“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I am calling today Movement Monday which all starts with our mindset. Would you be motivated to get moving if every day you were reminded how our bodies are temples for the Holy Spirit? I love to move, whether it is through running, walking, pilates, or riding my bike. Most days I look forward to movement because it is my mental therapy. We all have days we need a little motivation, including me.

In this beautiful picture by Ray White, we can be reminded that God made us for a purpose, just like He made the light and the ocean. one purpose is to be a vessel for God. Two weeks ago I talked about winning the day with God by choosing joy over anxiety. We have been talking a lot in our Sunday school class about winning the day. What does winning the day look like for you? For me it is being able to get active for at least 10 minutes every day.

I challenge us all this week to make at least 10 minutes of movement our daily goal. Remember, it starts with a mindset. Let’s get moving together for God! If you are confined to a chair or bed, get your upper body moving by raising your arms and worshiping. I encourage you all to share with us. Tell us how you got moving for God this Monday and throughout your week.

“so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭32‬ ‭New International Version (NIV‬‬)

We have made it back to Spiritual Sunday. Wasn’t it refreshing to read Deborah’s daily take away on Psalm 51: 7-15. My prayer today is that we will all be refreshed through God’s word, worship, and human connection. There is something about joining in the company of others to worship in God’s house. There are several instances where the word refreshed, refreshes, and refreshing are used in the Bible. Along with our key verse for today, I have a included few more for us to read.

“he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭3‬ ‭New International Version (NIV)‬‬

“They are filled from the abundance of Your house; You let them drink from Your refreshing stream,”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭36‬:‭8‬ ‭Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB‬‬)

“The king’s wrath terrifies like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is as [refreshing and nourishing as] dew on the grass.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭12‬ ‭Complete Amplified Bible (AMP)

Isn’t this picture by Ray White a great image to connect with these verses? It really brings the Bible to life as we envision walking with God along a peaceful stream of water on a crisp Fall day.

How do we carry this refreshed feeling throughout our busy weeks? By walking, talking, listening, and feeling God. I encourage you to really listen to the words of this song, Walk With You by Michael Bethany. When God pursues us, our response should always be just like these lyrics; “I want to walk with you. I want to talk with you. I want to hear you speaking. I want to feel you breathing”. I pray that this devotion today leaves you feeling refreshed to start a new week as you walk with God.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Do you ever feel like Satan is on your back?

Click here to see how I had to be reminded this week to not let Satan steal my joy.

“Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don’t look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭7‬-‭15‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Some weeks we may feel bogged down in the burdens of the days. We may feel down and hopeless thinking of all we have to face. However, if we know Jesus Christ as our savior, we know we have hope! Instead of drowning in our circumstances, we can fly high this Friday knowing our future is in the hands of Jesus Christ. Jesus died for our transgressions to save us. This “Fly High Friday “, let’s allow God to blow fresh wind in our sails so we can fly high like the bird in today’s picture. Let’s allow the breath of Jesus to lift us and guide our path. Let’s glide on the promises of God.

Photos by Ray White

“Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don’t look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭7‬-‭15‬ ‭MSG‬‬

One Water Walking Wednesday in July, I shared the picture of the life preserver on the left. In that post, I encouraged you to throw unbelievers a life preserver by sharing the Good News with them. Click here to read that post. 

Have you seized an opportunity to share Christ with others? If so, how did it go? Did they immediately grab hold of the life preserver or did they meet you with resistance and tear the life preserver to shreds?

The picture on the right is the same life preserver after Hurricane Ian. The wind and surge beat against it and tore it to shreds. Life brings turmoil and we are met with resistance, but we can’t give up. Today’s highlighted scripture reminds us of our call. “Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home.” 

Notice the sentence that appears just before it: “Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!”

Have you tried to share Jesus with others and you feel beaten down? This Water Walking Wednesday I encourage you to not give up. Keep sharing Jesus. Keep loving like Christ. Be persistent! Ask God to “put a fresh wind” in your sails and to show you your next step to walk on water.

“Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don’t look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭7‬-‭15‬ ‭MSG‬‬

The italicized part of today’s scripture has inspired me to call today Tune In Tuesday. I am not musically talented but God uses music to inspire and encourage me. Often I have felt God’s nudge when listening to music. Julie and I often share links to songs that underscore the message we are trying to convey.

What about you? Is there a certain genre of music you are drawn to that draws you closer to God? Is there a specific song that you turn to for hope and encouragement? What are your go-to, foot-tapping songs?

Spend some time this morning tuning in to God. Like the person in today’s photo, take some time apart from the busy world to reminisce about music and specific songs that God has used to speak to you. Search YouTube for songs and listen for a few minutes. Allow the music and words to draw you closer to God as you “tune in” to God’s message for you individually. What is God saying to you today?

Click here to listen to a foot tapping song I heard yesterday just when I needed a pick-me-up.