Have you ever heard the saying: “fake it till you make it?” Basically, you’re looking for self-confidence in areas that you don’t feel qualified.

I am once again writing to you from my back porch. I took a break from writing to take my mom, who lives 5 feet from me, a piece of yummy banana bread that I had made earlier this morning. I asked her to meet me in the backyard. As I went to step off the porch I almost stepped on a snake. Yes, a snake!!!!! I quickly had to change my plans and met her on the front porch, away from any snakes. I am not sure what kind of snake it was. I just knew it was brown and went slithering under the porch at the sound of my scream. The snake is now hiding and waiting in a cool dark place. 

Take a look at the dark wooded path pictured here. Is Satan hiding in your dark places waiting to attack? Are you lacking in self-confidence? Friends, I am here to tell you, don’t let the snakes stop you. Although I am deathly afraid of all snakes, I am not going to let them stop me from enjoying my backyard. I am going to faith it till I make it. Just like we don’t always feel equipped for the call of our lives, God will give us the God-confidence we need to continue on our journeys. We are blessed to have the Good Shepherd walking both in light and dark places. Today, instead of an opening verse or a closing prayer, I leave you with a benediction. 

Benediction and Final Greetings

Hebrews 13: 20-21 NIV – Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 2: 4-5 NIV – But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

It is now Saturday and I have every day of the week for our blog mapped out and written except for today’s post. As I am sitting on my back porch writing to you, I can see my reflection on my computer screen. I have been staring at myself asking God what I should write for today. Earlier in the week I wrote down in my journal “No Take Backs Thursday.” Why did I write that? Looking at my reflection, I see a 42-year-old daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend, who hasn’t always said or done the nicest things. Just like you can’t put back the toothpaste in a tube once it has been squeezed out, there are no take-backs in life. We have one opportunity to walk this earth. I am thankful for God’s grace every day. I am thankful for my family and friends’ forgiveness for all the times I have fallen short. I am thankful that when others don’t see, know, or understand the full picture, my God knows, sees, and still loves me.

Have you heard the saying, “By the grace of God go I?” Take a look at 1 Corinthians 15:10 New King James Version. This Christian walk we are on is the road less traveled. Only through God’s grace, love, and mercy can each of us walk this road. We are not alone, friends. The reflection you see today is your sister in Christ Jesus. In the song, “The Father’s House” by Cory Asbury he says, “Failure doesn’t define me, cause that’s what my father does.” Let’s use yesterday’s failures as good data for today.

Let’s pray. Dear God, With Your grace may I walk and talk through this Christian life. May others see You through me. Although it is the road less traveled, it is well worth Your eternal glory. Thank You for blessing me with another day to share Your word and truth. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Genesis 12: 9 NLT – Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev.

Last Sunday our Pastor delivered a message titled, “All Things New.” One of the passages shared was from Genesis 12: 1-9 NIV. I encourage you to read the entire passage. For today I want to focus on our key verse. Notice Abram traveled by stages. Often our journeys don’t happen all at once, they happen in stages. Just like Abram traveled a long time, our faith journey is unfolding every day. 

Looking back on our Water Walkers journey, we have made many changes over the years. Every year Deborah and I strive to improve and implement new things. We have been blessed in recent years to partner with our friend and photographer, Ray White. I am still amazed how that stage in our journey unfolded. Ray has been a gift in helping Deborah and I stretch our writing skills. We hope that you have noticed. 

As Deborah encouraged us to remember our journeys last week, we can see the different stages that God brought us through. As you travel through your day and week, I encourage you to look for new things. Like this bicycle pictured here helps us to travel and see a different view, God carries us to see through His eyes. God is always inspiring us and spurring us on for the glory of His kingdom. Thank you to all our supporters and readers for taking this Water Walking journey with us. Hopefully to know us is to know Him. Take a few minutes to really listen to the words of “To Know Me” by Lauren Daigle.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for always showing me new things. Thank You for spurring me on to further the glory of Your kingdom. I desire to be a Water Walker. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 

On Monday morning I had the pleasure of meeting with a teacher who is officially retiring after many, many years of service. She shared with me how she taught her students to look, listen, learn, and love. By doing this they would always succeed. This was a very inspiring message and I quickly thought about how we can apply this with my faith. I am sure these four words could help you recall many different scripture verses. With my word of the year being “Love”, I thought the following scripture verses would be appropriate. 

Look: ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭105‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ – Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

Listen: ‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV – My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

Learn: ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV – Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Love:‭‭ 1 Corinthians‬ ‭16‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬ – Do everything in love.

I encourage you to open your paper Bible or go to your Bible app on your phone, or Bible Gateway to find what look, listen, learn, and love mean to you. Like the lighthouse pictured here, we can look to God to find our way through life.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for these encouraging words to help guide me through Your word. Help me to look to You this week so that I can receive Your strength. Help me to listen before I act or speak. Help me to put into practice all that I have learned from You. Help me to do everything from Your Godly love as I walk my own faith journey. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Genesis 16:13 NIV – She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

Have you ever felt forgotten about? Have you ever felt unheard or unseen? Have you ever been mistreated or witnessed someone else being mistreated? In times when I have witnessed mistreatment or times when I feel unseen or unheard, I remember that God sees. God knows. Hagar, the mistress to Abram, experienced mistreatment. You can read the full story in Genesis 16: 1-13 NIV. I encourage you to read it. For today we will focus on our key verse. 

Hagar was running away from her journey when an Angel of the Lord came to her and spoke prophetic words to her that only God would know. At that moment she knew that God cared. She knew that God had seen and heard the mistreatment that had taken place. She named God: “You are the God who sees me”. I think it is interesting that in verse seven the Angel found Hagar near a spring in the desert. As we go to God in prayer, envision yourself sitting by the stream of water as pictured here. Feel God surrounding you by His heavenly realm. He knows you. He sees you. He hears you. He’s got you. Now let Him hold you.

Dear God, I come to Your water today to sit at Your feet. Thank you for Your heavenly realm that surrounds me. Thank You for being a Father who knows me, who sees me, and who hears me. Thank You for Your comforting presence. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Genesis 2:1-2 NIV – Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work.

Last week Deborah encouraged us to remember how our journeys began. We are all on different journeys and in different seasons of our lives. I started thinking about the first journey that ever took place and that is when God created the heavens and earth. You can read the full passage in Genesis 1: 1-31; 2: 1-2. For today we will focus on our key verse where God carved out a day for rest on His journey of creation. We may not be able to take a day of rest from cancer, grief, or any other trial but we can surrender those things to God’s time. On Sundays or whatever day you choose to be your sabbath, you can sit in God’s word and worship. You can find rest by taking time for self-care. 

As I am writing to you today it is Friday morning. I am sitting on my back porch and it is a nice 71 degrees. I am drinking my coffee and watching two red birds and one bluebird dance about. Right now the days are long and the weeks seem short. I have a long To Do list ahead but for this moment I am choosing to sit in my sanctuary and share God’s word with you. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for my time of rest with You. As I reflect on my past and current journeys may I find both strength and rest in Your faithfulness.You know both the current and future needs. I surrender them all to Your timeline. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV —- Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Do you believe God loves you and will look out for you? Are you trusting God with your future? Watch today’s See You Saturday video as I share some thoughts on trusting God.