The Thoughts I Didn’t Want to Share – From the Edges Hanging on to the Hope of Jesus

The Thoughts I Didn’t Want to Share

From the heart of Pastor Calvin Cook

August 13, 2025

Scripture: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” — John 14:12-14 (ESV)

Good Morning,

It is very early in the morning. I’m up a little earlier than usual because it is another busy day in the midst of a couple of busy weeks. But it is and has been a good kind of busy working for Jesus and devoting time to the newness of the Holy Spirit’s mission to move, encourage, and console. This morning everything is good. I have my morning cup of tea, God’s word is open and before me, I have had a time to pray, the comfort of my morning beverage, and my playlist Give Me Faith, Make Room, Heart of Worship, drowning out the other noises that could distract.

Today’s words come from a deep place in my personal walk with God—a place shaped by prayer, Scripture, honest conversations, and accountability. Lately, God has been speaking through my reading: the book Sent by Heather and Ashley Holleman, the history of Israel’s kings, the call of the early church, Galatian 5’s fruit of the Spirit, and Matthew 7:15-20’s question—What kind of fruit are you bearing?

We often avoid asking ourselves hard questions:

• Are we living fully into God’s will, or only the parts that feel comfortable?
• Is everything we do done in the name of Jesus so that others might experience His saving grace?
• Are we fulfilling the Great Commission, or replacing God’s plans with our own?

As a church, are our actions truly for the transformation of the world in Jesus’ name? Or are we content with activity that bears little eternal fruit? Many times it seems to me that we do things, have meetings, discuss, worry, even get mad on things that do not have an eternal life changing consequence on the soul.

At 3:00 a.m., God pressed one more question on my heart: What fruit are we producing—if any?

How is the unadulterated, unfiltered love of God being lived out in my life, in your life, in the churches life that speaks to others causing them to say – “that is what I am looking for.”

I rejoice when I see fruit growing in ministries and in people I’ve poured into. But I’ve also seen forces that knock that fruit from the Vine or reshape it for their own purposes. The call remains: stay connected to Jesus, bear lasting fruit, and let all we do be in His name.

The only prayer I can think of praying this morning is – “Lord here I am – you already know me and know what needs fixed – I pray – Do it again, and this time may it be a permanent repair ” Amen