We have a Crape Myrtle tree in our front yard. Recently I realized this is a popular tree in my neighborhood. Some are short shrubs, while some are tall trees with lots of blooms, or very little blooms. Our tree has very little blooms. If you walk around the back of the tree and look up, you will find beautiful flowers.

Like these Crape Myrtle’s, we tend to compare ourselves to others. God made us each unique. On this Transformation Tips Tuesday, we need to accept how God made us. The way we are shaped, if we are tall or short, and the gifts God gave us. Each of us are fearfully and wonderfully made. If you tend to struggle with acceptance, remember to look up. Through God’s help you will find beauty.

Like this salted peanut butter and chocolate snack, life is both sweet and salty. As I was eating it Saturday, I noticed the message on the wrapper for the first time. The brand is Perfect and the massage says; “Have a Perfect Day”.

Is life sweet or salty for you today? If your answer is sweet, make sure to take time to thank God for your blessings. If your answer is salty, ask God to help keep your chin up with a positive attitude.

Our Christian walk isn’t promised to be perfect everyday, however we are blessed to have a path that leads us to a brighter tomorrow. We might as well enjoy a little chocolate along the way! Let’s go forward with a positive Mindset Monday that God has perfected just for us.

Today on this Spiritual Sunday, we celebrate our independence. On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The document written by Thomas Jefferson went through an editing process. There were 86 changes made to the original writing. We started celebrating this day annually after the first public reading where bells were rung and music was played.

As we go to our places of worship and throughout our day, let’s rejoice because this is the day the Lord has made. We have the freedom to ring bells and play music for God everyday. We get to live out our edited lives, blessed that through God’s Grace we can keep writing our story. Thank you to our men and women who have served and continue to serve our country so that we can live in freedom.

I took this picture yesterday on my run. It is the flag pole that was donated to Herbert Memorial Untied Methodist Church in Memory of JL Plexico. Both the American flag and the Christian flag are flying.

The road may look long but with a goal in mind we can press on. In Phil‬ ‭3:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬ we read; “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Whatever we have going on today, this week, this month, or this year; keep pressing on. One day we will be able to look back and see how far we have come. On this Finish Friday, I encourage us all to find joy in our journeys along the way!

Salvation is like the bridge in this picture. We must have Jesus to enter into a relationship with our Heavenly Father. On this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful that I get to love my Jesus and that I am loved by Him. I heard a beautiful song this week by Casting Crowns. Some of the lyrics sing; “Loving my Jesus, showing my scars. Telling my story, how mercy can reach you where you are”. Daily we make new scars. Daily Jesus loves us just the same. Someone needs Jesus today. Will you be a bridge to Jesus? I encourage us all to step out of our comfort zones by sharing our scars.

Click the link to worship to, “Loving My Jesus” by Casting Crowns; https://youtu.be/L5NIkv3_tyM

Sometimes Walking on Water is as simple as taking the next step. How do we know what the next step is? We get hydrated and filled with the word of God. We stay in prayer and ask God to guide us. Often we thirst for the world to fill us. We go to friends and family for guidance before we go to God in prayer. Take time today to evaluate your source of hydration. The next step may just be to dive into God’s word. As Walt Disney would say; “keep moving forward”.

On this Transformation Tips Tuesday we can learn a lot from Mother Nature. If we are intentional with looking and listening to the birds, the crickets, the frogs, this means we are being still. If we can find time to be still in this fast pace world, we can look for God in many ways. On this particular day, seeing a bird pitched on a table caught my gaze. Will you slow down to look and listen for God today? You just might find a God Wink!

““But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?” Job‬ ‭12:7-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬