MANNA IN THE MORNING

I’m realizing more and more that being in any role of influence—whether as a parent, mentor, coach, or friend—isn’t about getting it all right. It’s about humility. It’s about owning it when I get it wrong and interceding for the ones who may feel the effects of my choices.

After the tragic failure of the first attempt to bring the Ark to Jerusalem (when Uzzah died for touching it), it’s shocking—to see David try again. This time, he does it God’s way. He consults the Law, appoints the Levites to carry the Ark properly, and organizes a full procession with singers, musicians, and worship leaders. David dances with all his might before the Lord, undignified but fully surrendered. May I be undignified for the Lord always.

God’s holiness is not casual and not always something I’ll fully understand. Uzza’s death shows the incredible gift we've been given that we can approach the Lord on our own terms, We are invited to come near with confidence. Even when I can’t make sense of His ways, I can trust that He is holy, good, and working all things for my good.

I kept wondering—would anyone else have caught the detail that David gave to both men and women? Why would that call out even be needed? Maybe because God doesn’t want anyone to miss the truth that His heart includes us all.

David didn’t assume yesterday’s victory meant today’s strategy. Twice in one chapter, he paused to inquire of the Lord. It challenges me to stop leaning on what worked last time and instead depend on God for fresh direction in every season.

Ever felt like a fugitive in your own life—running, cast out, or stuck in a season that feels nothing like God’s promises? While David was called a fugitive, God had already called him king. In the tension between current realities or labels and future promises hold onto the hope of what the Lord has promised.

I thought I had to move overseas to live “on mission.” Turns out, God had a different plan… right here at home. 🌎💙

Even when the Bible feels distant or hard to connect with, the truth is—we belong. We are children of the King. I love how just one familiar name in a long list reminds us: no matter where we start, how much we may or may not know the story of Christ is deeply personal. We are connected.

Ever notice Tamar’s name listed in David’s family line? None of the other daughters are mentioned—just her. Why would God highlight the most painful, broken part of the story? I couldn’t stop thinking about it today. Maybe it’s because God never hides the messy parts of our lives… He redeems them.

Ever felt like you were defined by where you came from, the choices you have made, or even the labels other people have put on you. In Christ, your identity is not circumstantial.

At first glance it looks like just another long list of names, but hidden inside is a reminder that God is intentional with every generation. Each name mattered. Each story carried weight. Just like the Israelites had to learn to depend on the Source in the wilderness, we are invited into daily dependence on Him—our lives, too, are part of His unfolding story.

Whether we know our biological parents and grandparents or we don’t—whether relationships are whole, estranged, or complicated—I love the reminder today that we belong to the Lord.