As we begin this Finish Friday that is leading us to Valentine’s Day, let’s be intentional about doing “everything in love.”

1 Corinthians was written to the Corinthians by Paul. In chapter 16 Paul is encouraging the Corinthians in their faith journey. Read these two versions of the same verses.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭16:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭16:13-14‬ ‭MSG‬‬

What are ways that you “do everything in love” or “love without stopping”? Do you give sacrificially to your family and friends? Have you shown love through your actions? Today I want to encourage you to also examine your attitude. Greet others with a positive attitude. Tackle each task today with a loving attitude. Being intentional with your attitude will invariably affect your actions. Before you know it, others will notice and wonder why you have a loving approach. As a result, they will “know we are Christians by our love.”

Listen to this version of the song By Our Love by King and Country as you prayerfully consider how you will show love this Finish Friday. Let us love without stopping!

Imagine walking along evergreen trees and suddenly a pop of red leaves dangles among the green foliage. What a beautiful and unexpected surprise. Last night, I had something similar happen to me.

After a long and rather nonstop day, I decided to make a quick stop in a store I had not been in for a while. After making a purchase I went to another area of the store to browse. As I entered back into the aisle I was face to face with a friend I have not seen in a long while. We talked together and caught up with one another for a few minutes. As I left the store I thanked God for the unexpected blessing of seeing her after so long. She was a pop of color among the foliage of my day.

“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:16-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On this Thankful Thursday I encourage you to be on the lookout for all the “good and perfect gifts from above.” Be open to the Holy Spirit’s nudging you to do something you may not have originally planned. You never know what blessing or pop of color may be at the end of the aisle! In fact, you may be the unexpected blessing for someone else!

On a recent walk near my house I was intrigued by the scenery. In this picture I see both life and death. The picture seems to capture both winter and summer. It reminded me that at any given moment I should be ready to share the love of God in my words and actions. I may think I should wait until the field is prepped and the temperature is right for growing, but this scripture says otherwise. I should always “be prepared to preach the word of God.” Read the surrounding verses written by Paul to Timothy.

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:1-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On this Water Walking Wednesday, I encourage you to ponder your willingness and readiness to share your witness for Jesus Christ. Have you thought about what you will say or do if the opportunity arises for you to share, even if the season is different than you thought? Just looking at this picture it appears you could walk among 2 different seasons within a few moments. Pre-plan your response. Be ready with the words you will use to be a living testament to Your Savior Jesus Christ. Be prepared!

Are you being intentional with being alert? Are you on the look out for the devil? This Transformation Tip Tuesday I encourage you to examine your daily/weekly practices and develop your own plan to prevent being devoured by the devil. The Bible warns us:

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Bible also tells us how to be ready for the schemes of the devil:

“Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We must “stand firm in faith.” How do you prepare yourself to stand firm in faith? Some ideas are;

* daily devotion and prayer time

*reading and memorizing scripture

*journaling prayers and insights

*weekly worship

*listening to Christian music

*being intentional about who/what you read, watch, listen to

What are some practices you have for “being alert” and prepared for the devil lurking? How do you guard yourself? Today be aware of how you start your day. Do you have room to grow in this area? What new practice will you be intentional about to stand firm in faith?

Yesterday, one of the songs we sang in our contemporary service was “Come Alive” by Lauren Daigle. I encourage you to listen to the lyrics of the song by clicking the link. Then read this scripture on which the song is based.

“The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ” So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ ” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’ ””
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭37:1-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today is Mindset Monday. After listening to the song and reading the scripture, I pray you have renewed hope and strength to start your week. I pray you realize the power of God to breathe life into all areas of your life including areas that seem dead and hopeless. Don’t give up and don’t be discouraged. If God can give new life to dry bones, just think what Your Maker can do with you. You just have to be willing.

Yesterday, two different devotional emails I received were centered around Isaiah 43:18-19. Needless to say, that caught my attention.

““Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:18-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Last Saturday, as I looked at the freshly fallen snow in my front yard, I thought of how “new” it looked before anyone walked through it. Once footsteps were made and the sun began to melt the snow, it no longer looked as pure.

That is like humans. As babies we are pure, innocent, new. As we grow older and learn the ways of the world, we sin. We fall short. We aren’t as pure. However, as Christians, we know that the blood of Jesus Christ covers our sins and once again makes us new.

On this Spiritual Sunday, as you worship, I encourage you to spend time with God confessing your sins. Ask God for forgiveness, grace and mercy. As you end your time of confession, take comfort in the promise that God is “doing a new thing.” All you must do is trust and obey.

We have made it to Finish Friday!! And all God’s people said Amen! I have broken down Ephesians‬ ‭3:14-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬ below. Often we quote these verses separately but if you look at them together it is a prayer for the Ephesians. This pray is for everyone. Notice He wants to strengthen us and give us power together. But He doesn’t leave that up to us. See in verse 20, “to Him who is able”. It is not our own strength or our own power but God’s strength and power that lives in us.

14 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 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, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

In this photo we see a tree that appears to be struggling. If you notice, it is surrounded by trees that are thriving. Today you may be the tree that is struggling or the tree that is thriving. Together through God’s strength and power we will see immeasurably more than what we think our current season or status or situation is.

Will you rely on God’s strength and power today? Will you remember that God has surrounded you with other believers to help when struggling and thriving?