A road not taken

Posted on by jactucke

One of my favorite poets is Robert Frost. The way he weaves words and phrases together is just pure magic. If you can’t tell by glancing at the title, my favorite poem of his is probably his most popular, A Road Not Taken. 

We are thrust into the shoes of a traveler who is in a yellow forest. They happen upon a fork in the path: one is well worn, the other has more growth and is aching for some company. Go take a quick read of it here. 

SPOILER ALERT!!! The narrator takes the second road and states their intention of coming back to take the worn one, but knows that they never will. By taking the road less traveled, a lasting impression is left on the traveler. 

This poem is straight up an allegory to our Christian walk. The Bible even says in Matthew 7:13-14 that the way to hell is wide and broad, eluding that it is well traveled but the road to Heaven is narrow and more difficult. 

Take the second road. Yeah, the other way is gonna be easier, but what’s the reward? There isnt one! Sure it can get tiring following Jesus, but the end reward is oh so sweet. 

Galatians 6:9 tells us not to “grow weary in well doing because in due time you will receive a harvest.” Keep walking on that straight and narrow because you’re gonna reap goodness. Is it easy? Nope. But it’s not supposed to be. 

Today’s blog isn’t very long, but it really doesn’t have to be on this subject. Keep your eyes on Him. Stay focused, be encouraged in the Lord and keep fighting the good fight. Stay on that narrow, less traveled path, because, like Mr. Frost said, it will make all the difference. 

Y’all be safe out there. 

When it rains…

Posted on by jactucke

Have you ever heard the expression, “When it rains, it pours?” Well, this particular season of my life has been exactly that. It’s almost been a live demonstration of Murphy’s Law. Just go look that one up when you have time. 

I’m gonna save you the details and abbreviate the happenings. Between extended family shenanigans, vehicular gremlins, and countless other crap…let’s just say the devil has been a giant prick and he thinks he’s got it all figured out. 

Well, he’s wrong. 

We recently finished a series at our church called “The Storms Just Kept  Coming.” You can find it here. At the time, I wasn’t relating much, but you put the Word in You when you don’t need it so that you have it when you do. 

When all this crap reared its ugly head, I was talking to the Wildman and he dropped yet another truth bomb on me. He said, “Well son, don’t let all this get you discouraged. Sometimes, you just need to put it down until you get it  out of your thinking. That may be a couple days or a couple weeks. But it’s gonna be alright.”

I’ve been thinking about the clouds and the rain and forgetting about the One who reigns and brings the promise after the rain. 

For some odd reason I forgot the second part of John 10:10. I focused on the devil of this world and all his fiery darts. We’ve been taught for years that all he wants to do is steal, kill and destroy. But so often we get caught in the rain, we forget that Jesus is the One who brings us life and brings it to us in abundance. 

But why do dark times come with rain? Do we always have to go through it? The Word tells us that simply being Christians, we’ll have hard times (John 15:18-20) and that we just need to keep on truckin. What you are facing is no different to what others of the faith have faced. 

Look at Psalm 23. It says “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Did you see that? You may be in the valley of the shadow of death, but it doesn’t say camp out and have a pity party. It says you are going through it. That means there is a light on the other side. Plus, He’s with you the whole time, comforting you. 

To go even further, Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” God already has a plan for you outside of the rain. Because you are special to Him as He will never let you down. 

So, despite all of the stuff the devil has been trying to use to get me down, I have the assurance knowing that God’s purpose for me is for good. I just have to dwell on His plan and not the discouragement like the Wildman so fondly reminded me. 

If that is too wordy and you have problem remembering all of those verses, look at it like this: When it rains, HE REIGNS.

Y’all be safe out there. 

Untapped Power

Posted on by jactucke


Every night, we sit down on LG’s bed and pray together. I’ll start it off by praying for the family and healing for everyone who is sick. LG usually chimes in to include family members that we have already listed, just to make doubly sure. Then we end it with a prayer all together, “Dear Jesus, we love you, thank you and amen.”

It’s a time that I look forward to every night, because it’s a chance to see our oldest learning and demonstrating one of our most powerful tools as Believers. There are even times throughout the day where she’ll lay hands on her mom or sister or her puppy and say, “In Jesus name.” I get goosebumps just thinking about the power of God running through my little girl’s prayers. 

It seems so simple, yet so many of us take it for granted. The power of prayer can literally change things and we regulate it to when it’s convenient for us. Or we just tell people, “I’ll be praying for you,” when really the phrase is just a standard reply. 

It’s doesn’t take special words or a certain phrase to pray. You just start talking with God. Just do it. I promise that your prayers will be heard. Not just me, but the Word says it. In 1 John 5:14-15 it says, “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”

He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 
Psalm 91:15

Your prayers develop your relationship with God. They create a more intimate atmosphere between you and your creator instead of one that feels like an awkward exchange between exes.

One more story to kind of hammer this in. I was talking with my dad last night after doing a little work. He had a long day of chemo, but the Wildman wanted to know how my day was. We chatted about little things and I told him that we’ve been praying for healing. 

Now this is a man who I rarely saw in church growing up. Most times, the three boys just went with mom and Wildman was at the farm, either recovering from a hard weekend of work or was heading out to work. When we did go as a family, it was only on “special” days. But something happened a few years ago that changed all that; however, that’s not my story to tell. 

Getting back to last night. When I told him we had been praying, he said, “Son, out of everything that has happened, a lot of people have been praying. From Levelland to Holland, folks have been praying for me. Let me tell ya, it’s been working. Prayer has to be one of the most powerful tools that we have as believers. But folks just have to do it.”

I teared up. My pops was dropping a major truth bomb that I never expected. The biggest kicker was the statement “folks just have to do it.” 

Just talk to your God. Jeremiah 33:3 tells us to call unto Him and He’ll show us great and mighty things. Psalm 34:17 says that when the righteous call for help, He hears us and delivers us. He’s there to provide us with the best. He wants to be intimate with you. All you have to do is do it. 

Start that prayer life up. Talk to Him. Pray without ceasing and he will be true to His word. 

Y’all be safe out there. 

Stuck like Chuck

Posted on by jactucke

The last few days, it’s been raining here in West Texas. And when it rains, it gets muddy. 

Not just any old muddy, oh no. That’d be too easy. It’s the deceiving, looks like it’s solid but really it’s quicksand kind of muddy. The kind of mud they write songs about, only this time the songs aren’t about joyriding and slinging it up on the sides of the truck. They are of doom and gloom. 

While trying to traverse the muck the other day, my boot got stuck. The squishy mess enveloped my steel toe and it slipped right off. So there I was, hobbling on one foot, trying not to get my dry sock all muddy. 

When I finally was able to stabilize myself and slide my foot back into my boot, I realized something. There are so many people who get caught up in the muck and mire of life, that they don’t even bother trying to get out. They feel so helpless and messy. 

Now the muck and mud could be a number of things: a rough job, financial hardship, family dysfunction, sickness, unforgiveness, depression, etc. I could go all day with more examples, but it is time to get on with it. For some reason, you’re stuck and you feel hopeless. 

But right there, right in your hopelessness…is where God will lift you. In Psalm 40:2, the Word says “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay; And he set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” 

He wants to pull you out of your mess, out of the destruction that the devil has afflicted you with, and set you upon a firm foundation. He wants to establish your steps and set you back on your race. 

You were never made to dwell in the pit, despite what the devil or the world has told you. You were never meant to live in the darkness and in the muck. You are a child of God. 

After that verse, it says something even more encouraging. In The Message translation, Psalm 40:3 says “He taught me how to sing the latest God song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery abandoning themselves to God.”

When He pulls you out of your mess, He teaches you a new song. A song of praise and abandonment to Him. We should sing that song continually. Over and over again so that we are constantly reminded of His grace and His mercy. Not just grace and mercy, but His complete love for us. He saw you and when you cried out, He came and set you upon a firm foundation of faith. 

Bethel sings a great song that really reminds me of this “new song of praise” that God teaches us. You can find it here and I suggest to take the time to listen. The verses talk about His faithfulness and how He just makes us whole. 

You father the orphan; Your kindness makes us whole; You shoulder our weakness; Your strength becomes our own. 

No matter how hard you try, you aren’t going to be the one to right your ship. You aren’t going to just pull yourself up by your own bootstraps and get out. If you do, you’re just gonna get right back in the mess again. You have to submit. 

I want you to know that no matter what you are going through, no matter the pit you have ended up in, that God is ready to pull you out, set your feet upon a rock and give you a new song to sing. All you have to do is cry out to Him. Humble yourself, let go of your bootstraps and allow Him to work. I promise that He is faithful to do what His Word has set forth. 

Thanks for the read, y’all be safe out there. 

The weight of the world

Posted on by jactucke

There’s this feeling that I get sometimes. It feels like pressure. A weight bearing down right on the back of my neck and it trails off into my shoulders. It’s a stinging and burning that comes from bearing a heavy load. You know what I’m talking about?

It’s like your whole world is just resting right on top of you and if you make one false move, everything will just topple. Kind of like King Louie holding the Monkey Palace up on the old Jungle Book cartoon. This one:


There are lots of things that can do this to us, but stress is the common denominator. It brings worry and all sorts of mess that can really jack you up. I know this all to well…because I’m a fixer.

I see a problem and I try to fix it. It becomes my responsibility to remedy the situation, in my mind of course. By having this mindset, I add a whole bunch of unnecessary weight to my shoulders; therefore, adding unnecessary stress.

Roughly a month ago, I developed an oh-so awesome case of the shingles, which is brought on by stress and lack of rest. Numerous things were happening that caused this: a new baby, a rough doctor’s diagnosis for the Wildman, other family shenanigans, and the list just keeps on going. 

The shingles eventually went away with meds and reduced stress, but in the back of my mind…it lingered. I thought I let go of things, but I really didn’t. But today, when I accidentally hit play on my iTunes, things made sense. 

This song came up. It’s a worship song by Hope Church . The words hit hard and it made me look at the whole chapter of Psalms 55. Look it up here and let’s go through it. 

Basically, David is having a rough go of it. It seems like nothing can go right. He says things like, “My enemies shout at me (v.3)” and “Fear and trembling overwhelm me and I can’t stop shaking (v.5)”. He’s facing some major hate from all sides. 

Following a few more verses of despair and stress, verses 16-22 tell a new story. It turns from despair, to hope and trust. 

“I call to God; GOD will help me. At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh deep sighs—he hears, he rescues. My life is well and whole, secure in the middle of danger Even while thousands are lined up against me. God hears it all, and from his judge’s bench puts them in their place.”

David trusts that God is gonna have his back. He knows that if he just calls into Him, things are gonna be okay. 

Like in verse 22, it says, “Pile your troubles on GOD ’s shoulders— he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out. He’ll never let good people topple into ruin.”

How many times have we decided to take it all on our shoulders? Tried to carry the load ourselves? Everyone has! Has it ever worked? Probably not. 

I know it’s easy to just say, “give it to God,” and sometimes we get caught up in it. But that is the honest truth. God is right there, waiting for you to reach out for help. He wants to just take all of that worry and stress right off of you. We just have to call out to Him. 

In 2 Thessalonians 3:3 it says, “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” With that, and numerous other verses on how God is faithful to His word, why wouldn’t He come and shoulder our burdens?

It is my prayer for you that you take this, read it, and apply it to your life. Thanks for reading. You like it, share it to help encourage others! 

Y’all be safe out there. 

The Impossible

Posted on by jactucke

God loves the impossible. It’s no real secret that He enjoys proving us wrong. Where we say, “It can’t be done,” He just says, “Pshhh, really?” Then a donkey speaks, a prophet beats a chariot on foot, locked shackles and doors pop open with a quick shake of the ground and that’s just a sampling. 

We tend to see our challenges as absolutes. If it hasn’t been done before, throw in the towel because it’s gonna stay that way. Too hard? Our minds travel to the area of sho-nuff and set up camp. 

When the impossible came to mind, it took me back to one of my favorite films, The Empire Strikes Back. 

Now, I have what you call an “obsession” with Star Wars. I can quote each backwards and forwards. My absolute favorite of all is Empire. Personally, I think that it is one of the most complete movies of all time. 

Anyways, when I thought about the impossible, my mind instantly went to Luke training with Yoda. You can see the clip here. Watch it really quick before reading further. 

Luke is balancing and moving stones when R2D2 interrupts the training with worried beeps and buzzes. Their X-Wing had finally slipped completely into the bog. Luke exclaims his dismay just like we would in that situation. How would he get back to his friends? Yoda reminds him of his training and Luke responds with everyone’s favorite line, “I’ll try.”

Isn’t that how it goes though? The impossible stares us in the face and we think maybe.  But what follows Luke’s doubt is my favorite line ever. I’ve used it so many times in so many situations. 

Do. Or do not. There is no try. 

Luke goes to war against his doubt and ultimately, his doubt is greater than his faith. Yoda gives him a long spill on the Force and Luke tells him that he asks the impossible while storming off to sulk. 

Here’s where we get into the lesson. Yoda moves the ship no prob. Luke rushes over exclaiming his disbelief and the little green man says the second best line, “That is why you fail.”

We fail simply because we look at things through the world’s eyes. That’s the standard that we have come to accept. That mountain is too high. The race is too long. But with God…

I know you’re probably thinking I’m gonna reference Philippians 4:13, which is very applicable in this situation, but no! This story runs hand-in-hand with Jesus and the disciples on the stormy sea. 

In Matthew 8:23-27, Jesus and His disciples are traveling across the Sea of Galilee, a storm hits, disciples freak out, Jesus wakes up and says shhh, the seas calm, the disciples freak out, Jesus says, “Where is your faith?”

So, where is your faith? Has your hope been dashed, thus wrecking your faith? Let me tell ya, no situation is too big or small for God to handle. Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). You faith in His ability just has to outweigh your doubt. But that’s a lot harder than it sounds. 

Since we live, work, eat, sleep, and breathe in the world, we have to constantly be on our guard. We need to remind ourselves that each day is the day that God has made and we should rejoice and be glad! Lamentations 3:22-24 says that His mercies are new EVERY MORNING. That means every day we get the chance to set the tone with God. By doing that, we align ourselves with Him, therefore giving us the mind of Christ. And His mind is flawless, right? 

To go even further, if we have the mind of Christ we can push harder and trust that He is able to do exceedingly above whatever we ask or think. Therefore, nothing is impossible. 

Change your thinking. Get rid of what the world says and start filling up on what God says. That mountain will never be too big, nor will the race be too long. 

Y’all be safe out there. 

Hello!?! This is your calling, calling. 

Posted on by jactucke

Have you ever wondered what exactly are doing? I mean, you might have been sitting in line at the grocery store looking at how your grapes are absurdly overpriced and it hits you. Is this what your life has become?

So many people are content with small potatoes. They fall into a job or career that gets them just enough to make it. Or they do something they hate just because it makes them “good money.”

What happened to that book you were going to write? Or that time you were invited to teach that class at church? What about that time God called you to volunteer changing diapers in the nursery?

There are so many times that we decide to walk outside of the calling that God has placed on our lives. The reasons are numerous: it doesn’t make enough money, it’s not comfortable, it just goes on and on. You may have heard His voice so clearly, but you decide to do your own thing. 

Jesse Duplantis wrote it best, “If the suit doesn’t fit, it probably isn’t yours.” Your calling is for you…not for the person behind you or in front of you. JUST FOR YOU. 
The Word says in 1 Cor. 12:18 that “God arranged the members in the body, each one of them as He chose.” That means that He has a call on your life that He has chosen specifically for you. My calling isn’t the same as my wife’s. And her’s isn’t the same as mine. The only part that isn’t unique to each person, is the fact that we are ALL called to minister the gospel to the ends of the earth. How we do that is where our calling falls into place. 

That is where things start to get icky. This is where God gets specific. He’ll say, “I want you to be an armor bearer” or “I want you to speak to the youth.” But too many times we get it twisted and think that we know better than God. That we have “heard” the voice of God. You may have “heard” but did you listen? Did you actually hear what He had to say to you? Or has your pride gotten in the way so much that instead of being a servant of God, you have become a servant of self?

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV

Take some time out of your busy schedule and have a talk with God today. Ask Him what His calling is for you and your life. Then listen  to His voice. Quiet yourself long enough to actually hear what He is saying to you. Proverbs 18:13 says, “if one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” 

Thanks for reading, y’all be safe out there. 

Turn the Page

Posted on by jactucke


Well, thank you for your patience over the past week. I have been just a touch busy with the newest addition to our family. Plus, Little Girl decided she wanted to start using the “Big Girl Potty” full time, so we’ve be busy. 

As we put the finishing touches to that chapter of our lives, I’m a little sad. My firstborn is becoming a full-fledged toddler, my second is making her entrance into the world, and my chocolate dog is getting even more gray on his muzzle. I want to hang out right here and just stay in this moment. But I can’t and if I could, it would selfish. 

You see, there will always be different seasons in your life. Different chapters. These chapters signify our growth and maturity as people. Major life events generally signal the end of a season/chapter and the beginning of something new. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 talks in depth about this. 

For some, this is a new opportunity. A chance to start over with a clean slate. However, Some people love the chapter that they were in so much, that they never turn the page. This could be because of heartache, anger, or even good times. 

By hanging out in the past, they delay their future. We think that we know better than God. HE is the one who signaled that chapter’s ending. HE is the one who shifted us another way. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “for I know the plans I have for you.” HE knows where we are going or should go. We just have to trust Him.

Right after that verse, we are instructed to do something that we often skip over. 

“When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:12-13

If you are having a rough time closing that old chapter of your life, just call unto HIM. Seek HIM. Do that and He will be true to His word. 

Take heart and know that when your old chapter is ending, something new is coming! In Isaiah 43:19 the Word says, “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” 

God is doing something new in this next chapter. Whether you have been in good times or bad times, He is doing something new! He is literally springing life from the dead ground. Cutting paths through the overgrowth of your life.

So now I can be sad that my little girls are growing up, but I take heart and encouragement knowing that God is going to continue to move in this new season. 

Whatever you are facing right now or whatever you are looking back on, know that God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly over whatever we can ask or think (Eph. 3:20). All we have to do is move forward. Put our trust in HIM.

Thanks for reading and I pray that you have an excellent day! Y’all be safe out there. 

Duck Tape and Baling Wire

Posted on by jactucke


Growing up on the farm, we had a TON of quick fix remedies. None of these were ever intended to be long term, but we could make it work if we had to. 

We learned at an early age how to cut cardboard just right to fit a broken window (which was recently kicked out while wrestling or knocked out with a baseball). Or how to tarp a leaky roof while in the rain. But probably the greatest of all remedies were Duck Tape and baling wire. 

Baling wire could cinch up a busted fence or serve as a quick hose clamp on a tractor. Duck Tape could patch up dang near any rubber material and make it waterproof for a short amount of time (sometimes indefinite, depending on the amount used).

The Wildman would swear by this philosophy. He always had a roll or two of each in the truck because, “You never know when something would come up.” I recall seeing numerous swather teeth held on by a few strategically placed wires instead of the traditional nut and bolt assembly. Tractor seats and shades were patched here and there with the silver savior. 

Looking back on the last few blogs, I could tell a pattern. Unmasked and Broken dealt with our flaws. The Lord put it on my heart to write about mending the brokenness that was unmasked to tie the “series” together. 

You see, just like on the farm, we try to mend our lives with temporary fixes. For example, you might be dealing with anxiety or depression. You know you have these issues and something has to be done to fix it. So you busy out the Duck Tape and baling wire to mend your life. This works, for a time. A week goes by with no incident or problems and you’re “cured.” But the Deciever is not so easily swayed. 

By the Deciever, I mean the devil. He’s the little god of this world. All he wants to do is to ruin your life. That’s evident from John 10:10 (“The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy”) and 1 Peter 5:9 (“The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.”). He’s got you thinking that your quick fix is the solution to all of your problems. But really, you’ve only prolonged your suffering. 

The only way to actually mend your life is to follow the second portion of those verses that previously served as warnings. John 10:10 follows up it’s warning with “but I’ve come to give you life, and life in abundance.” Life is offered to us by Jesus. LIFE! A whole, complete life! Without spot or blemish! No depression, anxiety, fear or anger. Just a complete life in Him!

But the devil has you fooled into thinking the Duck Tape and baling wire are enough, when truly…only God is enough. The devil even has you fooled into thinking that you’re the only one. The absolute, 100 percent, only person who has ever dealt with any type of negative feeling. But the verses following 1 Peter 5:9 deals with that too! 

“Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:10-11‬ ‭MSG

WE get the final say in our life through Christ! WE get to be mended and fixed through His grace and His blood that was shed on the cross. Why settle for a temporary fix, when a forever fix is right there? 

Now is it going to be all puppies and rainbows from there on out? Heck no it’s not! You have to keep working and striving to be a better Christian than you were the day before. You have to remember that God’s mercies are new every day (Lam. 3:22-23) and being His kid, you get access to those!

I want you to be mended and encouraged not merely taped and cinched up for a time. But the time for mending is now!

Y’all be safe out there. 

Broken

Posted on by jactucke

Broken pieces actin’ like we ain’t cracked; But we all messed up and can’t no one escape that

    -Lecrae “Broken“

Where to begin? If that guy would have just cooperated. If that dude hadn’t pulled the trigger. Black lives matter. White lives matter. Blue lives matter. All lives matter.

We live in a world where corruption reigns. There is no Cinderella story for the little guy, because the little guy is screaming injustice and waiting for their handout. And the big guy, what are they doing? They are just complaining about the little guy. 

Our world is broken. Society is broken. What was once a strong nation is now hanging on by a thread. That thread is the hope that we can be better.

The only way we can become better is noticing that there is a problem. Unfortunately, the problem always diverted by pointing fingers. 

When I was a kid, I was told never to point and blame because you always had three fingers pointing right back at you. If only people would use this childish rationale, things would get a whole lot better. 

We are all broken people with flaws. The biggest problem lies within each and every one of us. We think that our opinion is right and there is never anything wrong with us. The problem is always elsewhere. 

The Word says in Romans 2:1, “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.”  We aren’t supposed to cast judgement on others, it just condemns ourselves.  

Grace must be given to others because it was first given to us by God. Should we have the opportunity to even be forgiven for the crap that we do? No, but God does it anyway because of grace. 

So what should we do? We should model ourselves after the One who gives grace to us. 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corintians 12:9 ESV

We are broken people, living in a broken world, searching for someone to put us back together again. And the only way for that to happen is to experience the fullness of grace through Abba God. 

Today, right now, in this moment, get on your knees and pray. Thank God for the air you breathe, for rolling out of bed, and for guidance in understanding how to exhibit HIS grace in our life. Lecrae said it pretty well:  Ain’t a soul on the planet; That’s better than another; And we all need grace in the face of each other

Thanks for reading. Y’all be safe out there.