“But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”” Ephesians‬ ‭5:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In yesterday’s post I encouraged you to look for the goodness of God. Did you see? Did you find God’s goodness? I did! I saw God’s grace and mercy filling my faith up all day long!

When I left home to head to work, I was amazed at the songs I heard on the Christian radio station. Were they picked just for me or was I listening with more open ears? I had a jam packed schedule at work, but God’s grace and mercy gave me the strength and stamina to meet my needs. Several texts and conversations throughout the day reported of answered prayers of mine, family members or friends. Go God! God continually showed off yesterday.

However, when talking with my friend last night of an answered prayer, I had an “aha” revelation. I think God is constantly answering prayers, performing miracles, bestowing blessings and showing off. I think that we are not always looking. I think we are often asleep and in the dark.

You and I rush through life from one task to the other. We are constantly looking to the next big thing while God is constantly working for our good. Let’s make today a Faith-Filled Friday. Let’s turn on the light and be awake to God’s constant work in our lives. Let’s allow Christ to shine on us and fill up our faith for His glory.

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.””
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How has your week been for you? Has it been smooth sailing or has there been bumps in the road. This has been a busy and stressful week for me. I have had activities outside of our home every evening this week. I have run up against some frustrating road blocks that have added to my stress. As I prepared for today’s blog post I was drawn to this beautiful photograph taken by Ray White. I googled “scripture about horizon”. As I read through the scriptures listed, I felt a nudge towards today’s featured verse. As I read it over and meditated on it I was reminded that the promises of God never fail and that God is with me through the stress. I then decided to turn to the scripture and read its context. At this point I really hadn’t paid attention to the scripture “address” (chapter and verse). How had I not realized that this verse comes from the same chapter as my life verse?

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah‬ ‭40:30-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

WOW! God is so good. In the midst of my stress, I was led to a reminder of the goodness of God.

Today is Thankful Thursday. Today may we each keep our eyes open for the goodness of God that surrounds us. May we each praise God and give thanks for the enduring word of God.

Click here to listen to this beautiful song, The Goodness of God. I have shared this several times before, but yesterday a coworker shared that she listens to it every morning to start her day. Let’s do the same today and praise God this Thankful Thursday!

““What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ “ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21:28-32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I love peanut butter! I especially love chocolate and peanut butter together! A few summers ago, our family was vacationing in Washington, DC. As you may know, touring in Washington involves much walking. One particular day as we walked from one end of the National Mall to the other, we happened upon an ice cream truck. Since it was July, we were hot and we were excited at the thought of a cool ice cream treat. Imagine my delight when the side of the truck, pictured above, had a Reece’s peanut butter cup sundae as an option. Of course that’s what I ordered. Now imagine my disappointment when I was handed the cup of ice cream in today’s second picture. There were no Reece’s peanut butter cups! My cup simply had ice cream with peanut butter smeared on the side and chocolate drizzled on top. That is definitely false advertisement and not what the truck image portrayed!

I am calling today “Walk the Walk Wednesday”. I want each of us to examine the image we are portraying to the world.

Are you walking the walk you claim as a Christian? Are you talking the talk God instructs? Does your walk match your talk? Are you presenting one image, but not following through?

When we say one thing about Christ, but do another, we are being hypocrites. When we portray the Christian life as God instructs us but we don’t walk the walk, we are not being an accurate example of a Christian and we are not growing the kingdom of God.

My prayer for each of us today is that we all “repent and believe him.” May we each walk the walk and talk the talk of Christianity. May each of us not only be the image of Christ, but also be Christ to the world.

***On a side note, the ice cream was terrible and it ended up being thrown away not long after it was purchased . What a disappointment! Even today our family continues to get a good laugh out of my Reece’s ice cream sundae debacle.

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:22-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today’s photo features the same tree with different lights shining on it. If you study the tree in each image you may notice different details but in reality it is still the same tree.

Today is Transformation Tips Tuesday and I encourage you to examine yourself in different lights, in different situations, and different seasons of life.

When you became a Christian, you “put off your old self” and “put on the new self”. What does that mean to you? How have you incorporated that idea into your transformation and your daily walk with Christ? Are you being renewed and changed daily by the time you spend with Christ?

Just like the tree in the picture, you may look differently in different lights, but you are still the same person. Let’s just be sure the light that shines on us is the light of Christ so others will want to learn more about Him.

“And then God answered: “Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time. * * *” Habakkuk‬ ‭2:2-3‬ ‭MSG‬‬

The surfer in today’s photo once had a dream to learn to surf. I am sure it took much practice and many tries to learn the proper form to ride the waves with ease. I imagine he had many falls and many failed attempts to stand up to surf successfully. Yet, apparently, he kept practicing and trying until he got it.

In his book Win the Day, Mark Batterson writes, “A dream without a deadline is called a wish.” Resolve is defined as firm determination to do something. Do you have something you have resolved to do? Do you have a goal you are currently working toward? Have you set a deadline?

Today is Mindset Monday. Today I encourage you to resolve to refocus on your dream. Write down your goal and set a deadline. If you feel defeated because you have failed, ask God to give you strength and courage to keep moving forward. Then turn to the end of Habakkuk and follow his lead in praising God despite the circumstances.

“Though the cherry trees don’t blossom and the strawberries don’t ripen, Though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted, Though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty, I’m singing joyful praise to God. I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God’s Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I’m king of the mountain! (For congregational use, with a full orchestra.)” Habakkuk‬ ‭3:17-19‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Finish your time by Clicking here and listening to “Do It Again” by Elevation Worship.

“Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord’s Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me. After supper, he did the same thing with the cup: This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you. Each time you drink this cup, remember me. What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:23-26‬ ‭MSG‬‬

The beautiful tapestry in today’s photo was painted by God. The sky on Wednesday night caused me to slow down and remember. In a split second God reminded me to slow down, reflect and give thanks. What a beautiful way to remind me.

Today is Spiritual Sunday and in the worship service at my church, we will partake in the sacrament of Holy Communion. I think often we recite the responses and go through the motions of communion without really taking to heart what it all symbolizes or means to you and me. If you are partaking in communion today I encourage you to be mindful of what the bread and juice represent. You are re-enacting the death of Our Savior. Don’t let “familiarity” cause you to miss the blessing and responsibility that comes with the blessing. Don’t let the moment pass without remembering the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for each of us. Reenact the sacrifice and remember.

Click here to watch today’s “See You Saturday” video as I talk about God showing off! Like, subscribe, and share the video to help grow WaterWalkers.

Click here to listen to the song “Fighting For Me”.