‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — For in Scripture it says: “‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’ and, ‘A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.’” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

A cornerstone is a strong corner piece to the foundational structure of buildings. Jesus, the cornerstone of our faith is the strength of our spiritual houses. Trust doesn’t always come easy but it is essential to our relationship with others. It is however easy to stumble as we are destined with our human nature. It is those stumbling blocks that Satan would like to use to tear us down. If we are open and willing God builds us up by using our stumbling blocks to cultivate transparency and vulnerability in our relationships. 

Allow yourself to trust God so when you sing His praises, your heart leaps for joy as the Psalmist writes in ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭28‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Let’s pray. Dear God, I praise Your precious name. My heart leaps for joy. You are my strength and shield. Help me to offer transparency and vulnerability to those in need. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Do you ever feel rejected? Maybe you didn’t get invited, someone used hurtful words, or plans were canceled. Think about Jesus and how He came into the world knowing He would face the ultimate rejection. Good news, just like Jesus’ story was made for more, we are made for more as well. It is important that we protect our Spiritual Houses. We can do this by offering God a sacrifice of praise as the Psalmist writes in ‭‭Psalms ‭116‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.

We are God’s living stones with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. All we have to do is call upon the name of the Lord. Imagine with each praise to God, another brick in our spiritual houses being placed. In the midst of human rejection, we must continue to lay our bricks with the love of Christ Jesus.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for choosing me to be Your living stone.  I praise You through rejection, knowing I am made for more. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

You can read this week’s full passage from 1 Peter 2: 4-10 @biblegateway.

Worship with, “Made For More” by Josh Baldwin, featuring Jenn Johnson.

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬-‭17 ‭NIV‬‬ — Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ever feel like you are under a spiritual attack? I feel as though Deborah, Ray, and I have been under attack from the enemy as our service to Water Walkers grows. We wanted to meet in early January to discuss our plans for 2024. We were forced to pause those plans due to each one of us being sick at different times. In Ephesians, we have the tools to arm ourselves against the enemy’s schemes. Let’s go into our places of worship this day and get armored up for 2024. What better way to bind Satan than with gratitude and songs of worship. Let’s enter His courts as the Psalmist writes in Psalms 100:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

I love listening to Podcasts. Recently while listening to The Jess Connelly and National Community Church podcasts, both suggested creating a music playlist for different seasons of our lives. I love this thought as I create a running playlist for every race. What would your 2024 music playlist consist of? A new favorite running song of mine is called, “Runnin” by Elevation Worship, Featuring Brandon Lake.

Let’s pray. Dear God, I come into Your gates this day with thanksgiving and praise. Thank You for Your armor that protects me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

You can read today’s full passage from Ephesians 6:10-19 @biblegateway.

Acts‬ ‭20‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV — However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.‬‬

Join us for See You Saturday as we recap our week on Retirement.

Acts 20:24 NIV — However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

We have spent this week together examining different aspects of retirement. If you are not retired, I pray you are still able to glean God’s message for you. No matter what stage of life or season you are in, God still has work for you to do. God can and will use us any time we are open to His guidance. As Christians, we are called to be God’s messengers. Writing is my avenue to share God’s love. How is God using you? Whether you have retired, are in the thick of the workforce, or just starting out, God’s got work for you to do to build His kingdom. Let’s be open, let’s be intentional, and let’s “finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given” us!

Let’s pray. Dear God, I am Your vessel. Guide and direct me so that I may complete Your task. Forgive me when I fall short. I am aiming to finish the race! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Philippians 1:3-6 NIV — I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I am not retired yet. I am still in the routine of rising early to start my day with devotion and time with God, going to work, working hard at my job, and then returning home to carry out my roles at home. Currently, I love my job and look forward to the work I am able to do each day. However, retirement is on the horizon for me. Technically, I can retire in June of 2026. At this moment I am undecided on when I actually will retire. However, I feel like my writing for God is just getting started. God continues to put others in my path who teach me, stretch me, and push me in my writing. As long as God lays upon my heart His message to share, I will do my part in relaying it through writing. I am so thankful for Julie and Ray and our ministry partnership of sharing God through Waterwalkers.

Take time to ponder your current season. What blessings are you thankful for? Has God placed someone in your life to partner with in His ministry? Spend some time praising God for this season.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for this current season. Open my eyes to all of the blessings. Thank you for using me as Your vessel. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Colossians 3:23-24 NIV — Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Ephesians 2:10 NIV — For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

As Christians, you and I are called to a relationship and service to God. We each have gifts and abilities that God can use to share His love with others in every season of life. We have spent most of our week talking about retirement but many of us have not retired yet. Perhaps you are new to the workforce and have many years until retirement. Maybe your retirement date is within sight and you are beginning your exit from the workforce. Possibly, you are the age for retirement and are ready to retire, but financially not able to stop working. No matter your season, God has a purpose and mission for you right where you are.

Spend some time examining your current season. How are you serving God? How is God using you to share His love with others? Is He calling you out of your boat? How are you listening, trusting, and obeying His call? Today I encourage you to embrace your current season. Allow God’s hand to guide and direct your path of relationship and service with and for Him.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for my current season in life. Show me Your path for me and give me strength and courage to step out of my boat, trust and obey Your call. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.