“The truth shall set you free.”

Posted on May 1, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?
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“The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you.” —David Foster Wallace (Sugar coating the truth will keep you in bondage.)

Stop sugar coating “your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.” Instead let God renew you in the attitude of your mind and give you a new self. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

Continuous consumption of religious sugar often produces spiritual diabetics. Willingness to hear and embrace God’s truth spoken in love is the antidote. (Ephesians 4:15) High levels of religious sweetness are dangerous. Humbly receiving the truth free from sugar coating, is the cure.

Watering down the Bible is a deadly sin that many pastors and churches commit every week. It leads people into deception. It erodes the truth and makes Christians content with spiritual sugar water and religious diabetes instead of truth.

The living Lord Jesus is the truth. (John 14:6) He doesn’t need added religious sugar. You can experience Him directly. “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8) When the Bible is diluted with sweetness, the Spirit’s wonderful inner rivers of living water are ignored and rejected. (John 7:38)

God the Holy Spirit wants to show us our hidden sins. He wants to do more than forgive us. He wants to set us free from our sins, not to sugar coat them. (Matthew 1:21) He wants to fill us with the overflowing glory of Christ living in us. (Colossians 1:27) Will you let Him? (John 8:32)

Religious candy
Is very handy.
Just sit and hear
A sweet and dandy
Sermon in church
Once a week or so.
(James 1:22)

Sugar coated
Deception
Gets a great
Reception
From too many
Church attendees.
Let God’s Spirit
Mold your perception.
And give you His
Revelation.
(Matthew 7:15-20)

Highly sweetened
Christianity
Without repentance
From all your sins
Might make you smile
For a little while,
But it can’t carry
You mile after mile.
(Matthew 4:17)

Wooden sign with quote by David Foster Wallace about truth and freedom on a nature trail
A wooden sign with a thought-provoking David Foster Wallace quote on a lush forest path.
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Every Day’s A Holy Day For Me

Posted on April 30, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?
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I’m always needing
The direct leading
Of God the Spirit —
His inner voice,
I need to hear it
And to draw near it.
Deep within my soul.
I’m like a seedling.
In order to grow
I need God’s life flow
Rising within me.
He keeps me feeding
On His sweet presence.
Daily Bible reading
With a hungry heart
Helps me stay near Christ
Living inside me.

Photo by Anh Nguyen on Pexels.com
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Camping on the Mountain Top Rock of Truth

Posted on April 29, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
Have you ever been camping?
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“Speaking the Truth in Love”

The more that Christ-followers grow and learn to make Christ the present and literal Head and Leader of His body (not just a distant figurehead) the more Jesus promotes and empowers each member to build one another up in love. (Ephesians 4;15-16) Then they will no longer be “blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” (Ephesians 4:14)

Raging roaring river rapids remind me to release God’s Spirit to freely flow deep within and through me. (John 7:38-39) Out-of-the-traditional-church-box, Spirit-led Christianity is wonderful! I wish more people would open wide their heart to it!

Waiting on the Lord

God has arrived.
Jesus came as
Immanuel —
“God is with us.”
When crucified
Jesus arose
To live within
His followers
And be their Lord.
If Christ’s in you
Actively wait
And rely on
Him to prompt you
Throughout each day.
Train yourself to
Depend on Christ’s
Presence in you,
Not on your own
Ability.

Photo by Vasily Kotlyarov on Pexels.com
Posted in Christ in you, speaking the truth in love, spiritual growth, waiting on the Lord | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Peaceful Productivity

Posted on April 28, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
When do you feel most productive?
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I feel the most productive when I am motivated by peace instead of by pressure. That’s how I am able to avoid writer’s block and to write and post something creative almost every day. I do all that I can to live by and follow this advice:

Refuse to allow your problems, your frustrations, your pain, and your disappointments to pull you down and sink you into self-focus, (Luke 9:23) anxiety, (1 Peter 5:7)) and self-destructive thoughts. desires, and actions. Instead let them make you hunger and thirst for righteousness. (Matthew 5:6) Surrender to “Christ in you” (Colossians 1:27) and begin to be Spirit-led. (Romans 8:14)

Let all of your difficulties motivate you to continually cry out to, (Psalm 77:1) seek first, (Matthew 6:33) draw near to, (James 4:8) press toward, (Philippians 314) and rejoice in (Philippians 4:4) God, day and night. Then, little by little you will learn to ceaselessly trust in, (Proverbs 3:5-6) depend on, and rely on the God of hope who will make you overflow with hope by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Be still and listen inwardly to Jesus (John 10:27) as He says to you: ““Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-29) Let the risen Jesus Himself train you to continually experience His wonderful inner peace that is beyond human understanding. (Philippians 4:7)

Allow Christ to live inside of you (Romans 8:10-11) and to lead you from within by His Spirit (Galatians 5:16) in all that you think, say, and do. Then your gifting (Ephesians 4:11) will spontaneously manifest itself as you listen to and obey the resurrected Jesus Christ. (Matthew 4:19)

Sending people to war is disturbing the peace. Many people arrested for disturbing the peace were actually disturbing warmakers.

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A Focus That’s Deeper Than Any Emoji

Posted on April 27, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite emojis?
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In an ancient culture that focused on political leaders, money, sexual obsession, pleasure, pride, violence, power, alcohol, entertainment, and self-righteousness, a group of people in the Roman Empire found a different focus. They were so captivated by and committed to the living resurrected Jesus that: “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” (Acts 11:26)

The focus of the first believers in Jesus was so intense and so persistent that they were called Christ-ians. The suffix “ian” means “belonging to.” Since Christians were frequently being mocked, insulted, and persecuted, the name was most probably used in a derogatory way.

I knew a group of people like that once. They were so excited about the risen Christ that they couldn’t stop talking about Him. People called them Jesus Freaks. That term was also originally used as a way to insult people who were radically following the risen Jesus. However, both terms were eventually accepted as a compliment.

The Christians of the first century and the Jesus Freaks of the 1960s and 1970s were similar. Both were seeking, as their first priority, to be governed within by the kingdom of God the Father, (Matthew 6:33) to follow and obey Jesus as their absolute Lord and God, (John 20:27-28) and to be continually led by God the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:14)

That kind of focus on and radical obedience to the risen Jesus is rare and easy to overlook in the twenty-first century. But it still exists! Look beyond the proud people who use the name Christian but lack the character of Christ (John 14:15) and seldom demonstrate the fruit of His Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Look for people who are so focused on Jesus that they humbly spread His love, joy, peace, kindness, and presence everywhere they go. When you find people like that watch them and get to know them personally. Spend time with them. True “Christ”-“ianity” is caught by your heart. It’s not enough just to be taught about it.

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com
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Christian Unity

Posted on April 26, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What topics do you like to discuss?
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The Bible teaches that God doesn’t want the body of Christ to be divided and denominated (called) by different names. It says: “For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal?” (1 Corinthians 3:4 NKJ) It’s time for Christians to move beyond church and denomination names.

Christian unity cannot be achieved by trying to unite all Christians into one giant institution. It can only be experienced by heart-to-heart connection between believers. When Christ-followers gather to open their heart and be humbly led by God the Holy Spirit instead of by ritual, religious programs, and religious leaders, a deep sense of unity emerges. Try it and see!

Life Challenge

Contemplate
Jesus Christ
Until You
Radiate
His presence.
Refuse to
Alternate
Between Christ
And the world.
Let Jesus
Animate
All you do.

Posted in Christian community, Christian Denominations, Christian unity, ecumenical, unity of the Spirit | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Invisible Leader

Posted on April 25, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What topics do you like to discuss?
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There is an invisible leader who is much more reliable than any leader you can see with your eyes. His followers are able to hear His voice as He speaks in various ways. (John 10:27)

The Bible calls the invisible leader: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) This inner leader speaks through throughs, images, words, impressions, promptings, and even through the still small voice of your conscience. Those who are led by the inner voice of Christ’s Spirit are the children of God. (Romans 8:14)

What the invisible leader says will always align with what the writers of the Bible heard Him say. He won’t contradict what He taught them. When you feel like you are hearing Him, always confirm it by the Bible. Refuse to follow a counterfeit of His voice. (Acts 17:11)

As a newly born again follower of Jesus, I began reading the Bible. It burned in my heart. I spent hours absorbing it every day. I’ve read it almost every day since then.

When I was first reading the book of Acts, I noticed that God the Holy Spirit spoke directly to Peter, to Phillip, to Paul and to others. In frustration I asked God, “You spoke to people in the Bible, why aren’t You speaking today?”

Suddenly these words came to my mind. “The problem is not that I’m not speaking. It’s that you’re not listening.” Those words still burn within me (Luke 24:32) because they changed me. They caused me to begin to listen to and to learn to obey the inner teachings, leadings, and promptings of Christ in me.

The Invisible Leader is speaking to you as you are reading these words. Pause and listen to Him now. Take time throughout each day to notice what is going through your mind and your heart. Much of it is your own thinking. Some of it is the voice of temptation and deception. And some of it is God Himself speaking to you. Learn to discern the difference.

When God speaks to you — verify that it’s Him and then obey. The more you obey God, the more you will learn to recognize His voice as He speaks within you. The more you will connect heart-to-heart with Him and with other people who are also hearing and obeying His voice.

Since all true Christians have Christ the Invisible Leader, living within them and talking to them, we don’t need to be dependent on a mere human leader when we gather to worship. If we have the courage to allow Him to, Jesus will personally assemble our hearts together (Hebrews 10:24-25) as He is permitted to lead the meeting.

Here’s how Jesus wants to lead His followers when they meet together. It’s simple. He wants them all to listen for His inner voice and then for each person to say and do what He tells them to. (1 Corinthians 14:26)

You are invited to experience a Christ-led meeting that functions that way. It happens every Saturday morning at Chile Burrito, 330 Franklin Road, in Brentwood, TN 37207 at 8:30 am.

Diverse group sitting in a circle in a support group meeting with a glowing spiritual figure present
A diverse support group gathers in a circle, sharing and finding strength together.
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The Risk of Being Appreciative

Posted on April 24, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.
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To be genuinely appreciative of the good things in your life requires taking the risk of humility, openness, sensitivity, and vulnerability. It’s a risk I’m learning to take throughout each day. It’s a risk I’ve never regretted.

People celebrate
What they appreciate.
When was the last time
That you celebrated
What God has done for you
And is doing in you?

Daily routine
Is the screen
That blocks your eyes
From the surprise
Of Christ’s presence
That God tries
To show you
Throughout each day.

To celebrate is much more than making noise or attending a party. It is to allow your heart to sincerely, gratefully, and delightfully appreciate someone or something. Celebrate Jesus!

Let God continually update your heart and keep you aware of what Jesus is saying and doing in your life. Then celebration will ceaselessly flow from deep within you. True celebration isn’t dutiful. It’s delightful.

Small children like to spontaneously celebrate and appreciate being alive. If they can do that, the rest of us can too! (Matthew 18:3) Be more than a mere information processer. Seek out and embrace the awe, wonder, and joy of living. Sensitive your heart to the blessings in your life.

To endure life without appreciating its preciousness is to miss the point of why your heart is still beating. Life is full of amazing wonders, but you won’t celebrate them until you become open and vulnerable enough to notice them.

Throughout each day Jesus surprises me with delightful insights and remarkable revelations — so many aha moments to celebrate. He keeps my life so wonder-filled that I can’t stop celebrating Him! To celebrate Christ is to share joy everywhere.

Celebration requires no money. When I observe and contemplate the beauty of nature my heart begins to spontaneously celebrate. The more I gaze at the risen Jesus and allow Him to amaze me with His presence, the more I celebrate His gift of life.

Heartless festivity
Is fun activity,
But it always lacks
The sensitivity
Of true celebration.

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com
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I’ve Let Church Silence Me

Posted on April 23, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
Write about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently?
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I was trained to sit passively in church services. As a new Christ-follower Jesus was doing amazing things in my life and on my college campus during the Jesus movement. However, every time that I attended a church service I was required to passively sit and listen to one man preach. The pressure to be quiet was enormous so I complied.

Even today I can’t find a church service where the attendees are encouraged to share what God is doing in, around, and through them. The thing that I have done differently is to stop attending churches where the congregation isn’t allowed to share as God the Holy Spirit prompts them. Instead, I gather with my wife and with spiritually hungry people throughout the week to pray together and to encourage and minister to one another.

For too long Christianity has been seduced by the love of power. We’ve depended on positional power — having a controlling leader with an official title lead us when we come together for worship on Sunday. We’ve also looked to political power to make us happy during the week.

When a leader in the body of Christ lays down all love of power and begins to help Christians gather to humbly and openly experience the power of Spirit-produced and Spirit-activated love for one another, Jesus begins to amazingly demonstrate His presence in our midst. This happens when Christ-followers are allowed to assemble themselves together to freely “spur one another on to love and good deeds” and to encourage one another. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

When God the Holy Spirit is allowed to directly and personally lead and govern a gathering of Christ-followers by prompting individuals in the meeting to obey His inner voice, the kingdom of God begins to manifest in their midst. This happens as the people present let God strengthen them by His Spirit and allow Christ to literally dwell in their heart through faith (Ephesians 3:16) as they listen to Him speak within them and then do what He tells them to. (Romans 8:14)

Weigh your worries and you will see that they are too heavy for you to carry alone. Let the risen Jesus and your brothers and sisters in Christ help you. (1 Corinthians 14:26) Perhaps it is time to let the unseen Jesus, Himself, lead us when we come together to worship. (Mark 8:34)

Ungag church attendees. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!

If you are in the Nashville area, you can experience an ungagged gathering of Christians. We come together every Saturday morning at 8:30 at Chile Burrito in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Pastor speaking at podium to seated congregation wearing masks in church
A pastor delivering a sermon to a socially distanced, mask-wearing congregation in a modern church
Posted in church leadership, led by the Spirit, Quench not the Spirit, simple church, worship services | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Overcome Nervousness

Posted on April 22, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What makes you nervous?
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Learn to let faith fly like a kite in the wind of God’s Spirit blowing within you. (John 3:8) Let your trust in God rise higher and higher.

Faith is the defiance of self-focus. (Matthew 16:24) It is total reliance and dependence on God. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Faith is to exchange personal independence for unending compliance and alliance with God’s will. (Galatians 2:20) It is to continually surrender to the resplendence of “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” and to be daily led by His Spirit. (Romans 8:14)

Faith is so much more than mere religious belief. It is “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith without action is dead distraction from discipleship. (James 2:26) Let God the Holy Spirit train you throughout each day to “live by faith.” (Galatians 3:11) Learn to “walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Faith is something that you do as you interact with God. It’s not a formalized religious meeting.

How many sermons does it take before church members begin to fully embrace the faith to deny themselves, daily crucify their desires, and follow Jesus instead of their own feelings and opinions? (Luke 9:23) All the sermons in the world can’t do that because faith is a gift. The Holy Spirit produces faith in surrendered human hearts. It must be humbly and obediently asked for, received, inwardly cultivated within you, and put into consistent action throughout each day.

Red kite with Jesus Christ image flying in blue sky with clouds
A red kite featuring an image of Jesus flies high against a partly cloudy sky.
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