Dadvotionals

You Were Made to Produce

Genesis 2:15 – “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”

I used to think work was a curse. Like many, I bought into the idea that work is what you have to do so you can eventually afford what you want to do. But somewhere along the way—between a soul-deep burnout and a humbling moment in prayer—I realized something that changed everything: God gave Adam a job before He gave him a wife.

Before there was sin, there was work. That means work isn’t a punishment—it’s a purpose.

That truth hit me hard in a season when I felt aimless. I had a decent job and a decent paycheck, but inside, I felt like I was just clocking in and clocking out. No spark. No drive. I had lost sight of what I was made for. But when I opened Genesis and saw that God placed Adam in the garden to work it and keep it, it reframed everything.

Work isn’t just about making money—it’s about making meaning. God designed us to build, solve, lead, and create. That doesn’t mean everyone’s supposed to be an entrepreneur or a CEO. It means that whether you’re swinging a hammer, typing code, raising kids, or teaching third graders, your work can reflect the character of a God who is always creating, always cultivating.

I used to feel guilty for wanting to succeed. I thought that maybe ambition was at odds with humility. But then I realized—it’s not ambition that’s wrong. It’s selfish ambition. There’s a difference. God honors the man who wakes up early, works with his hands, and sees his job as a form of worship.

I’ve started to ask a different question in the mornings—not, “What do I have to do today?” but, “What do I get to build today?”

Some days it’s small—organizing a meeting that actually helps instead of wasting time. Other days it’s bigger—leading a team through a tough season. But every day, I’m learning to see my work not as something separate from my faith, but as a part of it.

So here’s the reminder I needed—and maybe you do too:

You were made to produce.

You weren’t made for apathy. You weren’t made to coast. God placed something inside you that the world needs.

Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Don’t wait until everything makes sense. Just start. Work the garden God gave you. Get your hands in the dirt.

Because the God who put Adam in Eden still calls men to build today.

And He blesses what you put your hands to.

Leading with Faith

Finding Purpose in the Corporate World

For years, I have wrestled with a lingering question: How does my career in property tax software implementation contribute to God’s kingdom? I have written about this a few times as it is a constant struggle for me to try to reconcile. At first glance, my work seems far removed from traditional ministry. Unlike pastors, missionaries, or those working in faith-based organizations, my role revolves around data, technology, and helping governments manage property taxation. Where does God fit into that?

Whenever I think about this, Proverbs 16:9 comes to mind: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” I may not have set out to work in tax software, but God has placed me here for a reason. And through much prayer and reflection, I’ve come to realize that my calling isn’t necessarily about what I do but how I do it.

Called to Lead, Called to Serve

Over time, I’ve seen that my role isn’t just about implementing software—it’s about leading people. Leadership, when approached through the lens of faith, is an opportunity to serve, uplift, and guide others with integrity. Jesus himself modeled servant leadership, reminding us in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

This realization transformed how I view my work. I am not just a manager or director; I am a shepherd to my team. My leadership is my ministry. Every decision I make, every challenge I navigate, and every person I mentor is an opportunity to reflect Christ’s love and character. Whether it’s advocating for fairness in a profit-driven business, supporting a struggling team member, or demonstrating patience in a tense situation, I am called to lead in a way that honors God.

Faith in the Workplace: A Silent Mission Field

One of the hardest aspects of being a Christian in the corporate world is that faith has become almost taboo. Open discussions about God are rare, and expressing Christian values can sometimes feel like swimming against the tide of company culture. Yet, I am reminded of Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

I may not be able to preach openly in my office, but I can still be a witness. My integrity, my work ethic, my compassion, and my commitment to truth all speak louder than words. Colossians 3:23 encourages us, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” This verse reminds me that my ultimate employer is not the company I work for—it’s God. If I work with excellence and honesty, not for personal gain but to honor Him, then my career becomes an act of worship.

Navigating the Bottom-Line Mentality with Christian Values

One of the greatest challenges I face is balancing my Christian values with a business culture that often prioritizes profit above all else. The temptation to cut ethical corners or to value efficiency over people is real. But Scripture reminds me to hold fast to righteousness. Proverbs 11:1 states, “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.”

I have made it my mission to be a leader who values people over profit, ethics over expedience, and faith over fear. This doesn’t always mean making the easiest choices, but it does mean making the right ones. And when I face resistance or discouragement, I remind myself that my work has a higher purpose—to reflect Christ in the way I lead and serve.

Purpose Beyond Profit

While I may never see my job listed as “kingdom work” in a traditional sense, I now recognize that God has placed me here for a reason. My career isn’t just about software implementation—it’s about influencing people for the better. It’s about demonstrating Christ’s love through leadership. It’s about being a light in an industry where faith is often pushed to the margins.

If you, too, have ever questioned how your work contributes to God’s kingdom, remember that no job is too secular for His purpose. Whatever your role, He can use you. And perhaps, like me, you’ll come to see that leadership itself is a ministry—one that allows us to serve others, stand firm in our values, and let our light shine in even the most unexpected places.

Finding Answers

Being a Christian is far from easy—but it is simple.

The world often makes faith seem complicated, as if we must decipher some hidden code or figure things out on our own. But God has already given us everything we need to walk this journey. His Word is our guide, our foundation, and our source of wisdom when we have questions.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalms 119:105)

I love this verse because it reminds us that God doesn’t always show us the entire road ahead, but He gives us enough light for the next step. Sometimes, when life feels uncertain—when we don’t know which direction to take, when we’re struggling with decisions, or when we’re weary—His Word shines just enough to help us move forward. We don’t have to see the whole journey, only trust that He will illuminate each step at the right time.

This is something my wife and I often tell our adult sons: When you’re walking in the path that Christ has set for you, each step is presented in the right way at the right time. There have been so many moments in our lives where we didn’t understand what God was doing in the present, but looking back, we see how each step was placed exactly where it needed to be.

Of course, walking in that path requires us to stay rooted in Scripture. The Bible isn’t just a book of encouragement; it’s our training manual for life.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

This means the Bible doesn’t just inspire us—it corrects us, teaches us, and equips us for what God has called us to do. And sometimes, that correction isn’t comfortable. God’s Word cuts deep, getting to the heart of our thoughts and motives.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

It challenges us, convicts us, and transforms us. And yet, the beauty of following Christ is that while the road may be difficult, the direction is clear: Look to His Word. If you’re searching for answers, if you’re facing decisions that seem overwhelming, or if you’re simply trying to live out your faith in a complicated world—open your Bible. Seek Him first, and trust that He will light your path, one step at a time.

Am I Enough?

If I’m being honest, this is a question I wrestle with more often than I’d like to admit: Am I enough?

Am I a good enough leader at work? Do I belong in the rooms I’m invited into, or am I just faking it until someone finds me out? Am I a good enough husband—loving my wife the way she deserves? Am I a good enough father—raising my kids to be godly men and women in a world that fights against it at every turn?

No matter how hard I try, there’s always something telling me I fall short. And the truth is… that voice is right.

I am not enough.

Not on my own. Not by my own strength, wisdom, or ability. But here’s the good news: I don’t have to be.

This isn’t just a personal struggle. It’s something every man faces at some point in his life. We try to prove ourselves, to push through, to fix things on our own. But deep down, we know the truth: we can’t.

The Bible makes it clear:

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” — Romans 3:23

“apart from Me, you can do nothing.” — John 15:5

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9

We weren’t made to be enough on our own. We were made to be dependent—fully reliant on the Spirit of God, who fills the gaps we can never fill ourselves.

It’s only through Jesus—through His sacrifice on the cross, through His Spirit living in us—that we are made whole. Our job isn’t to strive harder to prove our worth. Our job is to surrender. To lay down the burden of “being enough” and let God’s power work through us.

Because of Christ, I can step into that meeting knowing that my worth isn’t tied to my performance or my background.
Because of Christ, I can love my wife selflessly, even when I feel like I’ve failed.
Because of Christ, I have raised my kids in faith, knowing that He will guide them in ways I never could.

The pressure is off.

I don’t have to be enough—because He is.

It’s Been a Minute

It has been almost three years since I have posted to this site. Three renewals that I could have easily canceled and saved some money. But something was telling me to hang on to it. And every so often I will get a notification that someone liked an old post or viewed the site multiple times. Each notification serving as a reminder that these words are not mine, and are not for just my purposes.

I have said before that I write almost everyday – but only publish what I write when I feel called to do so. I don’t always know why, and I rarely feel like my writings are good enough to publish. But that’s how this all began for me; as an act of obedience and complete surrender to His will.

It is hard to believe that this started five years ago and pretty early in my Christian walk. Life has changed quite a bit since then. My boys are far from boys, independent young men, the oldest is married and working his dream job. My youngest is pursuing his dream job and navigating his spiritual walk faithfully. I could not be more proud of them both. I am 100% certain that they will both impact the world in a positive way, and bring glory to God at a much larger scale than I am able to, in whatever they do.

My sons understand- at a much younger age than I did- that an obedient relationship with and full surrender to God is key to a fulfilling walk through this life. This morning I was reminded about this as I read a devotional that happened to include three of my favorite passages from the Bible.

“For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

– Jeremiah 29:11-13

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.

-Proverbs 3:5-6

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who give generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

-James 1:5

Commit, Surrender, Walk

I finally have the pull to write publicly again. It has been a long time, over a year, since my last public post. I have missed it, but it was not mine to control. When I have words to write – I write them. When those words are meant for public consumption – I post them. It really is that simple and it really is that much of an exercise of surrender. I have tried to force it – and the words do not flow. They just disappear and I stare at a blank white page.

Today – this post is a bit different, though it started the way every writing before it has. I read my verses for the day, I pray (in writing – its just how I best communicate – even to God), and then I write whatever flows from my mind through my fingers. Today – the writing was the prayer and I am compelled to post it. I don’t know why or for whom – but I know the message will be clear for whomever it is intended – whenever they may read it.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3

God, I commit my work to you. I commit my marriage to you. I commit my calling to you. Establish my plans and I will follow your guidance.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to be good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

God, thank you for your preparation and attention. I am your child and specifically created for a purpose. Please reveal to me your purpose for my life. Please guide me on the path to fulfillment of that purpose. God, I surrender to you.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23

God, I know my timing is not yours. I know that my need to know the plan is a lack of surrender, as unintentional as it may be. I know that you make no mistakes and that where you have me is where I need to be. Though I don’t see the divine purpose for my current position and location, God, I trust that Your plan is in action. And since I am your servant, I will pour my effort into this job as you have assigned. Please guide me and give me the wisdom to see the purpose in this position, the strength to see your mission through, and the peace to surrender my plans where they are not your plans. God, I will walk where you send me.

No Waste in the Wait

Where is God calling me? I have gotten very clear and poignant messages on direction from God for a good part of my life. I haven’t always listened. But what is surprising to me is the lack of direction He is providing currently in my life. I still get God Nod’s or Nudges and confirmations in various parts of my life. But I am “stuck” currently with my direction. Am I volunteering in the right place? Am I in the right career? How can I help build His Kingdom where I am?

The lack of direction IS the direction. I am in the right place. I have a job to do where I am. Maybe I am here waiting for others to arrive. Maybe I am here to grow. Maybe I am here building something for His Kingdom that I do not quite see yet. My impatience is not important, His timeline is. Just because I feel “stuck” in a rut, or feel like I am in a season of insignificance – I have to remember – God makes no mistakes and He will not forsake or forget me. If He isn’t telling me where to be, it’s because I am where He wants me.

I have to stay obedient, connected, and content. I have to look for the lessons to learn, the people to love, and the opportunities to serve.

There is no waste in the wait.

Yes, I Will

This morning, in my quiet time, I started off feeling like a disappointment to God. I am pretty consistently in the word. And I listen to more sermons per week than I ever thought was humanly possible, via podcasts, church re-plays, and live in-person preaching. A constant theme in most of these messages is how important it is for me to be a disciple of Jesus. Which naturally, I equate to going out and saving souls, one at a time – but many is the goal. For any of you that know me well – you can imagine how uncomfortable that makes me.

Because one of my struggles in life is thinking that I am never good enough. Naturally, I start to feel like a failure because I am not walking door to door teaching strangers about Jesus. I don’t bombard the poor cashier at the grocery store with my personal revelations and try to insist he/she comes to my church and meets Jesus with me. I don’t stand on the street corner and quote scripture at the top of my lungs. I don’t make Jesus signs and stand on an overpass waving to people for hours every weekend. So – how in the world can I possibly be a good disciple. How can I be spreading the word of Jesus Christ and building God’s Kingdom?

“All you need to say is ‘Yes, I will’ or ‘No, I won’t’. Anything beyond this is from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37

That’s it? That’s it. Well that sounds easy but Yes to what? I believe, scratch that – I KNOW that if you are actively participating in a relationship with God you will experience the Holy Spirit. Now, I understand that if you have not recognized this experience yet – it sounds a little scary and images of being possessed by something swoop into your mind. That has not been my experience. For me, it happens with a very random thought that I often shove aside only for it to come back at a really weird and strangely appropriate time. Or I will think about someone that I haven’t seen in a while only to run into them later that same day. For me, I also experience strange affirmations where something very unlikely falls into place perfectly. Or, and this happens most often, I am struggling with a question and then I finally pray to God and ask for His help – and then like this morning – three randomly chosen scripture versus will combine to answer my question perfectly. This is my experience with the Holy Spirit.

Occasionally, those nudges or oddly random thoughts will take the shape of a request or a command. Like seeing that stranger and being compelled to strike up a conversation. So many times in my life I have shoved those opportunities away because it is painfully uncomfortable for me. But lately, I have taken a deep breath and obeyed the nudge. Not once have I been disappointed. There is always an obvious reason I was supposed to have that conversation. All I had to do is say, “Yes, I will”.

But how is that significant to building God’s Kingdom? Every single time I say “Yes”, God provides an opportunity to talk about Jesus in an authentic and organic way, lend a hand to someone in need, or make a connection that leads to a ‘next step’ in some way. Even if I never get a chance to lead that person directly to Jesus, take them to church, or share my testimony with them – I am able to be an example of Christianity and love them in a way that leaves an impression. Every single time.

And THIS is how I become His witness.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit is on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

So, while I admire the tenacity and passion of those who are called to be evangelistic disciple recruiters, the ones who save souls by the hundreds. That is not my journey and it is not my calling. I just have to learn to accept that. I have to learn to accept that my God makes no mistakes and I am His creation. I have to accept that my God will never take me to something He can’t help me through. I have to accept that His plan for me is unique to me – and I cannot live anyone else’s plan.

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Romans 14:12

And when I give my account to God – it will be a simple “I said yes”.

Side note — Why do you think we have to give an account to God? He obviously knows everything we did, didn’t do, and thought about doing. Is it like when your parents asked you about something you have done wrong – knowing you did it wrong – they were just giving you the opportunity to come clean? That doesn’t seem to be on character for God. Maybe it’s our final test. Maybe He wants to get our account to see if we “get it”. If we show up and start listing all of our “accomplishments” and none of them are what He called us to do… do we go to Door #1 – Salvation Only? But if my account is “I said yes” and I walked in the path He called me to, I like to believe I am going to be shown to Door #2 – God’s Favor.

Theologians – I am just having fun here, please do not send me theological corrections.

Politics Schmolitics

For those of you that know me personally, you know that I have no desire to debate politics with you, unless of course you are my oldest son. If you are my oldest son, I will debate politics with you – because we have very similar beliefs but my number one job as your father is to nurture you and prepare you for the world. If you can have a healthy and informed debate with me – you are ready for the world. But you are not him, I usually choose not to engage in those conversations. But today, God presented Romans 13:1 to me:

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Tomorrow is an important day in our country, and regardless of how you voted in the election – a new president, a new authority, will be sworn into office. It is very easy for us, as flesh in this fallen world, to succumb to the judgmental and divisive nature of this world. But as Christians, we know that we are to trust His plan and, most importantly love God and love others. I have seen far too many Christians spewing hate and rhetoric over the past few months. Some have even used the platform of their beliefs as a foundation of their hate.

I want to offer a different approach: trust God. You may never understand it, but His plan is great. Debate if you’re into that – but try doing with respect, humility, and a heart of a teacher. Try to learn the other side and teach without trying to demoralize the ‘opponent’. Pray for our Country. Pray for our world. Pray for each other. And even if it makes you uncomfortable – pray for the authorities that God has put in place. I’ll start:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your grace and patience with this troubled world. Thank you for caring enough about your children to place authorities in front of us to lead us and keep us from completely imploding. Thank you for President Trump’s service, especially during a time that nobody would have been able to navigate perfectly. Please give him more peace, love, and humility. Thank you for President Biden’s commitment to a job that nobody should want, a job that can never be done correctly in the eyes of the world. Please give him resolve, strength, love and a power to unite. Please let him be a leader that brings you glory. Thank you for a country that enjoys the freedoms that we do. Please bring peace and unity to our country – do not remove debate, as it is often a healthy way to grow – but please remove the hate and re-teach your children that we do not have to always agree to be united. We can disagree and live harmoniously. Help us follow Jesus’ example.

In His name I pray. Amen

What do I do?

So many times, as men, we define ourselves by the career we are in or what we do for a living. You can witness this by the very first question we ask each other upon introductions – “what do you do?” And that’s IF we weren’t introduced by our name quickly followed by our profession.

For years, I have struggled with not being enough. Not contributing enough. Being in a career that doesn’t really mean anything. And mostly because I have thought – “What good could my job POSSIBLY be doing to build God’s Kingdom”. I recently earned a promotion and in my new role I am less hands on and more on the planning side of our organization. The definition of “what I do” has literally changed over night. At first I struggled with this minor identity crisis. But as I prayed for answers and dug into the word it became very clear to me that none of that matters. Sure it affords me to pay my bills, and feed my family. So it is necessary – but it doesn’t matter WHAT I do. Instead, its very clear to me – after years of searching – that what matters is HOW I do it.

One’s work ethic, dependability, and propensity to do what is right (even when nobody is watching) are demonstrations of his/her character. Character is a testimony to one’s belief system. As a believer in Christ, it is my goal to model my behavior after Jesus. So HOW I do my job is the important part- not WHAT I do. So – What do I do? I represent Christ the best I can. I am not perfect but I am progressing.

Today – I am going to love God, love people and be the example that My Father expects me to be, even in meetings… even on conference calls… even when I have to deal with that difficult customer…. and even later when I have to do laundry. I won’t love doing laundry – but I will love God and Others… Nothing in the Bible says I have to love doing laundry – right?