Happy New Year’s Eve! Today is the last Finish Friday of the year and the last day of 2021. Let’s finish strong!

Over the last few weeks Julie and I have shared the words God laid on our hearts to shape our last few years. Just to recap, my past words of the year have been joy, hospitality, intention, impact and transform. After much prayer, the word God has given me for 2022 is SIMPLE.

Simple: adjective (1) easily understood or done; presenting no difficulty (2) plain, basic, or uncomplicated in form, nature, or design without much decoration or ornamentation

Recently, God has laid on my heart the need for simplicity in many areas of life and the beauty of keeping life simple.

The scripture that is guiding my word of the year is Matthew 5:16 because I think sometimes I overcomplicate my daily Christian walk when it really is very simple. Read the verse with its surrounding verses.

““You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:13-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In keeping with my word, I think sharing my faith is also simple; be a light. Therefore, my mantra for 2022 is “BE A LIGHT.”

I took today’s picture a week ago on Christmas Eve when myself and some neighbors placed luminaries to line the loop we live on. The lights weren’t glamorous or extravagant. The lights were simple: a bag, some sand, and a candle. Yet the street looked peaceful and serene. Simple.

Has God given you a word to shape 2022? Is there a phrase or mantra that keeps coming to mind? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or send us a message so we can share this journey together!

To close today, listen to this song from 2020 Be A Light as you prayerfully consider what word or mantra God is laying on your heart for 2022. For me it is SIMPLE.

Take a moment to look at these lights from Night of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens. This particular area of the garden was like walking in a forest of lights. As I stood in the middle of the lights and looked up, I felt warm and safe being surrounded by the many strands. Being in the lights reminded me of the wonderful friends that surround me and for that I am so thankful.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4:9-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I have friends from many different parts of my life; church, baseball, college, work, etc. Each group of friends has different dynamics but they have one thing in common; their love and support of me. Each group of friends encourages me and stretches me to be even better.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On this Thankful Thursday, I encourage you to imagine you are walking through the forest of lights. Stop and look up. Marvel at the lights that surround you. Pause here a moment and ponder what friends you have that are also surrounding you. Do you have various groups of friends? Or do you have one faithful friend who is by your side? Take time today to praise God and give thanks for your friends. take time today to express your love and thankfulness to your friends. Make a phone call, send a text or write a note expressing your appreciation. Today is the last Thankful Thursday of 2021. Go show some thankfulness!

Look at this beautiful cranberry bog at Brookgreen Gardens. After doing a quick Google search to learn more about cranberry bogs, I realize that trusting in God and walking on water, in someway, mirrors the growth of cranberries.

This Water Walking Wednesday, I encourage you to also do a little research on cranberries. Two facts about cranberries are that they often face growing in unfavorable conditions and therefore are resilient.

Aren’t we called to do the same? Don’t you and I have to grow in unfavorable conditions and be resilient. The cranberries have farmers to assist in their growth. Thankfully you and I have our God to assist in our growth. We just have to trust.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today, when God asks us to step out and walk, let’s remember the cranberries. Let’s face unfavorable conditions by trusting God. Let’s be resilient. Let’s walk on water just like the cranberries float. Then we can be just as beautiful as this cranberry bog as we display the love of Christ.

My word for 2021 was transform. If you go back to that blog post you will read that I had a hard time settling on a word for 2021. Julie and I have found that usually Satan is intentional on attacking us in regard to our word of the year, so choosing a word like transform was scary for me. The picture for today was the same picture and scripture I shared.

As I reflect on my word for 2021, I realize I have made transformations in many areas of my life and none were what my ideas had been when I chose the word transform. Isn’t that how God sometimes works?

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God usually does more than we can even imagine! As 2021 winds down, Julie and I encourage you to choose a word, phrase and/or mantra for 2022. What direction is God leading you? What area is God asking you to focus? What area of spiritual growth has God laid on your heart? My tip for you this Transformation Tip Tuesday is to keep your word in your focus throughout the year. Over the years I had found that after a while, I would lose my focus on my word. In 2021 I wrote my word down every day. As I have shared with you in the past, one of my daily practices is to write down 5 things I am thankful for in my gratitude journal every morning as I end my devotion time. At the end of my daily list I then wrote the word transform. I encourage you to find a way to intentionally stay focused on your word for 2022.

When I shared with you my word for 2021 I also share the following song from The Carousel of Progress, a ride at Disney World. The song basically says that tomorrow is full of potential. Enjoy this oldie but goodie as you pray and dream about the possibilities of your word for 2022.

There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow

What is your mindset this Mindset Monday? Are you still on a happy high from the Christmas celebrations? Are you ready to start the week, full of energy and enthusiasm? Or are you feeling a sense of sadness because Christmas has come and gone?

Today I challenge you to not fall into the Christmas is over mindset. After all, as Christians, Jesus is with us every day. Today I encourage you to hold on to the joy and happiness. Focus on the birth, life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we begin this week, my prayer is that whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, we each can “be glad and rejoice before God.” Today as you go throughout your day, “be happy and joyful.” Let’s each help to bring “joy to the world” because we know “Jesus Christ is born!”

Photo by Ray White

Today is the day after Christmas and like the shepherds and wisemen, you and I have the opportunity to travel to our places of worship and celebrate the birth of our newborn king! I can think of no better place to be! How about you?

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” Psalms‬ ‭84:10-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On this Spiritual Sunday, as we wind down 2021, I encourage you to begin to reflect on your spiritual growth. Have you grown closer to Christ this year? Are you taking steps to continually grow? What daily practices do you have in place? Are you excited to go to worship this morning?

As you reflect this morning, I pray God will lay upon your heart a burning desire to grow even closer to Your Savior and to trust in the Lord Almighty for your next steps in your spiritual growth journey. After all,

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” Psalms‬ ‭84:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I had a wonderful time this week vacationing in Bryson City NC with family. Each morning I was blessed to sit with God and look at this beautiful view. We all need time for rest and a break from schedules & to do lists. Although the next few days will be busy preparing and celebrating Jesus’s birth, it will be a good busy.

In both ragged schedules and time of rest, we depend on God to help get us from point A to point B. We must never forget to look to God first. The one who created the mountains can also move mountains. The one who moves mountains also wants to sit and rest with us. Nothing is too big or too small for our God.

On this Christmas Eve remember it doesn’t have to be perfect. Jesus was born in a stable and the three wiseman brought gifts that were not wrapped. Remember to live in the PRESENT 🎁 #livefortoday on this Finish Friday.

As we move closer to 2022, I ask that you share our blog with someone in need. Someone who needs to finish strong and start fresh.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!