Sunday, during communion, our praise team sang “New Wine” by Hillsong Worship. The lyrics reminded me of our call to be a vessel for God. I like the Message version of the following scripture.

“In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:20-21‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Are you a vessel that God can use? Are you open to the crushing and pressing that may be occurring to make new wine from you? My Transformation Tip this Tuesday is that you take some time to really listen to the lyrics of this song and allow God to mold you into “the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift.” Ask God to help you surrender to the call placed on your life. Today may each of us be open vessels ready to serve the new wine God is making out of us.

https://youtu.be/QbJaM_EneMw

Yesterday I was able to enjoy the sun’s reflection on water and revel at the beauty. As I basked in the warm glow, I observed how bright the reflection of the sun was compared to the rest of the water. Notice how the reflection bleeds out into the water, but the further away from the reflection, the darker the water gets. This reminds me to examine my own reflection. The more time I spend in prayer and devotion, the brighter I shine for Christ. Likewise, the farther I move away from Christ, the less I reflect His light in my words and actions. Read James 1:22-25 below and then spend some time examining yourself.

Do you spend time “hearing” God’s word? Do you hear the word and then fail to follow through in your words and actions? Are you reflecting the love of Christ?

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:22-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Below is a link to an older praise song, “Shine Jesus Shine.” Prayerfully listen to the songs as you examine your own reflection.

https://youtu.be/0RAJhTEWi8E

Max and Abby take resting seriously. In fact, Abby follows me around waiting for me to finally sit down so she can lay on my lap and rest. Most days, when I get home from work, I am on the go nonstop preparing supper, cleaning up from supper and then preparing for the next day. However, on Sundays I try to make time for rest. The picture above was actually taken last Sunday.

Rest is important. The definition even says the purpose of rest is to refresh oneself and recover strength. The Bible tells us that even God rested.

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:2-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today is Spiritual Sunday. I encourage you to keep this Sabbath holy by spending time in worship. While you worship, rest in the presence of your Maker. Then after your time of worship, be still and cease work. Allow time for yourself to relax, refresh yourself, and recover strength. Rest. God said so.

This week on the Christian radio station I listen to I heard someone say, “Fear is unbelief.” I know what she was implying was that fear is a lack of faith in God or unbelief in God’s power and presence. However, her statement got me thinking so I looked up the definition. Fear: an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat.

I think the key word in the definition is belief. When we are afraid or fear something, we are focusing on our belief in the possible danger or threat instead of focusing on and believing the strength of our Lord. On this Finish Friday let’s finish strong by examining what storms are on our horizon and the fear we associate with storms. Are you afraid of an approaching storm? Are you worried about a possible pain or threat? The Bible is full of scriptures to reassure us. Here are just a few.

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭56:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As you finish this Friday let this song by Zach Williams remind you that “Fear Is A Liar.”

https://youtu.be/sQTnREEtuNk

On this Thankful Thursday I encourage you to read all of Psalm 107. The entire chapter tells about the story of the redeemed…you and I. Over and over and over again we sin and fall short. Over and over and over again God rescues, forgives, and redeems us. For that, we should be thankful. For His unending love, we should be grateful. Yet often we hurry through our busy lives without thanking and praising God. So today let’s be intentional with our praise. When the going gets tough, let’s look for the goodness of God. And let’s remember the last verse of Psalm 107: “Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.” Psalm 107:43.

P.S. Yes, I already have out fall decorations…they make me happy!

The Bible tells us that God continuously renews us.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:16-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Do you believe this promise? Do you submit your worries to God and trust the hands of Our Maker? Or do you just say you trust but never let go.

On this Water Walking Wednesday I encourage you to examine your walk versus your talk. I encourage you to listen to this song by Big Daddy Weave “All Things New” and release your fears or worries. Trust and believe that God is working in your circumstances and will make “all things new”.

https://youtu.be/4_2aX_i4qpM

Do you feel stripped of everything? Do you feel like you are standing alone or that you have messed up too much this time? If we were up close to this leafless tree it would appear it was all alone. However from a distance we can see it is surrounded by many healthy trees. Just like the bare tree trunk, we are not “out on a limb”, but we are saved by grace. Take a moment to read this excerpt from Ephesians 2 and be reminded of God’s love for you.

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 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. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:1-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Although we are sinners and endlessly mess up, God loves us, saves us, and gives us grace.

On this Transformation Tip Tuesday, listen to this song, “Until Grace.” Remember the moment you accepted God’s gift of grace. Spend some time being renewed in your thankfulness for God’s endless grace and mercy. And as a result, is there someone you need to extend some grace?

https://youtu.be/zt15EgCuYi8