Author Archives: deborahard

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About deborahard

Daughter of the One true king, wife, mother, educator, DD, Christian blogger

#sows #rethinkchurch #lent2023 #waterwalkers

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#sows #rethinkchurch #lent2023 #waterwalkers
Photo by Ray White

“Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The pumpkins in today’s photo are carrying seeds wherever they are taken. Are you carrying seeds with you wherever you go? Are you eager to sow Christianity or are you an apprehensive farmer worried about frost? As Christians, we do not have to fear the chill of a frost killing the seeds we sow. Instead, we can be ready and willing to scatter the seeds of Christ at any time! So don’t become weary or fear the chill in the air! Keep sowing!

Dear Master Gardener, Give me courage to eagerly sow Your seeds. Water and shine Your Son on the scattered seeds I spread. May they grow all for Your glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

#complete #rethinkchurch #lent2023 #waterwalkers

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#complete #rethinkchurch #lent2023 #waterwalkers

Photo by Ray White

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Complete: adjective-having all the necessary or appropriate parts

Today’s Rethink Church Photo-A-Day is complete. Look at today’s featured photo. Do we have the complete image? How many words could we type with only the keys we can see? Could we write a story with just this part of the keyboard? From what I can tell, the only real word we could type is “sad.”

Often, you and I try to write our story or our opinion of someone else’s story, without having the complete keyboard. That is also sad. Only God can see every key and can type every stroke.

Today, examine your viewpoint of others. Are you making judgments of another about a situation? Are you allowing your judgments to affect your actions towards other. Carry the image of this partial keyboard with you today. May God remind each of us that only the Creator sees the entire picture and completes each story with His heavenly keyboard.

Dear Creator, Soften my heart to others. Help me to realize only You can complete my story and the story of others. May my words and actions be non-judgmental and compassionate. May I show the love of Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

#harvest #rethinkchurch #lent2023 #waterwalkers

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#harvest #rethinkchurch #lent2023 #waterwalkers
Photo by Ray White

“Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. ‘What a huge harvest!’ he said to his disciples. ‘How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!’” Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭35‬-‭38‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Harvest: to gather in a crop.

Today’s Rethink Church Photo-A-Day word is harvest. I like the Message version of today’s featured scripture. Re-read it now and prayerfully examine your hands. Do you have harvest hands?

As I prepared for today’s blog, I searched the internet for information on picking cotton. Harvesting cotton has come a long way. Click here to read an article written by Ron Smith recounting some of his experience with picking cotton.

Prior to the invention of the cotton picker, harvesting cotton was all done by hand. I imagine the hands of those picking cotton were rough, tough, and calloused from the hands-on work. I imagine their hands were a true visual of “harvest hands.”

When it comes to harvesting for Christ, how do your hands look? Do you have hands that are working for the Lord? Are your hands actively involved in the harvesting? Are your hands rough, tough, and calloused? What can you do today that is an example of using your harvest hands?

Dear Creator, Thank You for allowing me to help with Your harvest. Show me ways that I can use my harvest hands for Your glory today. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

#spring #rethinkchurch #lent2023 #waterwalkers

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#spring #rethinkchurch #lent2023 #waterwalkers
Photos by Ray White

“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.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today’s Rethink Church Photo-A-Day word is spring. What does the word spring bring to your mind? Spring makes me think of newness. Spring brings flowers, new growth, and change.

Today’s 2nd photo shows a beautiful flower blooming. However, prior to that flower blooming there had to be a time of pollen-filled puddles. Pollen is an aggravation as it covers our vehicles and porches with a yellow dusting. Pollen is a nuisance as it aggravates our sinuses. However, without pollen, there would be no beautiful flowers. We have to endure a time of hardship dealing with pollen to be able to enjoy the beauty of flowers.

Likewise, life is filled with pollen filled puddles and times of difficulty. However, on the other side of difficulty is a bouquet of beautiful blessings.

Dear God, Thank You for spring and all the newness it brings. Although pollen is an aggravation, I will allow the yellow-stained puddles to remind me of the new and beautiful things You bring. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

#deep #rethinkchurch #lent2023 #waterwalkers

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#deep #rethinkchurch #lent2023 #waterwalkers
Photo by Ray White

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today’s Rethink Church Photo-A-Day word is deep. Do you know how deep the love of Christ is for you? Do you truly grasp the fullness of God?

I think we know in our heads what the Bible tells us of the love of Christ, but we don’t always grasp the fullness of God. Or, do we get caught up in our busy schedules and forget just how wide, long, high, and deep God loves us?

Today’s featured photo by Ray White is of a hole in the sand. Can you tell how deep it is? I can’t tell at first glance. Unless you were there when the photo was taken or experienced the digging of the hole, you can’t tell the depth. You and I have to experience God’s overwhelming love to grasp His fullness. Spend some time today recalling moments that you have truly grasped and experienced just how wide, long, high, and deep God’s love is for you, and give Him praise.

Dear God, Thank you for Your wide, long, high, and deep love. I praise You for loving me so much that You gave the life of Your son for me to have eternal life. There is no greater love and for that I am eternally thankful. May my words and actions reflect Your deep love. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

#celebrate #rethinkchurch #lent2023 #waterwalkers

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#celebrate #rethinkchurch #lent2023 #waterwalkers

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today’s Rethink Photo-A-Day word is celebrate. My word for the year is relish. Click here to read my blog post about my word of the year.

Today I encourage you to relish and celebrate the big and the small. Today I chose to share with you photos I took at our church “camp” night. It was an enjoyable time of food and fellowship. It was a perfect gift from above that I relish.

God gives us moments to celebrate every single day. What can you celebrate today? What moments are you relishing?

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of today. May I relish each moment and celebrate each gift. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

If you would like to share your Rethink Photo-a-Day with us, you can do one of the following:

Post comment on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/waterwalkers29?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Tag us in a photo on Instagram @waterwalkers29

Email us at waterwalkers29@gmail.com

We want to hear and see from you!

#worship #rethinkchurch #lent2023 #waterwalkers

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Photo by Ray White

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Click here to watch today’s See You Saturday video.

If you would like to share your Rethink Photo-a-Day with us, you can do one of the following:

Post comment on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/waterwalkers29?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Tag us in a photo on Instagram @waterwalkers29

Email us at waterwalkers29@gmail.com