Join us this week as we reflect and refocus. Take some time to read and meditate on the below scripture that will be featured this week.
Philippians 4:13 The Message — I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.
Matthew 14:29-30 NIV — Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV — So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV — Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
We are halfway through 2025. Let’s begin our week of reflection by listening to Trust In God by Elevation Worship. No matter what the first half of the year has been or whatever the second half holds, we can trust in God.
John 14:27 NIV — “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Join us on our YouTube Channel as we wrap up our week on Father’s day.
John 14:15-17 NIV — “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
Can you think back to a time before you knew Christ Jesus as your personal savior? Or when you were new to having a relationship with your Heavenly Father? I grew up in a divided home. As my mom grew in her faith, she would take us to church. Meanwhile, my dad didn’t get saved until after I was married. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I chose to ask Jesus into my heart as my personal savior. This was a radical life experience for me. Not long after I was married my Dad asked Jesus to live in his heart and be his personal savior.
Non-believers want the peace that we have as Christians. This doesn’t mean that we have to be perfect and always have it all together, but people notice how we respond and react to times of crisis, trouble, or confusion. We don’t always have a billboard to give us answers and show us the way we should go. We do have a Holy Spirit that dwells in us. He will give us peace in our direction. A peace that transcends all understanding as we read John 14:27 NIV — “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
We also read in today’s Gospel that God gives us the Holy Spirit as our advocate. As parents, we are advocates for our children. It is comforting to know that as children and adults, we always have our Heavenly Father advocating on our behalf.
Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your son, Christ Jesus to save a sinner like me. Thank You for being my advocate. Help me to shine Your light so that others want to experience Your perfect peace. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Today’s writing was done by Deborah’s daughter, Briley.
My dad is someone who can always make me smile no matter what is going on. He is so smart and can always help me with anything that I need. Not only is he the smartest man I know but he also lives by faith. He plays the organ and also sings at our church and that is such an important part of a worship service. I have the same love of music as him and I love when we sing together in the car. I can’t imagine what life would be like without him. He has helped shape me into who I am today.
Today’s writing was done by Julie’s daughter, Kendal.
Abraham laid his son on the altar and raised the knife.
Willing to sacrifice the one thing he prayed for all his life.
A burnt offering to God. A testament of his faith. Isacc’s recognition when he saw his father’s face.
Yet Isacc’s life was saved by his father’s belief. I can only imagine the extent of Abraham’s relief.
The debt of human sin remained unpaid. Whose life would this debt claim?
But God himself would provide the Lamb for the burnt offering. For He gave His son. The debt was paid, and the war was won.
Maybe God spared Isacc because He too knew the pain of a father. For He also sacrificed His only son at the altar.
I wrote this poem with the intention of portraying the love of a father. Not just the love that Abraham had for his son, but also the love that our Heavenly Father has for each of us. If you read my Mother’s Day poem, then you probably noticed that it also mentioned sacrifice. I did this unintentionally but, upon reflection, I realized I could think of no greater word to describe a parent than sacrifice. To be a parent is to sacrifice. I would like to think that sacrifice and love go hand in hand. I would even argue that you cannot have love without sacrifice and vice versa. To love is to sacrifice and to sacrifice is to love. To be a parent is to love.
Romans 8:14-17 NIV — For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
These verses lead me to the question, “What do you call God?” The New International Version refers to God as the “Abba Father.” The Message version calls Him “Papa.” The Passion Translation calls Him “Beloved Father.” I tend to say “Lord” or “Heavenly Father.”
One of my favorite names is “The Lord is Peace” in Judges 6:24 NIV — So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
I have lost both my father and father-in-law. There is peace leading into the final days of life. When my dad first found out he had stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer, God spoke to him about the Footprints In The Sand poem. He felt as if God was saying, “I will carry you.” Throughout his cancer journey, we witnessed the Holy Spirit do just that. My Dad had the peace of the Holy Spirit through his entire journey. In my father-in-law’s last year of life, we watched him suffer from delirium. He would often recall things that happened years ago, but suffer from short-term memory. You could either keep the peace by following along or disrupt things and try to reason. Again I got to see and experience the peace of the Holy Spirit in his final hours.
Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the perfect peace that only You can offer. Thank You for gifting me with my earthly fathers. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.
Water Walkers 