What is the greatest form of obedience?

“Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” Matt 22:37‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What is the second greatest form of obedience?

“And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matt‬ ‭22:39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus said he will bless us for carefully following His commands. Do you want to be set on high above all the nations on earth?

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.” Deu‬ ‭28:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On this Water Walking Wednesday let’s get back to the simplicity of God’s commands. Stepping on the shoreline is the greatest form of obedience because the first step is the hardest step is taken. Walking on water should naturally follow, just like loving others.

Can you imagine going through this life without Jesus? On this Thankful Thursday I am thankful for all those that pointed me towards a relationship with Christ Jesus. I am thankful for the gift of salvation. I am thankful that I can be a light in the darkness for others.

If you look to the left of this photo there is a lighthouse. The Wikipedia definition of a lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid, for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.

Just like a lighthouse for ships, we are instructed to be a light for others as we read in Acts 13:46 NIV; “For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’””

Heavenly Father, Thank you for putting others in our path to point us towards you. Thank you for the gift of salvation. Equip us to be a beacon of light for others to receive this beautiful gift. We pray for all those living in darkness and the trials they are facing without you. In the name of Jesus Amen!

As we say in Run Club, now go shine God’s light! I encourage you to listen to this song, Shine Jesus Shine

With Gods help I completed the Myrtle Beach Marathon. The transformation process over the last 14 months since I committed to a marathon has been the joy in the journey. I’ve had some set backs during my training but I was determined to finish the race set before me. One of the most popular running scriptures quoted comes from Heb 12:1 NIV;

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”

If you read a farther down in verse 3, this is a Marathon verse; “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” It was somewhere around mile 21 that I started to really grow weary and loose heart. I had ran the first 13 miles no problem and began to walk/run at mile 14. One of my walks was with a woman named Allison from NC. I believe God used my time with her to renew my strength and finish my race. She had previously finished the Run for God program just like me. She shared with me the scripture verse written on her hand from Isa 40:31 NIV;

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

The time spent with her was a soar on eagle wings movement. Yes I could have shaved time off my marathon by not walking with her, but God was continuing my transformation process with good fellowship. I think that God gives up eagle wings moments to carry us through. ‬‬We never know when we are a soar on eagle wings moment for someone else. On this Transformation Tips Tuesday I encourage us all to keep moving forward with perseverance. Don’t forget what Jesus did on the cross for us. Be intentional with soar on eagle wings moments. Most important, find Joy in the Journey!

In the verses below from Phil 2:5-11‬ ‭NIV we learn what it means to be like Jesus; humble and kind.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”‬‬

Like the picture of the vines growing on the wooden fence, Jesus is the one true vine who lived and died for us on the wooden cross. On this Mindset Monday let’s remember to humble our minds and exalt Jesus on high. Let’s remember to put others before ourselves and to always be kind.

Take a moment to listen to this song Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to have lunch with a dear friend. As I parked near the restaurant, the town clock struck 1:00. It was still windy and growing colder from the morning storm that had rolled in. As I looked up at the clock, it drew my attention to the angry clouds. It was the perfect day to have a hot meal and warm the soul with good conversation. I was reminded earlier this week how short life is. These verses from Ecclesiastes chapter 3 come to mind.

1 – 8 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace”.

We must always remember to be intentional with our time. God has given us a gift to enjoy life. In verse 13; “That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.” Even in the trials God gives us glimpses of joy to carry us onto the next season of our lives. On this Spiritual Sunday I encourage us all to take time for conversation, hug the ones we love, seek forgiveness, and find true soul rest.

Welcome to See You Saturday!!

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Today is Finish Friday. What does your day hold?Do you know for sure what ups and downs you will face? I feel sure you really don’t know the answers to those questions. Just like the path to the end of this dock, our day may appear to be clearly laid out. However, we may meet an uneven board that causes us to stumble. In this picture taken when it was snowing, we are unable to see beyond the covered portion of the boardwalk. Is that the end of the dock or is this more boardwalk on the other side? Are there houses, trees, or both beyond the dock? Beyond the dock is unclear. For us, beyond our next step is also unclear.

Today as you finish your work week I will share a prayer from Paul to the Philippians.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:9-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

May each of us view the day ahead through the lens of love. May we compare our obstacles to our Christ. And may we give all praise and glory to God.