Christ. I marvel at His work. I know without a doubt it has nothing to do with me making it happen. I’m grateful for each day that He continues to do this work in me.

TO BE CONTINUED!!

Let’s talk about intentionally pursuing God!  Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

God created us because He wants to show us how amazing His love is for us. 

God is good. Psalm 34:8: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

God is kind. Luke 6:35: “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”

God is involved in our lives. Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

God protects. 2 Thessalonians 3:3: “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”

God provides. Philippians 4:19: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

God equips. Matthew 7:11: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

God corrects. Job 5:17: ““Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.”

God judges. Isaiah 33:22: “For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us.”

God is perfect. Deuteronomy 32:4 “He is the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.”

God is holy. 1 Samuel 2:2: ““There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.”

God is the One and Only God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Isaiah 44:6-8: “The Lord, the King of Israel and the One Who saves and frees from sin, the Lord of All, says, “I am the first and I am the last. There is no God besides Me. 7 Who is like Me? Let him make it known. Yes, let him tell Me what happened from the time I made people long ago. And let him tell the things that are coming and what is going to happen. 8 Do not fear. Do not be afraid. Have I not made it known to you from long ago? And you have heard Me. Is there a God besides Me? No, there is no other Rock. I know of none.”

God is so much more than the above list of attributes. Therefore, as God, He has the absolute authority and right to set the standards for how we should live.

Since God is our Creator, and the source by which all our needs are provided, why should we rebel against His good standards? Unfortunately, we rebel too often.

Consider the parent who teaches his young child to stay away from the road. The parent is giving the child the best standard. It is a safety matter. It could be a matter of life or death. It is foolish for that child to reject the parent’s teaching and standard. But, sometimes a child will reject the parent’s guidance and choose to step into danger by crossing the road. The child may escape injury, or the child may end up in a wheelchair the rest of his life, if he escapes with his life.

Too often we can be like that foolish child. We reject the best guidance our perfect Heavenly Father provides. 

God gives us good standards to live by, but our desires can override God’s guidance and our lives become messy.

Rejecting God’s standard is foolish. When we reject God’s standard it is sin. Sin is never what is best for us.

Instead, what we need to do is:

Acknowledge God as the One true living God – it is best for us.

Worship God – it is best for us.

Serve and obey God – it is best for us.

Confess our sins, and align ourselves with God’s standard – it is best for us.

We can know God personally. We can know what God’s standards are by reading AND studying the Bible. 

It takes effort and determination on our part to know God intimately. How much effort do you put into your study of the Bible? As you spend more time with God, through His Word, what do you think He will do in your life? 

What other standards might people choose to live by?

People use religious beliefs as their standard, often without any comparison to what the Bible teaches. This is eternally dangerous. Only the Holy Bible presents the true message of God’s standard for those who want to spend eternal life with Him. Everything that disagrees with God’s standard for establishing a relationship with Him is a lie, and will result in eternal separation from God.

I didn’t understand this until I truly started seeking God through His Word and Bible study. God opened my heart to help me to understand that He is the living God, forgiving and restorative. He has been helping me pursue Him and live by His standard since 1987, when I committed my life to Jesus. Every day I read and study His Word so I can love and honor Him. Loving God and honoring Him results in the best life. I want to live by God’s standard. When I fail, I confess my sins, and He faithfully restores me, while helping me to change my lifestyle so that I live more by His standard.

I know the consequences of not living by God’s standard, and I don’t want that any more. Instead, I want the abundant life God offers.

God’s standard leads to abundant life.

People often use the world’s standards to guide their lives. This also is dangerous because the world often lives by choices that are contrary to God’s Word. For instance, our culture believes that marriage is not necessary for people who want to live together as if they are a married couple. God designed marriage to protect a man and a woman, and any offspring. It is best because God tells us it is best.

God wants us to have the best experience in this life, and for all eternity.  We can have that when we recognize that we are sinners, needing Jesus’ atoning work on the cross. Jesus willingly paid the debt for our sins. He wants us to willingly live by His standard. 

Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not, please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.