Let’s do a self check from verse Col 1:10 NIV; “so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,”
Are you growing in the knowledge of God? Are you pleasing him in every way? Are you bearing fruit in every good work?
Bearing fruit is yielding results. Good works are actions based on our hearts. Like this succulent holds water and grows, we can hold the word of God and grow too.
On this Transformation Tips Tuesday let’s celebrate little victories that help us grow and bear fruit. It could be spending time in God’s word, helping someone in need, serving in church, or simply loving others.
I took this picture because it looked like a cross. If you look at this picture closely, you will see one bird sitting by himself. We tend to isolate ourselves with self imposed pressure. We fill our hearts and minds with worldly anxieties that are not of God. I love the message version of Philippians 4:23 NIV; “Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourselves.”
On this Mindset Monday I encourage us to break free from isolation. Will we choose to receive and experience God’s amazing Grace deep within?
Jesus came to be the light for all mankind. Today we have the Holy Spirit living in us to shine the light of Jesus so that others will see His glory. I took this picture recently on a run. I am not sure what happened during the process of taking the photo to make the sun appear this way. It reminds me that we can’t see the sun’ rays & we can’t see the Holy Spirit. Just like this picture, Jesus is radiating His light in unexpected ways.
On this Spiritual Sunday may we all go to our places of worship and get filled with the light of Jesus so that we can radiate His light throughout our week in unexpected ways.
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” John 1:4 NIV
What does your day hold? Do you have everything mapped out? Or do you not have clear vision of all that may unfold? In reality, none of us really know what today will hold. Today we may face obstacles. We may be surprised and find ourselves in a patch of woods with tall trees all around. On this Finish Friday, let’s not lose sight of who is leading us. Let’s trust God to reveal our path as we travel through the thicket. With the help of Christ, let’s persevere.
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 NIV
Almost every work day morning I am blessed with watching the sunrise on my drive to work. As the seasons pass I am in various parts of my drive when the sun makes its appearance. Today’s scripture reminds me that I am called to praise God all day, not just during my morning devotion time. As I studied this morning I found that Psalm 111, 112, and 113 begin with “Praise the Lord.”
On this Thankful Thursday, begin your day by reading one of the above Psalms of thanksgiving. May the words of praise remain on the tips of our tongue today, may we look today through a lens of thanksgiving, and may we praise God throughout our day.
Last Sunday, as we arrived for worship, our church family was greeted by the words of Psalm 91 written on the sidewalk leading to the sanctuary. What a beautiful surprise! Although no one has come forward as the person who took such time and patience to write out the scripture, I am in awe of the courage it took to undertake this task. This person didn’t choose to write a short scripture, but one that included 16 verses. I wonder how this person would have responded if someone happened to come to the church as he/she was writing? Was he/she nervous while writing or confident in his/her purpose? Was this act a mission or ministry carried out with deliberate purpose? One thing is certain. The person who took such time did so for no attention or self glory.
Now examine your daily walk. Do you have a mission or ministry that you do quietly or without others knowing? It could be leaving encouraging notes or messages. Perhaps you randomly pay the order for the people behind you in the drive-thru. Maybe when you go to Aldi you leave the quarter in the cart so the next person doesn’t have to put in a quarter to borrow the cart.
On this Water Walking Wednesday I encourage you to step out of your boat on a mission to “secretly” show the love of Christ. Sometimes it’s hard for us to do secret acts because we will likely not see how the act is received. However choose your mission prayerfully and allow God to do the rest.
As you pray about what your secret mission will be, take some time to read the entire chapter of Psalm 91 that was so beautifully written on our church sidewalk.
Sunday, during communion, our praise team sang “New Wine” by Hillsong Worship. The lyrics reminded me of our call to be a vessel for God. I like the Message version of the following scripture.
“In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21 MSG
Are you a vessel that God can use? Are you open to the crushing and pressing that may be occurring to make new wine from you? My Transformation Tip this Tuesday is that you take some time to really listen to the lyrics of this song and allow God to mold you into “the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift.” Ask God to help you surrender to the call placed on your life. Today may each of us be open vessels ready to serve the new wine God is making out of us.
Water Walkers 