“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

At a 1957 speech in Montgomery, Alabama Martin Luther King Jr. spoke the words, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'” This quote reminds me of our key verse from the Apostle Matthew. I think it is easy for us to forget that what we do for the least of these we are doing for God.

I am calling today, “What Wednesday?” Maybe your what is to pray for someone or pick up groceries for someone in need. Possibly you’re volunteering at Helping Hands or delivering food to a recovery center. The picture above from Ray White was taken in little old Georgetown, South Carolina. Our town tends to be referred to as “between Myrtle Beach and Charleston.” I am sure in comparison there might seem little to do. In reality, there is so much that can be done.

In Colossians 3:23 NIV we read, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” As you reflect on your “what,” I encourage you to listen and watch the music video, “Do Something” by Matthew West. Whatever you do, serve with your whole heart.

 ^“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

Something about a new calendar year inspires us to look forward and make resolutions for the upcoming 12 months, just as the end of a year often causes reflection. At the beginning of a new year we can make proclamations and promises to get more exercise, eat better, kick bad habits, maybe finally read that classic book that has sat on the shelf for 20 years.

Each year Deborah and Julie select a word and a mantra of the year, and so do I. This year my word is “prayer” and my mantra is “God is always with me.” I resolve to pray more often each day and offer thanks. God has promised he will never leave my side!

In our busy lives it is easy to say prayers before bedtime or in a time of need. But that isn’t what Paul directed. “Pray continually.” While we will fall short of continuous prayer we can have a prayerful attitude at all times. Such an attitude acknowledges our dependence on God. We can pray frequent short prayers. We can establish times each day when we stop whatever we are doing and pray, giving sincere thanks to God, even in difficult times, because He has provided a path to eternal life through His son, Jesus Christ. I will rejoice, because “God is always with me.”

Joshua 1:9 NIV reads, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Did you choose a word for 2023? Do you have a mantra or quote that you want to shape your days? It’s not too late. We would love to hear from you about what God has laid on your heart.

~ Ray White

“The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Take a moment on this Moving Forward Monday to look at this photo by Ray White. He used a long exposure to get motion blur of the Skywheel and people walking on the street. In our key verse, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they are on the edge of the Promised Land. They had stayed long enough and it was time to move forward off that mountain. I imagine the Israelites felt like their path had been blurred after wandering for forty years.

How often do we get paralyzed with fear or confusion? We tend to battle our minds sometimes wondering if we heard God correctly or if we are equipped for the task. Or maybe the season or trial has been too tough for us to see the good that is ahead. In my running journey, a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech at Spelman College in 1960 often gets me moving, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

In the song “Promised Land” by Toby Mac and Sheryl Crow, some of the lyrics sing, “I won’t give up on this race. Broken but I still have faith” and “Through all these seasons. I’m still believin’.” What mountain do you need to move from? What valley are you stuck in? Just remember that God has plans for all of us; “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭63‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This Psalm of David was written while in the desert of Judah. Even in our desert places, we are satisfied when we earnestly seek God and choose to glorify Him. When praise is on our lips we can feel satisfied. A synonym to satisfy is quench which is exactly what our first response should be in those desert places, to quench our souls with praise on our lips.

In the worship song “Satisfied” by Chris Tomlin he talks about how the mountains that we ascend often leave us empty. Our focus tends to be on achievement but it is in the process where we should seek to find God’s goodness. We can count our blessings one by one within the day-to-day and be satisfied.

Will you join me in choosing to earnestly seek God first this week? Will you quench your soul through praise and worship? Will you count your blessings one by one? Let’s make prayer and worship our first response rather than our last resort.

“You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another.” Proverbs‬ ‭27‬:‭17‬ ‭MSG‬

Click here to watch today’s See You Saturday video.

Thank you to my college roommate, Tara White, for being my videographer today. I am so blessed and thankful for friends that love and support me in the storms of life and sharpen me to help me “stay salty”.

““Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.” Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬ ‭MSG‬‬

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

My dogs love to been held. Abby, a Yorkshire Terrier, is truly a lap dog. Max, a 100-pound lab, thinks he is a lap dog. Both of them are most content when I finally sit down and they can settle down and rest in my lap. I believe when they are being held they feel loved, comforted, and safe.

Do you rest in the lap of Christ? Do you allow yourself to be held in His hands? This week I have been sharing about our responses to trials. I have found that during a storm, the lap of Christ is the best place you can go. When you are held by Christ, you are able to feel loved, comforted, and safe.

On this Freedom Friday I want you to consider letting go of feeling that you need to be in control. When you feel you have one obstacle after another and feel you can’t go on, surrender and fall in the lap of Christ. In times of struggle He wants to hold you close, just as you want to hold your family close when they are hurting. Releasing control and allowing Christ to hold you can give you the peace you are seeking.

Click here to listen to “Be Held” by Casting Crowns. As the song says, “And when you’re tired of fighting chained by your control, there’s freedom in surrender. Lay it down and let it go. You’re not alone, stop holding on and just be held.”

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Did you know that there are actually benefits to fire? Under the right conditions and when controlled, fire is healthy for forests, fields, and grasslands. An article published by the California government states, “Fire removes low-growing underbrush, cleans the forest floor of debris, opens it up to sunlight, and nourishes the soil.” Click here to read the full article about the benefits of fire.

Today’s picture by Ray White almost looks like the sky is on fire. Yet, it is a new dawn rising, full of possibilities and blessings. Read the Message version of James 1:2-4:

“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭MSG‬‬

This Thankful Thursday I am able to thank God for the fires I walk through because I know God is walking through the fires with me and He has it all under control. I am trusting that although the heat may seem unbearable, on the other side of it I will be cleaned of debris, I will be opened up to the “Son” light, and my soul will be nourished.

Click here to listen to the song “Fires” by Jordan St. Cyr. Listen carefully to the words and draw strength from the promises shared. “When the smoke billows higher, oh and higher and it feels like I can barely breathe, I’ll walk through these fires ’cause You’re walking with me.”