Transformation Church

03/14/2026

Good Saturday morning.

Yesterday I shared a short Lenten reflection about one of the most misunderstood moments in the Gospels.

When Jesus cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” many people assume it was a cry of despair. But in the first century, those words pointed listeners to Psalm 22 — a passage written centuries earlier that describes the very scene unfolding at the crucifixion.

What looks like defeat at first glance may actually be the fulfillment of a promise.

If you missed it yesterday, you can read the reflection here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/haroldelong/p/lent-reflection-the-cry-that-points?r=60i3o1&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=post-publish

And if thoughtful reflections like this are meaningful to you, you’re always welcome to subscribe on Substack.

03/14/2026

Day 73

365 Days. One Story. Zero Burnout.

Read the Bible daily without feeling guilty, confused, or spiritually behind.

⸻

Read: Exodus 19 • John 3 • Psalm 73

Exodus 19 is the moment Israel arrives at Mount Sinai. After rescue, after the sea, after the wilderness—now comes the meeting with God. The mountain trembles, thunder rolls, and the people realize something important: the God who saved them is not small or casual. He is holy, powerful, and worthy of awe.

John 3 brings us one of the most famous conversations in the Bible. Nicodemus visits Jesus at night with honest questions. Jesus tells him something that sounds both simple and impossible: “You must be born again.” Faith is not about polishing the outside—it’s about transformation from the inside.

Psalm 73 starts with confusion. The writer looks around and sees wicked people prospering while faithful people struggle. It doesn’t seem fair. Then he enters God’s presence and gains perspective. What looked like success from far away turns out to be temporary.

Perspective changes everything. It’s like looking at a city skyline from ground level and then from the top of a hill. Same buildings, different understanding.

God invites us to see life through His presence, not just our circumstances.

Live It:
Spend a quiet moment with God today and ask Him to give you His perspective on something that’s been confusing you.

Prayer:
Jesus, please renew my heart and help me see life through Your truth. Give me perspective that comes from walking closely with You, in Your holy name, Amen.

03/14/2026

Day 74 of 2026

Listening is becoming a rare skill. Many conversations are filled with replies, but not always understanding. Faith invites us to listen with compassion. Reason invites us to listen with curiosity. When we truly listen, we learn more about others and about ourselves.

Carry this with you today: Listen to understand.

03/14/2026

Many people think Jesus’ words on the cross prove He couldn’t be God.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

But what if those words were actually pointing to one of the strongest pieces of evidence for who He claimed to be?

In the first century, those words pointed listeners to Psalm 22 — a passage written centuries before crucifixion that describes the very scene unfolding at the cross.

What looks like despair at first glance may actually be something much deeper.

I wrote a short Lenten reflection about it here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/haroldelong/p/lent-reflection-the-cry-that-points?r=60i3o1&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=post-publish

If reflections like this are meaningful to you, you're always welcome to subscribe. My hope is simply to create a quiet place for thoughtful faith, honest questions, and hope in a noisy world.

03/13/2026

Day 72

365 Days. One Story. Zero Burnout.

Read the Bible daily without feeling guilty, confused, or spiritually behind.

⸻

Read: Exodus 18 • John 2 • Psalm 72

Exodus 18 introduces one of the most underrated heroes in leadership—Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro. He watches Moses trying to solve every problem for everyone and basically says, “You’re going to wear yourself out.” His advice is simple: share the load. Good leadership isn’t doing everything yourself—it’s trusting others to help carry the responsibility.

John 2 shows Jesus at a wedding in Cana where the celebration runs out of wine. Not exactly a crisis of world history, but it mattered to the people there. Jesus quietly turns water into wine—His first recorded miracle. No stage lights. No speech. Just quiet provision that restores joy to the celebration.

Psalm 72 is a prayer for a king who rules with justice, compassion, and wisdom. It paints a picture of leadership that protects the vulnerable and lifts the needy.

Trying to carry everything alone feels heroic for about ten minutes… and exhausting after that. Like insisting on carrying every grocery bag in one trip and realizing halfway to the door that gravity is winning.

God often provides help before we realize we need it.

Live It:
Invite help today instead of carrying everything alone.

Prayer:
Jesus, please help me trust others and share the load You never intended me to carry by myself. Thank You for providing what I need when I need it, in Your holy name, Amen.

03/13/2026

Day 71

365 Days. One Story. Zero Burnout.

Read the Bible daily without feeling guilty, confused, or spiritually behind.

⸻

Read: Exodus 17 • John 1 • Psalm 71

Exodus 17 is one of those chapters where the people run out of water again. You’d think after the Red Sea they might assume God has a plan, but thirst has a way of shortening memory. They complain. Moses prays. God tells Moses to strike a rock—and water flows.

Later that same chapter, Israel faces an attack. Moses stands on a hill with his hands raised. When his arms drop, the battle shifts. When others help hold his arms up, the victory returns. Apparently even leaders need help staying steady.

John 1 opens with one of the most breathtaking sentences in Scripture: “In the beginning was the Word.” Jesus isn’t just a teacher entering the story—He is the Author of it. Light enters the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

Psalm 71 is the prayer of someone who has trusted God for a long time. It asks God to stay close through every stage of life.

Faith isn’t just big miracles. Sometimes it’s water from a rock. Sometimes it’s someone helping hold your arms up when you’re tired. And sometimes it’s remembering that the Light has already entered the world.

God rarely expects us to do life alone.

Live It:
Let someone encourage you today—or be the one who holds someone else’s arms up.

Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for being the light that darkness cannot overcome. Please give me strength when I grow tired and remind me that You walk with me every step of the way, in Your holy name, Amen.

03/13/2026

Day 72 of 2026

Courage is not always loud or dramatic. Often it appears in quiet decisions: speaking honestly, trying again, or standing by what you believe when it would be easier to stay silent. Faith may call this conviction. Reason may call it integrity. Either way, courage shapes the direction of a life.

Carry this with you today: Choose quiet courage.

03/13/2026

03/13/2026

Jesus likes ketchup on everything! 😉

03/13/2026

Grateful for the opportunity to keep learning and serving others.

I recently renewed my membership with the American Association of Christian Counselors, and I’m thankful to remain connected to a community committed to helping people walk through life’s challenges with faith, wisdom, and compassion.

My hope is simply to keep growing, keep learning, and keep being useful wherever God opens doors — especially in the areas of recovery, spiritual growth, and helping people reconnect with hope.

Very thankful for the mentors, friends, and communities who continue to shape this journey.

03/12/2026

Day 71

365 Days. One Story. Zero Burnout.

Read the Bible daily without feeling guilty, confused, or spiritually behind.

⸻

Read: Exodus 17 • Luke 23 • Psalm 71

Exodus 17 shows the people thirsty again. Not metaphorically—actually thirsty. They complain, question Moses, and wonder if God is still with them. God responds by bringing water from a rock. Later, when enemies attack, Moses stands on the hill with his hands raised. When his arms grow tired, others step in to hold them up. Victory comes through dependence and community.

Luke 23 brings us to the crucifixion. Jesus is mocked, misunderstood, and condemned. Yet even in suffering, He speaks forgiveness: “Father, forgive them.” A criminal beside Him asks for mercy and receives a promise of paradise. Grace shows up even in the darkest moment.

Psalm 71 is a prayer from someone who has walked with God for a long time. It asks for continued strength and protection, trusting that the God who helped in the past will help again.

Faith is not always dramatic. Sometimes it looks like holding your hands up when they’re tired—and letting others help when you can’t keep them there alone. God often works through simple trust and supportive people.

Jesus shows us that grace and endurance go hand in hand.

Live It:
Reach out for help or offer encouragement to someone walking through a difficult moment.

Prayer:
Jesus, please strengthen me when I grow weary and remind me that I’m not meant to walk alone. Thank You for Your grace and faithfulness, in Your holy name, Amen.

03/12/2026

Day 71

Curiosity is not the enemy of faith. In many ways, it is the beginning of it. Reason asks questions to understand the world, and faith asks questions to understand meaning. When curiosity stays alive, both the mind and the spirit keep growing.

Carry this with you today: Keep asking good questions.