Yesterday as we were traveling, we passed this large cross. Clark was driving so I was scrolling through Facebook. I looked up and there it was. I am sure I have seen it before, but it was still a surprise to me to see it.

Life is like that. Sometimes we are busy looking down or we are distracted. Sometimes we are so focused on the task at hand that we lose focus on Christ. Thankfully, God doesn’t give up on us and sends us Godwinks. God let’s us know we are loved in a big way. We have to be intentionally open to receive the messages of love God sends. So how do we do that? We stay connected to Christ!

I have found that early morning time spent in prayer and devotion helps me. Starting my day talking with God equips me for the ups and downs ahead of me. How do you start your day? When do you spend time talking with God in prayer? Do you set time aside for devotion?

This Spiritual Sunday I encourage you to spend time examining your priorities and habits. Do you spend time daily with God? Do you trust in God? Are you looking for God throughout your day?

Start this morning drawing close to God by reading all of Psalm 25. Leave a comment below if you have seen the large cross in the picture or if you know where it is located.

Long obedience in the same direction. Joshua is a perfect example, marching around Jericho for seven days; “March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.” Josh‬ ‭6:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On this Finish Friday let’s keep going. As Walt Disney said “We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths”. We may not always feel like God is near or that the path we are on has purpose. God will bless our obedience. In Gods perfect timing the walls will come down or he will open another door.

In this song; Do it Again by Elevation Worship some of the lyrics sing; “I’m still in your hands, this is my confidence. You’ve never failed me yet”. Will you stay the course of long obedience in the same direction? You are in God’s hands. Keep going!

At all times, on all occasions give thanks. Easier said than done, right? In Eph 5:20 NIV we read; “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We may not always express our thankfulness but we can still live with the posture of a grateful heart.

This picture reminds me of Thanksgiving. How many of you sit gathered around the table expressing what your thankful for on Thanksgiving? It was a family tradition in my house growing up. We have exactly 4 weeks till we celebrate Thanksgiving. Over these next few weeks, I encourage us all to start thinking and writing down what we are thankful for. It may be an abundant list collected over the last year or it may be a dwindled list gleaning from the previous years.

For today I encourage us all to go about our day with the posture of a grateful heart! To be intentional about finding Joy and gratitude in the everyday grand and mundane tasks.

I have had the joy of looking through my Dads photo CD’s in hunt for the perfect Senior yearbook Ad photos. Although Dad held the camera at most family gatherings and events, I wanted to be sure to use one that he snapped from his viewpoint.

Oh boy did I find some good ones! The picture below is a Key West Sunset. In the verse from Psalms 65:8 we see God’s fingerprints all over His creation; “The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.”

A Water Walker is someone that should have their viewpoint seeing God in the everyday moments. Often we snap pictures of the good moments. Those are the moments we sing songs of joy over. A Water Walker learns and relearns just like a child snap pictures and see God in the bad too. It doesn’t mean we will always sing songs of joy. Eventually we overcome and look back on the little God Winks that brought us joy.

On this Water Walking Wednesday what will be your viewpoint? Will you sing songs of joy today?

This picture was taken by a 12-year-old at church Sunday. A tree can be a symbol of hope. Not only is this Pine tree made by God but it also designed to transform over the years to become big and strong. On this Transformation Tips Tuesday I want us to reflect on four key words from this verse in Romans.

Hope: A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

Joy: A feeling of great pleasure.

Peace: Freedom from disturbance; tranquility.

Trust: Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

I encourage us all to pick a word to focus on today. When we start to feel discouraged, sad, or worried may this verse transform our feelings to bring us joy, to place our trust in God so that we can experience peace and hope.

What do you see when you look at this photo? Could it be grass? Or a plant? whatever it may be, it was created and prepared by God. We too were each created and prepared by God.

On this Mindset Monday let’s not focus on our short comings but rather God’s Grace. He has created and prepared us for this very minute, day, week, month, and year. Just like a plant or the grass, we all have a purpose. Some days our purpose may seem clear, other days we wonder if we are following after God’s will. Like we read in Romans 8:28 NIV; “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

What will you choose to focus on today? I choose God’s Grace.

Last Monday Deborah talked Sunday’s laity service. One of the scriptures referenced that day was from Matt 20:27-28; “and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” Serving is always a humbling act of worship. Depending on the type of service it might be seen or unseen. I was blessed to be one of the speakers. Each of us talked about how often we get more out of serving than the participants through our preparation and devotion.

Last Thursday I had the blessing of delivering Back Pack Buddy meals to Kensington Elementary. This is a ministry that Herbert Church and many other local churches provides to our schools for our children in need. Each child gets two meals a week to take home. There are many people who donate money, provide food, pack bags, and deliver. I had planned to be at the school before the parents arrived to drop off their children. I wanted to be first. Well my morning got away from me and I ended up in the middle of a busy drop off carpool lane. By the time I dropped off the bags, parked my car, walked the bags inside, I was last. As I was leaving the school I was blessed with this beautiful sky. Had I been first, I would have missed this. God always amazes me in the different ways he offers a blessing. Often we are too busy to stop and take notice.

On this Spiritual Sunday, I encourage us all to ask God how He wants you us to serve. Take time to listen to God. Also let’s pray about how we will respond when asked to serve. Remember that serving is a way we can worship God, humbly serve others, and receive a blessing. I also encourage us all to be intentional and open to the blessings God offers.