Wind

January 24, 2026

It’s cold! The actual temperature here dropped to 17 below, but with the wind chill, it feels more like 40 below. The wind does make a big difference. When I run in the winter season, I can still run fine even when the temperature is low (not this weekend though, it’s way too cold), but it feels miserably cold when the wind blows, and it is a game-changer. However, in the summer heat, a cool breeze can make my run pleasant.

I was reading the story of the Red Sea crossing, and the Bible writes, “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.” Exodus 14:21. Here in this story, the wind was used as a means to save the Israelites from being chased by the Egyptians. 

Also, in the story of Noah’s Flood, “Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided.” Genesis 8:1. In this story, God uses the wind to bring the water level down so that Noah and his family could be delivered to land. 

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit was described as like the wind. “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8; “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each one of them.” Acts 2:2,3. As we face the wind chill this weekend, may we also seek the Holy Spirit to be upon each one of us like the wind, and be filled by His presence.

Humility

January 17, 2026

We were at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee the other day. This is the very rink where they held the long-track speed skating trials for the US Olympic team a couple of weeks ago. I was observing the skaters around the rink, and there was a group of about four men going really fast; they were some serious athletes. I'd only seen speed skating on TV before, so it was a real treat to see these athletes train on the ice. One of them had USA written on their back, so I thought, “What if this is the Olympic team training for the upcoming events in a few weeks?” While these men were training, another woman, older-looking, was on skates, clipboard in hand. Whenever these guys zoomed by, she would yell something at them. I couldn’t figure out what she was saying, but clearly, she was coaching them.

A few minutes later, I approached this woman and asked if these guys were part of the Olympic team. She smiled and said that they were not, but someday they would be. Then she introduced herself to me, saying that she had raced in the Olympics back in the day. Her name was Bonnie Blair, one of the most decorated athletes in US speed skating history. She not only set multiple world records but also won five gold medals and a bronze medal over three Winter Olympics. She is a member of the US Olympic Hall of Fame. I looked her up later when I got home, and it was a pleasant surprise to learn about her accomplishments. And yet, she was so humble. Her demeanor was such that you would never have guessed her achievements. She didn’t tell me that she was an Olympian to brag, but only because I was so curious.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8. The Bible tells us that the King of the universe humbled Himself, became like us, and took the form of a servant. Paul teaches us to have this mind, to be humble like Jesus, and acknowledge what Jesus has done for us. May we be like Jesus and have the humility of Jesus.

Vow

January 10, 2026

After Jacob had his dream of the ladder, he set up a stone and made a vow. “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.’” This is the longest-formulated vow in the Bible.

A vow is a solemn promise, often made to a deity, and in this case, Jacob made a vow to God. Now, the wording seems conditional: You do this for me, and I will do this for you. However, when we consider the context of the story, it becomes clear that this is not the case. “He was responding in faith and commitment to the assurance that he had just received.” (Andrews Bible Commentary, Vol 1, p 174) We should see that it is always God who initiates the act of reaching out and provision for us. It was God who appeared to Jacob in a dream, and in Genesis 31:13, God reminds Jacob of the vow he had made and tells him to return home. “I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.” God fulfills His part of the vow and invites Jacob and his family to go back home.

We are in the second week of the new year. Making a vow isn’t something we typically do, but we know that God will lead us as He always does. Knowing of His goodness and leading, may we also make a vow to our Father in heaven, and express our commitment to Him. God is leading us all the way to the end.