“Thank You for responding to me; You’ve truly become my salvation! The stone the masons discarded as flawed is now the capstone! This is God’s work. We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it! This is the very day God acted— let’s celebrate and be festive! Salvation now, God. Salvation now! Oh yes, God—a free and full life!” Psalm‬ ‭118‬:‭21‬-‭25‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Today’s Rethink Photo-A-Day word is celebrate. God’s work deserves to be celebrated. In our key verse we most often quote verse 24 NIV: “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Take a moment to read The Message version of our surrounding key verses. Jesus was declared flawed just as we use labels today. However, God made Jesus both the cornerstone (the base) and the capstone (the crown) of our faith. We can also celebrate from these verses that our salvation has already been bought for us and is freely given.

Take a moment to look at Ray’s photo of stones. According to Merriam-Webster, the capstone is the high point or crowning achievement. Architecturally the capstone is the stone placed on top of a wall as the final stone. In other biblical translations, the capstone is also referred to as the cornerstone. According to Merriam-Webster, the cornerstone is the stone forming a part of the corner or angle in a wall along the foundation. Architecturally the cornerstone is the first stone set and every other stone is placed in reference to it. God is the rock of our salvation. He is the foundation of our faith and the one who reigns at the top receiving the glory.

Today as you go to your places of worship, celebrate this day, your salvation, and the work of God’s hands. Let’s use Psalm 62:1-2 in a prayer.

Dear God, Truly my soul finds rest in You. My salvation comes from You. Truly You are my rock and my salvation. You are my fortress. I will never be shaken. Today I celebrate this day, my salvation, and the work of Your hands. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

“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

Join me for See You Saturday as I talk about vision.

“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.” Habakkuk‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Dear God, You who are sovereign, You give me strength. I trust in Your faithful promises. Forgive me when I question Your plans. I can see Your past faithfulness in Your word and the story of Your son, Christ Jesus. Although I can’t see what is ahead, I trust in the vision you have for my life. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Below are the photos shared with Water Walkers this week. 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!

“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 ‭6‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today’s Photo-A-Day word is alone. Solitude is the state of being alone. Did you know that bears prefer to live in solitude? Other than mating and raising cubs, they are known to be the loneliest carnivores. Although Jesus didn’t prefer to live alone, He did like to pray in solitude. In our key verse, He instructs us where we should go and pray. I have included two instances where the Bible illustrates Jesus retreating in solitude to pray.

Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV: “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,”
‭‭‬‬

Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬: “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’”

I encourage you to read two more instances on your own, Mark 1:35 and Luke 22: 39-41. It isn’t always easy to be alone on this earth. The truth is, with Jesus, we are never alone. Next time you find yourself in solitude, I encourage you to take the opportunity to just sit in His presence. Let’s pray.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16‬:‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today’s Photo-A-Day word is overcome. This photo could symbolize different things. I was able to overcome the challenges of a run. If you live in our area, you may have or have not overcome the pollen. Jesus overcame His journey to the cross. In our key verse, Jesus is talking to His disciples. He is acknowledging the trials we will experience here on earth. He is also saying to “take heart” which means courage and confidence because He overcame the world. I encourage you to read the full passage; John 16:16-33. I also encourage you to take a moment to listen to the Story of the song “Overcome” by Jeremy Camp. Some of the lyrics sing: “We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.”

A testimony comes from a test. Jesus knows the trials and tests we are facing. What trial are are you facing today? Do you feel like running from it? God has not abandoned you. What if we courageously ran towards our trial with God? In the message version of verses 31-33: “Jesus answered them, ‘Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.’” Let’s pray.

Dear God, I am so thankful You have never left me. Help me to see, even through my trials and tests that You are right beside me. Forgive me for running away. Give me the confidence I need to run towards my trial because I know I can do all things through You. I worship the one that has conquered the grave. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

“While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” Matthew‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬ ‭ASV‬‬

Today’s Photo-A-Day word is beloved. In our key verse, God refers to Jesus as His beloved. According to the dictionary beloved means dearly loved. Notice Ray White’s beautiful picture of the sun setting over a church. As you look at this picture I want you to be reminded that we are God’s church and we are His beloved. In 1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭ASV‬‬ we read: “Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

Now read the key verse again. Notice there is a call to action. As His disciples, we are asked to hear God. Hearing involves a relationship with God. Keeping in mind that we are His beloved, I encourage you to really listen to the words of the song, “I Am Your Beloved” by Johnathan David Helser and Melissa Helser. Some of the lyrics sing, “I am Your beloved, You have bought me with Your blood and on Your hand, You have written out my name. I am Your beloved, the one the father loves. Mercy has defeated all my shame.” Let’s pray.

Dear God, I come to You today as Your beloved child. I desire to hear Your voice. Thank You for defeating my shame and loving me. I lift up all those that do not know You. May they see Your love through me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” Matthew‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today’s Photo-A-Day word is dazzling. According to the dictionary, this means extremely bright, especially so as to blind the eyes temporarily. Similar words are extremely impressive, beautiful, or skillful. Have you ever looked into the sun a little too long and then tried to come inside? You start to see spots and are almost blinded for a few minutes. Notice this picture from Ray White. There is a surfer who appears to be staring into the sunrise. If you ask me that is a pretty dazzling place to watch the sunrise.

Over Jesus’ journey on earth, the Disciples had a dazzling view of His life. From His teachings, healings, transfiguration, last supper, death on the cross, and when the Son would rise from His grave. Can you envision the Disciple’s view of Jesus’s transfiguration? This took place just six days after Peter’s declaration of faith in Matthew 16:16 NIV: “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’” How close is your view of Jesus? Are you on the mountain watching His transfiguration with the Disciples? Are you declaring your faith like Peter? Make today transfiguration Tuesday and be dazzled by Jesus’ light. Let’s pray.

Dear God, Thank You for desiring to have a close relationship with me. Forgive me for the times I have missed seeing and shining your glory. I declare my faith in You. I desire to be so close in relationship with you that I am dazzled by your light. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers‬ ‭6‬:‭22‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today’s Photo-A-Day word is shone. This is past tense for shine. Notice the photo by Ray White. A view of the sun rising from a rearview mirror. Rearview mirrors are a great tool for safe driving. However there still can be a blind spot. We might have to turn our heads to the right or left to change lanes. We also have blind spots in our lives where we are trying to connect the dots in the past to understand or figure out what’s next. Good news, we can look to our right and our left with God in Isaiah 30:21 NIV: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

Looking back at our key verse, we are the Israelites. God has already shone His light on us. He has also given us a new identity in Christ Jesus by putting His name on us. In this season of lent, we are looking back on Jesus’ journey. We are also looking back on our journey. Yes, our past shapes our tomorrow but it doesn’t have to define it. Are you looking to the right and to the left? Are you receiving the grace and peace that only God can give? God has shone His light on our faces. Let’s walk in it and receive it. Let’s go to God in prayer.

Dear God, Thank you for Your light that has shone and continues to shine. Forgive me when I have not looked to You for Your perfect will. I receive Your grace and peace. I make the choice today to walk in it. I will go forward confidently in Your name. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.