Psalms 20:4 NIV — May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
Join us on our YouTube channel for See You Saturday as we close out our week sharing on seasons.
As Walt Disney said: “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”
Psalms 20:4 NIV — May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
Will you stay curious after God’s perfect will? As Walt Disney said: “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”
Although it is good to plan, make goals, and dream about the future, it is also important to live in the moment. Recently on social media, I saw a post about living in “one-day” times. This could look like, “one day when my kids are out of diapers” or “one day when I pay off my mortgage.” The problem is one day gets here and we have already moved on to another one day thought like, “one day when I retire.”
On this Future Friday, I encourage us to re-center our thoughts on Christ and find our one-day moments today. The gifts God has for us includes plans to prosper and hope for the future. They also include the blessing of living in today’s “present” moment. Let me remind you of my mantra for 2022: Live For Today!
As the sun rises and sets on yet another day, let’s make sure to count the present blessings! I encourage you to watch and listen to the song Wonderful Life by Matthew West. It will put things in perspective.
Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for keeping me curious. I desire to live for today. Guide me towardYour perfect will. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV — 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.
Back in 2022 we celebrated our twins, Kendal and Trevor, graduating high school. It was a joyful time. I feel blessed that God chose Hollie and I to receive these two precious gifts. Hard to believe that Kendal graduated from nursing school this month and Trevor will finished his junior year at Clemson.
A few weeks ago I shared about my personal HPV journey. It is something I do not want my children to experience. The same year they graduated high school and would begin their freshman years in college was the same year of my two surgical procedures for pre-cancer. I remember pouring my heart out to God asking Him to heal me and not get cancer. I desire to be healthy always but especially during such an important time in their lives. Thankfully, God worked out the details that year as we read in Romans 8:28 NIV — And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Are you pouring your heart out to God in prayer? God wants us to share our joys and our specific needs.
Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for Your goodness and answered prayer. Thank You for the reminder that You want to hear all my joys and specific needs. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Bonus: When the Gardasil vaccine for HPV was first approved by the CDC for children, I made the personal choice with my children for Kendal and Trevor to be vaccinated. I was able to help prevent my children from having to experience the cancer causing HPV like I did. I share this not to push vaccines on anyone because that is a personal choice. I share this because it is a part of my Journey. To know more about the Gardasil vaccine for HPV, you can visit the CDC.org.
Philippians 1:6 NIV — 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.
As I have shared in the past, I consider today’s key scripture my life verse. When I think of the word Transformation, I think of this verse. Paul uses the word “began,” meaning the work is not finished.
Our Transformation can be dramatic or a subtle change over a lifetime. Opposite of that would be reverting or withering. On this Water Walking Wednesday, I encourage us all to keep moving and working toward God’s perfect will for our lives. Even if the subtle change is unseen at this moment, keep going. Some of us are ending a chapter in our story and some are beginning a new one. What scripture verse are you carrying with you?
Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for my transformation story. Help me to keep moving and working toward Your perfect will. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV — There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
Each of us are in different or similar seasons in our lives. We are all moving different or similar stones. There is a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them as we read in Ecclesiastes 3:5 NIV — A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.
When you look at this beautiful image from our friend Ray, what stones do you see? Maybe for you the stones have been gathered for love and celebration. Maybe they have been scattered from grief and mourning. Maybe they represent joys or sorrows.
Now look at the image closer. They are stacked from largest to smallest. To scatter them, it would be easier to move the smaller stone first. Are you trying to move a stone that is burdened by the weight of other stones? God knows what stones you are carrying. Whatever season you are in, surrender your stones to God. Don’t forget to celebrate your joys.
Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the joys and celebrations in my life. I surrender my stones of burdens. Help me to scatter and gather stones for Your glory. Remind me to celebrate along the way. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Take a moment to meditate on this week’s scripture verses.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV — There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
Philippians 1:6 NIV — 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.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV — 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.
Romans 8:28 NIV — And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Ephesians 6:14-15 NIV —- Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Take a moment to worship with the Goodness of God by CeCe Winans. God is good through every season. The lyrics sing, “Cause all my life You have been faithful, oh yes You have. And all my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.”