“You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.” Psalms‬ ‭65:11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do you ever look at clouds and see images? In Ray’s photo, I see a crown. I am reminded of this verse from Psalms. I believe in this verse, crown means to surround and to complete. Interesting it says, even the “hard pathways” in the New Living Translation. You wouldn’t see a harvest on a sidewalk. I believe this symbolizes every season and everywhere.

Can you believe we have already completed 8 months in 2022? Has this year been bountiful? Or has it been lacking? As we roll into the last 4 months of the year, let’s be thinking about how we can complete 2022. Maybe you need to surround yourself with positivity to finish the year strong. Possibly you are in survival mode and all you can think about is finishing this Friday. Perhaps it has been a bountiful year, can you think of ways you can share that blessing with others?

On this future, finish Friday I pray for God to bless each of us in every season and everywhere we go. Even with all this future talk, I will remind you of my 2022 Mantra; “Live For Today”. It is much easier to consume the elephant one bit at a time.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” Psalms‬ ‭42:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Isn’t this a beautiful picture? Isn’t it a beautiful image to think of us desiring God, as a deer desires a drink of water. If you keep reading this psalm, you will read how David is lamenting over his time of oppression. Even though he is downcast, David desires and longs for a relationship with God. We are a lot like David. As long as we are on this earth we will be faced with oppression. Thankfully, David had hope. We are blessed to carry that same hope with us today.

On this Thankful Thursday, let’s put our hope in God. Let’s not take for granted the relationship we have with God. A relationship where there are no boundaries and no limitations. In verse 2; “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” We are also blessed to carry God and share in His glory wherever we go.

““His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” Matthew‬ ‭25:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

My daughter, Kendal, and I had the blessing of celebrating a friend’s 50th heavenly birthday last Friday. This person touched many lives in his 48 years on earth. The family and friends find comfort in knowing he is another angel around the throne. Hearing all the people share stories, it was evident he got a “well done” from God. I pray that I can live a life like that.

With this verse from Matthew in mind, look at this bird walking on the beach. I love how Ray captured the bird in motion, taking the next step. Yesterday I left you with a self-evaluation question; Is there an area in your life where God is waiting on you to do the footwork? And I followed up with, you don’t want to miss the blessing. Today on Water Walking Wednesday, I want you to evaluate that same question. Now think about the blessing others may receive as a result of you doing the footwork. It is a butterfly effect. You flap your wings. You take that next step and only God knows the magnitude of the blessing.

What Splash will you make today?

Songs to worship with:

Well Done by The Afters

Jealous of the Angels by Donna Taggart

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I took a picture of this butterfly while we were moving our son into Clemson University last week. It was a beautiful reminder to see how God orchestrated everything. From application to acceptance, to registration, it had been a stressful transformation process. Now here we are, the parents can relax for a minute and the students can enjoy the honeymoon phase of college.

In Sunday School class we have been reading, Win The Day by Mark Batterson. A quote of Mark’s that stands out to me; “You can’t just pray like it depends on God. You also have to work like it depends on you. If you want God to do the super, you’ve got to do the natural”. God’s promises are yes and amen through each of us, but we must not forget to do our part to see God’s glorious plans come to fruition.

Take a moment to read the message version; “Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:20-22‬ ‭MSG‬‬

I love this image of being stamped with God’s promises and eternal pledge. His yes is within each of us. How cool is that? We must compliment God’s yes with our yes and then follow through with the footwork. Next time you see a butterfly take a moment to thank God for His eternal pledge and yes that lives within you.

I leave you with a self-evaluation question; Is there an area in your life where God is waiting on you to do the footwork? Don’t miss out on the blessing God has planned for you!

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans‬ ‭8:31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What do you think it means to have a strong mind? I think being mindful and aware of who’s we are, a child of God. Unwavering in beliefs. Moldable to change, yet not easily changed by our circumstances. I think this verse from Romans, breathes confidence into our strong minds, knowing that God is for us.

Gaze at these beautifully strong mountains that Ray captured. On this Mindset Monday, I want us to think of these mountains in comparison to our minds. Yes, they change through the seasons; from lush green to autumn colors, to wintery white. Yet these mountains created by God remain strong through all the seasons.

Let’s join together in prayer, as we are stronger in numbers!

Heavenly Father, Thank you for your hedge of protection. Thank you for fighting our battles in the unseen. Thank you for your peace that guards our hearts and minds. Help us not to waver in our faith when life is hard. Help us to be moldeable but not easily changed by our circumstances. Equip us on this Monday and throughout our week to stay strong minded. Reveal to us anyone that might need an uplifting word to remind them of your faithfulness. In the name of Jesus Amen.

“May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord.” Psalms‬ ‭104:34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

According to the dictionary, meditation is a written or spoken discourse expressing considered thoughts on a subject. According to Mirriam Webster, meditation is to engage in contemplation or reflection. Think about our meditation with God. Are we expressing considered thoughts with God? Or are we allowing life’s distractions to get in the way. Are we engaging with God daily? Or is God an after thought?

This life is so full of distractions. Take a moment to think about both the positive and negative distractions that pull our attention. I am sure this can look differently depending on what season or stage in life we are in. When I look at this photo, I can’t see a clearing through the trees. I imagine on days distraction takes over, this is what our communication and mediation with God looks like.

On this Spiritual Sunday let’s clear the forest and realign our meditation so that it is pleasing to God. As we enter His house, let’s rejoice in the Lord. It’s all about Jesus! Heart of Worship by Brandon Lake sums it up! I encourage us all to close our eyes, listen to the words, and truly worship.

““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah‬ ‭55:8-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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