Manna for the Soul

  What a year 2025 has been. I have had my fair share of good times and tough times in 2025 and in the midst of it all, God has remained faithful, just like He has for each person reading this. As I write this, I am moved to tears recognizing that the raging battles of 2025 left some defeated. But if you have breath and you are still standing at this point, you have a reason to lift up praise to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For He is good, and His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 136:1) When I look back, I think of the moments that looked ordinary on the outside but felt like spiritual warfare on the inside. The long days where I was handling responsibilities from every direction. The moments I needed wisdom for decisions that affected my family. The seasons of pressure where I had to keep showing up anyway. Times I had to fight for peace in my mind, fight for integrity in my work, fight to stay steady while building and planning, and fight to keep my heart soft. One moment...

On the night of July 10, 2025, I came across a deeply moving story shared by a family affected by the devastating floods in Central Texas. The floods had struck suddenly and violently on the morning of July 4th—a day meant for celebration, marked by independence, family gatherings, and joy. Instead, communities faced overwhelming tragedy as historic flash floods swept through the Texas Hill Country, submerging homes, camps, and entire neighborhoods. With over 100 lives lost, many still missing, families shattered, hearts broken, and a region in unimaginable grief, the weight of the tragedy settled heavily on anyone who cared to follow the events from Central Texas. Sitting quietly in my living room, the depth of the family's loss and the broader tragedy of the floods from July 3-4, gripped my heart, and tears began to flow freely.  Camp Mystic, a cherished haven for generations, became an epicenter of sorrow with profound loss—but the grief didn't stop there. Surrounding commun...