SPARK: The boost we need to take on the week!

…BUT GOD

Even if I’m in the waiting room right now (and that’s a whole other article), my life has been filled with “…but God” moments. It’s funny how clearly I can see them now—only in hindsight. Those pivotal times when everything felt uncertain, and yet, God was quietly at work, redirecting my path.

Looking back, I see His hand in my move from Montreal to Toronto. At the time, it felt like a leap into the unknown, but now I recognize His intervention in every step. I see Him in how I met my husband, in the launch of my business, and in the milestones we hit—like last year’s sales goals that once felt impossible. None of it was coincidence. It was divine orchestration. I couldn’t see it then, but I can now.

One of my favourite words in the Bible is “but.” Because when “but God” appears in Scripture, it signals a turning point. It’s where the story shifts—when what was lost is found, when death gives way to life, when blindness becomes sight, when there was no way…

Those two simple words are packed with possibilities. They speak of a God who interrupts despair with hope, impossibility with promise, and endings with new beginnings. They reveal His nature—gracious, compassionate, redemptive. A God who saves in more ways than we can count.

In fact, the phrase “but God” appears 587 times in the New English Translation. And almost every time, it follows a moment of weakness, crisis, or failure—when human strength has run out, when the storm has hit, when it seems like the story is over. That’s when God steps in. He has a track record of epic comebacks.

Some of the Bible’s greatest heroes experienced a “but God” moment:

• Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 20:1–3)

• Joseph, betrayed by his brothers: “But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles” (Acts 7:9–10) and “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…” (Genesis 50:20)

• David, relentlessly pursued: “But God did not give him into [Saul’s] hands” (1 Samuel 23:14)

• And Jesus himself: “You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead” (Acts 3:15). As Matthew 19:26 reminds us, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Every one of these stories pivoted on those two words.

When “but God” enters the narrative, get ready for divine intervention.

So if you're in a tough season right now—waiting, praying, wondering if God is even listening—take heart. “But God” moments don’t show up in comfort. They come when the odds are stacked against you, when strength is gone, when you’ve run out of resources and options. It might feel like you’re down to your last strike—but the game isn’t over yet. Maybe your “But God” moment is just around the corner.

And trust me—you won’t want to miss it.

Allow Joy To Reintroduce Himself

I didn’t make it to church today, but God still had a word for me—about joy.
Do you realize that your happiness matters to God?

Psalm 16:11 says, “In His presence there is fullness of joy.”

When I look back, I realize that much of my happiness has often come from reaching my goals and fulfilling my dreams:
“I’ll be happy when I finish this degree…”
“When I land the job…”
“When I earn this much…”
“When he proposes…”
“When we buy a house…”

We build our happiness around people, accomplishments, and things. And I think that’s why so many marriages crumble, why people grow to resent their dream jobs—because we’ve made our joy conditional on outcomes.

I’ll be honest: I’ve often tied my happiness to achievement. And sometimes, I’ve seen God the same way—believing He wanted to use me to accomplish something.

But this message from Pastor Tauren Wells reminded me of a deeper truth: the greatest treasure is simply being loved by God—because He is the essence of joy.

Pastor David Murray once described seven kinds of happiness:

• Nature happiness

• Social happiness

• Vocational happiness

• Physical happiness

• Intellectual happiness

• Humor happiness

• Spiritual happiness

Because God is so good, He allows everyone to experience the first six. But they are only partial joys. Many of us try to use those six to fill the emptiness that only the seventh—spiritual happiness—can truly satisfy. When we allow God's ways to shape and seal our hearts, He amplifies all the other kinds of joy. But it starts with believing this: God is uniquely invested in your happiness. And when Jesus becomes your centre and your seal, joy flows through every part of life.

I invite you to listen to “Allow Joy to Reintroduce Himself” by Tauren Wells.
I hope you’ll rediscover—the joy that sits at the very heart of what God deeply wants for you.

Jamie MacDonald – Desperate

Singer and songwriter Jamie MacDonald spent years developing her talent behind the scenes before stepping into the spotlight. After lending her voice to background vocals, choirs, and vocal production for various artists, as well as writing music for film and TV, Jamie made a striking impression with her heartfelt single, Desperate.

Desperate is a powerful anthem born from a deep longing for God’s presence. For Jamie, songwriting became a refuge—a way to process pain and turn vulnerability into something beautiful. The track speaks directly to those who feel at their lowest, offering a reminder that God draws near to the broken-hearted and invites us to come boldly to Him in times of need.

Her message reflects the heart of Hebrews 4:16: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Jamie’s journey is a testament to the truth that God hears us—even when we feel undeserving. Through her testimony and music, Jamie MacDonald reminds us that no matter how far we’ve strayed or how broken we feel, the door to God’s love and redemption is always available.

Morrissa Nicole’s "Ready to Receive"

“Let creation cry for His love

For the Lord has been good to us

So we raise our hands high above

Ready to receive You, ready to receive

Ready to receive You, ready to receive”

One night, during a prayer service, I passionately shared my prayer request with the attendees. For months, I had been struggling to find direction in my life. I asked for prayer—prayer for insight and open doors over the next season of my life. It was a cry for help. I was desperate for an answer or at least to be pointed in the right direction.

After voicing my request, a church member spoke words of encouragement, and under the unction of the Lord, she asked, “Are you ready?” At first, I was confused. I answered her and began to list all the ways I had naturally prepared for this season, thinking that would be the right response. But she simply asked again—this time with more urgency—and immediately, I knew this question was coming straight from heaven to my heart: Morrissa, are you ready for what God is about to do in your life?

“Yes, Lord, I am ‘Ready.’”

You may be facing that same question right now. You might be standing at a fork in the road, unsure of your next step, just as I was. The beauty of walking with God is the assurance that, though we may not always know where we’re headed, we can always know He is right beside us. As long as we walk hand-in-hand with Jesus, we can live in a place of confidence and expectancy.

Today, I want to stir up anticipation within you. Through faith, let’s cultivate fertile ground in our hearts. Just like I did, make the commitment to embrace your own readiness for healing, miracles, answers to long-awaited questions, and whatever else the Lord has in store for you. Know that our God is a generous God, and He is always willing to give—so long as we are Ready to Receive.

Will you turn your cup towards heaven today? Let God pour into you whatever He wills. You don’t need to feel lost or directionless. Like me, seek the face of the Lord, and in finding Him, He will reveal His heart for you.

Today, choose to become spiritually ready. Align yourself with God’s purpose for your life. This is a call to action—a call for all of us to prepare our hearts to receive from the Lord.

Morrissa Nicole

Brooke Nicholls - Enough

“I can run 

 still You meet me where I am 

 When I’m done 

 You’re where I begin again 

 In the lowest place I’ve been 

 You’re the lifter of my head 

So I run to You 

 emptied and undone …” 

Shame tells us we’re guilty and insufficient, but Jesus says we’re guiltless and promises that His grace is sufficient in all of our weaknesses. Whatever state we might be in, we can always come running into His loving arms. And the good news is, the things we once said, did, or experienced have been forgiven. In Christ, we are made new. God’s redemptive love frees us to let go of the mess of the past and move forward in confidence, knowing there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! 

Lean in… this is for you: Your story isn’t finished! Jesus wants to restore you, redeem you, transform you, love you, walk with you, care for you, talk with you, hold you, lead you, heal you, comfort you, teach you, and do so much more. 

His love will never abandon you. I pray that you would throw off the chains holding you back, letting God meet you, taking you from glory to glory.

- Brooke

Listen to this new song fresh off Brooke Nicholls’ new album

Brooke Nicholls is a Worship Leader, Songwriter and Author from Hamilton, Ontario. When she's not at her home church, she's leading worship at different Churches and Ministries across Canada and beyond. Brooke is a ten-time Canadian Gospel Music Award winner, including being named the Female Vocalist of the Year four years in a row. Her new album ‘Glory To God’ was nominated for a 2024 Juno Award and her devotional books have been Number#1 Christian Best-Sellers on Amazon. Brooke is married to Steve and they have two daughters.