The Misunderstood “S” Word

Written May 3, 2026 by Randy Miller

Growing up being taught an Wesleyan-Armenian doctrine and theology, I heard a word preached from the pulpit a lot:  sanctification.

As a kid, it was a bit complicated for me to understand.   In a revival service at my local church at the age of 9, I asked God to forgive me of my sins.  He did that and I was sincere about wanting to live a Christian life.

But, as I became a teenager and continued to hear sanctification preached, I finally understood it.   An evangelist at our denomination’s camp meeting service when I was 16 explained it where I could understand it.   When a person asks Christ to forgive them of their sins, He does indeed do it, but there’s still that carnal nature inside our hearts that makes us do and say things we don’t want to do.

He used Romans 8:6-10 as the basis of his sermon. Here are the verses from the King James Version:  

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Then, for me, it clicked.  God helped me understand that, while I had asked for forgiveness of my sins, I had not asked the Holy Spirit to come into my heart, take my carnal nature out, and replace that carnal nature with his Holy Spirit.

When I did that, I committed my life totally to Him.  That’s sanctification.  

It’s also defined in the Word, in 1 Corinthians 6:11, among many other verses: 

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 

And, when I did that, and asked God to direct my life in everything—the big things and the small things—my Christian walk grew deeper as a result.   

That’s not to say that Satan still didn’t throw darts at me.  He still does.  But, with the Holy Spirit in my life, I have a companion, a friend, someone I can always count on, someone that is always there 24/7 to talk to and help me resist temptation.

Remember, Satan isn’t working on those who don’t know Christ.   He’s focusing 100% of time on those who asked Christ to forgive them of their sins, and asked the Holy Spirit to take that carnal nature out of their hearts, and replace it with His Holy Spirit.

My walk with Christ is a daily one.   Everyone’s is.  But, having the Holy Spirit in my life has meant all the difference in the world.  

Randy Miller here.   I heard a sermon at my home church on Sunday, Decatur First Church of the Nazarene, that resonated with me.  I asked Senior Pastor Christen Piatt if I could copy her notes from the Holy Bible app, and share them with our Steady Ground Ministry blog readers.  She kindly consented!   Here is some REALLY pertinent stuff.  Enjoy!

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Joy We live in the most connected age in history, yet loneliness is at an all-time high. Technology can draw us closer—or leave us isolated. The answer isn't ditching devices; it's learning to live The Connected Life and build meaningful relationships.
==========

THE CONNECTED LIFE – WEEK 1
When Social Media Steals Your Joy

BIG IDEA:

If you don’t guard what’s forming you…
it will start stealing from you.
And one of the first things it steals is your joy.

??2 John? ?1?:?12??
I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete.

FOUNDATION: CONNECTION > COMMUNICATION
2 John 1:12

Communication is not the same as connection We can be constantly communicating… and still feel disconnected Joy is found in presence, not just interaction

Key Thought:
We are more connected than ever… and still feel more alone than ever

JOY VS. HAPPINESS

Happiness:
- Based on circumstances
- Temporary
- Comes and goes

Joy:
- Rooted in God
- Internal, not external
- Steady even when life isn’t

Key Thought:
Happiness is based on what you experience Joy is rooted in who you are and who you belong to

??Galatians? ?1?:?10??
Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

POINT 1 — COMPARISON STEALS JOY

Social media highlights the best moments—not the full story We compare our behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel

Stats:
1 in 4 people feel worse about their life after social media ~30% feel pressure to present themselves a certain way

If you compare your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel… you lose every time

TIMELINES

Social media makes us feel behind
God’s timing is not rushed or forced

Key Thought:
Just because something happens earlier… doesn’t mean it’s better

??Isaiah? ?26?:?3??
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

POINT 2 — DISTRACTION STEALS JOY

???? Stats:
Adults: ~7+ hours of screen time daily
Teens: 7–9 hours daily
~50% say social media hurts sleep
~40% say it hurts productivity
Constant input = little rest

Full feed… empty soul

Key Thought:
If your mind is always scrolling… your soul is rarely resting

??1 Corinthians? ?6?:?12??
You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.

POINT 3 — DEPENDENCE STEALS JOY

???? Stats:
68% feel anxiety without their phone
Heavy users are 2–3x more likely to struggle with anxiety/depression

It’s not just use—it’s reliance
Phones can become a source of comfort, validation, escape

Key Thought:
Whatever you depend on most… shapes your life the deepest

??Romans? ?12?:?2??
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

POINT 4 — CULTURE GOT THIS BACKWARDS

We overprotect physically… underprotect digitally We guard physical spaces… but not digital input

Reality:
Unlimited access to content (including harmful content) Algorithms shape attention, identity, and beliefs

Key Thought:
If you don’t choose what shapes you… the world will

Key Question:
Am I guarding my heart… or just scrolling through whatever shows up?

??2 John? ?1?:?12??
I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete.

??John? ?1?:?14??
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

POINT 5 — SHALLOW CONNECTION STEALS JOY
More connection… less meaning
Being connected ≠ being known

???? Stats:
70% say social media helps them feel connected ~40% say it increases loneliness

Key Thought:
Shallow connection cannot carry the weight of your soul

REAL CONNECTION

God chose presence—not distance
Real joy comes from real relationships

Key Thought:
Your joy is not found in how many people follow you… but in who actually walks with you

APPLICATION — TAKING BACK YOUR JOY

1. Audit What’s Forming You
- How much time am I spending?
- How do I feel after I scroll?
- What is this producing in me?

2. Set Boundaries
- Limit when and how you engage
- Create space for rest and focus

3. Replace, Don’t Just Remove
- Scripture instead of scrolling
- Prayer instead of noise
- Presence instead of distraction

4. Re-center Your Identity
- Identity rooted in social media = unstable
- Identity rooted in Christ = unshakable

PRACTICAL STEPS

Put your phone away during meals
Put phones away on dates
Be fully present with people

Key Thought:
Attention communicates value

FOR PARENTS
Kids interpret attention as love
Divided attention can feel like rejection

Key Thought:
You can always check your phone later…
but you can’t relive the moment

??John? ?15?:?11??
I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

CLOSING TRUTH

God is not trying to take joy from you…
He’s trying to give it to you

REFLECTION
Where has comparison been stealing your joy?
Where has distraction been draining your peace?
Where has shallow connection replaced real relationship?

Don’t let something in your hand…
steal what God placed in your heart

By Randy Miller, President, Steady Ground Ministry, Inc.

I wanted to bring you up to speed on our name transition from Win the Day Ministries to Steady Ground Ministry.

God has helped thru this journey, so I have to give him all the credit!

It began last Thursday morning, April 9th.   I received a “cease and desist” e-mail from the party that trademarked “wintheday” several years ago.   I did some checking on my own, including thru the US Trademark Office, and he was correct.  The e-mail alleged copyright infringement despite the fact we had used "wintheday.life" as our brand, not "wintheday".

I responded to him that we would immediately begin the work to transition our ministry name to something new.  After an exhaustive search taking over 10 hours, we found that Steady Ground Ministry was available as an Illinois non-profit name, as a U.S. Trademark name, and as a web site name.

Between then and now, we have done the following:

1.   Had our web site folks IMMEDIATELY begin the work to change the name of our web site to steadygroundministry.org.  I also asked them to change any links, etc., that had “Win the Day” to “Steady Ground Ministry.”

2. On my own, I took down our Win the Day Facebook page and youtube channel.

3. I established a new Facebook page and youtube channel for Steady Ground Ministry.  I also deleted the Win the Day rss.com podcast feed and public web site.

4. I edited the 34 podcasts that had opening and closing credits mentioning Win the Day, and re-voiced all of those to Steady Ground Ministry.

5. I uploaded the edited podcasts to our new rss.com podcast feed and public web site, all branded as Steady Ground Ministry.

6. On Friday, April 10th, we sent our name change application to the Illinois Secretary of State.

7. And, on Monday, April 13 (the day I’m writing this), we have TRADEMARKED “Steady Ground Ministry” with the U. S. Trademark Office.  

I still have to edit all 34 VIDEO podcasts, taking the Win the Day identity off, and replace it with the Steady Ground Ministry.  That’s a much bigger job and frankly, I haven’t had the time to do that just yet.

So, as it stands, the web site where we aggregate content, is pretty much complete EXCEPT the video podcasts.  You can click on “audio podcasts” and it goes directly to our rss.com public site with the 34 edited podcasts.  

The Steady Ground Ministry blog on the web site still works fine.

And, our new 2-hour syndicated weekly retro Contemporary Christian Music radio show, which had been “Win the Day Replay”, will be “Steady Ground Replay.”   The show is presently being heard on 12 stations and that’s in just 3 ½ months!   We have at least 2 more stations that will be joining our Network in the coming days, and more to come after that!   God is GOOD!

I want to thank ALL OF YOU who have been so patient thru this transition.  It’s been many hours of work since April 9th, but the end result is helping people deepen their relationship with Christ, and that’s what our ministry is all about!

Your prayers are appreciated as we complete this name transition. 

This is Randy Miller, president of Steady Ground Ministry.

When we founded this ministry back in 2022, we did so with one single focus: to encourage Christians to deepen their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the last few years, it has been such a blessing to see how God has used our podcasts and our recently launched two-hour retro Contemporary Christian Music radio show to help people walk closer with Him.

In our journey to grow, we recently learned that the name 'Win the Day' is already trademarked by another organization. To be the best stewards of this mission and to move forward with total integrity, our board has decided to embrace a new identity that reflects exactly where we stand.
We are officially transitioning to Steady Ground Ministry.

While the name on the website is changing, our mission is not. In fact, it’s getting stronger. In a world that often feels like shifting sand, we want to help you find your footing in the Word of God.

As the Psalmist says in Psalm 40:2, 'He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.' That is our goal for you—to help you find that Steady Ground in Christ through our music, our teaching, our community of believers, and podcasts.

You can find us at our new home, SteadyGroundMinistry.org. 

And, starting April 26th,  the new name of our syndicated radio show will be Steady Ground Replay.   Find out stations thru-out the country airing the show, and listen to our archived show podcasts, by clicking the “SGR Radio Show Affiliates” link on our web site.

Thank you for your continued prayers and for standing with us on this journey. We are moving forward, together, on Steady Ground. God bless you.

STEADY GROUND MINISTRY

“A Table for Two”

Written Mar 29 26

I always get inspiration for another Win the Day blog article, from the local pastor at my church.   His sermons get me thinking about what my next blog article should be about.

In today’s sermon, while he preached about Palm Sunday and how the people treated Jesus—as an EARTHLY king they wanted to get them out of the oppression they were living under by the Romans—He came to be their SPIRITUAL king.   These were 2 vastly different views of his entry into Jerusalem.

My pastor gave us some sermon points backed up by Scripture I’d like to share:

1.   God visits people with PURPOSE.

Luke 19:44 says:  “….you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”  

And, clear back in Exodus chapter 3, verses 7 and 8, the Lord said:  “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt.  I have heard their crying out, and I am concerned about their suffering.  So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians.”    While it was a different group doing the oppressing, He still wanted to take care of His people.

Our pastor also shared:  “Opportunities god gives you have an expiration date.”

2.   You can be close to Jesus and still miss Him.

John 12:13 says:  “In the last days, God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people.   Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.’” 

Matthew 15:18 says:  “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

They were basically "checking the boxes."

3.   Spiritual moments require spiritual discernment.

Luke 19:42 says:  “……you did not know what would bring you peace…..”

Proximity does not necessarily reflect perception.

I Corinthians 2:14 says:  “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only thru the Spirit.”

4.   Missed moments have real consequences.

Luke 19:43-44 says:  “The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment…and they will dash you to the ground….”

According to my pastor, here’s a sobering reality:

a) Missed spiritual moments are not neutral

b) Delayed obedience is not harmless

c) Ignoring god has consequences

Hebrews 3:15 says:  “As has just been said:   ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.’”

5. This is your day of visitation.  

James 4:8 says:  Come near to God and He will come near to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Revelation 3:20 says:  “Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door.  I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Jesus wants a table for 2—YOU and HIM, to bless your Life!

Have a STEADY GROUND TODAY with Christ!

STEADY GROUND MINISTRY BLOG

Written Mar 22 26

The Water, Then and Now

At the church I attend, today’s sermon focused on the water—what it meant for those living in the Old and New Testaments, and what it means for us today.

The sermon had parallel messages:   What the water meant for LIVING at that time, and what the spiritual water meant for them and us today.

In John 7:37-38, the writer shared:   “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice:  ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.   Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ NIV.

Jesus talked about being the LIVING water that from which you’ll never thirst.  We should become the spring of LIVING water to others.  That’s what God calls us to do in our own lives—drink from His Spiritual Well—then share that LIVING water to others.

Our pastor told us that the goal of spiritual life is not just to receive LIVING water, but to come a conduit for it.

He added that Jesus moves the well from a place to a person, saying in John 4:14:  “The water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

We can take His Spirit wherever we go—thank God!

Our pastor also shared that the Spirit reveals our responsibility.   As he said, “You gotta give it away!”  He then quoted John 7:38, which says:  “Whoever believes in ime, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

Our pastor then said that we were created to be a channel, not just a container.  Don’t live for “just enough faith” when you can have an “overflowing” faith!

2 Corinthians 9:8 says:  “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

We were not called to “survive” but to “thrive” by drinking His living, spiritual water every day!

From Proverbs 11:25:  “…whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

Make sure you’re drinking from that LIVING water of Jesus’ love in your own life, then SHARE that water with others every day!   

That’s another way we can have a STEADY GROUND TODAY with Christ!

STEADY GROUND MINISTRY

Written Mar 3, 2026

We Really Do Need Each Other

In a Fox News opinion piece from Russ Ewell published on-line March 1, he titles his article “I’ve been a pastor for 40 years. Young men are struggling and I think I know why:    One in four American young men report loneliness as community institutions collapse.”   In the article, Ewell states suicide rates among young men are rising.  He believes the causes are, quoting the article:

1. “The major paths to community, life advancement, and social and personal intelligibility have all more or less disintegrated in the past few decades. That disintegration was accelerated dramatically, even completed, by the pandemic.

2. “Which means that men aren’t getting the formation they desperately need to become good men — and that they have historically received.

3. “Their educational attainment and motivation continue to fall further and further behind those of their female peers. They’re also worryingly prone to political and religious radicalization.”

So, what are some possible solutions?  Again quoting Ewell:

1. “Men need loving, mature, stable relationships with people who care about them and can guide them well. They need mentors, friends, managers, coaches, colleagues, teachers, professors and neighbors who will help guide them into flourishing masculinity. They need all of us to remain explicitly and charitably committed to supporting their formation.”

2. “The local organizations that used to so richly populate our lives asked something of us — responsibilities, expectations, standards — and in doing so, helped us all grow, individually and together. We had labor unions, civic societies, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, a rich school club culture. Churches were active and socially dynamic.”  

“While almost all of these institutions are a faint shadow of what they once were, this remains unchanged: Formation requires real people, real sacrifice, and real community — and young men will not flourish without it.”

“If we want good young men — and we should — then we must stop outsourcing their formation to screens and self-direction, and once again take responsibility for shaping them with our presence, our intention and our lives.”

In other words, as Rueben Welch’s book title says, “We Really Do Need Each Other”, no matter WHAT the age of a person, man or woman.  

In a recent sermon at the church I attend, my pastor’s message was entitled “Hello My Name is Encourager.”   He cited how Barnabas, Paul’s assistant in the New Testament, was sent by God to come alongside other disciples to win more people to Him.  Pastor cited these verses to backup this principle in the New Testament:

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”  I Thessalonians 5:11 ESV

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your months, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”  Ephesians 4:29 ESV

My pastor also said NOT to take criticism from someone you wouldn’t take advise from, adding that ENCOURAGEMENT is CONTAGIOUS!

Today, as you have a STEADY GROUND with Christ, why not follow Barnaba’s lead and ENCOURAGE others, showing His Love to everyone you come in contact with today.  You’ll be following His Command to “love one another.”   Sounds like a pretty good way to start any day!  

STEADY GROUND MINISTRY BLOG

Written Feb 22, 2026

“The Thread of Faith” 

In his book “The Road to Find Out” by William J. Wilkins (2023), describing the writer’s journey to a personal relationship with Christ, the author in his chapter entitled “The Thread of Faith” he cites several of those in both the Old and New Testament who, despite their doubts about God or Jesus, kept believing and the Master answered their prayers and directed their lives.

John the Baptist’s mother Elizabeth, and Jesus’ mother Mary, were cousins.   The 2 carried what would be their newborns at the same time.  But, the author points out, there were major differences:  Mary was young while Elizabeth was elderly.  When Elizabeth’s husband Zachariah was told by an angel that she was pregnant, he thought it wasn’t possible, telling the angel:  “I’m an old man and my wife and well along in years.”  For his doubt, his ability to speak was taken for a time and restored only when he had faith, reconsidered and named the son John.   Mary, on the other hand, immediately believed the heavenly messenger who told her she was have a son despite never being with a man.  

Wilkins then cites Abraham as a model of faith for centuries in the Old Testament and referred to many times in the New Testament.  Despite living in the land he resided in for a long time, God asked him to leave his homeland and people and go on foot until He revealed where he wanted Abraham to go.  Even though he and his wife Sarah were elderly, both didn’t question God and obeyed.  Where God took them to was Canaan, a land which would later be given to their descendants as their homeland.
God then told Abraham his offspring would populate the land but both he and his wife Sarah were elderly.  God told them, “a son coming from your own body will be your heir.”  God added the offspring would be as many as the stars.  Abraham believed God because of his faith.   

The author then tells us about when years later, Moses led many of Abraham’s descendants thru the desert towards Canaan.  When the people he led began grumbling about not being well cared for on the journey, God sent poisonous snakes to invade where they were staying.   Then he told Moses to create a bronze serpent and set it up on a pole saying that anyyone who has been bitten but then looks at the pole, they will live.  Many who didn’t look at the serpent pole died from the snake poison.   Jesus later used this as an example of faith, as Moses lifted the serpent pole and the Son of Man being lifted up so that “whosoever believes in Him will have everlasting life.”

Another example of faith Wilkins uses is Nicodemus.   The Pharisees were so pious and acted like they believed in God—claiming their faith in Him—but it was all just a show to make themselves look and feel good.   Meanwhile, Nicodemus, who was a prominent Jewish teacher.  He taught the people that faith in God would save them from themselves.

And then, there’s the Adam and Eve experience, where 2 humans put more faith in a serpent than in God telling them they can have the entire Garden of Eden but not to eat from the fruit of just one tree.   The serpent says eating from the Tree of Good and Evil will make them the same as God.  That wasn’t the case.

Wilkins closes this chapter on faith by stating that “believing in what God says is a process so simple that anyone can step into it, no matter what’s in their past, no matter their position in life.  There is no waiting period.   It costs no money.  The fabric of faith is simple, and free.”  

Let us pray and strive to accept God’s love and direction for us in our daily walk.   That’s showing faith, every day. 

STEADY GROUND MINISTRY BLOG written Feb 8 26

CHOICES LEAD, FEELINGS FOLLOW

The pastor at the church I attend, today talked about being a Vessel of Honor to God.   As part of that discussion, he had us write down a phrase I wanted to do some digdown into:  Choices LEAD, feelings FOLLOW.

As a Christian, our CHOICES should always be Biblical and after you ask God to direct you in that choice.

Believe me, I’ve made share of choices without asking God for guidance and direction, and they’ve always put me in a mess.

But, thank God that His Grace allows us to come to Him and ask for both forgiveness for not asking for His direction first, then asking him what direction He wants me to take to resolve the poor choice I’ve made.

I did a google search on Scripture that talks about our choices and how He wants us to approach them.   Here are some of the ones that spoke to me.   All Scripture is from the New International Version: 

Proverbs 3:5–6 (Choosing Trust): "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".

Galatians 5:16 (Choosing the Path): "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh". Walking is a deliberate choice that prevents one from being ruled by momentary desires.

Matthew 5:44 (Choosing Love): "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you". Love is presented as a command and a decision to benefit others, regardless of personal feelings.

Hebrews 12:2 (Choosing Focus): "...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God". Jesus chose endurance because of a future joy, not because of how he felt during the suffering.

Colossians 3:15 (Choosing Peace): "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." This instruction to let peace rule means making it the "umpire" over our internal feelings.

Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our choices after prayer, getting into the Word, and getting wise counsel from mature believers that have been on the journey as long or longer than I have, enable my choices to be the ones that are the right ones and give Him the glory.

I’m talking to myself when I say again, what my pastor said this morning:   Choices LEAD, feelings FOLLOW.    Ask God to help you in making your choices and you’ll find STEADY GROUND TODAY with Christ!

STEADY GROUND MINISTRY BLOG written 2/1/26

SIMPLIFYING REVELATION

I recently attended a Mens’ Bible Study where the leader helped us simplify the rather overwhelming book of Revelation.

Jesus asked John to dictate what he had to say in this book about the end times.

He LOVED the church at Ephesus but was unhappy with them because they became distracted away from their relationship with Christ.   Revelation 2:5 NIV says:  Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

In the above verse Jesus asks them to:

--remember

--repent.  This means CHANGE your behavior.  Repentance is front and center again.

--re-do.   Thank Him for loving and delivering us.

MISSION is to “ask” or “propose” to others to consider their relationship with Christ.

The Great CO-MISSION gives us the authority to GO and tell others.

Part of our responsibility as a Christian, is to share the Good News with others.   Share what Christ has done for YOU with a friend today, as we find STEADY GROUND TODAY!  

STEADY GROUND MINISTRY BLOG Jan 22 26

My devotional book today focused on a word that all of us have trouble with—I know I do!   The word is:   SURRENDER.  Easy to talk about, hard to do.

We as humans have problems with surrendering just about anything:  Money, decisions, even accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior.

In both the Old and New Testament, many verses are written about surrender:

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV): "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".

Psalm 63:1 (NIV): "...earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water".

Proverbs 23:26 (NIV): "My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways".

Job 11:13 (NIV): "Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him". 

Matthew 11:28 (NIV): "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest". 

James 4:7 (NIV): "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you".

Romans 12:1 (NIV): "...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship".

Luke 9:23 (NIV): "Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me'".

Galatians 2:20 (NIV): "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me...".

These inspired verses talk about surrendering your HEART, your LIFE, your BEING, to Jesus Christ.

You can do this in 2 easy steps:

1.   Simply pray to ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, and come into your heart and life.   This is being repentant for the sins you’ve committed.  No one is excluded from being a sinner, and no one is excluded from God’s GRACE to forgive you.

2. Thru prayer, Bible study, and surrounding yourself with fellow believers in church, continue seeking His Will and ask him to take what the Bible calls the “old man”, the carnal self, out of your heart, and replace it with his Holy Spirit.   This commitment can be the start of an even deeper relationship with Christ.

Both steps require SURRENDER.   While I know Jesus has forgiven me of my sins, I have to pray, study my Bible and other spiritual resources, and surround myself with others working on their spiritual journey just like I am.

It’s a daily work.   But, the daily rewards--especially answered prayers when I commit what I do in my daily walk with Him--enable me to love Christ and love others.   

Not to mention the ultimate reward—HEAVEN!

Find YOUR STEADY GROUND with Christ!

STEADY GROUND MINISTRY BLOG written Jan 19 2026

Part of what God had laid on my heart in our Steady Ground Ministry, is also to create a platform where Christians, whether seasoned in their faith or newbees, can get encouragement in music.

The very beginning of what’s now called Contemporary Christian Music, came out of the Jesus Movement in the 1960’s.   A recent movie entitled “The Jesus Revolution” (2023) chronicled the late 1960s spiritual awakening in Southern California, focusing on pastor Chuck Smith, hippie preacher Lonnie Frisbee, and a young Greg Laurie as they launch a movement bringing hippies to Christ through Calvary Chapel.

That movement went on to do several great things for Christ:

1. It won more people to Christ by using a different type of music to attract followers to Him.

2. It began what we now call Contemporary Christian Music, a genre of music that continues to inspire us today.

3. It allowed what is now several generations of Christian music artists, to write, sing, and take Contemporary Christian Music to new levels.  That in turn attracted new believers.

The trailblazers of Contemporary Christian Music, such as Larry Norman, the 2nd Chapter of Acts, Dallas Holm, Phil Keaggy, Sandi Patty, Roger Breland’s group Truth, and others, plowed the ground for further generations of CCM artists.   Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Point of Grace, Avalon, Rich Mullins, Petra, Carman, dc Talk, and many others, built on what the trailblazers had done.

While it’s difficult to find a lot of this music, I’ve been able to find—and continue to discover—that what I’m calling legacy CCM music is available.   

I want to bring that music to those who heard it in the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000’s, to both those generations and new generations of listeners.

This is how what I’m calling “Steady Ground Replay” was born.  It’s a 2-hour syndicated radio show featuring such music, to encourage, inspire, and uplift believers.

And, along the way, we also share some 60-second features with content from our Steady Ground Ministry Podcasts, to further encourage your faith and relationship with Christ.

We’ve just contacted both commercial and religious stations asking them to air the show on a Sunday.   We’ll let you know on our web site, what stations carry the show and at what times.   Many of them stream so you can hear it on your computer or smartphone if you’re not in their market.

I’m excited about what God has in store for this ministry:   Thru our Steady Ground Ministry podcasts we continue to record, as well as our new “Steady Ground Replay” syndicated radio show.  Pray that more stations will pickup the show to bring this encouragement thru music and sharing stories of believers from our podcast features.

As we say in the radio business:   Stay tuned!

It’s the start of a new year and a new beginning for many of us.    Many that are my age (70) as well as on both sides of that decade birthday, the new year ends one chapter of my life and begins another.   I sold my radio station group in August of last year, and officially began retirement after 52 years in the radio business and 43 in ownership, on January 1.

From my devotional book I’m reading called “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine” by Paige DeRuyscher (Dayspring, 2021), God brought me just the thought I needed to meditate over.   Let me share some passages from today’s devotional focusing on the hymn “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”:

….”Observing others can motivate us to consider new perspectives or try new things.  Many of us would admit that we find comfort in the familiar, and as we age, we may cling to our preferences more tightly, with little desire to consider other options.  We may be less likely to think outside the box, let alone step into unfamiliar territory.  

“But when we consider the endless possibilities in this marvelous universe we inhabit, we realize how much we miss when we refuse to leave our bubble.  God knows that sometimes a new experience is just what we need, especially when we seem to be stuck in a rut.

“Being open to possibility can feed the spirit.   Not only does it grow us, but it also helps connect us more deeply to our fellow humans—to consider their perspectives, to understand what brings them joy, and maybe even to learn to love something that we can do together.

DeRuyscher then quotes Romans 11:36 (NLT):  “Everything comes from Him and exists by His Power and is intended for His Glory.”  She then says that our new opportunities to find joy and connection are His good gifts for us.

The devotion wraps up by quoting a verse of the hymn “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”:

For the love of God is broader

Than the measure of man’s mind;

And the heart of the Eternal

Is most wonderfully kind.

As my wife and I venture out of our bubbles into finding new friends, building new relationships, and showing God’s love to them, may we all—no matter what place you are in life—remember that God WANTS us to find new opportunities to show His love to others!

Among the many items I found when I moved my office from my now-former radio stations to my home in August, was one I had pulled from the Church of the Nazarene publication “Holiness Today” dated January 2001.

Author Jon Johnson talked about the fact the more things change, the more they stay the same.   He added that we like to think of ourselves as innovators when in reality, we ride on the shoulders of those who preceded us.

He quoted Solomon who wrote in Ecclesiastes 1:9:  “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”

Johnson then quoted an article he had found called “All I Need to Know I Learned from Noah’s Ark.”   That article offered 10 simple lessons to live our lives:

1. Don’t miss the boat; and remember we’re all in the same one.

2. Plan ahead.   It wasn’t raining while Noah built the ark.

3. Stay fit (something I continue to struggle with as I get older).   When you’re 600 as Noah was, someone may ask you to do something really big.

4. Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

5. Build your future on high ground.

6. For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.

7. Speed isn’t always an advantage—snails were on-board with the cheetahs.

8. When you’re stressed, float awhile.

9. Remember the ark was bult by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.

10. No matter what the storm, when we’re with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.

Some great advice for us as we live our lives for Him today.  Win the Day today with Christ!

TRANSITIONS

Written 9/3/25 by Randy Miller

The dictionary defines the word “transition” as “the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.”

After 52 years of being in the radio business, and 43 of those as an owner, as of August First I sold the last of my radio stations and am transitioning into retirement.

I have no idea what “transitioning” is like, because I’ve never done it lol.  I can tell you that after going 100 miles an hour for decades, it’s an adjustment!

I’ve asked God to give me guidance thru this “process of changing from one state to another.”

As of this writing, I’m just little over 30 days in the process, so it’s still a transition in progress.

But, as in everything else, I’m asking for God’s direction in how He takes me thru this.   

I have learned that I have to give myself grace, as well as others, thru the process.   This is all new to myself and all those around me, so I have to show them love and grace as we work thru it.

What does the Bible say about “transitions”?   Let’s have a look.  When I googled the question, here’s how it answered:

Biblical examples of transition:

Abraham's journey:

Abraham was called by God to leave his home and venture into an unknown land, marking a major transition for him and the future people of God. 

Peter's spiritual shift:

The Apostle Peter and the other believers underwent a significant transition as they learned to welcome Gentiles into the community of faith without requiring them to follow Jewish rituals. 

The early church's challenges:

The new Christian church faced numerous transitions and crises, from persecution to the challenge of carrying the gospel to the ends of the Roman Empire. 

Principles for navigating transition from the Bible:

Trust God's pace and timing:

The Bible teaches that God sets the pace of our lives, even in the midst of uncertainty, and encourages trust in His timing for our paths. This one really spoke to me!  

Find purpose in the change:

Times of transition are often when God transforms His people, producing a lasting glory that outweighs present troubles.  I think the word “transforms” is important.

Acknowledge fear, but don't freeze:

It's normal to feel fear during transition, but the Bible encourages laying those fears before the Lord and not letting them stop you from moving forward. 

Embrace God's eternal purpose:

Understanding that life is temporary (boy, is that the truth!) and that God has an eternal purpose for us helps us to move forward through difficult circumstances. 

Listen to God's direction:

The Holy Spirit provides insight and direction during seasons of transition, helping believers to understand God's will and path.  This one is the MOST IMPORTANT!

Yes, transitions in life can be hard.   But, as pointed out above, by listening to the Holy Spirit, God can and will direct our path every day so we can find STEADY GROUND TODAY WITH CHRIST!

OUR LIFE IS LIKE BUT A VAPOR

Written 9/3/25 by Randy Miller

As I reflect on the many decades of my life, and look ahead at the finish line getting closer and closer, I’m reminded of Bible verses that talks about our life being but a vapor.

James 4:14 says:   "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away".    

There are other verses that talk about man’s life being something similar.   Job 7:7 says:   "Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will no more see good".

Psalm 144:4 says: "Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow".

No matter what age you are, these verses and many others remind us that our time on Earth is SHORT.   I never thought of that when I was growing up, or in my 20’s starting my career, or in my 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s as my wife and I raised a family.

Now that I’m in my 70’s, these verses really do ring true.   

So, what are the lessons we can learn from these verses?   Here are a few:

LIVE FOR CHRIST EVERY DAY

I’ve tried to live my life by the credo:   God opens doors, God closes doors, and I just want to be smart enough to figure out what doors I’m to go thru.   Ask for His guidance each and every day.   There were a few doors I pushed open without God’s direction, and they cost me dearly.   Ask God for daily direction.

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

God wants us to enjoy the journey of life each and every day, no matter WHAT your age.   Everything and everyone He put on this earth, He did so for us to ENJOY.   Now that doesn’t mean you’re NOT going to have troubles or problems.   We’re all human, and that means we’re all going to have troubles or problems.  But, ASK for His guidance and grace to get you thru them.   He’s waiting on us to just ASK.   

With few exceptions, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my life here on Earth, especially because I asked Him for direction every day.   Life is FUN!   Now that doesn’t mean we won’t have to deal with sickness, death, stuff that isn’t fun.   But, when it comes our way, if we ask Him, He’ll help us thru those rough spots in the road.   He PROMISED that in His Word!

SHARE THE JOURNEY

There is absolutely NO WAY I could have gotten thru life, BY MYSELF.  I’m so fortunate to have a beautiful wife that loves the Lord and we’ve made each other accountable in our nearly 50 years of marriage.

I also have a close circle of Christian friends that I call my “accountability partners”.   I go to them when I have a rough spot in the road and need some direction or encouragement.  I’m the same for them.

And, make sure you’re involved in your church.   Our lives were never meant to be lived ALONE.   COVID taught us that more than anything else.  

STAY IN THE WORD

God’s Word will show us the path to go day by day, the answers we need for that day.   It’s CRITICAL to stay in the Word.   My devotional time is during breakfast.   Set your own time, preferably in the morning, so that you set your day up for listening to Him.

PRAY

Above all, bathe your day in PRAYER at the START of your day.   The days I’ve missed my prayer time as part of my devotional time, it seems I have a rougher day.   Sure, I get thru it, but it’s more chaotic.   

We all live this life one day at a time.   The journey is easier when we rely on HIM so we can find STEADY GROUND TODAY WITH CHRIST!  

Good Friday is, by all Biblical accounts, the worst day in the history of mankind.  That’s when Pilate, the priests and all those that felt threatened that Jesus would be an earthly king, crucified Jesus Christ on a wooden cross.   This form of death was the worst type of death that a person is put thru.   

Jesus knew from the time he was born, that he would have to endure a painful, earthly death.   And yet, he loved us sooooo much that he gave His life for us.

Good Friday, though, is not the end of the story, thank God!   Three days later, He arose from the grave!    Luke 24:1-12 gives us this account of how they found our Savior has risen:

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.

9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Death for Jesus was not the end of the story, it was the beginning of his ultimate trip to Heaven interceding for us at the right hand of the Father.

He is not here; He is risen!!

Please remember that Jesus died and rose from the grave this Easter weekend, for you and your sins.   All you have to do to begin a relationship with him is ask for forgiveness of your sins, and then ask that his Holy Spirit direct your life each and every day.

Just as Jesus had to die as a sacrifice for our sins, we have to ask for His forgiveness to begin our new relationship with Him.

I can’t think of a better time to begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, than this Easter weekend!

My wife Cathy and I are Florida Snowbirds (yes, we’re old) from January thru March.

While we’re in Florida each winter, we’re privileged to be discipled under senior pastor Brian Zdrojowy at Awaken Church in Port Charlotte.

In his March 17 message,  Pastor “B” delved into Luke 24, from verses 13 to 35.   He broke the Scripture down into different parts to show us life lessons we can learn today.

In Luke 24:13-18,  Jesus showed up after the Resurrection and traveled with 2 Disciples on the road to Emmaus.   The funny part was:   Even though they knew who he was, they didn’t recognize him:

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.

14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.

15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;

16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”They stood still, their faces downcast.

18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

Pastor B’s point 1 from the above Scripture is:

Jesus meets us WHERE we are, even when we’re UNAWARE.

From verses 19 thru 21, Jesus spoke to the 2 Disciples while they were walking, asking who this Jesus was.  Imagine that:   Jesus asking the Disciples about what THEY thought He was like.   And, the Disciples certainly obliged:

19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.

20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;

21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

Point 2:  

Jesus wants us to VERBALIZE our questions!  

In Luke 24:25-27, we see the 2 Disciples being somewhat surprised when Jesus tells them who HE is:

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”

27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

He wasn’t happy with the fact they didn’t know Him.   He again went thru the Scriptures about He got to that point in his life and ministry.

Point 3:

Rebuke doesn’t equal permanent disapproval!

In verses 28 to 31, in realizing it WAS Jesus Christ who was with them, they invited him to come to dinner, or as the Scripture calls it, “He had reclined at the table with them….”   And, surprise surprise in verse 31:   “And then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He vanished from their sight.”

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.

29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

Point 4 of Pastor B’s sermon:

An invitation to Jesus leaves our eyes open!

In the final point of the message from Pastor B, they admitted in verses 32 thru 35 that their hearts burned within them when He spoke to them on the road.   They IMMEDIATELY got up at a very late hour (it was late night) and returned to Jerusalem, found the eleven other Disciples, and were EXCITED to tell their story that He REALLY has risen:

32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together

34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”

35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Point 5 of Pastor B’s sermon:

Time with Jesus fills our hearts with PASSION!   Passion keeps us “stickin’ to the Mission.”

Pastor’s question to us at the end of the message is the question we’re asking ourselves and you:   Are OUR eyes “wide open” to realize that Jesus is right there with us?   All we have to do is ASK for his forgiveness and for the Holy Spirit to direct our lives.

Cathy and I are thankful for Pastor B’s ministry at Awaken Church in Port Charlotte, Florida while we are Snowbirding this winter.  Find out more on Pastor B’s ministry at myawaken.church.