HALO Ministries and Leadership

12/11/2025

🎤 “God Didn’t Hurt You — People Did.”
(Reposting this powerful Jeff Foxworthy moment.)

Sometimes the loudest truth comes wrapped in humor. Jeff reminds us:
You didn’t get hurt by God — you got hurt by people inside the church.
And if you’re carrying wounds from religion or church culture, hear this…
God isn’t the one who failed you.
Grace is still real.
Healing is still possible.
And you still belong.

💬 If this hit you… you’re not alone.


— Harold E. Long

12/11/2025

🎄Go tell it on the mountain. The one that we've been waiting for!🎄

12/11/2025

🎄God Picked YOU on Purpose — Just Like the Perfect Christmas Tree 🎄

The Christmas tree hunt is officially on. Some people want a tall tree, some want a wide one, and some want one that doesn’t shed needles like it’s molting. We walk around, stare at trees from every angle, and pretend we know what we’re looking for. And then finally — there it is. “That’s the one.”
(At least until it falls over in the living room… but that’s another story.)

In a far greater way, God does that with us.

God picked you. Not because you’re perfectly symmetrical, smell like pine, or stand up straight — but because He knows exactly where you belong. There’s a corner of the world that needs your warmth, your joy, and yes, even your quirks. Some space out there has been waiting for the exact kind of light only you bring.

And here’s the wild part: God didn’t just choose you…
He paid the highest price to bring you home.

As 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “God bought you with a high price.”

That’s the true meaning of Christmas:

We have a Savior. His name is Jesus.

Chosen. Loved. Redeemed. Placed with purpose — even if we’re a little lopsided at times.

— Harold E. Long

12/11/2025

Hope Has a Key

December 11 – Light for the Weary Heart

Scripture
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

Reflection
Advent reminds us that God’s answer to darkness is not a lecture—it’s light.

Darkness comes in many forms. Sometimes it shows up as discouragement, unanswered questions, or exhaustion. Sometimes it comes through uncertainty about the future or concern for the people you love. And sometimes it simply feels like life has dimmed a bit, and you’re not sure how to brighten it again.

Into that world, Jesus steps forward and shines.

John doesn’t say the light avoids darkness—he says it shines *in* it. That means Jesus does not wait for your circumstances to improve before showing up. He does His best work right in the places you feel the most worn down.

For a church plant, darkness can sometimes feel practical—unknowns, transitions, timelines, construction delays, or the emotional weight of carrying vision and responsibility. But darkness never has the final say. Light does.

N. T. Wright once said, “The gospel is not good advice about what we should do. It is good news about what God has done.” In Advent, we don’t generate our own light—we receive the Light who comes to us.

If your heart feels dim today, let this truth steady you: Jesus is not intimidated by darkness. He enters it, fills it, and pushes it back one moment at a time.

You don’t have to fix everything. You have to follow the light you’ve been given.
Transformation Practice
Sit with a candle or soft light for two minutes today. As you do, ask Jesus to shine into one weary place in your heart.

Prayer
Jesus, shine Your light into the places where my heart feels weary or unclear. Strengthen my hope and guide my steps. Help me trust that Your light is stronger than anything I face. Lead me forward with peace and confidence, in Your holy name, Amen.

12/10/2025

There comes a point where the old story we’ve been telling ourselves just… expires.

You know, like milk. One day it’s fine, the next day it’s ruining your whole week.

For years, the story sounded something like:

“I’m in control.”

“I’m competent.”

“I can handle life on my own.”

Basically: “I don’t need help, I just need everyone to stop asking if I need help.”

But eventually, real honesty shows up and taps us on the shoulder—very politely, like it doesn’t want to bother us—

and we realize:

This story doesn’t fit anymore.

We didn’t outgrow it because we got weaker.

We outgrew it because it was never built for who we’re becoming.

Holding onto that old identity isn’t strength.

It’s resistance.

(It’s like trying to keep wearing your favorite shirt from 10 years ago. It still “technically” goes on, but breathing becomes more of a suggestion than a guarantee.)

And when the old version of ourselves starts slipping away, the real one steps forward.

That shift is uncomfortable.

Not “stepped on a Lego” uncomfortable—more like “why does personal growth always show up uninvited when I’m busy pretending I’m fine?”

But the discomfort isn’t a sign of weakness.

It’s a sign of alignment.

When we let go of the old story, we don’t collapse.

We actually begin.

We become honest.

We become grounded.

We become us—the version that doesn’t need to control everything just to feel safe.

Letting go isn’t losing.

It’s finally making room for the truth.

— Harold E. Long

12/10/2025

Hope Has a Key

December 10 – Courage for the Next Step

Scripture
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

“Take heart! It is I. Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27)

Reflection
Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is moving forward while holding Jesus’ hand.

When God told Joshua to lead Israel into the Promised Land, Joshua had every reason to feel intimidated. New territory. New responsibility. New challenges. And a whole lot of unknowns. The kind of situation that makes even the strongest leaders say, “Are you sure you meant me?”

But God doesn’t tell Joshua to eliminate fear—He tells him to take courage, because God is with him.

The same is true in the New Testament when the disciples faced a terrifying storm. Jesus didn’t shame them. He spoke two simple words that changed everything: “Take heart.”

Courage grows when presence is near.

As Transformation Church continues stepping into the future—new building, new ministries, new relationships, new opportunities—it’s normal to feel a mix of excitement and uncertainty. A big vision requires enormous courage.

But here’s the good news: You don’t take the next step alone.

Karl Rahner once wrote, “In the torment of the insufficiency of everything attainable, we learn that ultimately in this world there is no finished symphony.” In other words, we walk with a God who meets us in our unfinished places and strengthens us as we go.

Your next step may not feel big, but it matters. The size of the step doesn’t measure courage, but by the One who walks with you.

You don’t need a five-year plan to be courageous today. You only need faith for the next faithful step.

Transformation Practice
Identify one step—small or large—that requires courage today. Take that step prayerfully, trusting that Jesus is with you.

Prayer
Jesus, give me courage for the step in front of me. Calm my fears and steady my heart with the assurance of Your presence. Teach me to walk forward in trust, knowing that You go before me and stay beside me in every moment. Strengthen my spirit as I follow You, in Your holy name, Amen.

12/10/2025

"I knew it in my heart."

Faith didn’t arrive as lightning from the sky. It came slowly, through questions, doubt, failure and grace—learning that God meets very human people in very human moments.


Read more:

Long before Kevin Costner became a Hollywood leading man known for epic dramas and Westerns, his first performance was in a church nativity play, where, armed with a shepherd s staff, he unknowingly

12/10/2025

Hope Has a Key

December 9 – The Unexpected Ways God Provides

Scripture
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

“The ravens brought Elijah bread and meat in the morning…” (1 Kings 17:6)

Reflection
God rarely provides in the way we expect. If anything, Scripture teaches us that His provision often comes from unexpected directions.

Elijah certainly didn’t expect ravens to deliver breakfast. Israel didn’t expect manna to fall from the sky. Mary didn’t expect wise men from distant lands to walk into a barn with gold. Joseph didn’t expect God to speak to him more through dreams than through daytime conversations.

But God provided—precisely what they needed, exactly when they needed it.

The same is true for us.

As Transformation Church prepares for what’s ahead—new spaces, new ministry, new opportunities—we trust a God who knows how to provide in ways we would never script. Maybe the provision comes from someone we didn’t expect. Perhaps it comes across as last-minute timing. Maybe it comes through resources that seem unlikely. But it comes.

Provision is never about our cleverness. It’s always about God’s faithfulness.

Avery Dulles once said, “Faith is a way of seeing.” When God provides, faith helps us recognize His hand, even in unexpected packaging.

So if you’re waiting today—waiting for clarity, finances, strength, encouragement, or direction—remember this: God is not limited by what you see. His provision may already be on the way, carried by something as unlikely as a raven… or an open door you didn’t plan on.

Transformation Practice
Think of one place where you need God’s provision. Ask Him to open your eyes to the unexpected ways He may already be providing for you.

Prayer
Jesus, thank You for being my provider. Open my eyes to the ways You are already at work, even when I do not recognize them at first. Strengthen my trust in Your timing and Your faithfulness. I place my needs before You with confidence in Your care, in Your holy name, Amen.

12/08/2025

Hope Has a Key

December 8 – When God Uses Ordinary People

Scripture
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel…” (Micah 5:2)
“God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27)

Reflection
If God were going to save the world, you’d think He would choose a major city, a political powerhouse, or at least somewhere with decent parking. But instead, He decided Bethlehem—a village so small that it often didn’t appear on maps.

And the people involved? Not celebrities, not royalty, not influencers—just ordinary men and women going about their ordinary lives.

This tells us something profound: God delights in using the unexpected.

Mary was a young woman from a humble family. Joseph was a carpenter trying to figure out how to handle the most confusing situation of his life. The shepherds were blue-collar workers doing a midnight shift. None of them was famous. None of them was polished. None of them had the résumé you’d expect.

But God chose them.

And He still chooses ordinary people today.

This is excellent news for Transformation Church, because most of us feel pretty ordinary. We’re not trying to impress anyone—we’re just trying to follow Jesus, love our city, and not burn the coffee at Grounds For Hope.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that God intentionally chooses what seems weak, minor, or unlikely so He can display His strength through it. He loves using ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” It is God’s presence—not our perfection—that makes us valuable.

If you ever feel too unqualified, too simple, or too ordinary to matter in God’s story, let Bethlehem remind you: God starts big things in small places.

Transformation Practice
Name one way God has used an ordinary moment or ability in your life. Thank Him for working through what seems small.

Prayer
Jesus, thank You for choosing ordinary people like me. Help me trust that nothing in my life is too small for You to use. Teach me to walk in humility and faith, knowing that Your strength shines through my weakness. I offer You my ordinary life today, in Your holy name, Amen.

12/07/2025

Hope Has a Key

December 7 – Learning to Listen Again

Scripture
"Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10)
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27)

Reflection
Listening is more complicated than it sounds. We hear a lot—notifications, conversations, background noise, drive-thru orders, podcasts, and the occasional suspicious sound coming from your car—but listening is different.

Listening means tuning your heart to the voice that matters most.

When Samuel first heard God speak, he didn't recognize the voice. He thought it was Eli. It took time, guidance, and repeated calls before Samuel learned to say, "Speak, Lord."

Advent is a season that trains our ears again. Not because God hasn't been speaking, but because our world is loud. Our schedules are full. Our minds are crowded. And sometimes, without meaning to, we drift into survival mode instead of listening mode.

But Jesus assures us that His sheep hear His voice. Not perfect sheep. Not always-confident sheep. Just His sheep.

The more you lean toward Jesus, the more recognizable His voice becomes—steady, gentle, truthful, and never condemning. His voice guides rather than shames. It leads rather than pressures.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, "The first service we owe to others is the service of listening." If that's true with people, how much more true is it with God?

Listening is an act of love. It's an act of obedience. And it's an act of trust.

So today, slow down long enough to hear again. God is not silent. He is speaking—often more softly than the noise around you, but always with clarity for the heart that leans in.

Transformation Practice
Take five minutes today in complete silence. No agenda. No requests. Whisper, "Speak, Lord," and be present.

Prayer
Jesus, teach my heart to listen again. Quiet the noise within me so I can hear Your voice with clarity, peace, and trust. Help me recognize Your presence in the still moments of my day. I want to follow Your voice above every other, in Your holy name, Amen.

12/06/2025

Hope Has a Key

December 6 – The God Who Draws Near

Scripture
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him.” (Psalm 145:18)

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” (John 1:14)

Reflection
One of the most staggering truths of Advent is this: God does not stay distant. He is not far away, watching from the heavens, waiting for you to get your act together or earn His attention. Advent proclaims the opposite—God moves toward us.

When John writes that the Word “made His dwelling among us,” he uses a word that means Jesus “pitched His tent” with humanity. He didn’t visit; He settled in.

That means God is not allergic to your struggles, unmoved by your fears, or intimidated by your weaknesses. He steps directly into them.

This is good news for real people with real lives—especially for a church plant filled with people who are juggling dreams, faith, responsibilities, emotions, late-night worries, and Amazon deliveries that may or may not be Christmas gifts.

If you’ve ever wondered whether God feels near, Advent answers with a resounding yes.

Gregory of Nyssa once wrote that in Christ, “God comes in a form that is familiar to us so that we might become familiar with Him.” Jesus comes close so that closeness becomes our normal, not the exception.

But sometimes the nearness of God is not a feeling—it’s a truth you lean on. Feelings fluctuate. Truth does not. And Scripture promises again and again that God draws near to those who call on Him.

So today, whether you feel full of faith or running on fumes, remember this: God hasn’t taken a step back. He is closer than you think.

Transformation Practice
Pause three times today—morning, afternoon, evening—and whisper: “Jesus, draw near.” Let the truth of His nearness settle over your mind and heart.

Prayer
Jesus, draw near to me today. Help me recognize Your presence in the middle of my ordinary moments, my questions, and my responsibilities. Fill me with the quiet confidence that You are closer than my breath. I rest in Your nearness, in Your holy name, Amen.

12/05/2025

Hope Has a Key

December 5 – Hope in the Delays

Scripture
“For the vision awaits an appointed time… though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:3)

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)

Reflection
Advent is full of delays. Israel waited centuries for a Messiah. Mary waited months for a birth no one fully understood. Joseph waited for an explanation that made sense. The shepherds waited for dawn. The Magi waited for the star to move again.

Waiting is not a punishment in Scripture. Waiting is preparation.

But waiting feels different when you’re the one living it. You pray, you plan, you prepare… and then something slows down. The timeline shifts—the progress stalls. The thing you were certain would happen suddenly takes longer.

If you’re part of a church plant, this probably feels familiar. Sometimes God moves fast. Sometimes, he takes the scenic route.

But Scripture reassures us: the vision is still coming. God has not abandoned it. He has not forgotten it. He is simply aligning it with the “appointed time”—the moment when all the pieces fit, even the ones that looked random.

Hebrews reminds us to hold onto hope because the One who promised is faithful. Not because the timing is predictable. Not because the path is straightforward. But because God does not break His word.

Athanasius once wrote, “He became what we are so He might make us what He is.” Jesus understands the waiting because He stepped into time Himself.

So when things feel delayed—your prayers, your dreams, your clarity, your next step—remember this simple truth: God is never late. He is simply preparing something you’re not ready to see yet.
Transformation Practice
Think of one delay in your life that frustrates you. Speak this aloud today: “Jesus, please help me trust Your timing more than my own.”

Prayer
Jesus, please give me hope in the delays. Please remind me that your timing is perfect even when mine is anxious. Help me wait with faith, peace, and expectation. In Your name, I pray these things, Amen.