God us like our gentle giant. It is His joy that gives us strength. He is also our rock and fortress in time of need. He can fight for us and hold us within His loving arms in the same breath. Where do you look for joy in time of need? In Nehemiah 8:10 NIV we don’t have to look because it lives within us; “Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.””

I look at this photo by Ray and see strong tree branches with no clearing in sight. I can imagine our fortress with God to have a barricade like this one. One so strong and deep that nothing can cross. Where do you run to in time of need? In Psalms 18:1-2 NIV we don’t have to run, we can simply look up and speak His name; “I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

On this Finish Friday who or what battle are you fighting? What tactics is the Satan scheming to take your attention off your joy, strength, rock, and refuge? Ask God to deliver you. While you wait, find Joy in a strength only a loving, Heavenly Father and gentle giant can offer.

These three crosses sit creek side at Pawleys Island South. When I saw them last Friday it was a God wink for me that God was listening. In Jeremiah 29:12 NIV; “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” If you watched my See you Saturday video from a few weeks ago, I shared that I have been going through something. During my walking on the beach I was hoping to feel peace by putting my toes in the sand and breathing in the salty air. I was overwhelmed by God’s peace at the site of these crosses.

On this Thankful Thursday, I am so thankful to have a God that listens. We may not have answers or a plan in place, but we can rest knowing our Heavenly Father listens and cares for us. Before going to the doctor on Tuesday, I was blessed with hearing a song for the very first time. It is called Sound Mind by Bryan and Katie Torwalt. Some of the lyrics sing; “A sound mind for the spirit of fear. A sound mind so that I can see clearly. A sound mind, your spirit is here.”

Click here to Worship! May we all receive the gift of God’s peace and sound mind today!

Who among us are called to missions? asked Pastor Charles in last Sunday’s sermon message. The answer would be you and I. We are all called to be like Jesus, both the salt and light of the earth. In Lauren Daigle’s song, Salt & Light some of the lyrics sing, “Let my life be a song, revealing who you are”. In these verses from Matthew 5:13-16 NIV, you might think, what does this have to do with my mission work?

““You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

If you look at the message version, we can understand a little clearer how it relates to the mission work for you and I. I have highlight some key words.

““Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

Simply put, we are all made for missions. Our mission field is our day to day activities. We think people don’t notice godliness but they do. We are not hidden. We are a light for the world to see. On this Water Walking Wednesday, I encourage us to open up to others. Share God-flavors and God-colors within our homes, within our neighborhoods, within our work places, and anywhere else we travel. I pray this photo from Ray is a lasting image on our minds of today’s message on salt and light.

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On this Transformation Tips Tuesday I encourage us all, both men and women to choose self-care. I have been feeling the stress of life. As a result, I have been trying to be more intentional with finding moments for me time. What does self-care look like for me? I have included some pictures below. Time in the hot tub, laying in the hammock, planting, coffee, and running are just to name a few. We don’t need to wait until we are weary for self-care. Scheduling self-care regularly, we can go to God and serve Him feeling refreshed. God deserves our whole being to love and serve.

Whole means in an unbroken or undamaged state. If we are temples for the Holy Spirit, why do we feel guilty when we take time for self-care? In 1 Cor 6:19-20 NIV; “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

We need not forget that God created us for good works. For me personally, if I want to do good works for God, I must first take care of me. In Eph 2:10 NIV, God has prepared us, so we must be physically and mentally ready to love and serve; “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Let’s encourage one another to take time for self-care. And let’s do it guilt free. Wives, this includes encouraging your husbands. And husbands, this includes encouraging your wives.

Today we are celebrating Independence Day for the USA. In 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed. Many seasons have come and gone since then. In verse 5 from Ecclesiastes we see that there is a time for war and a time for peace. We must also honor and remember those that have fought and continue to fight for that peace and our freedom.

On this Mindset Monday I want to look at Verse 5. There is a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them. Each of us are in different or similar seasons in our lives. We are all moving different or similar stones. When you look at this beautiful image from our friend Ray, what stones do you see? Maybe for you the stones have been gathered for love and celebration. Maybe they have been scattered from grief and mourning. Maybe they represent joys or sorrows.

Now look at the image closer. They are stacked from largest to smallest. To scatter them, it would be easier to move the smaller stone first. Are you trying to move a stone that is burdened by the weight of other stones? God knows what stones you are carrying. I encourage us all this week to surrender our stones to God. Ask God to help us scatter and gather the stones He has for us to move, one stone at a time. In the process, let’s not forget to celebrate the joys!

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:1-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On Friday afternoon my friend, daughter, and I walked South Pawleys Island beach and creek. We found a few starfish in the water. After leaving, I wanted to know more about the starfish. I was happy to know that they regenerate their own arms because as you see, one of the arms is broken. They can only live in saltwater. What impressed me the most is that their vascular system is water. Gives a new meaning to living water. As you can see in this video they are very peaceful creatures.

Starfish also symbolize love, regeneration, and renewal. On this Spiritual Sunday I am reminded of the living water that lives in us. In John 4:14 NIV we read; “but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.””

With God’s living water we are transformed by His love. We are daily regenerated and renewed by His grace. As we go to our places of worship and throughout our week let’s remember the simplicity of the starfish and God’s living water. In a world full of chaos and busy schedules we can stay connected and be refreshed through our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Join me in prayer!

Heavenly Father, Thank you for your unconditional love and unending grace. Thank you for your living water that flows through us. Thank you for your beautiful creation to remind us that you are a God who cares about the details. In our coming and going today and throughout the week, may we stay connected. Each and every day we have the blessing to be renewed as we connect with you. May your blessings, love, and grace flow through us so we shine your glory for others to see. In the name of Jesus Amen.

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Click here to worship with God Who Moves the Mountains by Corey Voss

Check out this view from Beech Mountain. Thank you Ray for sharing God’s beauty with us!