This week we are sharing on the topic interruptions. Take a moment to meditate on this week’s scripture verses.

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭7‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — “Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.” And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18‬:‭41‬-‭44‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ””

Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

Matthew 4:19-22 NIV — “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Luke 24:13-16 NIV — Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.  As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;  but they were kept from recognizing him.

Luke 24: 13-35 NIV

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This week we are sharing interruptions. An interruption can be stopping activity for a time or break in the continuity of something. What comes to mind when you think of interruption? 

Worship with There Is A Cloud by Elevation Worship. Some of the lyrics sing, “hear the Word, roaring as thunder with a new, future to tell. For the dry, season is over. There is a cloud, beginning to swell.”

Today’s thoughts by Deborah Ard.

Colossians 3:12-14 NIV — Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

I don’t know about you, but I do not agree with everyone’s opinion, lifestyle, or choices. God doesn’t say I have to, but He does say I must love all. Loving others is shown in the characteristics listed in today’s featured scripture. Even when I don’t agree with others I must show them compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

Read the Message version of Colossians 3:12-14 — So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Today is Valentine’s Day, also known as the Day of Love. As we have shared this week, love is not just a romantic love. God’s call is for us to love all. Loving all is not easy. We must surrender our will and allow God’s will to lead us. God calls us to put on and wear love. How will you show love to others today?

Let’s pray. Thank You God for loving me. Forgive me when I have not loved others as You would have me. Guide and direct my words and actions as I strive to put on and wear love each day. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 

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Today’s thoughts by Deborah Ard.

1 Corinthians 13 NIV

Take time to click above and read today’s featured scripture that is commonly referred to as the love chapter in the Bible. This chapter is often used in weddings as a summary of what love is and how love should look. Only God has shown perfect love, but we should always work to be more like Christ and reflect the love of God.

Today is Fruit Friday. As you probably know, Julie’s word for 2026 is “fruit of the Spirit” guided by Galatians 5:22-23 — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Click here to read Julie’s post from January 1, 2026 about her word of the year.

The first characteristic of showing the fruit of the Spirit is love. How are you showing the fruit of love? Do others know you are a Christian by your love? What actions have you taken to replicate the love of Christ? 

Join me in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, may each day I grow more like Christ by loving others as You would have me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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Today’s thoughts by Deborah Ard.

1 John 4:19-21 NIV —  We love because he first loved us.Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

Ouch! My toes are getting stepped on this week. As I shared yesterday and in today’s featured scripture, God commands us to love others. He doesn’t say to just love those who love us or only love those who agree with our thinking. He says to love all. Today’s scripture also tells us that if we hate others then we are lying about loving God. God loves even those whose words and actions make them unloveable. Loving all is not easy and loving all must be intentional. I am reminded that loving all must be a daily, hourly, moment by moment commitment. Today I challenge you to write out and commit to memory a short sentence you can pray throughout your day to remind you to love others, even when their words and actions are unloveable. We must love others because God loves us.

Let’s pray. Dear God, help me to love as You love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts by Deborah Ard.

1 John 4:7-12 — Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Do you love others? Be sure to really read the scripture above and pay attention to God’s words about loving others. Measured against the scripture, do you love others?

If I am being honest and transparent, I find it easy to love others who are like minded with me. I freely shower them with kind words and actions. However, it is also easy to ignore others who have not been nice to me or who have purposely shut me out of communication. I can simply avoid situations or areas where there are others whoare different from me or may challenge me. No matter how uncomfortable I may be, God’s word tells me that Jesus came for all and as a result, I should also love all. 

I ask again, do you love others? Who is God calling you to love this Water Walking Wednesday? Are you willing to step out of your boat of comfort and walk on water and truly love others?

Join me in prayer. Heavenly Father, open my eyes to those I have avoided loving to protect my comfort. Give me the courage to truly love others as You have charged me to do, just as you have love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Thoughts by Deborah Ard

John 3:1-21 NIV

John 3:16 NIV — For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

Whether you are a Christ follower or not, you have probably heard of and are familiar with the scripture John 3:16. Search the internet for the most popular or most widely known scripture and John 3:16 is the first or second result. You may have seen John 3:16 on billboards, bumper stickers, T-shirts, or the faces of football players. In fact, it was the first scripture I memorized as a child.

While you may have seen or heard of John 3:16, do you understand or believe the message of this popular scripture? It in fact holds the meaning of the Gospel in just a few words. John 3:16 encapsulates God’s overwhelming love for us. Have you accepted and embraced God’s love for you? How can you share God’s love with others?

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for your eternal love that encompasses me. May all that I say and do reflect Your love as I trust You to guide and direct my steps. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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