“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today’s Photo-A-Day word is test. Did you always know all the answers on tests in school? Could you predict what the end result of your test would be before you received the grade? I am guessing the answer to both those questions is no. The same principle applies to our everyday lives. You and I cannot see what awaits us at the end of tests and trials. We don’t know what is around the corner or at the end of the tunnel.

So what do we do? We present our requests to God, we trust God, and He sends us peace. Even in the middle of trials, we can count on the promise of peace.

Dear God, Help me to feel Your presence as I endure times of testing. May I hold on to Your promise and trust that Your peace will come. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

“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 Photo-A-Day word is wilderness. As you can see in the pictures I chose, I have 2 thoughts about the word wilderness.

First, a wilderness can be barren and mangled with many twists and turns. Often there is no clear path. If you look closely at the top picture there is a lantern hanging on one of the limbs. To me, that represents the light of Christ among a place of confusion.

Secondly, I have come to learn that when I am in a wilderness, God grows beautiful fruit for His glory. Prior to His ministry here on earth, “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Are you in a wilderness today? Are you caught up in a tangled mess? Look for the light of Christ among the chaos. Watch for ways God is growing fruit in you.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for making a way in the wilderness. Thank you for making new things in and through me! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Today we kick off the Rethink Church Photo-A-Day challenge. The challenge is to post a picture that represents the word of the day to you. Julie, Ray, and I will write an explanation of the picture we post and we would love for you to either post your pic under our post or tag #waterwalkers in your post. Click here to watch a video of Julie and I explaining the Photo-A-Day challenge.

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This picture of fire represents the word consume to me. A fire envelops and consumes all that is around it. As we enter this season of Lent I want to be consumed by the Holy Spirit.

Click here to read more about Lent.

Click here for some meaningful ways to observe Lent.

Dear God, May I be consumed by Your loving presence throughout this Lenten season. May Your presence be reflected in my words and actions. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I am calling today Transformation Tips Tuesday as we have titled our Tuesdays before. However, as I was praying about today’s post it occurred to me that every day Julie, Ray, and I share with you our prayer is that in some way your lives will be transformed by His words/photos through us. Likewise, we are transformed through the process and by your words of encouragement.

Today’s photo is of eggs. With the rise in the cost lately, eggs have become a luxury item. Today some Christians celebrate Shrove Tuesday which involves eggs and indulgences. Julie and I are United Methodist and our local church, Herbert Memorial UMC usually has a pancake supper. While this may not be your tradition, perhaps learning about it would give you some insight and understanding into the traditions of others. Click here to read an explanation of Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Tuesday.

Do you celebrate Shrove Tuesday? Do you have any traditions leading up to Lent? Do you celebrate Lent? Tomorrow’s post will explain more about Lent. For now, may God transform each of us as we begin this season of reflection and transformation.

Dear Heavenly Father, May my eyes be open and my heart be willing to look and receive Your message for ways You want me to be transformed. May my ears hear Your word and may I respond accordingly. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Let’s kick our week off with Mindset Monday as we move toward the season of Lent. Lent is a time of inward reflection. We will explain more about Lent in the next few days. For now, I encourage you to examine the spiritual disciplines that you currently practice. Click here to read more about various spiritual disciplines. After reading, do you feel a nudge to change your approach to something you currently practice or are you feeling a nudge to begin a new practice? Is God asking you to lead in a communal spiritual discipline? Today, let’s go to the cross with open minds and yielding hearts as God leads us toward the season of Lent.

Dear God, Open my eyes to any spiritual discipline you would have me put into practice to draw me closer to you. Give me the strength, courage, and resolve to move in the way you would have me. May all that I say and do be a reflection of Your presence in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today is Sabbath Sunday. A Sabbath is a day of worship and/or rest. Do you observe a Sabbath? Is this a new word to you? Click here to read an article by the United Methodist church that better defines Sabbath.

Sabbath is an opportunity to rest in the arms of Jesus. I have found that observing the Sabbath is a necessary practice for me. Without worship and resting in Christ, I burn out and crash.

I encourage you to set aside a Sabbath. Spend time worshipping God and resting in Christ. Allow your batteries to be recharged and your focus to be reset.