My front porch receives full, afternoon sun. Due to the constant, direct sunlight, no plant survives well on my porch except succulents. Contrary to the harsh conditions, succulents thrive in the parching heat. In fact, succulents are the perfect plants for me because I only have to provide minimum care for them. Imagine my surprise when this week I noticed the succulent pictured in full bloom! I had no idea succulents would produce a bloom. My ignorance about the plant came as unexpected joy.

Today is Finish Friday. Have you been undergoing a trial or tribulation that has placed you in harsh conditions? Has the parching heat seemed unbearable and suppressive? Don’t give up! Continue to lean into your Savior for shade and shelter. Draw strength from the Holy Spirit’s guidance as you greet this Finish Friday.

Take a moment to read Isaiah 35. In the You Version Bible app this chapter is titled, “Joy of the Redeemed.” Trust and believe that redemption is ahead and you too will burst into bloom. God has a way of causing blooms in deserts!

Do you know how very much you are loved by God? Have you thanked your Maker recently for such undeserving love? Take a moment now to read all of Psalm 139.

God knows everything there is to know about you. God knows all the intricacies and nuances that make you who you are, as well as all of your failures and faults. God loves you despite it all.

Look at the picture of the flower. Zoom in and look closely. Notice the various petals, the details of each petal, and how each petal looks similar to the other but still unique. Think about how awesome it is to know that just like each petal of this flower, you and I are similar yet unique. You and I have many intricate differences and God knows them all. You and I have problems and issues, yet God loves us so vastly despite it all. Hold on to this promise.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 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, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:17-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On this Thankful Thursday take time to thank God for fully knowing and loving you. Thank God for your uniqueness and differences. Praise God for loving you so wide and deep despite it all!

Listen to this song by Tauren Wells; “Fully Known” and give thanks to your Maker.

Today is Water Walking Wednesday. Water Walking requires you to throw off your grave clothes. What does that mean?

“When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.””
‭‭John‬ ‭11:43-44‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Grave clothes are those things that keep us from stepping into the full light of Christ. Grave clothes keep us from fully receiving the grace and mercy our Savior offers us daily. Perhaps you feel trapped in a cycle of sin. Maybe you feel unseen or unheard by Jesus Christ. Nothing could be further from the truth. You are a child of God. You are loved, forgiven, and covered by the blood of Christ who died for your sins.

What is holding you back? What is hindering you from stepping out of your comfortable boat and walking on water? Take that first step as you throw off those grave clothes that are weighing heavy on you. Once you step out, you will feel the loving arms of God guiding your steps.

Listen to this song titled Grave Clothes as you gain the confidence you may need to make that first step. Then go walk on water!

Today is Transformation Tips Tuesday so I chose these pictures of a transformation I made possible. These pics are of my gas stove. As you can see on the top picture, something had spilled and caused a mess. The stove was dirty and ugly looking. The bottom picture is after I cleaned it and it looked like new again. Jesus Christ does the same for you and I.

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:5-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We all sin and fall short. We must confess our sins and allow Jesus to cleanse us through His sacrifice for us. Just like my stove will get dirty again, so will we fall short again. Prayerfully, as we are cleansed, we will learn and grow so that we don’t commit the same sin over and over.

As you go about your day today, notice things around you that have been cleansed or transformed. Let these things be reminders of how simple it is to begin to be transformed by Jesus. All we must do is confess our sins and ask for forgiveness. Throughout your day let the act of cleaning remind you and give God thanks for the cleansing blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Yesterday was a beautiful day of rejoicing as we celebrated the Resurrection of our Savior. Many of us worshipped and gave praise for the hope that Easter promises. However, today is Monday.

How are you starting this Mindset Monday? Are you still cruising on the high of Sunday or has a shadow been cast across you as you look at your week ahead? Has your focus changed to circumstances and problems?

Shadows are not always a bad thing. Shadows mean we are being protected from the blazing sun. A shadow can remind us of the love of God. Take a moment now to read all of Psalm 91.

Now click the link and listen to the song Rescue by Lauren Daigle. We have shared this song before, but today I encourage you to listen to the words through the lens of Easter. Some of the words include:

“You are not hidden. There’s never been a moment you were forgotten. You are not hopeless, though you have been broken, your innocence stolen. I hear you whisper underneath your breath. I hear your SOS. I will send an army to find you in the middle of the darkest night. It’s true, I will rescue you.”

Today, as you come off the high of Easter Sunday and face the worries of this world, rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Allow the Most High to rescue and protect you. When you see a shadow, let it be a reminder of the Lord’s vast love for you!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:1, 3-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The prophesies we read about in the Old Testament have been fulfilled today! Imagine the joy of Heaven on this Spiritual Sunday! God has watched His Son walk through the trials of Holy Week. He has seen the suffering, crucifixion, and death of Jesus. Today God gives us the victory with Our Savior rolling away the stone and overcoming death. Imagine the celebration as the story unfolds and the light of Christ shines through the darkness of the world.

Are you filled with joy this morning? Or are you covered with darkness? Do you have a current trial that has you feeling hopeless? Don’t give up. Turn to the light of the world to show you the way. Allow Jesus to be your Savior and walk with Him toward Hope. Give God the opportunity to roll away the stones that entrap you. After all, He is still in the business of Rolling Stones and bringing light into darkness.

Listen to this song of victory by Lauren Daigle, Still Rolling Stones as you begin your celebration this Easter morning. Hold on to the hope and promise that the victory of Easter brings us. Share the joy of heaven!

***Thank you to Ray White for listening to my vision and creating this image to help me convey God’s message.

Click Here to watch See You Saturday! I am so thankful we live on this side of the cross. We know how the story ends 😉 🙌🏻