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Enjoying the Right Side of Life

October 15, 2026October 12, 2026 krisshetter

Originally published on April 29, 2024 as part of the Enjoy Life: From meaningless to meaningful series.

I’ve mentioned in past posts that I wasn’t raised in a Christian home. My father is, to this day, an atheist and my mom is, well just sort of lost. In my younger years, I would probably tell you I believed in God but I didn’t really know what that meant. God was the creator and He was still hanging around, I supposed. If I had died back then I would’ve had the same judgment as my father, I believe. Because just like my atheist father, I didn’t have God as the cornerstone of my life.

I hate to say it, but I talk to a lot of folks who seem to be in this same boat. They might even call themselves “Christian.” But dig a bit deeper and they don’t believe the basic tenets of the faith. Such as Jesus being fully man and fully God who died to cover our sins and make us righteous before God. Or that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. Without these basic truths to help us navigate through life what’s to keep them from wandering off the path? To avoid a life of foolhardy behavior and thinking? To be led by foolish teachers and pastors?

“Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.” Ecclesiastes 10:1-2

Back in the ancient world of King Solomon, the right hand represented the place of honor and power. The left hand (sorry lefties) represented weakness and even rejection. In this introduction to chapter 10 of Ecclesiastes, Solomon shines the light on our propensity to lean a bit too far into our personal temptations and sins. We give way to the left-hand side of life. Those sinful “flies in the ointment” create a life that looks a lot like one without knowing or trusting in God.

“Blessed is the man who has the God of Jacob for his Helper; he need not fear either want or pain, or death. The more you can realize this, the happier will you become; and the only means for so doing is to hold frequent communion with God in prayer. Get alone with Jesus, and He will comfort your hearts, and restore your weary souls.” Charles Spurgeon

Not only had I not put God as a cornerstone of my life I put so many other things and people there in His place. In Solomon’s words I put “fools in a high position” (Ecc 10:6). And wisdom? Let’s just say it wasn’t a top priority for me.

“The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.” Ecclesiastes 10:15

What a sad state to be in, as so many are today. Lost among well-travelled roads. Thinking they know the way to enjoying life to the fullest only to find themselves each morning back on the wrong side of a meaningful life.

I’ll make a confession to you. I started having sex when I was about 16 years old – sad to say that may be a bit old nowadays. By the time I met my future husband at age 22, I had been with more than 15 different men. The first few sexual relationships were ones I sometimes, still today, thank God that He didn’t allow me to become pregnant because I was also unprotected. During those years, something inside me knew what I was doing was wrong, but that didn’t stop me. I plowed ahead in my left-handed life.

Later, I even realized my behavior was born out of a need to seek love and acceptance. Instead, I usually received the exact opposite. Folly, folly, folly. And more wandering over the same roads.

My cornerstones, or my go-to experts, were like-minded travelers. Women’s liberation bullhorns, pro-abortionists, people who believed we deserved to do what we please, and others who scoffed at the religious right and their limiting “rules for life.” I was going to do what I wanted, with whom I wanted, and was going to be happy and successful.

Until I wasn’t.

As a person searching for a meaningful life, that younger me was bombarded by foolish rulers. College teachers who were all about living the life that was “true to yourself.” The people I worked with had no place for God and encouraged debauchery and folly. Even the pastor of the church, where I spent about 10 years as a new Christian, never talked about sin.

Now, as a Christ-centered Christian, it angers me that there are pastors who fall into these same categories. Their own lives and their teaching don’t reflect God as their cornerstone. They are ok with abortion – murdering the innocent. They are just fine with people having sex outside of marriage. With living immoral lives as long we know we are “loved” and “don’t judge.” They’re apparently reading from a different Bible than the one I have.

They are not leaders of the right-handed side of life. So when we consider whom or what we’ve made the cornerstone of our lives, we need to ask: Are they leading us toward wisdom, or simply taking us in circles along the same old paths?

Click here for Enjoying the Right Side of Life Part Two as we discover the path straight to love and joy.

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A Wisdom That Surprises

July 8, 2026July 7, 2026 krisshetter

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” – Proverbs 2:6

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”— Romans 11:33

Think back to the last difficult situation you were faced with. Or even the one approaching. The uncomfortable conversation with a boss or employee. The painful discussion you needed to have with your family member. The awkward topic you decided to broach with your friend. How much sleep did you lose over it? How much worrying did you do?

How much prayer time did you devote to it? And if you said to God, “I trust you to give me the right words and soften the other person’s heart,” did you then go back to worrying about it?

Or how about this: You prayed, you trusted and you saw God do something amazing. Something you never expected. A third option from the terrible two you had only seen available.

Asking for Wisdom

I’m working on this concept constantly these days. Before going into situations that make me uncomfortable or ones where I might make a fool of myself (of which there seems to be many!) I’ve started praying for the Holy Spirit to give me wisdom. And to help me to know when to keep my mouth shut.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” — James 1:5

James was spot on when he wrote this Holy inspired advice. If you don’t know, ask God, who gives us wisdom. He gives us that wisdom from His ever-flowing fount of His own wisdom. A wisdom unmatched by any human being ever to have lived. He gave Solomon his renowned wisdom simply because he asked for it.

“And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.” — 1 Kings 3:28

King Solomon’s subjects stood in amazement at his ability to resolve difficult situations. His notable decision between two women claiming the same child revealed truth through an unexpected solution. He decreed the baby would be cut in half and each piece given to each woman. The real mother gave up her right to the child so the son would live. She pleaded for his life. Which told everyone to whom the child truly belonged.

Jesus’ Third Way

I’ve read that this type of resolution is called the “third way.” I warn you if you look up that term you’ll find some wacky political ideas and unfortunate progressive Christian theories. But hidden amongst those is Jesus’ “third way.”

What I mean by that is on at least four occasions Jesus was given an either/or question and he answered with a better, third option. For example, in John 8, when the Pharisees presented the woman accused of adultery to Jesus, He was tasked with deciding to stone her or let her go. It was a trap designed to reveal Jesus’ rejection of Moses’ law. Instead, Jesus exposed their hypocrisy.

“And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

It all ends with the men leaving in shame and Jesus forgiving the woman’s sin. He tells her, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”

Jesus reveals His “third way” wisdom when asked about taxes to Caeser, the healing on the Sabbath, the man born blind and more. His wisdom is shown in all its glory. Options, which after hearing about them, seem so simple. Yet how often does God’s wisdom surprise us?

Weak vs Powerful Wisdom

We often quote Proverbs 3:7 – Do not be wise in your own eyes – yet we fall back on our own weak wisdom almost daily. We forget to go to the fount and drink deeply. We miss the opportunity to see God at work in miraculous ways.

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” — 1 Corinthians 1:25

Throughout the Bible and even in our own lives, we witness weak, apparently ineffectual people being used to further God’s kingdom. David, the tiny son, chosen to lead a nation. Peter, the brash and excitable fisherman, who God calls as His rock on which to build the church. You and me – average people with average skills and influence who regularly make bad decisions – tasked to spread the Gospel.

How can this system ever be successful? Because God is the engine. His wisdom is the power source that lights up our conversations and opens hearts and minds.

That’s the Apostle Paul’s encouragement to the people of the Colossian church when he writes:

“…that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” — Colossians 2:2-3

Because of God’s wisdom, power and authority the Word of God comes alive and knits us together. His wisdom resolves conflict, distress and pain in our relationships. How can we not plug into that daily?

Trusting in Jesus is our third way wisdom. In our churches, Bible studies, home groups, communities etc, putting our allegiance to Jesus first. Loving each other despite our other differences and watching God work miraculously in each of us.

He Knows Better

Friends, my dad would constantly get stuck fretting over situations because he felt the need and burden to come up with the answers all by himself. I once tried convincing him to go to marriage counseling. He replied, “I know what the problem is already and your mom won’t go.” To which I replied, “You only know the solutions your limited thinking can come up with. Someone outside the situation with wisdom and experience will probably give you a better solution.”

But like so many of us, he just couldn’t get past being wise in his own eyes. And his married life continued to be a source of pain until the day he died. We do the same when we come up with our plan then maybe ask God to make sure it works. To pray that God fixes our difficult person the way we want them fixed.

Let’s make a commitment to trust that God is so much wiser than us. To pray for wisdom be given to us from His great fount. And sit back and watch His miracles and mysteries unfold.

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” — Revelation 7:12

Did you miss a 30 Days of Reverence post? Click here to see all of the ways we can revere our God and Savior!

Want more of God’s wisdom? Check out my series, 31 Days of God’s Wisdom today!

City in mountain valley at sunset with river and sun rays

Resting In God’s Sovereignty

June 26, 2026June 26, 2026 krisshetter

“He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;” Daniel 2:21

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1

As I write this my 2026 primary election voting information guide sits nearby. It lists 61 candidates for governor of California. Yes, 61. By the time you read this, the top two candidates will have been decided.

There was a time that I would fret over and engross myself in the politics of elections. I don’t find myself doing that anymore. Partially because our voting process in my state has become corrupted. But mostly because I realize the limited power I have in the outcome. I vote and encourage others to vote. In the end, I rest on the truth of one of God’s most important characteristics – His sovereignty.

El Elyon

“And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Genesis 14:20

That “God Most High” translates to “El Elyon.” It means the God over all rulers and authorities. There is no one higher up. No other supervisor to move your request or complaint to. He is it.

It wasn’t until I completed Kay Arthur’s, “Lord, I Want To Know You” study on the names of God that I fully grasped what it means for God to be sovereign. Soon after, I was engrossed in a Precept study of Isaiah. In that book you come upon scripture that says things like, “Go tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes.” (Isaiah 6:9-10)

Which left me wondering why God would close the eyes and ears of certain people. He did the same with Pharaoh and I suspect with a few of Jesus’ friends, the Pharisees. He does the same still today.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8

And there was my answer. If I bow down to the Sovereign Lord, I must accept that He sees the greater, better plan. He is moving pieces on the board I can’t even see. For reasons which may only be revealed after I am long gone from this life.

He Chooses Leaders

The other aspect of this was found in another Isaiah passage: “who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Let its foundations be laid.”’Isaiah 44:28

Why was this important? Because Isaiah wrote God’s words about Cyrus around 160 years before Cyrus was even known to the Israelites. About 130 years before he was even born!

We read the same prophecies of future kings, military leaders and other rulers throughout the book of Daniel and the prophets. God firmly establishes His role as the Most High God who is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. (Daniel 4:25)

So back to the election. Of course, I want to see a person in my state capitol who loves the Lord. Who obeys the will of the people. Who wants to make life for its citizens better, not repressive. I also know that God will place whomever He chooses in the governor’s seat.

His Will Be Done

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

He will use every means to bring about His purposes. Unfortunately, my state is ruled with an iron fist by unbelievers. So, I have come to the acceptance that the voters may get exactly who they want– someone who institutes God’s punishment, whether he or she realizes it or not.

As believers, our place in this increasingly foreign world is not to be paralyzed by our pagan governments. We are to pray for God’s mercy. We pray for repentance of our people. We continue to do God’s will by sharing the Gospel, in some cases under the threat of death or imprisonment.

Just last year after completing that Isaiah study, I started praying for my federal, state, and local leaders. I pray they will bend their will to God. That they would know the One True God. And I pray they would repent and ask for mercy.

We can be bold in our faith in a faithless community because we understand and fully accept that God’s Will, will in fact be done.

Yes, we acknowledge that even weak, ineffective, greedy, ruthless, leaders hold their place because God has allowed them to. It’s not hard to look around and answer the “why?” One need only read of the Israelites constant acceptance of sinful leaders during their own times of disobedience to God. The world’s countries are now filled to the brim with unbelievers seeking their own will.

The Final Word

But Friends, there is a caveat to Romans 13. Let’s not forget Acts 5:29 when the apostles declared: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” How is that the standard? By remembering who is the final authority over all rulers; where the buck actually stops. God.

So for those of you in the United States, as we enter yet another election season do not fear. If the outcome isn’t what you hoped, we can know who really is in charge. And those of you under repressive governments I pray for God to open the eyes and hearts of the people. For a groundswell of the faithful to spread God’s truth.

His rule and reign will one day become evident to all. And every single knee will bow to the Sovereign King.

“For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” Romans 11:36

Did you miss a blog post in the 30 Days of Reverence series? Check out the series page by clicking here!

Wooden cross on rocky cliff by stormy sea at sunset

The Righteous Judge and the Gracious Savior

June 17, 2026April 20, 2026 krisshetter

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.” Jeremiah 23:5-6

^“God made him who had no sin to be sinfor us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Fair play, unselfishness, courage, good faith, honesty, truthfulness, and a respect for human life—what do these have in common? For centuries, many called them the Laws of Nature. Today we’re more likely to file them under “human nature” or “the moral law.” And they often become a stumbling block in conversations with atheists: when you ask where “right” and “wrong” come from, the reply is, “Everyone knows what’s right or wrong!” I suspect people who stop there haven’t thought very deeply about the question.

Not everyone knows how to fix a car engine by simply “knowing.” I can’t walk into an operating room and perform brain surgery—yet we often assume we can define morality without reference to its Creator. You and I can list skills we do and don’t have; some overlap, others don’t. I’m terrible at math and good at writing. My friend is the polar opposite.

Universal Morals

Why do we universally condemn lying, cheating, and murder? Why do we instinctively admire courage and honesty? And why do we sense those virtues aren’t just preferences, but standards we ought to live up to?

“You find out more about God from the Moral Law than from the universe in general just as you find out more about a man by listening to his conversation than by looking at a house he has built…we can conclude that the Being behind the universe is intensely interested in right conduct.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Deep thinking isn’t exactly the “in thing” these days. Our attention is shaped by ten‑second videos and endless scrolling. But let’s slow down for a moment and consider where this human hunger for righteousness comes from.

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.” – Psalms 89:14

When God created the earth and called it good—very good—he set the standard for what “good” means. He is perfect in righteousness. Imagine there were only one potter in the entire world—and there would only ever be one. Every pot, plate, cup, or vase he makes, he declares perfect, without defect. Who would we be to dispute him? He alone makes pottery; he alone knows it.

But if you’re honest, you’re already imagining an imperfect pot—some blemish the potter “must have” missed. The unskilled, non‑potter quietly assumes he knows better than the expert. Isn’t that what we so often do with God? And isn’t that why we’ve drifted from moral laws that were once widely recognized—broken, yes, but still acknowledged as real and good? Instead, we increasingly encounter what Scripture describes: “those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20). In modern terms, we call that being “gaslighted.”

Our Touchstone

When we pretend there is no Creator, we can also pretend there is no touchstone for righteousness. We can flip morality on its head. We can treat human life as disposable. But in the end, there is no escaping the truth so many try to avoid: God is the standard of perfection and righteousness.

That truth is also what separates us from Him. Sin bends our hearts toward pride—toward living beyond the gifts God has given us. We’re told, “Who are you to judge?” Our answer should be, “We won’t—but he will.”

“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.– James 4:12

And friends, here is the beauty of the gospel—the love behind it, and the reason God sent his only Son. He knows the truth behind Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount:

“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20

Oh, those “righteous” Pharisees. On the outside they worked hard to clean up their acts and appear holy. On the inside, they were soiled—just like us. They refused (and many still refuse) to see that the only way to stand before a perfect God is for God Himself to provide the sacrifice for our sins. Only through Him—the true standard of righteousness—can we be clothed in white.

The moral law, written on our hearts, isn’t something dreamed up by a politician, preacher, or parent. It is God’s imprint on our hearts and minds—a direct reflection of who He is. And He is very, very good.

“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” – Deuteronomy 32:4

Fragmented wooden statue head and limbs in desert sand under cloudy sky with sun rays

The Lord in the Midst of You

May 29, 2026April 12, 2026 krisshetter

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!” 1 Kings 8:27

“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:20

A quick look up on Wikipedia will inform you that the Egyptians at one point had 17 gods of war. When one Egyptian city went out to battle another, they brought their gods to fight alongside them. When the Assyrians and Babylonians came up against Israel, they too carried their idols on the backs of slaves. Assured that with their gods in their physical midst the battle would be theirs. Yet when Moses and Joshua faced the fierce Amalekites all they had was Moses’ arms. But was that all they truly had?

“And he called the place Massahand Meribahbecause the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Exodus 17:7

This verse sits just prior to the story of the great battle against the Amalekites. The Israelites once again, believed God had left them without food or water. The LORD told Moses to strike the rock so that water would flow freely from it. Afterwards, we find Moses naming the place as he so often did, when God performed a miracle. I would imagine their question, “Is the Lord among us or not?” caused God to further show His omnipresent state with the ensuing battle. The Israelites didn’t need an idol carried into battle, they only needed hands lifted to Him.

All throughout the ancient world idol worshippers felt compelled to have an object on their person or in their household in order to be in the presence of the gods. But I love this (long) piece of scripture from Isaiah mocking this concept:

“He (the carpenter) cut down cedars,
    or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
    or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.
It is used as fuel for burning;
    some of it he takes and warms himself,
    he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships it;
    he makes an idol and bows down to it.
Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
    over it he prepares his meal,
    he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
    “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.”
From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.
He prays to it and says,
    “Save me! You are my god!” Isaiah 44:14-17

And yet, modern “spiritual” people still do the same with beads, rocks, and stones. If you wear a special bead bracelet then you are protected by some sort of god or spiritual being. A bracelet probably made in China by child labor. I prefer the God who is omnipresent like the one Paul describes here:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Colossians 1:15-20

This God is everywhere with us at all times, throughout all time. We don’t need to conjure up some spirit out of our craftsmen’s hands. We, through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, have the Holy Spirit living in each believer. We are His temple, His dwelling place. Wherever we go, He goes.

There are so many other beautiful truths about God’s omnipresence in the Bible but this Psalm is a standout to bring the point home.

"Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:7-10

I want to be held fast while in my car, in my bed, on a plane, in the presence of believers and non-believers. And knowing that He sees me everywhere should also hold my feet to the fire to remember to whom I belong.

“Can a man hide himself in hiding places so I do not see him?” declares the Lord. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:24

For the believer in the western world, we can easily forget that we need this God to be with us throughout our days. But think about the believers in hostile lands such as Egypt, Somalia, Nigeria, North Korea, and unfortunately too many other places. Even without a Bible in their hands, they can know the truth, that God is with them. God the Father was with the more than 20 Nigerian Christians slaughtered by Islamic terrorists over Easter. Now they are with Him in His arms for all eternity.

Friends, may we never face the terror some of our brothers and sisters face in defense of our Savior. What we more likely face each day is the clash of cultures. We face decisions to stand up for our faith or be ridiculed. I pray each time you do, you remember the LORD is in the midst of you. He is with you always.

Sun setting over calm ocean with dark storm clouds, rain, and lightning

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Before the Omnipotent God

May 27, 2026April 11, 2026 krisshetter

“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.” Psalms 107:29

“He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” Matthew 8:26

I read there are 365 instances of the phrase “fear not” in the Bible. I would venture to say they all come from the mouth of either angels, Jesus or God the Father. The visitations of heavenly beings were not cherub-like, Hallmark babies with wings. No, their awe-inspiring sight led prophets such as Isaiah to proclaim:

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Isaiah 6:5

In other words, he was scared witless. So frightened by the sight of El Shaddai, the LORD Almighty, our omnipotent God, that it brought Isaiah to deep conviction of his sin and unworthiness before Him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone holding a Precious Moments angel and be brought to that state of mind.

He Rules and Reigns

“He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:21

God’s omnipotence is not limited to personal encounters— He governs all of history. In the book of Daniel we see the almighty God at work throughout the visions and events. We are reminded that kings, rulers, presidents, etc, are only in their positions because God alone allows it. He uses all of them for His plan and purposes. So much so that Isaiah also gave us these words from God: “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

It’s not just governments that are under El Shaddai’s rule. As we read in the opening verses, all nature is under His command. We are to “fear not” when faced with disasters. That seems like a difficult task, doesn’t it? We have the benefit of looking back over the “men in the boat” scriptures from Matthew and Mark. But the disciples did not. They were in the boat, in the moment, in the storm. And they were terrified, especially thinking Jesus couldn’t care any less. They discovered He was fully in control of nature at all times.

He Can and He Will

When disaster strikes, fear whispers the same lie: either God cannot help, or He will not. This is why remembering God’s character matters. He is Creator and Deliverer. He loves us. He sees our needs—even when His ways are beyond our understanding. He is all‑powerful.

“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’” – Revelation 5:11-12

Friends, if we could honor God’s omnipotence with fear and trembling like the angels and so many of the saints in the Bible we would be strengthened daily. From Mary Magdalene to Abraham and Philip to Elijah they dropped to their knees in amazement, wonder and a bit of fear. Our God is not the god of the Wizard of Oz – an old man hiding behind a curtain using man-made efforts to control the world. The God we trust and believe need only speak or just breathe and the world obeys.

While we may not all have the benefit of a visitation like Cornelius or Joseph, we can see His power and might daily in His Creation. We can read and believe of the work He has done, is doing and will bring to completion in the final times when He comes in all His glory.

“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.” Revelation 19:6

We’re about halfway through our 30 days of Reverence! If you missed a post, click here! Be sure to follow the blog to receive your post in your email.

Antique brass balance scale with metal weights on one side and a stone heart on the other

God Is Just—So We Can Forgive

May 15, 2026May 13, 2026 krisshetter

“Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.” – Proverbs 29:26

“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” – Romans 12:19

Back in 2009, 14-year old Amber Dubois disappeared walking to school one morning in a town to the north of me. There were few clues as to her whereabouts. She was even considered by some in law enforcement to have been a runaway. But in less than a year, another teenager, Chelsea King, a 17-year old from an even closer town, disappeared while on a training run. Many of us joined search parties that seemed to last for days. Chelsea’s brutal killer was finally captured when, while evading police, he sat down for a meal at a local Mexican restaurant. The waitress recognized him from news reports as a person of interest.

Thankfully for Amber’s mother, Chelsea’s murderer confessed to both killings and revealed Amber’s location. A story that all too often happens across the world today. Young women brutalized and left for dead by evil people.

I share this story because when the killer was brought before the courts both sets of parents shared something which shocked many. Something that without knowing a just God would be difficult to accept.

“I got the answers about her last moments that I wanted … I forgave him because I had another daughter to raise, and if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to live,” said Amber’s mother, Carrie Cave. But it wasn’t only her who forgave the man, Chelsea’s parents did as well.

Limits To Forgiveness?

About a year later while I was in a church home group, we discussed the Christian idea of forgiveness. These terrible murders became the topic. One member stated emphatically, “I think they’re lying (the parents). There is absolutely no way they can or I could forgive that man. Ever.” Yet Jesus, while bleeding and beaten, in agonizing pain on the cross looked down at His tormentors and murders and pleaded with God.

“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” — Luke 23:34

So how is it that as believers we can forgive the slights, the maliciousness, the cruel or even the evil done to us or those we love? How can we forgive when we have been wronged by a friend, a spouse or family member? We forgive because we should know in our hearts that God is just. He has forgiven us all our slights and taunts and disrespect we have done to Him because a sacrifice was made in our place. We aren’t forgiven without a penalty being wrought.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” – Galatians 6:7

When we forgive, we say two things to God: 1) thank you for forgiving me my sins and 2) I trust that justice will be done. That what a man sows, he will reap. Throughout the Old Testament we see God’s justice in the sacrifices and penance of the Jews. We do wrong, and someone must pay. Our bull escapes and injures someone so He created the penance needed for restoration.

He never asks us to seek vengeance. He reminds us that vengeance is God’s and His alone. Even the death penalty for committing murder was to first be proven by three witnesses beyond reproach. And the subsequent death for the offender was not to be seen as our justice, but God’s. A purposeful death of one of His own requires the ultimate payment. And forgiveness towards that person on our part never meant excusing evil or removing legal consequences.

All Will Be Judged

One day everyone will stand before God and our lives taken into account. It’s not “kharma” or some tit for tat. If we accept the blood shed for us by Jesus as our covering for sins, our names are written into the Book of Life. If we don’t there’s only one other path – hell. We can argue as to what that might look like for different people, but I can guarantee that it’s not any place we want to be.

Friends, the world’s sense of justice and forgiveness, especially that which we’ve seen emerge in the last 15 years or so, doesn’t really look much like God’s justice. That’s because we are all first children of the evil one, led astray to do works against God’s plan. Black, white, brown, male, female, rich or poor – all of us were dead in our trespasses against Him. All of us were lined up for wrath.

I once slogged my way through Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s, “The Cost of Discipleship.” For much of it you find yourself in a deep study of Jesus’ words on the Sermon on the Mount. With each chapter I would become a bit despondent. Because to truly follow Jesus’ words would be impossible. Just like following the 10 Commandments convicted the Israelites. Bonhoeffer says in his book:

“When we come before God with hearts full of contempt and unreconciled with our neighbors, we are individually and as a congregation worshipping an idol.”

You see without a full and complete submission to our Lord Jesus Christ our lives are filled with unjust, evil thoughts and works. New “social justice” says only the rich or the white man, the straight person or the Christian, commits atrocities and therefore must be punished. But God says we all deserve death. His standard of righteousness and justice is higher than any of ours. Completely unattainable on our own. His mercy towards us in our failures isn’t pretending sin didn’t happen; justice is dealt with by God at the cross or at His judgement seat.

So, when as Christians we say, as the one home group member stated so proudly, we can never forgive someone, how should God then view us if He is a God of justice? When we say the Lord’s prayer do we really believe it? That God will mete out justice to those who not only haven’t sought forgiveness from our Righteous God but also refuse to pass on the forgiveness we have been gifted?

“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.” — Matthew 6:9-15

A Full Life or A Life Full of Bitterness?

The murder of someone I cherish is something I hope to never experience. Because I know if I do, I’ll be faced with this difficult question. Will I accept that God’s justice is all I need to forgive? As Amber’s mom so rightly pointed out, we need to forgive or else we cannot fully live. And Bonhoeffer says we then worship something other than God.

The unbeliever blinks at us in confusion, thinking we aren’t in pain over what someone has done to us because we forgive. We, however, know God has already forgiven us much and the justice we so crave, if needed one day, will find it at the foot of God’s throne.

“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” – Revelation 21:4

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.” – Psalms 89:14

Snowy mountain peaks reflected in a calm alpine lake during a dramatic sunrise.

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The Unchanging God in a Changing World

May 6, 2026April 10, 2026 krisshetter

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

A few years ago, my Bible Study Girls were asked to create a faith growth chart. We were to mark where we thought our faith was at say 5-10 years ago and then where it was at the time of the study. As we shared our charts it was great to see that all of us felt we had grown in our faith lives. We also all showed times where we plateaued. As Christians, we call this being sanctified by God. We were justified with God when we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are currently being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. And one day we will be glorified when we see Christ again. That’s Christian growth.

Our lives, believers or not, are filled with changes. Changes in our bodies, beliefs, relationships, financial situations and more. We are reflections of all of God’s creations – we are born, we live and one day we die. Returned to the dust. In this way we are wholly divergent from our Creator. A Creator who is immutable, never changing.

“Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.” Psalm 102:25-27

Progressive Teaching vs Biblical Teaching

Liberal thinking, in politics, religion and society, is that everything changes. Everything grows above and beyond yesteryear. That thinking gives us “progressivism.” Liberal pastors and bible teachers believe the Bible is a dusty book with old fashioned rules and ways of living. They pick and choose what us “modern believers” should follow as we become more advanced. But in holding to that interpretation they also have to believe that God is ever changing. Which the Bible makes clear He is not.

God doesn’t change His mind. Why? Because He is omnipotent and therefore already had all the information needed to form His thoughts. God doesn’t seek to improve because that implies He wasn’t perfect to begin with. God doesn’t have a growth chart – He is beyond time.

“The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand forever.” Isaiah 40:10

So while King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3 accurately shows there’s a season for everything — life and death, joy and sadness, and a time to be born and a time to die — God does not exist by those constraints. And for that we should be eternally grateful.

A Steady Hand

For much of my life I was waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. In other words, when things were good, I just knew they’d take a turn for the worse. Unfortunately, when things were bad I just figured they’d also get worse. As my faith chart has soared, I can rest in the truths of God’s Word. He has a plan for us for all eternity, and it is good. He won’t pull a rug out from under me. He is the Rock I can count on. His truth is something to which we can hold fast. Let’s remember the words written about 3,000 years ago: “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Ps 100:5)

We look around us and can believe things seem so much worse than “before.” We look in the mirror and see new lines and wrinkles. The seasons outside our windows come and go. Instead of despair we can look to the immutable God and see a steady hand guiding us to something better. A hope that we should pray all those whom we love would have. We build our life on His steady hill so as storms come and go, we are not rocked or defeated.

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Friends, His Word is true, good and never changing. While culture may have been different in biblical times, man’s propensity to sin carries on for thousands upon thousands of years. There’s scripture that says something like, nothing has happened to you that hasn’t happened already to someone else. It’s good to remember that because then we can look to God and see just how He has always wanted the situation resolved. The answers were carved in stone, then papyrus, then on a printing press, and now in our hearts. The same words of the Old Testament were read by Jesus. And His words by believers almost 2,000 years ago.

We don’t need a “new word” or a shiny new god. We need to rest in and believe the everlasting, unchanging God who rules the world with wisdom, grace and justice.

Everlasting (Psalm 90) by Sovereign Grace Music

O God, before the mountains were brought forth
Or days of spring and summer filled the earth
From everlasting, You are God

We dwell beneath the stars in ancient skies
A thousand years are nothing in Your sight
From everlasting, You are God

And all our days are held within Your hands
Your perfect love and favor have no end
We rest within the wisdom of Your plan
Everlasting God

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The unwinnable war America’s Founding Fathers fought and won changed human history forever

July 6, 2025 krisshetter

Thomas Jefferson’s powerful words ignited a global transformation from tyranny to liberty that continues today

By John Coleman

Reprinted from https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/unwinnable-war-americas-founding-fathers-fought-won-changed-human-history-forever

Two hundred and forty-nine years ago, 56 men met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia to commit treason against the most powerful empire on Earth.

Representing 13 colonies of that empire, these men – a mix of landowners, entrepreneurs, politicians and others – had become enamored with a new set of ideas flowing from enlightenment thinkers and Christian teaching. Those convictions led them to start a war no sane person believed they could win.

Remember what government looked like back then. We now live in the world those 56 men created – a world in which even dictatorships like North Korea cloak themselves in the language of “republic.”

But in 1776, freedom, equality and self-governance were nascent concepts espoused by philosophers and adopted only incompletely in a few small enclaves. The vast majority of countries in the world were hereditary monarchies and empires under which equal rights and individual liberty were not contemplated. The Founders’ fight seemed incomprehensible.

In launching it, the Second Continental Congress largely tasked one man – Thomas Jefferson – with drafting the document that would articulate their vision for humanity and this new country and reshape history.

Imagine how he must have felt. Jefferson secluded himself from June 11 to June 28 in a rented home on Market Street to draft the document. He was 33 years old at the time. In isolation in that rented townhome he drafted what I think is one of the most beautiful passages in history:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Read it again. Read it as if you were living under a Spanish colony in South America or under the iron fist of the Qing dynasty in China. Read it as if you were a poor tenant farmer under the oppressive rule of King George in Virginia or an enslaved person in Georgia (whose freedom under the principles of the Declaration was still decades away).

Read it as if you grew up in a system that assumed you were worth less than your neighbor by virtue of your social station, and under which your future was limited by the circumstances of your birth.

The Declaration was, in fact, a “revolutionary” statement articulating the ideological and factual basis for a coup against empire. But spiritually, it was more important than that.

It was a revolution against history. It was a revolution against the idea that some men (and women) are worth more than others. It was a revolution for the idea of dignity, human rights, and equality before law.

And when Jefferson submitted his document to the Congress, and those 56 men signed it and shipped it off to King George and to others rulers around the world, they ignited a war in the America colonies that would become a centuries-long war to transform the globe from tyranny to liberty.

READ: THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

War they got. Five of the signers were captured, tortured and killed. Nine died from wounds or hardships fighting in the war. All were impacted – raked by violence, their homes and property ravaged, their children thrust into the violence they created. They starved. They lost battles.

They must have wondered if it was worth it – these ideals that had caused them to plunge a nation into violence. And then, unexpectedly, they won.

In creating America, those Founding Fathers reshaped history. We now live in a world in which nearly half of countries are democracies. The combination of political freedom, free markets and the technological innovation unleashed by those systems has lifted billions of people out of poverty – creating a world more than 100 times richer than the one that existed at the time of the Declaration of Independence.

The dominant ideology now globally is the one articulated in the Declaration. And the revolution in America has become a revolution in human history.

This weekend in the United States we celebrate Independence Day. We celebrate 56 men who risked everything. But we also solemnly reflect on the charge of the Declaration and its authors.

All people are created equal. We are all endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights. Each of us deserves life, liberty, and the ability to pursue our own unique paths to flourishing. But those inalienable rights are not guaranteed. As our forebears, we are called to embrace and fight for them.

Abraham Lincoln once noted that great men “thirst and burn for distinction” and will have it, “whether at the expense of emancipating slaves, or enslaving free men.” And around the world the powers that oppose liberty, dignity and opportunity fight ceaselessly to dominate others.

May we, on this Independence Day, fight back. May we have the audacity and conviction to oppose the enemies of liberty and to continue to fight for the promise of the Declaration and America’s spiritual foundation. May we do so out of love – for our neighbors and for the blessings of the Creator. And may we gain courage from the example of those 56 men, their hundreds of thousands of compatriots, and the unwinnable war they won. Happy Independence Day.

Tasting God’s Goodness

April 21, 2025April 17, 2025 krisshetter

"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." 1 Peter 2:1-3

When out walking the other day, I was contemplating the good gifts of God. Gifts in which I yearn to be wrapped daily. Peace, love and joy are a few that spring to mind. Weirdly enough this pondering made me think of southern buttermilk biscuits. Yes, biscuits.

For the past, I don’t know, 20 years or so I’ve been on this quiet pilgrimage to make and eat the perfect buttermilk biscuit. A good spicy, pork gravy on top isn’t so bad either. But that elusive biscuit keeps calling my name. I’ve tasted many a biscuit from California to South Carolina and Texas to Missouri. A few biscuits found their way onto my plate in Louisiana and Georgia. None have met my dreams and expectations.

I’ve made a number of attempts to make such a mythical biscuit. I’ve even come pretty close with a famous lifestyle influencer’s recipe. The process, which took a few days, included chilling various ingredients, grating butter, and what seems to be the most important part, carefully yet not over handling the rolling and cutting of the dough. My neighbors were gifted much of my last batch which met with mouthwatering approval.

Yearning for Goodness

So here we are, wondering what biscuits have to do with God’s gifts? Well, let’s back up a bit. In our sanctification journey we’ve looked at the importance of knowing who God is, who we are in God, and knowing God’s character and promises. Then we took on the challenge of how trials take us down bumpy roads. Yet, they lead us to greater trust in how all that knowledge comes together for our good. This week we’re cooking up ways to live the life we yearn for each day.

So, let’s start this week with a question: What do you most want out of your short life here on earth? What do you yearn for each day you wake?

In the July 24, 2023 edition of CNBC’s “Make It,” therapist Charlotte Weber wrote of the nine things people want most in life.

To be loved
To be understood
To have power
To have and give attention
To have freedom
To create
To belong
To win
To connect

If you answered my questions with yearnings such as a desire for marriage, children, money, or even the perfect biscuit, you could probably attribute any of those with something on Ms. Weber’s list. But here’s the thing, her ingredients to attaining those nine desires are all temporary. A spouse who loves you, a friend who understands, a situation where you have power and win. Getting attention and belonging may last for a day, a month or a season. And freedom? From what? There are rules everywhere we go! None of these ingredients are bad or even frowned upon by God. But they are temporary fixes.

My biscuit journey made me realize we make commitments large and small to the things of this world for which we yearn. I had to submit to the rules of biscuit making. And if I plan to fulfill my goal, I need to be obedient to that cause.

Recipe For Tasting God’s Goodness

I want to give you a recipe for the big life goals Ms. Weber revealed which, when followed, last throughout eternity. You’re probably not going to like it. But it’s a recipe that been tested for literally thousands of years and those who have tasted it all agree it is good. You might have guessed it — submission and obedience to God.

"As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16

Let’s be honest, when anyone talks about obedience and submission a little red flag goes up in our mind. Unfortunately, so many Christian teachers and pastors these days seem to blame our lack of obedience to the Lord on our western culture. Here’s a Bible pro-tip: humans have struggled with obedience since the third chapter of Genesis. We need to stop blaming modern culture and realize it’s a human problem that spans all time and location. The Israelites didn’t live in western culture yet I recall a few times where they had kings that “did evil in the sight of the LORD” and were found very wanting.

We do, however, love to compound our basic disobedience to God by being fearful of disobedience to man. Nowadays that means we’re to be a planet saving, animal loving, anti-capitalists it seems. We are asked are you using recycled containers? If not, you’re killing the planet. Have you given enough money to the homeless? They are destitute because of you! Have you ethically sourced your jacket? If not, you’ve probably destroyed an entire rainforest. The food you eat, the leisure activities you enjoy, the car you drive – you’re being called every day to submit to new worldly rules. And if you don’t comply, then you can’t possibly be a good person and be happy! How could you, you planet destroyer and animal hater? Submit to the modern rules and feel good about yourself!

You may throw up your hands and call the recipe for eternal happiness and joy impossible. But as Christian author Kevin DeYoung writes in his great little book, Impossible Christianity, “When genuine discipleship becomes impossible, hell often becomes impossible as well.” In other words, when we believe failure is the norm, we forget the reality of hell.

Lasting Goodness

And I don’t know about you but hell is not what I’m yearning for when I’m done here. I also know I want lasting, deep peace and joy. It’s true that what we all yearn for in the now will only be a shadow of what is to come in eternity. Jesus reminds us that He knows we can’t do everything perfect and need to lean on Him all the time. We seek holiness as a life goal and know it’ll take the Holy Spirit to do the work in us. Urging us, teaching us, and even admonishing us.

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

The world wants to tell Christians God’s only ingredient for the world is love. They conveniently leave out that God is also to be feared and revered. And separation from God, which is what Jesus was experiencing on the cross when He said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me,” is what we call “hell.”

Our disobedience tells God we don’t revere Him and instead revere ourselves. We want to be the author of our own recipe. So, while we have declared our faith in Jesus Christ, we continue to turn away from the holiness He so desires for our life. To the unbeliever it must be confusing to see us acting this way!

This holiness is not impossible. And while perfection may be our eternal goal, in all honesty we won’t achieve it here on earth. But like my biscuit making we need to keep thirsting and hungering for it.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."  Matthew 5:6

Next week we continue our look into obedience and submission, seeking the perfect recipe of holiness.

This week’s question: When you hear obedience and submission, what is your reaction?