“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” Psalms 130‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sometimes Water Walking means waiting. When we can’t see a clear path or hear from God, we may just need to dig deeper in His word. In the meantime, God wants to hear every detail from us. He desires our whole being to be in His presence. This includes specific prayer along with our concerns, desires, and joys. Just like we enter into an earthly marriage and our partner becomes our best friend, God desires to be our bridegroom.

Let’s choose today to make prayer a priority!

Lord, Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for the hope that only you can offer. You know the desires of my heart and you also know what tomorrow holds. I pray for your favor and perfect will to be done. Give me the eyes to see the way and the heart to hear your word. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.

As hard as it is, I encourage us to worship with, Not My Will by Stephanie Haavik

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 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 ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let’s face it, the holidays can be a stressful time of year. Whether it be financially, relationally, or logistically, somehow stress can creep in. We all have triggers that set us up, right? We must be alert to children fighting, the mirage of perfection, or even grief. In 1 Peter 5, we learn that the Devil likes to prowl. We may not have lions walking around but we do have alligators. My point is that the Devil can come in all shapes and sizes. We must resist the urge to be triggered to say or think unwanted, unhealthy words, or thoughts.

How can we stay on guard? Take in all the joys and don’t let anyone or anything steal them. Surround our hearts and minds with the love and word of God. Remember that perfection is a mirage and not really attainable. Life is too short to miss out on the wonderful blessings that Thanksgiving brings. What brings you joy over the holidays? Family gatherings, a grandmother’s recipe, the crisp air, Hallmark Chritmas movies? I encourage us to make a list of our joys so that when perfection doesn’t happen, we can count them.

Remember that in 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV, God provides a way; “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”‬

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today is eleven days postoperative since I had my Hysterectomy. The surgery went as expected and as planned. God is good! Now I am just having to be patient with the slow healing process. As I have been sitting this week, I have enjoyed my longer quiet moments with God. It was a great reminder from Deborah all that I have to be thankful for.

Today I share with you my life verse from Philippians 1:6. As I look back over the last three years of my health journey, I am reminded of God’s goodness. I am encouraged by this verse and the positive outcome that God isn’t finished with me yet. This picture reminds me that my story is God’s story. Have you ever thought about how Jesus’s cross appeared to be larger as it was placed at the center? As we daily take up our cross, is Jesus larger than you? Is He at the center of your life to receive all the glory, honor, and praise?

With God in the center of our lives, may our Monday faith be as strong as our Sunday faith. May we all shine bright jesus’s light this week as we gather with family and friends. I encourage you to worship with Monday Morning Faith by SEU Worship and Chelsea Plank.

“Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As we start our Thanksgiving week and the busyness all the holidays bring, I want us not to forget to rest with God. I am guilty for not always honoring the sabbath. This verse doesn’t necessarily say, God blessed Sundays. It says God blessed the seventh day. Will you join me in making room for God and rest? Simply pick a day, every seventh day. If you can’t give 24 hours, give pockets of time for God and enjoy some rest.

With Thanksgiving being Thursday, there are a lot of food preparations being made. From planning to shopping, baking, traveling, and more. Like this picture, God is our rock. As we rest with him, we can renew our strength for the coming weeks. We read in Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬ “I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Let’s make spending time of rest with god our favorite place and time of the week. I encourage you to listen to, Favorite Place by Kari Jobe
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“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

GRATITUDES

1. Kind & thoughtful words in the card I received yesterday from a friend

2. A few moments to slow down, eat lunch and talk with friends at work

3. Harvest Festival today at school-first time in three years

4. Sweet smell of my candle burning

5. Quiet, devotion time

The above list is my gratitude list from today. I spend a few minutes each morning reflecting and listing 5 simple things for which I am grateful. I began this practice many years ago at a time when I was allowing stress to make me sick. Who would have thought that such a simple task could help me so much. Taking the time to look for small gratitudes has allowed me to be more in tune to blessings as my day proceeds. It also affords me new perspectives.

Today’s scripture directs us to give thanks in all circumstances. Being in the habit of listing small, specific gratitudes has given me a new perspective on how to give thanks in all circumstances. No matter how difficult my struggles or challenges, I have learned there is also always something for which I can be thankful.

This Thankful Thursday I encourage you to slow down for a few moments and list 5 gratitudes. Don’t list the obvious like family, friends, job, etc. Instead, intentionally look for smaller, more unique blessings from yesterday or today. I trust that in practicing gratitude today, your mood will be lifted, your perspective may change, and you will be more in tune with the blessings of today.