The Friday Five (3.13.26)
A Few Things for My Friends
Hey!
Every week, I share five things to encourage and equip in daily life with God.
This week:
Holy and Pleasing
The God Who Sings Over You (Ryan Huguley)
Our Selfish Belly Buttons
A Prayer Wheel
Hard Questions, Winsome Answers
Enjoy!
MK
⬇️ Read my book on spiritual disciplines! ⬇️
Read the forward and introduction | Grab a copy here | Here’s a Discussion Guide
1. Holy and Pleasing
A few months ago, Carly and I attended the first night of Passion 2026 here in Texas, and it was an evening I will remember for a long time. 45,000 students gathered to worship our God was an electric experience!
Recordings from the weekend have been released, and I’ve been waiting to hear a particular one again since that night. It doesn’t have a fancy music video with it - and it might be better as you get to listen to the lyrics and take it in.
The song is called Holy and Pleasing:
[Chorus]
Let my life be a sacrifice
Holy and pleasing to You
My heart, I bring as an offering
Holy and pleasing to You
[Verse 1]
Here before Your altar
Jesus, I surrender
Take the highest place again
I lay down my own plans
All I am in Your hands
Come and have Your way, Amen
[Chorus]
Let my life be a sacrifice
Holy and pleasing to You
My heart, I bring as an offering
Holy and pleasing to You
[Verse 2]
Anything You ask me
Let my one response be
Yes to You and You alone
Everything You're after is my alabaster
Emptied out before Your throne
[Bridge]
Let it be a sweet sound
One that makes Your heart proud
This will be my worship
Jesus, You are worth it
Let it all be incense
Rising to the heavens
This will be my worship
Jesus, You are worth it
Let it be a sweet sound
One that makes Your heart proud
This will be my worship
Jesus, You are worth it
Let it all be incense
Rising to the heavens
This will be my worship
Jesus, You are worth it
2. The God Who Sings Over You
Ryan Huguley takes a minute to walk around Zephaniah 3:17, and you should follow the path laid out to consider what God says about himself and how He delights over you. I’m preaching on the joy of Heaven this weekend, and this verse has been rolling around in my head.
Read Ryan’s piece here. Thanks for this, Ryan!
3. Our Selfish Belly Buttons
For 15 years, I’ve referenced a PDF of quotes from one of my professors at Dallas Theological Seminary, Dr. John D. Hannah.
I took every class I could from Dr. Hannah. In the last house we lived in during our time in Dallas, I realized one day that we moved in down the street from him - and you know I walked our dog every afternoon by his house just hoping for a brief conversation with the man I admired so much!
Students take his classes to learn the course material - and to learn from him. It was the rabbit trails in class that I didn’t want to miss, the quotable moments that gave perspective and distilled experience to a classroom of 26 year olds.
So, here’s three quotes from Dr. Hannah - and a collection of quotes for you to consider.
Oh, God, deliver me from myself! Not, "Oh how I love Jesus," but "How much Jesus loves me." We have met the enemy, and he is us. To have a revival, we must forget our selfish belly buttons.
The Puritans kept diaries. Today we call people on the phone. Without writing, you can't develop your mind. You can look back in you diary and realize it is a sin to be despondent because "He has been so good to me." It is also helpful in times of despair, when you feel you haven't accomplished anything.
We want too much too soon, being too young, because we will think our brilliance organized and orchestrated it. Joy comes from working excessively hard but still only receiving it by God's grace--knowing it could never have come any other way. If I alone did it, without the touch of God, it is not worth having.
4. A Prayer Wheel
Our church is praying throughout the year in one hour blocks. Individuals sign up for a slot, and for many it’s the first time they have spent a full hour in continuous prayer. Our team created a prayer wheel to guide the time, and I’ve found it helpful in my own time blocks. We’re creating a 20 minute version for our kids ministry this summer, and I’m excited to see our children begin this rhythm!
Here’s the card, which includes a written guide through the wheel.
5. Hard Questions, Winsome Answers
Wes Huff has been busy on the podcast circuit the last few months. This week, his interview on the Diary of a CEO podcast dropped and in three days, it’s had 2 million views. I’m thankful for his ministry, and for the spaces God is putting him to speak clearly about Jesus.
Watch how Wes handles Steven’s direct (and difficult!) questions and cares for Steven in the conversation. Steven’s channel has 15 million subscribers, and this interview is an explicitly clear presentation of the Good News!
Thanks for Reading
If someone forwarded this to you, I write two kinds of emails: one on select Tuesdays about life with God and the other every Friday, where I share things I’ve found during the week. If you want to subscribe but can’t afford it, email me, and I’ll take care of it—no questions asked.
I pastor, teach, and lead at The Village Church, serving as an Elder and the Executive Director of Discipleship. In my spare time (ha!), I’m working on a Ph.D. in Church History, studying Jonathan Edwards and character formation. Also, I’ve written A Short Guide to Spiritual Disciplines: How to Become a Healthy Christian.
Thank you for reading and supporting my work as I seek to shepherd with compassion and wisdom, equipping people to embody God’s truth for all of life.
Talk soon,
Mason
I really appreciate the mention! Glad it was encouraging!