Look at this beautiful cranberry bog at Brookgreen Gardens. After doing a quick Google search to learn more about cranberry bogs, I realize that trusting in God and walking on water, in someway, mirrors the growth of cranberries.

This Water Walking Wednesday, I encourage you to also do a little research on cranberries. Two facts about cranberries are that they often face growing in unfavorable conditions and therefore are resilient.

Aren’t we called to do the same? Don’t you and I have to grow in unfavorable conditions and be resilient. The cranberries have farmers to assist in their growth. Thankfully you and I have our God to assist in our growth. We just have to trust.

“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.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today, when God asks us to step out and walk, let’s remember the cranberries. Let’s face unfavorable conditions by trusting God. Let’s be resilient. Let’s walk on water just like the cranberries float. Then we can be just as beautiful as this cranberry bog as we display the love of Christ.

My word for 2021 was transform. If you go back to that blog post you will read that I had a hard time settling on a word for 2021. Julie and I have found that usually Satan is intentional on attacking us in regard to our word of the year, so choosing a word like transform was scary for me. The picture for today was the same picture and scripture I shared.

As I reflect on my word for 2021, I realize I have made transformations in many areas of my life and none were what my ideas had been when I chose the word transform. Isn’t that how God sometimes works?

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God usually does more than we can even imagine! As 2021 winds down, Julie and I encourage you to choose a word, phrase and/or mantra for 2022. What direction is God leading you? What area is God asking you to focus? What area of spiritual growth has God laid on your heart? My tip for you this Transformation Tip Tuesday is to keep your word in your focus throughout the year. Over the years I had found that after a while, I would lose my focus on my word. In 2021 I wrote my word down every day. As I have shared with you in the past, one of my daily practices is to write down 5 things I am thankful for in my gratitude journal every morning as I end my devotion time. At the end of my daily list I then wrote the word transform. I encourage you to find a way to intentionally stay focused on your word for 2022.

When I shared with you my word for 2021 I also share the following song from The Carousel of Progress, a ride at Disney World. The song basically says that tomorrow is full of potential. Enjoy this oldie but goodie as you pray and dream about the possibilities of your word for 2022.

There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow

What is your mindset this Mindset Monday? Are you still on a happy high from the Christmas celebrations? Are you ready to start the week, full of energy and enthusiasm? Or are you feeling a sense of sadness because Christmas has come and gone?

Today I challenge you to not fall into the Christmas is over mindset. After all, as Christians, Jesus is with us every day. Today I encourage you to hold on to the joy and happiness. Focus on the birth, life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we begin this week, my prayer is that whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, we each can “be glad and rejoice before God.” Today as you go throughout your day, “be happy and joyful.” Let’s each help to bring “joy to the world” because we know “Jesus Christ is born!”

Photo by Ray White

Today is the day after Christmas and like the shepherds and wisemen, you and I have the opportunity to travel to our places of worship and celebrate the birth of our newborn king! I can think of no better place to be! How about you?

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” Psalms‬ ‭84:10-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On this Spiritual Sunday, as we wind down 2021, I encourage you to begin to reflect on your spiritual growth. Have you grown closer to Christ this year? Are you taking steps to continually grow? What daily practices do you have in place? Are you excited to go to worship this morning?

As you reflect this morning, I pray God will lay upon your heart a burning desire to grow even closer to Your Savior and to trust in the Lord Almighty for your next steps in your spiritual growth journey. After all,

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” Psalms‬ ‭84:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The ornament in the picture has always been one of my favorites and now my daughter Briley also loves it. This ornament is a Hallmark ornament my mama gave me years ago, and Briley and I always find a prominent place to hang it into be tree so we can be sure to enjoy it. To me, this ornament is simple, intricate and thought provoking. To me, this ornament represents pureness.

As we begin this Finish Friday, I encourage you to join me in praying Psalms 51:10:

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” ‭NIV‬‬

May you and I both have a “gentle peace” enter our heart as we approach the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ!

Today’s Thankful Thursday picture is not beautiful or showy. Today’s picture is an example of a simple way I showed my kindergarten students that I loved them.

I am a little obsessed with chapsticks and lip balms. I am constantly applying something to my lips because I truly despise my lips being chapped. During the cooler months, many of my children inevitably had chapped lips. Understanding what a nuisance chapped lips are, I began to keep petroleum jelly and cotton swabs in my desk drawer. Each day as we prepared to go to recess, a long line would appear by my desk of students who needed (or wanted) some of my “lip balm” to coat their lips.

Why do I share this on Thankful Thursday? Today I want you to recall simple acts like this that others have done for you. Remember the ways others have shown you kindness and love. As you are reminded of the love shown to you, be thankful. Then out of your thanksgiving, do the same. Find simple acts of love that you can share with others. Be intentional and thoughtful. Then do.

I love this image captured by Ray White because it leaves so much to the imagination. Is the dog jumping into water? If so, look at the blind faith this dog has to take a leap! Oh, for me to have that much faith to forge ahead with enthusiasm when God calls me out onto the water!

God is constantly calling you and I to have faith to follow and be His vessels. What is God asking you to do in faith? Have you heard God’s call. As you listen for God, remember to be still. Remember when Elijah was looking for guidance in 1 Kings 19:11-12.

“The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19:11-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In the King James version of this verse, the voice of God was a “still small voice.”

On this Water Walking Wednesday, be listening for God’s voice. Where is God leading you to trust and obey? What is God calling you to do? How is God asking you to have faith and leap into the water?