1 John 1:8-10 NIV — 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.

Today’s photo was taken from my airplane window as we approached Nevada. Look closely at the dark areas on the ground. When I first looked, I thought the dark areas were water. As I looked closely, I realized the dark areas were shadows cast from the clouds above. What a revelation!

I hope you have taken some time to step back, look closely at yourself from a different perspective, and gain new revelations. If you have been honest with yourself, you may have had your eyes opened to some actions and reactions that God wants you to address. God has certainly been working on me. 

In our humanness, we sin. Re-read today’s scripture. We are called to recognize our sins and ask God for forgiveness. God will forgive us our sins if we just admit our failures and accept His mercy.  Have you confessed your sins? Have you learned from your failures? Failure is good data and we can learn from it if we keep our eyes, heart, and mind open to the message. Today, let’s not only confess our sins, but learn from our mistakes and thank God for His unending love, grace, and mercy. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, forgive me for my transgressions. Give me strength and courage to learn from my failures so I can do better next time. Thank You Lord for Your love, grace, and mercy. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Ephesians 4:29-32 — Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Yesterday I encouraged you to reflect on times you have made judgments about others. Today’s photo is another taken from my airplane window. What a different perspective! Again today I encourage you to step back to gain a new perspective and insight. Today I want you to examine the words you say and the manner in which you say them. Especially reflect on the intent of your words. For example, do you spread gossip in a way that is disguised as “prayer concerns”? Have you shared another’s unfortunate circumstances with others and sprinkled in your own opinion and judgments? Be honest with yourself. Have your words about others stemmed from a self-righteous attitude? What was your intent?

After my recent experiences with gossip spread about my family, my senses have been heightened. God has revealed to me times I have been the deliverer of gossip disguised as a prayer request. I realize the intentions of my words have not always been pure and I have become very aware of the weight of my words. I pray that you, too, will be honest with yourself. Admit any wrongdoings and ask God for forgiveness. Tuck God’s word from Ephesians 4:29-34 in your heart and allow those words to shape your words. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and words and be very sensitive to your intentions for sharing news about another.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Open my eyes to my use of words. Show me my wrongdoings and forgive me for impure intentions. May Your Holy Spirit guide and direct my thoughts and words. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Philippians 2:3-4 NIV — Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Yesterday I encouraged you to step back and begin a self-examination. Were you able to see things in a new way like today’s picture of my new perspective from my plane window? Did God reveal to you a time or times you have been judgmental of others? Have you had thoughts or expressed your opinion about someone whose behavior, beliefs, or life circumstances are different from your own?

As I have shared with you, I recently was the one being judged. As a result, I was hurt and disappointed that someone I knew as a Christian had verbalized judgments about me to another Christian. My first reaction was to make my own judgments about their behavior not being Christ-like. As He usually does, God stopped me in my tracks and opened my eyes to my response. I was doing exactly the same thing. I was being judgmental as a means of trying to vindicate myself. I was actually being selfish by worrying about how I felt instead of extending forgiveness and grace. 

How about you? Have you found yourself in a similar situation? Has God convicted you of your reaction to hurt?  God calls us to be different. God calls us to value others above ourselves. God calls us to be Christ-like, even when others are not. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, Forgive me for times I have fallen short of Your glory by being judgmental. Open my eyes to my shortcomings and give me courage to respond like Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Romans 3:23 — For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Two weeks ago I challenged you to exude the scent of God by extending grace to those who have hurt or wronged you with their words or actions. Last week Julie had us examine how well we receive and give grace. This week I would like for you to examine and ask yourself, “Have I hurt or wronged someone? Have my words, actions, or thoughts been judgemental? Have I helped spread rumors about someone?”

On my recent trips I have had the opportunitto see the world below from an airplane. The vantage point is so different and awe-inspiring. Just as today’s picture illustrates, often when we look at situations from a distance, we are able to gain new perspectives.

Today I encourage you to step back and look from a distance. I encourage you to truly examine yourself. Be honest with yourself and with God. Ask God to reveal any failings to you and open your heart and mind to the truth. As I shared two weeks ago, as long as you and I have breath in our bodies, we will sin and fall short. However, as Christians we can be redeemed. Join me this week as I share with you ways to deal with our own shortcomings. If you are honest with yourself, this week of self-examination may be eye opening and difficult, but know that God is with us on this journey and if we allow, He will guide us to a deeper understanding and faith. 

Let us pray as recorded in Matthew 6:9-13 NIV — 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. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Join me for See You Saturday as I share on gentleness, goodness, and joy.

1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬ ‭God’s Word — But you, man of God, must avoid these things. Pursue what God approves of: a godly life, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭6‬ ‭Eastern Standard Version — Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Nehemiah‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬ ‭New International Version — Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
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Proverbs 4:23 NIV — Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Guard: Watch over in order to protect or control.

In reading today’s key verse and definition, is it easier to receive and give grace? Everything flows from the heart and this includes grace. One of my favorite songs is “You Say” by Lauren Daigle. She sings; “In you, I find my worth, in you, I find my identity.” Do You look to God for your worth and identity?

Take a moment to look at Ray’s photo of these yummy chocolate candies. It appears the M&M’s are flowing from the chocolate. When we find our worth and identity in Christ Jesus, His sweet grace flows from our hearts. How have you done with giving grace this past week? How have you done with receiving God’s grace? Maybe we need to ask God to open our hearts so that we can share His sweet spirit with others.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for watching over and protecting me. I ask that You guard my heart so that I can share Your sweet spirit with others. May I always remember to look to You for my worth and identity. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

1 John 3:1 NIV —  See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Love: An intense feeling or deep affection.

In reading today’s key verse and definition of love, is it easier to receive and give grace? God loves us so much that He identifies us as His children. I see our identities built in the lineage of Christ Jesus. Our identities are not dependent on our past, nor do they need to be tied to our future, but rather the gifts we offer in the present moment of today. So here it goes; my name is Julie Wicker and I am a child of God. I am a wife and a mother. I am a daughter and a sister. I am a niece and an aunt. I am a sister-in-law and a cousin. I am a church member. I am a friend and a co-worker. I am a runner. Identity is the characteristics determining who or what a person is.

Take a moment to look at Ray’s photo of the beach. In recent years as I have walked the beaches, God spoke to me that we are just like the broken seashells on the shore. Our God is bigger than the ocean that holds them, just as God is bigger than any fears and the brokenness we may feel. Are you feeling fearful or broken? Have you acknowledged that God is bigger than those feelings? Have you claimed your identity in Christ Jesus?

Let’s pray. Dear God, I surrender all my fears and brokenness over to You. I acknowledge that You’re bigger than anything I am going through. I seek Your grace. I claim the identity I have in You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.