The Daily CHEW™
Chew on God’s Love. Live Transformed. Multiply Hope.
It’s 4am in Smoke Rise—I rarely sleep past that hour. Our home sits in this quiet community so close to Stone Mountain that, when our kids were younger, we’d regularly climb to the top together and treat ourselves to snacks from the café, soaking in the afternoon sun. I’m always up early, breathing in the quiet before dawn. But in our house, my wife and children are true night owls. On Saturdays, my wife lets herself sleep until 9am. The younger twin usually wakes soon after, and then his older brother and my daughter need a gentle nudge to join us before noon. As we gather in the kitchen, my wife tells Siri to play Marc Anthony, and the kitchen fills with salsa—the soundtrack that awakens every fiber of my being, that my wife enjoys, and my kids tolerate but love to see how alive I become listening to it.
Sometimes, my mind drifts back to the days of closing out Copacabana nightclub in Manhattan—when I could dance all night until 4am, even though falling asleep wicked early has always been my natural rhythm. These memories are sweet, and our present life holds goodness too. But I notice how easily I move through these moments without fully savoring them. The pressure of to-dos, the drive to achieve, whispers that there’s always something more to accomplish.
Even in celebrating, my heart often thinks wins need to be spectacular—a screaming two-handed backhand that paints the line. But God, in His kindness, teaches me that many of life’s victories are humble—a well-placed shot, just enough slice, causing my opponent to miss. God’s presence is there, just as active in the small wins as in the big ones.
So this morning, I turn to God and Confess my tendency to strive, to measure life by achievements, and to rush past the moments He’s gifting me. I admit my struggle: so much goodness right here, yet I rarely pause long enough to let gratitude take root.
But God is faithful to interrupt my worn-out scripts. In His Word I Hear His invitation: “Remain in my love.” (John 15:9). It’s not about my drive, my habits, or my capacity—it’s about God’s steadfast love drawing me back again and again, grounding me in grace. He initiates. He welcomes. He anchors my heart when I’m restless.
By His grace, I can Exchange the urge to hurry for rhythms that become altars—ordinary practices where God meets me: opening Scripture before the world rushes in, praying as I walk in the morning stillness, letting joy rise with the music, leaning into family moments even when my mind wants to move ahead. God’s love is not earned by performance, but received as a gift, shaping me in the routines of daily life.
Today, my Walk is not about what I accomplish, but about noticing God’s presence and love in the simple. I’ll jot down three ways God’s love shows up in the ordinary, share one with a family member, and choose celebration—not because I created it, but because God has made it possible. When I linger in these moments, I realize every real win—quiet or grand—is a testimony to His faithfulness.
This is my head-to-heart turning point: in God’s love, I’m not the hero of my own story. He is. Every small victory, every joy, every bit of progress is the result of His steadfast, unfailing kindness drawing me closer, transforming my heart day by day. I just need to bring my moments to Him with honesty and let Him do what only He can—make His love stick, right here in Smoke Rise, with the hum of salsa, the warmth of family, and the gentle nudge of grace leading my way.
CHEW On This™
If I really believed God’s love is steady and present, like music that fills every room, how would that change the practices I choose and help me savor His gifts and victories, knowing He is the hero in every moment?
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