The moon appears to transform from a full to a quarter, and to a crescent in shape. In fact as the moon orbits the earth, the sunlight reflects on different regions. One evening I took this picture of the moon over our house. Just as the suns light illuminates the moon, God’s light lives in us to shine His glory for others to know Him.
Some days we may only allow God’s light to shine in a quarter or crescent size. We allow the sin of the world’s illusions to keep us hidden. On this Transformation Tips Tuesday will you shine God’s light to the fullest?
I encourage you to read the scripture verses surrounding 2 Cor 4:6; “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”
As most of you know by now, we love feeding the birds. They have such a calming presence and remind me not to worry. I encourage you to read the parable on worry in Matt 6: 25-34. Let’s look at verse 33 for our instruction; “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
On this Mindset Monday when your worry for the day, or maybe just the next task in front of you is overwhelming, remember to seek God. How can we do this? Tiny breathe prayers throughout our day. Surrender is not one and done, it is a continual practice.
Will you choose to worry? Or will you choose to surrender and seek God? We can also choose to look up. I encourage you to listen to this song by Lauren Daigle, Look Up Child.
Lately we have had dragonfly’s flying around our back yard. These amazing iridescent insects symbolize wisdom, change, transformation, and adaptability. The best part, they eat hundreds of mosquitos. Of course not only do I welcome them for their beauty and what they symbolize, but also for what they eat.
As they fly around my back door, I am reminded of this verse from Proverbs 8:34; “Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.” On Sundays we might wait at God’s door when we go to church. We may wait at His door at a midweek Bible study. But do we daily wait at God’s door? I’d like to say yes I do during my morning devotion. Sometimes it is rushed because I overslept. Or maybe I am just going through the motions listing my wants and not really sitting and waiting in His presence.
Yet blessed are those who wait at His door. I encourage us all on this Spiritual Sunday and throughout the week to actually visualize us waiting at His door. Take a moment to listen and watch for Him. And if you happen to see a dragonfly, take a moment to enjoy God’s beauty. Thank God for providing little God Winks like dragonfly’s to bring His word to life.
This week on the Christian radio station I listen to I heard someone say, “Fear is unbelief.” I know what she was implying was that fear is a lack of faith in God or unbelief in God’s power and presence. However, her statement got me thinking so I looked up the definition. Fear: an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat.
I think the key word in the definition is belief. When we are afraid or fear something, we are focusing on our belief in the possible danger or threat instead of focusing on and believing the strength of our Lord. On this Finish Friday let’s finish strong by examining what storms are on our horizon and the fear we associate with storms. Are you afraid of an approaching storm? Are you worried about a possible pain or threat? The Bible is full of scriptures to reassure us. Here are just a few.
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Psalms 34:4 NIV
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalms 56:3 NIV
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalms 91:1 NIV
As you finish this Friday let this song by Zach Williams remind you that “Fear Is A Liar.”
On this Thankful Thursday I encourage you to read all of Psalm 107. The entire chapter tells about the story of the redeemed…you and I. Over and over and over again we sin and fall short. Over and over and over again God rescues, forgives, and redeems us. For that, we should be thankful. For His unending love, we should be grateful. Yet often we hurry through our busy lives without thanking and praising God. So today let’s be intentional with our praise. When the going gets tough, let’s look for the goodness of God. And let’s remember the last verse of Psalm 107: “Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.” Psalm 107:43.
P.S. Yes, I already have out fall decorations…they make me happy!
The Bible tells us that God continuously renews us.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV
Do you believe this promise? Do you submit your worries to God and trust the hands of Our Maker? Or do you just say you trust but never let go.
On this Water Walking Wednesday I encourage you to examine your walk versus your talk. I encourage you to listen to this song by Big Daddy Weave “All Things New” and release your fears or worries. Trust and believe that God is working in your circumstances and will make “all things new”.
Do you feel stripped of everything? Do you feel like you are standing alone or that you have messed up too much this time? If we were up close to this leafless tree it would appear it was all alone. However from a distance we can see it is surrounded by many healthy trees. Just like the bare tree trunk, we are not “out on a limb”, but we are saved by grace. Take a moment to read this excerpt from Ephesians 2 and be reminded of God’s love for you.
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV
Although we are sinners and endlessly mess up, God loves us, saves us, and gives us grace.
On this Transformation Tip Tuesday, listen to this song, “Until Grace.” Remember the moment you accepted God’s gift of grace. Spend some time being renewed in your thankfulness for God’s endless grace and mercy. And as a result, is there someone you need to extend some grace?
Water Walkers 