““Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke‬ ‭15:4-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let me start by explaining today’s picture. The map and my favorite hashtag; Find Joy in The Journey are from Herbert Memorial UMC’s VBS. The countries and numbers listed are just a few of last year’s Water Walking stats on who visited our blog from around the world. What do these two things have in common? Both are serving in missions from the small hometown of Georgetown South Carolina. How is this possible? Every year at VBS there is a missions project. This year’s mission is collecting for the Amazing Grace Academy in Liberia. As I sat with the children at VBS, the pictured map got my attention. There is a similar map within our blog stats for Deborah and I to have a visual of the different countries.

What is my point? Well, look at the number 1 next to Norway. Some may think that is just one reader. If we read the parable in Luke on the one lost sheep you will see my connection. If we help just one child at VBS to know Jesus. If we help just one reader on the blog to know about Jesus. If we help just one child in Liberia at Amazing Grace Academy. Remember all this from the small hometown of Georgetown.

Deborah and I find Joy in our journey with the blog. I encourage our readers to see how you can help at least one from the comfort of your hometown.

Click here to learn more about Amazing Grace Academy.

“Give us today our daily bread.” Matthew‬ ‭6:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

These Scripture vitamins sit on the counter at the YMCA. I thought comparing reading a scripture a day to a vitamin a day was a cute idea. If you are like me, remembering to take a daily vitamin doesn’t always come easy. In Matthew, God compares scripture to daily bread. Just as food is a necessity in nutrition, God’s word is a necessity for Christian living. This steps on my toes. Do we look at God’s word as a necessity for daily living?

On this Transformation Tips Tuesday, I encourage us all to be on a regimen to read at least one verse a day. We’ve already got you covered here on the blog. Join us daily and you’ve got your daily bread. Maybe you are already on a daily regimen. I encourage us all to share at least one verse a day with another person. Sounds scary? If you watched Deborah’s See You Saturday video she talks about getting over that fear. Sharing could mean talking with a friend, co-worker, or stranger. Sharing could be sharing a Water Walkers Blog on social media. Sharing could be writing a card with a verse to someone in need. There are so many opportunities to share God’s word every 24 hours. What will you do with His daily bread?

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. Give us today our daily bread. 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. ’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew‬ ‭6:9-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What if we started the week with a Mindset to put our hope in the Lord to renew our strength? I encourage you to read Isaiah 40: 28-31. You will learn that our God is everlasting and does not grow weary. He extends His strength to each of us. He increases power to the weak. We all have times of weariness. We all have times when we stumble and fall.

I confess that I cling to this verse when I am already to the point of weariness. I confess that I tend to run my week on my own strength before I rely on God’s strength. I confess that sometimes when I stumble I turn to family and friends before I turn to God. Thankfully God loves us unconditionally, in spite of our weaknesses. I encourage us to start the week with the expectation that we can turn our hope to God and rely on His strength.

Click here and Join me in worshiping with Lauren Daigle and Lord, I need you.

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews‬ ‭12:28-29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” Psalms‬ ‭23:2-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It is amazing to think about God as being this all-consuming fire, a kingdom that can’t be shaken, as well as our quiet soul refresher. In Hebrews we learn that God is a consuming fire. We are instructed to worship acceptably with reverence and awe for God. In Psalms, we learn that God can refresh our souls when He leads us to sacred places like church worship and quiet waters. As we enter our sacred places of worship today, I want us to remember how we are to worship God in a thankful posture and in total awe of Him.

When you look at this photo from Ray White, what do you see? I see both fire and water. I see a sacred quiet place to rest, find God, and worship. As we leave our places of worship today, let’s remember that throughout our week we can retreat to our sacred places to find God and worship Him in awe.

What worship song puts you in a thankful posture of praise and total awe of God?

Hello Water Walking friends!

Click here for See You Saturday as I talk about patience and hope!

I know Deborah has talked about the rabbit hole of comparison before. How about the rabbit hole of stressing over what’s next? How can we get back to enjoying every day simple things verses planning and stressing over tomorrow? It’s ok to not always be doing big things. Simple is good too. We can enjoy and rely on God’s strength to keep us from that rabbit hole; “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.”” Nehemiah‬ ‭8:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How about the rabbit hole of details? We stress, plan, and stress some more. How can we get back to trusting and leaning on God to work it out? It’s ok to not have it all figured out all the time. Flexibility is good too. We can choose surrender to keep us from that rabbit hole; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;” Proverbs‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On this Finish Friday, what is your rabbit hole? Good news with God we don’t have to stay there. Rather we can choose the peace of God to fill our hearts and minds today. God is the only one that can lead our souls to perfect peace and complete rest.

Click here to worship with Ryan Ellis and Gonna Be Alright.

While at Clemson, one of the speakers encouraged the students to practice gratitude. Practicing gratitude? They say it takes about 21 days to create a new habit if you make it a daily practice. In this verse from Thessalonians giving thanks in all circumstances is like practicing gratitude; “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thes‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In this song I’m So Blessed by Cain the lyrics sing; “On my best day, I am a child of God. On my worst day, I am a child of God.” If you are struggling to find gratitude today, remember that you are a child of God. I encourage you to watch the video, it is a funny way to give thanks in all circumstances.

One of my favorite ways to practice gratitude is being outdoors and experiencing God’s beauty. I am thankful for this beautiful beach picture. I am especially thankful for another day to be a child of God. How will you practice gratitude today?