““Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke‬ ‭15:4-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let me start by explaining today’s picture. The map and my favorite hashtag; Find Joy in The Journey are from Herbert Memorial UMC’s VBS. The countries and numbers listed are just a few of last year’s Water Walking stats on who visited our blog from around the world. What do these two things have in common? Both are serving in missions from the small hometown of Georgetown South Carolina. How is this possible? Every year at VBS there is a missions project. This year’s mission is collecting for the Amazing Grace Academy in Liberia. As I sat with the children at VBS, the pictured map got my attention. There is a similar map within our blog stats for Deborah and I to have a visual of the different countries.

What is my point? Well, look at the number 1 next to Norway. Some may think that is just one reader. If we read the parable in Luke on the one lost sheep you will see my connection. If we help just one child at VBS to know Jesus. If we help just one reader on the blog to know about Jesus. If we help just one child in Liberia at Amazing Grace Academy. Remember all this from the small hometown of Georgetown.

Deborah and I find Joy in our journey with the blog. I encourage our readers to see how you can help at least one from the comfort of your hometown.

Click here to learn more about Amazing Grace Academy.

“Give us today our daily bread.” Matthew‬ ‭6:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

These Scripture vitamins sit on the counter at the YMCA. I thought comparing reading a scripture a day to a vitamin a day was a cute idea. If you are like me, remembering to take a daily vitamin doesn’t always come easy. In Matthew, God compares scripture to daily bread. Just as food is a necessity in nutrition, God’s word is a necessity for Christian living. This steps on my toes. Do we look at God’s word as a necessity for daily living?

On this Transformation Tips Tuesday, I encourage us all to be on a regimen to read at least one verse a day. We’ve already got you covered here on the blog. Join us daily and you’ve got your daily bread. Maybe you are already on a daily regimen. I encourage us all to share at least one verse a day with another person. Sounds scary? If you watched Deborah’s See You Saturday video she talks about getting over that fear. Sharing could mean talking with a friend, co-worker, or stranger. Sharing could be sharing a Water Walkers Blog on social media. Sharing could be writing a card with a verse to someone in need. There are so many opportunities to share God’s word every 24 hours. What will you do with His daily bread?

Let’s pray! “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew‬ ‭6:9-15‬ ‭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.” Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What if we started the week with a Mindset to put our hope in the Lord to renew our strength? I encourage you to read Isaiah 40: 28-31. You will learn that our God is everlasting and does not grow weary. He extends His strength to each of us. He increases power to the weak. We all have times of weariness. We all have times when we stumble and fall.

I confess that I cling to this verse when I am already to the point of weariness. I confess that I tend to run my week on my own strength before I rely on God’s strength. I confess that sometimes when I stumble I turn to family and friends before I turn to God. Thankfully God loves us unconditionally, in spite of our weaknesses. I encourage us to start the week with the expectation that we can turn our hope to God and rely on His strength.

Click here and Join me in worshiping with Lauren Daigle and Lord, I need you.