Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.

Weekly Reflection From Ju Ju!

Ebb is the recurrent or rhythmical pattern of coming and going. This past week my father-in-law passed away. Our coming and going came to a forced pause. Instead of our ebb being focused on the busyness of life, we have spent time with family and reminisced over the years. We have mourned while celebrating life. God always gives us what we need. My writing this week has been a great reminder to find rest, look for joy, to give myself and others grace.
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Weekly Reflection From Debs!

Among the business at home and work, this week’s blog posts have helped me to stay focused on Christ instead of the circumstances around me. I especially appreciated Tuesday’s post that encouraged us to choose one word from the featured scripture to focus on. I was reminded that years ago, our daily post were just that — choosing a word from a particular scripture and then elaborating on that word. We have certainly come a long way from that practice and have become even more intentional about our writing, but focusing on a word from scripture each day is a wonderful way to stay focused on Christ.

My biggest takeaway this week was the reminder on Friday to give ourselves grace. Oftentimes we are quicker to extend grace to others than we are to ourselves. By allowing ourselves grace, we are more able to be present in the moment instead of concentrating on all the “would haves” and “should haves.” During the upcoming holiday season, let’s not place unnecessary expectations on ourselves. Instead, let’s be present in each day, each activity, and each moment. 

Now, let’s go walk on water!

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭MSG‬‬ — Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

Sunday I encouraged you to find soul rest. Monday I encouraged you to keep going. Tuesday I encouraged you to trust in God and not get discouraged. Wednesday I encouraged you to slow down. Thursday I encouraged you to let go of worry. Today I encourage you to learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

Some Fridays feel like we have come to the end of traveling a long road. Have you been in survival mode this week, this month, this year? How can we finish this Friday strong? Simple, let’s give ourselves grace. I love the response to the question, how do you eat an elephant? “One bite at a time.” I encourage us all to take life one minute, one bite at a time. May we all lean into God and His unconditional love and grace to carry us through to our weekend.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for Your unconditional love and grace. Help me to give myself grace and take things one minute at a time. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV — Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Sunday I encouraged you to find soul rest. Monday I encouraged you to keep going. Tuesday I encouraged you to trust in God and not get discouraged. Wednesday I encouraged you to slow down. Today I encourage you to let go of worry. 

We never have to worry about receiving an invitation when it comes to our relationship with God. Notice Matthew writes, “all you who are weary and burdened.” We don’t have to wonder, will we make the list? Will we get an invite? Our social status is nonexistent. There is always a plus one.

On this Thankful Thursday are you accepting the invite? There is so much to be thankful for. Don’t allow worry to steal your peace. I hope we can all lean into God today and accept His invitation to let go of worry.

Let’s pray. Dear God, ‬thank You for an open invitation to be in Your presence and let go of my worries. I am so thankful for the blessings of today. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬ — He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.

Sunday I encouraged you to find soul rest. Monday I encouraged you to keep going. Tuesday I encouraged you to trust in God and not get discouraged. Today I encourage you to slow down. It is mid-week and our Sunday soul rest may be forgotten.

If we choose to slow down, we can hear God, who is always speaking but we must be available to receive. Life is busy but business can get in the way of hearing God and heeding to His will. Sometimes being a Water Walker means we need to slow down and listen.

The verb definition of heed is to pay attention, to take notice. Is your calendar busy? Are you making time to slow down and be in God’s presence? These can be little moments in your day. You can worship in the car, pray while doing laundry, or get your Bible out before bed. Be intentional with your time today. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the little moments in my day that I can slow down and be in Your presence. Help me to slow down long enough to hear You and heed to Your will. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV — May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.‬

Sunday I encouraged you to find soul rest. Monday I encouraged you to keep going. Today I encourage you to Trust in God and not get discouraged.

Let’s pick a word to focus on today. When we start to feel discouraged, sad, or worried may this verse transform our feelings to bring us joy, and to place our trust in God so that we can experience His perfect peace and hope.

Hope: A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

Joy: A feeling of great pleasure.

Peace: Freedom from disturbance; tranquility.

Trust: Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

What word or words will you choose to focus on today?

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in full surrender. I trust You and want to experience Your hope, joy, and peace. Help me not to get discouraged. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Sunday I encouraged you to make time for soul rest. Today I am telling you not to give up. God has a purpose for the journey. God will bless long obedience. Joshua is the perfect example of long obedience in the same direction when marching around Jericho for seven days. 

I encourage you to meditate on ‭‭Joshua‬ 6. In particular focus on Joshua ‭6‬:‭3‬-‭4‬‭ NIV — March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

This road of life we are traveling changes with the different seasons. In Mark 6:31, the Disciples were so busy they didn’t have time to eat. You may be in the trenches with little ones. You may be working endless hours. You may be caring for the elderly. You may be running after grandchildren. You may be in sorrow. No matter where we all are in our journey, we must remember to have moments where we go away with God through stillness, prayer, and devotion so that we can find soul rest.

On this Spiritual Sunday, I pray we can go to our places of worship and get renewed for the week ahead. Will you take time each day to find a quiet place? I pray we all experience His peace today and throughout our week.

Let’s worship!

I’m Desperate For You by Red Rock Worship