I haven’t written anything here in quite a while.
As often happens in the Spring, life shifts into overdrive as the weather begins to turn nicer. Weekends filled up quickly. We would be out of town, then come home to several days of rain. Just when the ground dried out enough to think about mowing the lawn, we’d be gone again. Then more rain would arrive.
Before I knew it, the lawn had become embarrassingly tall.
As I stood there looking at it, I realized something. The grass hadn’t gotten that high because I neglected it. It had gotten that high because a lot of little delays had piled up over time. Each delay seemed reasonable. Each one had an explanation.
Yet the grass kept growing.
That got me thinking about Biblical interpretation.
Most people don’t wake up one morning believing something completely contrary to Scripture. Usually, it happens gradually. A verse is taken out of context. A difficult passage is overlooked. A cultural assumption slips in unnoticed. Then another. And another.
Like grass after a spring rain, error has a way of growing when left unattended.
The encouraging part is that God has given us the perfect tool for tending our spiritual understanding: His Word.
When I finally started the mower, I didn’t waste time complaining about the rain or regretting my busy schedule. I simply began mowing.
Maybe that’s a lesson for all of us.
When we discover that our thinking has become tangled with assumptions, traditions, or distractions, we don’t need to despair. We simply return to Scripture and allow God to do His work.
The lawn may have been overgrown.
But it wasn’t lost.
And neither are we.
With all that rain, at least I was able to make a few videos. I uploaded several shorts to YouTube. The full width videos below are just three of those. Check out my YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@stevenstoops3121/shorts
Many believers carry burdens Christ never intended them to bear. Old failures, lingering guilt, and the memory of past sins can sometimes feel louder than the promises of God. Yet the message of the cross declares a different reality.
In this short devotional video, Condemned No Longer, we reflect on the victory Christ secured through His death and resurrection. When Jesus cried, “It is finished,” He broke every weapon of condemnation that stood against His people. The accusations of the enemy were silenced, the debt of sin was paid in full, and the power of guilt was forever defeated.
Drawing inspiration from Psalm 76:3, this meditation reminds us that the arrows of accusation and the sword of judgment have been shattered by our Redeemer. What once threatened our souls now serves only as a testimony to God’s saving grace.
If you have ever struggled with shame, regret, or the feeling that your past still defines you, this message offers a powerful reminder of the freedom found in Christ. Because of His finished work on the cross, believers can rest in the assurance that they are forgiven, redeemed, and condemned no longer.
Condemned No Longer
The Christian life is not defined by a strong start, but by faithful endurance. Persevere is a narrated worship video that encourages believers to keep pressing forward through every challenge, temptation, and season of weariness. Accompanied by evocative watercolor imagery of exhausted marathon runners crossing the finish line, this video illustrates the spiritual race every follower of Christ is called to run.
As the world distracts, the flesh seeks comfort, and the enemy attacks steadfast faith, God’s Spirit empowers His people to endure. This inspiring reflection reminds viewers that perseverance is the mark of genuine faith and that the Lord remains faithful to sustain His children until the race is complete.
Ideal for worship services, sermon introductions, small groups, and personal devotion.
Steven Stoops -- TUCOR Five One Seven Productions 
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