Some cowboys teach with their words, but the best ones teach with their lives. Stephen did both. Even as the stones flew, his heart stayed fixed on Jesus—and his last words sounded just like the Savior he loved.

When Stephen faced death, he wasn’t looking at the crowd—he was looking into Heaven. God pulled back the curtain and let him see the glory of Jesus standing at the Father’s right hand. Heaven isn’t galaxies away; it’s just beyond the veil. Like a cowboy spotting the ranch house from the far pasture, Stephen saw what was already near: God’s presence, God’s care, God’s glory.

A ranch hand doesn’t abandon the herd in a blizzard, and a true follower of Christ doesn’t abandon the truth when trials hit. Stephen wasn’t chasing suffering, but he wasn’t about to deny his Savior to avoid it. His courage echoes through every believer who chooses faith over fear.

Some trails call for grit, courage, and a heart that won’t budge. Stephen showed us what it looks like to plant your boots and stand firm for Jesus—no matter who’s watching or what it costs.

Some cowboys ride with natural grit, but Stephen reminds us that real strength comes straight from the Lord. He wasn’t full of faith and the Spirit because he tried harder—it was because he surrendered deeper.

When a cowhand gives his word, he pledges full allegiance to the brand he serves. Stephen did the same with Jesus Christ, even when it cost him everything.

As the stones flew and the crowd raged, Stephen never wavered. His dying words weren’t bitterness or anger—they were prayers of forgiveness, just like Jesus. That kind of loyalty comes from a heart fully surrendered to the Trail Boss.

Sometimes you’ve gotta stand up in the stirrups to see what’s coming. Stephen did exactly that—not on a horse, but in his faith.

When the pressure was on and the religious leaders tried to silence him, Stephen didn’t back down. He spoke the truth with courage, clarity, and conviction—even knowing it might cost him everything. That’s the kind of grit our world needs today.

There’s a saying on the ranch: “Age is just a number until you try to get on a horse you haven’t ridden in twenty years.” Moses probably felt the same way when God showed up in a burning bush and told him it was time to saddle up for the biggest job of his life.

After decades in the wilderness, Moses thought his best days were behind him. But God was using every dusty trail, every quiet season, every failure to shape him into the leader He needed him to be.

Ever ridden through a storm you didn’t see coming?

Every cowboy knows the skies can turn on you in a heartbeat—but Joseph’s story reminds us that God’s hand is steady even when the thunder rolls.

Joseph faced betrayal, slavery, false accusations, and prison… yet God was working behind the scenes the whole time. What others meant for harm, God was shaping into something good.

Saddlin’ up with Abraham this week reminds us of what it really means to ride for the brand. A true cowboy stays loyal to the outfit—no matter the weather, no matter the trail, no matter how long the journey feels.

Abraham did the same with God. He trusted the Trail Boss when the path was unfamiliar, the map was unclear, and the promises seemed a long way off on the horizon. And because he kept ridin’, he became known as a friend of God.

🌄 When everything else in life feels shaky, here’s one truth you can stake your whole life on: the Lord is good. Not sometimes good. Not good when we’ve earned it. Always, unfailingly, unchangingly good.

Today’s devotional, “Because the Lord is Good,” reminds us that every blessing—from breath in our lungs to the hope of eternity—flows from His faithful hand. That’s why every day ought to be Thanksgiving.

Let’s live with grateful hearts, trusting the One whose goodness never runs dry. 🤠🙏

Some praises don’t rise from sunny days—they rise from storms. Today’s devotional, “The Sacrifice of Praise,” reminds us that thanksgiving offered in hard times is one of the most powerful acts of faith we can give.

A cowboy can’t control the weather, the drought, or the flood… but he can choose to trust the One who sends the rain. When we give thanks in the middle of the storm, we’re declaring that God is still good, still present, and still in control.

Let’s choose praise—even when the skies are dark.

Ever notice how a cowboy sings louder when he trusts the trail boss? That’s how our worship works too. When we remember who God is—our Creator, our Shepherd, our Guide—our hearts can’t help but overflow with a song.

Today’s devotional, “Songs of the Heart,” reminds us that worship isn’t about performance… it’s about gratitude. Even the dustiest, off-key cowboy hymn sounds beautiful when it’s sung from a heart that trusts the Lord.

Let the Good Shepherd fill your heart—and your lungs—with praise!

A joyful heart changes everything. When we serve the Lord out of gratitude instead of obligation, even the hardest work starts to feel lighter. Today’s devotional, “Serving with a Smile,” is a reminder that our attitude in service matters just as much as the task itself.

Let’s saddle up and serve the King with a smile today!

🎉 Ever notice how we’ll holler for a touchdown but whisper our hallelujahs? Cowboys, it’s time to flip that script. God’s done too much in our lives to keep quiet about it!

Every cowboy knows the truth: when everybody pulls their weight, the whole ranch thrives. The early church saw the same payoff. Once they handled their conflict with wisdom and unity, God didn’t just smooth things over—He multiplied their impact.

The result?

Unity restored

New leaders stepping up

The Word spreading like wildfire

Growth accelerating

Even hardened priests coming to faith

That’s the power of faithful service. When we choose to serve instead of gripe, build instead of divide, and step up instead of sit back, God blesses the whole outfit.

Out on a cattle drive, there’s no such thing as a one-man show. Even the best trail boss needs solid hands riding alongside him. God’s Kingdom works the same way—nobody can do it all, and nobody is meant to.

The early church didn’t grow because a few people burned themselves out. It grew because everyone stepped in, stepped up, and served where they were gifted. Character, wisdom, and Spirit-filled hearts made the difference.

When a herd breaks into a run, a smart cowboy doesn’t sit in the saddle and hope it sorts itself out—he rides hard to cut off the stampede before somebody gets hurt.

The early church hit a moment like that. A real problem surfaced, and the apostles could’ve ignored it, taken it personal, or blown everything up with a bad “fix.” Instead, they faced it fast, handled it openly, and wisely handed the job to others who could help.

Every problem in a church is a chance to check our ministry, trust our Lord, and show our love—if we don’t let panic or pride take the reins.

Grumbling spreads faster than wildfire on a dry prairie. A cowboy knows that complaining around the campfire never fixed a busted fence—and it never fixed a busted church either.

In Acts 6, the issue wasn’t the concern… it was the complaining. Instead of riding up to the folks who could actually help, the early believers started whispering in the shadows. That same poison has wrecked more churches than persecution ever has.

If you’ve ever felt overlooked, unappreciated, or frustrated in your church family, this devotional is a needed reminder: grumbling divides—going to the right person heals.

When a herd grows, even the best cowboy can miss a calf now and then. The early church faced the same thing—God was blessing their socks off, people were getting saved by the thousands, and right in the middle of all that momentum… things started slipping through the cracks.

But here’s the cowboy truth: growth brings responsibility. A bigger outfit needs a stronger system. The question isn’t if problems will show up, but whether we’ll handle them with wisdom or let the dust-up derail us.