Psalm 46:1 NIV — God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Have you ever dropped your cell phone? I tend to accidentally drop my phone a lot. Most of the time the phone fares well and there are no consequences from it falling. However, a few years ago I dropped my phone and that time when it hit the floor the glass shattered. It was in such bad shape that when I tried to use it a glass chip stuck in my finger. Since my schedule was so jam packed, my husband offered to take my phone to be repaired. As a result, I was without my phone for 2 days. Two days without my phone was an eye-opening experience. By the end of the first day, I was almost in a state of panic. I had no idea how much I depended on my phone. I felt so out of touch and disconnected without it. I couldn’t readily pick up my phone to send a quick text, make a phone call or look up information. I felt completely lost.

Isn’t that sad. We have become so dependent on our cell phones, that without them, we are lost. Today, as you go to church or have worship time, I encourage you to put your cell phone away. If you wear a watch that is connected to your phone, take it off. For that hour or so of worship, force yourself to be detached from technology and be fully present in the moment. Look and listen for God’s presence and enjoy!

Let’s pray. Dear Lord, Thank You for being ever-present. Help me to disconnect from the world today and enjoy Your presence. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Click here to watch today’s See You Saturday video.

Click here to listen to one of Lauren Daigel’s songs from her new album.

Philippians 2:5-8 NIV — In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!

This week we have reflected on our own failures, asked for forgiveness, and remembered our call to love others as we are loved. Today’s scripture reminds us that in our relationships with others, humility is our goal. Humility means putting others before ourselves and humility is not always easy. However, being humble is on the path to becoming more like Christ.

As you interact with others, remember your self-examination this week. Hold close in your thoughts what you learned this week about loving others through your words and actions. May each of us respond like Christ with love and humility. 

Let’s pray. Thank You Lord for the example set by Christ. Mold me and make me more like Christ in my response to others. May I continue to grow more humble and may I reflect more of You and less of me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

John 13:34 — “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

I pray as you have read the blog this week, you have taken a step back to examine yourself. I pray God has given you some new perspectives. I have shared with you photos taken from my airplane window. I am still not very comfortable with flying. I become rather anxious in the moments leading up to take-off and I calm myself by praying. Once in the air, God always reveals to me the beauty of the world below. Today’s photo was taken as I traveled up the east coast. What a beautiful perspective!

This week during your self-examination did God reveal to you times you have been judgmental? Did you realize times you have gossiped or spread rumors? Did you confess and ask forgiveness? Now that you are aware of your actions, where do you go from here? Let’s look at God’s word.

Today’s scripture are words Jesus spoke to His disciples on the night of the Last Supper. Jesus was preparing His disciples for His death and for the life they should lead afterwards. The new commandment is to love one another. We are to love those who are loveable and love those who are unloveable. In the context of our week together, how should we respond to someone who is different from us, has different opinions than us, or different life circumstances than us? We should love them. Instead of judging or gossiping, we should love them. How will you respond?

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for my new perspective on my words and actions. Please continue to guide and direct me as I learn to respond with love. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

1 John 1:8-10 NIV — If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Today’s photo was taken from my airplane window as we approached Nevada. Look closely at the dark areas on the ground. When I first looked, I thought the dark areas were water. As I looked closely, I realized the dark areas were shadows cast from the clouds above. What a revelation!

I hope you have taken some time to step back, look closely at yourself from a different perspective, and gain new revelations. If you have been honest with yourself, you may have had your eyes opened to some actions and reactions that God wants you to address. God has certainly been working on me. 

In our humanness, we sin. Re-read today’s scripture. We are called to recognize our sins and ask God for forgiveness. God will forgive us our sins if we just admit our failures and accept His mercy.  Have you confessed your sins? Have you learned from your failures? Failure is good data and we can learn from it if we keep our eyes, heart, and mind open to the message. Today, let’s not only confess our sins, but learn from our mistakes and thank God for His unending love, grace, and mercy. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, forgive me for my transgressions. Give me strength and courage to learn from my failures so I can do better next time. Thank You Lord for Your love, grace, and mercy. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Ephesians 4:29-32 — Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Yesterday I encouraged you to reflect on times you have made judgments about others. Today’s photo is another taken from my airplane window. What a different perspective! Again today I encourage you to step back to gain a new perspective and insight. Today I want you to examine the words you say and the manner in which you say them. Especially reflect on the intent of your words. For example, do you spread gossip in a way that is disguised as “prayer concerns”? Have you shared another’s unfortunate circumstances with others and sprinkled in your own opinion and judgments? Be honest with yourself. Have your words about others stemmed from a self-righteous attitude? What was your intent?

After my recent experiences with gossip spread about my family, my senses have been heightened. God has revealed to me times I have been the deliverer of gossip disguised as a prayer request. I realize the intentions of my words have not always been pure and I have become very aware of the weight of my words. I pray that you, too, will be honest with yourself. Admit any wrongdoings and ask God for forgiveness. Tuck God’s word from Ephesians 4:29-34 in your heart and allow those words to shape your words. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and words and be very sensitive to your intentions for sharing news about another.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Open my eyes to my use of words. Show me my wrongdoings and forgive me for impure intentions. May Your Holy Spirit guide and direct my thoughts and words. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Philippians 2:3-4 NIV — Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Yesterday I encouraged you to step back and begin a self-examination. Were you able to see things in a new way like today’s picture of my new perspective from my plane window? Did God reveal to you a time or times you have been judgmental of others? Have you had thoughts or expressed your opinion about someone whose behavior, beliefs, or life circumstances are different from your own?

As I have shared with you, I recently was the one being judged. As a result, I was hurt and disappointed that someone I knew as a Christian had verbalized judgments about me to another Christian. My first reaction was to make my own judgments about their behavior not being Christ-like. As He usually does, God stopped me in my tracks and opened my eyes to my response. I was doing exactly the same thing. I was being judgmental as a means of trying to vindicate myself. I was actually being selfish by worrying about how I felt instead of extending forgiveness and grace. 

How about you? Have you found yourself in a similar situation? Has God convicted you of your reaction to hurt?  God calls us to be different. God calls us to value others above ourselves. God calls us to be Christ-like, even when others are not. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, Forgive me for times I have fallen short of Your glory by being judgmental. Open my eyes to my shortcomings and give me courage to respond like Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.