Authentically leading and empowering others to flourishing life in Christ
All in Life
Every day, something is competing for our attention, quietly shaping how we see the world and respond to pressure. As I prepare to teach, I’m reminded that message preparation often requires heart preparation—clarity of words usually follows clarity of attention. In a world that constantly demands reaction, faithfulness begins by choosing what deserves to shape us.
Advent joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness shifts with circumstances, but joy is something we choose to practice. That choice requires honesty. If we want to choose joy consistently, we also have to own the things that get in the way—unresolved grief, comparison, control, disappointment, and busyness that crowds out reflection. Advent doesn’t ask us to manufacture cheer; it invites us to anchor our joy in the nearness of Christ, even when life feels complicated.
Peace is easy to talk about and hard to hold onto — especially in December. I don’t usually lose peace in dramatic ways; I lose it subtly, one small distraction or pressure at a time. Advent reminds me that peace hasn’t left me… I’ve drifted from it. This week, I’m reflecting on the four ways we unintentionally lose sight of peace — and how the arrival of Jesus invites us to return to it. If peace feels far away, this Advent might be God’s invitation to hope again.
Advent doesn’t just invite us to remember Christ’s coming—Advent interrupts us with hope. Mary and Joseph’s entire world shifted before the world even knew a Savior had arrived. And that same hope still interrupts our lives today. The question isn’t whether God is moving. The question is: Are you open to the interruption of hope He may bring this year?
Isaiah’s calling didn’t begin with clarity of purpose — it began with a growing clarity of a Person. Before God sent Isaiah anywhere, He revealed Himself. This post explores the three movements of Isaiah 6 that still shape our calling today: recognizing God, receiving His grace, and realizing the place you already stand is the place God has sent you.
We love to believe God’s going to send someone else — the “better qualified,” the “more spiritual,” the “more confident.”
But what if that someone else is actually you?
When it comes to the One God’s placed in your life, you’re not the backup plan. You’re Plan A.
God’s plan has always been people — and He’s chosen to work through you, right where you are.
It’s easy to coast when your eyes are fixed on what’s safe. But when you start looking for what Jesus looks for — when you decide to see people the way He sees them — it changes everything. Focus isn’t accidental; it’s intentional. And it’s the work that makes transformation possible.
I’ve spent the last year and a half fully engaged in pastoring here at home, but this season feels like a call to give again—to add something to the world through words. I’m convinced this is a season to contribute, not just consume—to offer a voice that helps others slow down, refocus, and run after the one God has placed in front of them.
People will let you down. People you respect. People you look up to. People you lean on. People who have been there for you at one point. People that have encouraged you. People who have invested in you. People will let you down. But that doesn’t mean that they are inherently evil. It means that people are inherently human.
60 years ago, Danny Cocanower and Bonnie Constable said “I do” and committed their lives together until death do they part. Like most couples who say “I do,” they had no clue what the next 60 years would look like, let alone the next 60 days. Happiest of Anniversaries on this very special one. You are a shining example of consistent and constant devotion to being there.
April 14th always brings with It a wave of texts, posts, and messages that always overwhelm me with gratitude for the many people that I have been so blessed to have in my life. To all those that sent those messages - thank you. You are a blessing to me and I’m so grateful for you.
365 days ago, I was sitting at my parents house after a day of visiting with friends and community members who had known my grandpa. I was thinking, praying, and processing what I would say to eulogize him; all that he had influenced in my life, the memories that our family had shared with him, and the life that he had lived in his 80 years.
Man's best laid plans often pale in comparison to the promises of God’s providence in our lives. The pain of our paralysis can be the very thing that God will use to push us forward. Ultimately, it is God’s purposes that will come to fruition and will bring the best possible fruit in our lives.
2023 is coming to an end and we have had much to celebrate, commemorate, and catalog as we enter into 2024 together. Here’s the Cocanower update for 2023! Happy Christmas and a blessed New Year!
