“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Last week Deborah shared about Faith-filled Friday. That was the beginning of many God winks throughout my day. My eyes were opened to the goodness of God. One, in particular, was a devotion that also had mentioned being Faith-filled. Are you familiar with the analogy of a pumpkin. Cleaning out the seeds and slime is representation for our old self to be gone so that we can be made new in Christ. With that new self, we are Faith-filled, sometimes, maybe, always?

Maybe on this day, you are more like a doubting Thomas or a busy Martha than feeling Faith-filled. Sometimes, maybe, always we need to see the goodness of God through God winks so that we are filled with faith and not doubt. Sometimes, maybe, always we need to be reminded to be still in God’s presence to listen for what we cannot see.

I encourage us to listen and worship to the song, Stand In Awe by Bethel, Paul McClure, and Habnah McClure. Some of the lyrics sing, “Where we made it complicated, realign us to stand in awe of you”. Sometimes, maybe, always we need to ask God to realign us daily so that He can uncomplicate the Thomases and Marthas. I guarantee with every surrender, that we can be made new and Faith-filled.

“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,” Ephesians‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This past Sunday our church choir sang a song called, Healer of my heart. The lyrics that grabbed my attention, were “Lead me to the deepest well”. As I sat in my usual balcony seat, I took this picture, where the cross looks deep. The pastor talked a lot about being Thankful, even when going through difficult things. 2022 has not been the easiest year for us but looking back we have a lot to be thankful for. In the middle of difficulty, God would always lead us back to Him.

This verse from Ephesians talks about that deep love for God. In the song, Your Love Is Strong by Cory Asbury, we should rejoice because God has chosen each of us. On this Thankful Thursday as we sit with God, let’s remember to thank him for the deep love that not only rescues us but chooses us daily. In the difficult times, ask God to open our hearts to find something to be thankful for. I know one thing, our family’s love has grown stronger as a result of 2022. I am so thankful for the deep love, full of grace that God has and continues to freely give. Let’s pray!

Lord, thank you for the deep love, full of grace that you freely give. Lead us to your deepest well. Open our hearts to be thankful in all circumstances. May we all feel your strong love and rejoice for choosing us. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

“Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” Isaiah‬ ‭26:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I love how in this verse from Isaiah, uses the words, walking and waiting. My interpretation is that as we wait for God’s return, our hearts desire should be to walk in His will and to bring God glory. We have lots of heart desires. Some are personal, some are for our family, some are for our church. Have you ever thought that our number one desire should be to bring God glory? That question steps on my toes!

On this Water Walking Wednesday, I encourage us to evaluate our desires throughout our day. Does gossiping bring God glory? Does eating to the point of gluttony? Does comparing ourselves to others? There are lots of things I can think of in a given day that does not bring God glory. We are human and the good news, God loves us anyway.

Today I challenge us all to make bringing God glory our number one desire. As the sun continues to rise and fall, let’s not forget how good our God is!

““I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭81:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On Surrender Sunday I encouraged us all to lay our burdens down. Well, it was Sunday evening and I had already failed. It was about 7:45pm, coming home from the grocery store and I still needed to cook dinner. I was thinking of my week ahead and I turned down my street. And there was the moon, filling the gap in between the trees. An overwhelming sense of calm came over me as the moon radiated the sky and lit the path ahead.

Doesn’t God fill our gaps? Doesn’t He light our paths ahead? Doesn’t He lift our burdens when we surrender them? In this verse from psalms, it is about God freeing the Israelites. We know how we’ll they listened. We are no different. On this Transformation Tips Tuesday, I will once again surrender. Yes, the week ahead is busy, and yes I still have a lot to accomplish. I can have the peace of God, knowing I don’t have to it on my strength. Recite after me, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13).

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Psalms‬ ‭94:19‬ ‭NIV

Do you ever feel like life is a tug-of-war‬‬ between expectations and reality? Between schedules, to-do lists, and deadlines; anxiety sets in. Good news, we have a God who can console our anxiety with joy.

On this Mindset Monday, what war are you facing? Have you already let the anxiety set in? Or have you sat with God and allowed Him to console you with joy? Let’s be proactive and make the choice to win the day with God. Let’s choose joy over anxiety. When faced with busy schedules, deadlines, and to-do lists, take it all one day, one step, one task at a time. Let’s pray together!

Heavenly Father, We surrender this Monday and this week to you. We lay our schedules, deadlines, and to-do lists at your feet. Only you know what the day and week will hold. We surrender control and perfection. We ask in return that you console us with joy. Help us not to forget to give ourselves grace as it has already been given. Today is the day you have made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

““Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.” Job‬ ‭22:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Submit means to accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person. Similarly, surrender means to give up possession of, to yield, to resign. On this Spiritual Sunday, I am encouraging us to be in surrender to our Lord, Christ Jesus. Whatever our worries are, lay them down. We don’t add another minute to our day by holding onto them. Whatever our dreams and plans are, lay them down. We can keep moving forward while submitting to His perfect will for our lives.

I encourage us all to listen and enjoy the words to the song, I’m Going All In by Brandon Lake, ft. Sarah Reeves. As we listen, think about this photo pictured here by Ray White. Even out in deep waters, God takes care of the birds. Some of the lyrics sing, “Cause your power’s found in the roughest waters, where I have no choice but to trust you, Father. Where my every fear has to surrender, I will trust in you forever.”

I am sure you have heard the Clemson Mantra, “All In”. Dabo Swinney says, “It’s a way of life here, and it’s about being committed to just doing the best you can with what you’ve got.” We too must be all in with God, not just on Sundays but a way of daily life. Instead of looking at our neighbors and being worried about what we don’t have, let’s do our best with what God has given us. Will you be All In with God, in full surrender?

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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