Last Friday I had the joy of putting my toes in the sand. It is amazing to stand along the ocean in view of its vastness. There appears to be no end as the ocean meets the sky. I am always in Awe of God’s creation, especially when I take time to be still and enjoy it.

We are all Water Walkers when we stand in awe of God. On this Water Walking Wednesday imagine yourself standing at the shore line and worship with Hillsong United in the song, Stand in Awe

Yesterday as we were walking my daughter pointed out the blue ceilings on porches. She informed me that it helps keep birds and wasps from making nests. This makes me think about how we need to be proactive and not leave room for the Devil to make nests in our lives.

On this Transformation Tips Tuesday I encourage us all to stay guarded in God’s word. Take inventory of the sin that easily entangles us. Let’s not give the Devil a any footholds today.

“and do not give the devil a foothold.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Why are Mondays always so hard? Just like my dog Oreo, it would be nice to sometimes cover our faces rather than face the day ahead. Yet, God has commanded us to be strong and courageous no matter if it is Monday or another day of the week.

How will you approach today? With a covered face? Or a courageous spirit? On this Mindset Monday, let’s lean into God and ask him to equip us to tackle this Monday.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”” Josh‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As I was standing at Dunkin Donuts waiting on my order, I read this paper bag here and laughed. Seriously think about our days, especially Monday though Saturday. It is easy for us to get off track, to get away from God. Just like these sprinkles get shifted in transport, we get shifted in life. Thankfully we read in Psalm 139:7; “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”

The best part, God already knows when and where we will shift and yet he loves us anyways; “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Ps‬ ‭139:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This week, will you get shifted for God or shifted for the world? As we go to our places of worship today, let’s ask God to sprinkle us with his Holy Spirit so that we may shift towards Him.

This past Tuesday my daughter Kendal and I shared her Scoliosis journey at church. Kendal was first diagnosed with Scoliosis at age 4 and has been treated at the Greenville Shriners hospital by wearing a brace. After 12 years her journey is finished. At the age if 16 she is done growing and the risk for surgery is gone.

Looking back over the years we can see how God worked out here Scoliosis for our good and His glory; “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. Rom 8:28 NIV

We have learned to turn a burden into a blessing by sharing our testimony and finding joy in the journey along the way. Maybe you have recently finished a journey or maybe one is just beginning. How has God turned your burdens into blessings?

Kendal may not have been healed from Scoliosis, but she was healed through God and medicine since she was prevented from surgery. Between God’s favor, Kendal being the most compliant patient, and Dr. Pete taking such good care of her, our journey had a happy ending.

You can here about Kendal’s Scoliosis Journey by following this link; Turning Burdens into Blessings

Last night I listened to a Steven Furtick Podcast titled, “The Other Hand”. As I listened I reflected on my word of the year for 2021, refine. The other hand is the sin in our lives. The bad habits or faults that are revealed behind closed doors. To refine is to remove impurities or unwanted elements. This fire pit pictured here is full of sticks waiting to be burned. We all have sticks called sin that needs to be refined in the fire.

In this verse from Psalm 73:26 NIV we can be thankful for the parts of us that fail; “My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever”. On this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful that God continues to refine me. I am thankful that He is my strength and my portion forever.

You can listen to The Other Hand by clicking this link!

We tend to compartmentalize our faith. We give God our plans for His final approval. We make things more difficult than what they need to be. Just like this picture divided up into 4 sections, we have everything where we think it needs to be.

Picture this 3 mile trail that winds around East Bay. Although it is not straight, it is a continuous path with a start and a finish. Part of being a Water Walker is to trust, submit, and start.

1. Trust God even when we don’t understand or see what comes after the first step.

2. Submit our plans, not for final approval but for full surrender.

3. Start moving forward by asking God to lead us in the path we should go.

The start might be messy. The middle might be nerve-racking, and the finish might look different than we had planned. Will you trust, submit, and start in what God has for you today?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Prov‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬