A couple weeks ago, I chose to walk laps around the church while my daughter Briley was inside practicing with the praise team. As I circled the church, I was cognizant of the various angles I had of the cross. I began to ponder and pray about what each angle represented to me.
This angle, directly in front of me, is the angle I usually think of when referring to the cross. The phrase, “the world behind me, the cross before me,” came to mind. This phrase comes from the song “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus.” This Mindset Monday I encourage you to do two things to start your work week:
1) Google the history of the song “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus.”
2) Spend some time remembering and reflecting on why you “decided to follow Jesus.” Did you grow up going to church? Did someone tell you about Jesus? What is your faith story? Why do you look to the cross before you?
We would love to hear your story! Please feel free to share in the comments below.
On this Spiritual Sunday let’s fix our eyes on Jesus. Jesus is the “pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Jesus was crucified on a cross for you and I. Jesus is our example and guide.
This week I will use these same images to explore various angles of the cross. Join me as I share my thoughts on what the cross means to me, and you can also examine your thoughts/feelings about the cross.
On this Spiritual Sunday, draw near to the cross and allow Jesus to speak to your heart. Let’s each ask God to help fix our eyes on Jesus as we begin our week together. The song below by for King and Country can help us get started.
Wow! What a busy and fast paced week! Life seems to always be one busy schedule after another. As you look out the window in your life, does it seem like everything is moving so fast. Just like the colors bleeding together in this beautiful photo from Ray White, we sometimes jump from one task to another and everything runs together. Slow down this Finish Friday. Before you jump from one task to another, take a deep breath and wait on God to clarify and guide your next task. Instead of the colors of your day running together, look out your window and see each individual color and it’s beauty.
“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalms 27:13-14 NIV
To you this may just be a sign but it means much more to me. This sign represents a service that has become invaluable to me. From the beginning, the Walmart grocery pickup became a convenience for me as a busy parent. However, during the pandemic, this service has become a blessing. While the service sometimes has some issues, I try to remember to be flexible and offer grace. After all, the workers are providing a service for me and for that I am so thankful. Lately, I have been intentional about telling the workers how thankful I am for their service and that they are appreciated.
On this Thankful Thursday, let’s intentionally thank someone who is serving us in some capacity. Let’s also examine ourselves and our service. Read this excerpt from 1 Peter.
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:7-11 NIV
What gifts are you using? How are you serving others? Let’s give thanks to God for the gifts we are blessed with and show our love for others though our service.
As I look back over the course of Julie and I writing together and creating the Water Walking blog, I am amazed at how far we have come. God has stretched and grown us over time. Each new thing we tried has forced us to take another step out of our boat to walk on water. Then as we become comfortable with that step, God calls us to take another step. The very first step of sharing my faith on social media was sharing a verse of scripture on Facebook. I do not remember what verse I first shared l, but I vividly remember the moments before I posted it and how I felt. I was terrified! To be honest, at the time, it was rare for someone to put anything faith based on their social media so I was worried about how it would be received. Would others judge me? Would I be ridiculed? Fast forward many years to now. Julie and I are now sharing our faith journey with all of you very publicly. Wow! Look what God has done! God has even sent Ray White to partner with us by sharing some of his beautiful pictures like the one featured today. What a blessing!
On this Water Walking Wednesday, examine how and what God has called you to do. How has God asked you to grow and change? Is God calling you to take a further step? Trust God. God will amaze you when you look back and see how many steps you have made.
“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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
This Transformation Tip Tuesday let’s examine ourselves. Julie has shared with us that her mantra for the year is to be a fruit bearer. What does that look like in your life? Take a moment and read John 15:1-17 below.
““I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:1-17 NIV
What does Jesus tell us is the bottom line in bearing fruit? First, we must remain in Him and then we must love each other.
Examine yourself. What are you doing to “remain” in Christ? Are you spending time with Him each day? Are you allowing Christ to guide and direct your steps? Is this an area that you need to transform?
Now examine your fruit bearing. How are you loving others? Do you show your love in actions or only in words?
My tip for you this Transformation Tip Tuesday, is to adopt Julie’s mantra for the day and be a fruit bearer. Let’s all be intentional. First, spend time with Christ and “remain” in Him. Then show love in your words and actions. How will you bear fruit today?
Every morning God paints the skies with beautiful hues to greet us but do we rejoice every morning at the promise of the day? Or do we dread the mornings? Especially on Mondays? This mindset Monday let’s rejoice. Let’s be glad. And let’s thank God for the blessings today holds!
“This is the day which the LORD hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 KJV
