October 2026
Issue 247

How to please God: a fresh idea

The problem is that when you research pleasing God, you come to a laundry list of things you must do. Because of our sinful nature, we can't do all those things and do them consistently. We can't get our salvation by works. Can we get God's pleasure that way?

Should we burn ourselves out with busyness or should we throw up our hands and not do anything?

Jesus understands we all have other responsibilities that take up time as well. How do we please God without becoming exhausted or resentful in the process?

This month's feature article offers a fresh approach, based on something crucial Jesus said. Check it out here…

You reached out

I was holding on for dear life,
yeah, I could barely stand.
That's when you reached out to me
and took me by the hand.

I've never known a love like this.
It caught me by surprise.
It only took a moment
for me to realize,
I want this love forever.
I want a life with you.
It's what I've always wanted,
and yet it feels brand new.

Our days are filled with twists and turns.
The path is never straight.
If somehow love should come along,
can it ever be too late?

Like that sorry prodigal
was lost and now I'm found.
The second you reached out to me,
you turned my life around.

I've never known a love like this.
It caught me by surprise.
It only took a moment
for me to realize,
I want this love forever.
I want a life with you.
It's what I've always wanted
and yet it feels brand new.

Yeah, your love made me brand new.

~ Jack Zavada, inspiration-for-singles.com, 2026 ~

Why you can't disappoint God

But it's not as simple as that. Two of God's attributes actually make it impossible for you to disappoint him. Not only that, but we're talking about your heavenly Father here, and unlike earthly fathers, he has a love for you that's faithful and eternal.

If you think God's opinion of you has changed for the worse, this article will show you—via the parable of the Prodigal Son—how your Father's forgiveness is still shocking today: Why you can't disappoint God.

When God says "No"…

Hope is the North Star of the Christian life, the conviction that God is good and his love is unwavering. Hope for Hurting Singles shows you how to find hope when you need it most:

• Hope in the midst of loneliness,
  
• Hope to pull you out of depression,
  
• Hope to quench your anger,
  
• Hope to come back from rejection,
  
• Hope to conquer fear,
  
• Hope in the face of illness or disability,
  
• Hope to defeat bitterness.

A hope-filled life knows God as a loving Father, a Protector who never deserts his children. The great men and women of the Bible put their hope in God when their circumstances might have driven them to despair. They understood how surrendering to God brings life's greatest peace.

Hope for Hurting Singles is a Christian guide to the trials of the single life, based on the author's 45 years of searching for the truth. Those truths are here, along with the dead-ends he took along the way.

You'll learn lessons that will give you genuine hope, right now. It's not an autobiography but instead is a collection of timeless principles and steps to bring you through your toughest troubles.

Hope for Hurting Singles is $10.99 in paperback and $3.99 for the Kindle version. Hope is what you're looking for—this book shows you where to find it!

Please God by doing the right thing

From politicians to corporate executives to celebrities, high-profile newsmakers are routinely setting bad examples. The virtues of honesty, compassion, purity, and responsibility no longer seem to matter.

The reason is simple. These bad actors are not grounded in Jesus Christ. The Bible stands not simply as the key to eternal life, but as the highest moral code ever written. It is the surest guide on how to treat other people, yet too many today ignore it.

As Christians, you and I need to match our deed with our beliefs. Then unbelievers will take notice. The Holy Spirit is our ally, leading us on the path of righteousness. Here are some tips on how to do the right thing.

October QOTM: Exhausting

We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. When Jesus died on the cross 2,000 years ago, he paid the cost for our sins past, present and future.

But when I want to thank God for what he has done for me, I am led to help my neighbor. You and I are the instruments God uses to bless other people. God is pleased when we obey his commands in selfless good works that bring him glory.

I used to belong to a works-centered church and it was, indeed, exhausting. What's more, you never knew where you stood. How much was enough? Thank God for giving us a Savior who removed that impossible burden.

Delight in God's love for you. Pass your delight on to others and they will want what you have.

If your faith is drooping, try these quotes!

If your spirits are drooping, I've compiled a mega-page of quotations on faith to give them a lift. These nuggets o' wisdom don't even need dipping sauce, they're so tasty.

You'll find quotes from famous Christians, a few wise celebrities, and a couple authors. Quotations draw lots of visitors to inspiration-for-singles.com because they actually are inspiring.

So take a few minutes to read these faith quotes. You'll be glad you did!

This is something God likes

I went on to earn two degrees in English, publish four western novels, and make my way as a writer and editor. These newsletters are a result of that also. Sixty years later, I still thank God for bringing Mrs. Richardson into my life.

You can be an encourager just like she was. These are hard times. Everybody needs support and praise. A friend or coworker may be struggling, and you can help. Remind them of their good qualities. Listen when they need to talk. Let them know God loves them and places great worth on them.

When someone has encouraged you, as Mrs. Richardson did with me, you have a duty to pass that love on. God has placed you in the right place at the right time to build someone up. Don't miss that wonderful blessing.

You know it's on the way...

We're heading into cold and flu season. It takes only 15 or 20 minutes to get a flu shot, and they're available at most pharmacies. But here's something you may not have thought of: Get your sick supplies ready now, before you catch the bug.

I'm talking over-the-counter cough and cold and flu medicines, facial tissue, mouthwash, pain reliever, canned soup, and anything else you need to ease symptoms. Don't wait until you're sick and miserable and have to drag yourself to the sto/re or have to depend on a friend to get this stuff!

Trust me, when you're sick, it will be a pleasure to walk down the hall to a closet or medicine cabinet to get these supplies, rather than have to get in your car or on public transportation in the cold and snow.

Planning is a mark of maturity and wisdom. You can do that even if you're not a Boy Scout.

September newsletter problems

Each issue gets run through a sp/am analyzer and test-mailed to me first to make sure it passes my Yahoo Mail sp/am filter, but no system is perfect.

I typically mail the newsletter on the second or third Wednesday of the month (depending on when I finish it) at 1 p.m. EST. If you don't receive it by those Wednesdays, please check your Sp/am folder.

If you don't receive it by the fourth Wednesday of the month, please email me HERE, and I'll forward one out to you.

Thanks for your understanding!

Even when you can't understand...

Sometimes he gives us things years later, when the timing is perfect. Most often he gives strength and courage to get us through our current painful circumstances.

These singles need your prayer-help. You don't need to toil over them a long time, and you don't need to make your request in King James English. Simply ask God to meet their real needs. He knows what to do:

Here are October's prayer requests:

Cherlyn: Physical and emotional healing for herself and family.

Annie: For a friend's return to church.

Sharon: For work and opportunities to serve.

Natalie: Freedom from pride, anger, despondency, shame and depression.

Dawn: Peace, calm, direction.

Lisa: Physical healing for her brother.

Jenny: Emotional healing.

And if you'd like to get on the Prayer List, email your request using our secure Contact Form.. We'll use only your first name to ensure your privacy.

That, fellow singleite, is the end of October's Inspire-O-Gram. Thanks for letting me come into your computer or phone again.

The winter holidays will be starting soon. Here's a thought from pastor and author David Jeremiah: "No matter what our circumstance, we can find a reason to be thankful."     Until November, God bless you!

PS: Not a Christian yet? Find out how to become a Christian.