“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Last Wednesday I took my first airplane flight in over 25 years. In the days leading up to my flight, I battled fear and anxiety due to my lack of experience and concern about the unknown. Thankfully those I traveled with were seasoned flyers. They all shared words of wisdom and comfort as I approached the time of the flight.

Now that I am back home I can reflect as I look at the pictures from my trip. Now I can appreciate the progression of my perspective before, during, and now after my flight.

On this Mindset Monday, let’s be aware of those around us who may be approaching the Christmas season with a different perspective than us. While some of us are full of joy and excitement, others may be battling anxiety or depression. Our personal experiences and circumstances shape our perspective. Let’s be in tune to others and may God guide our words so that we share words of love and comfort.

Perhaps you are the one who is struggling to be excited about the holiday season. For you, I offer todays scripture. May you hold on to the promise of the unseen and trust that what is seen is temporary. As we close, read The Message version of the same scripture and hold on to the promise of the “lavish celebration prepared for us.”

“So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭MSG‬‬

“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Click Here and join me as I talk about the fruit, Goodness.

If you need a recap or missed reading a day, click the links below 👇

Spiritual Sunday – Peace

Manage Monday – Kindness

Transformation Tips Tuesday – Patience

Water Walking Wednesday – Love

Thankful Thursday – Joy

Faithful Friday – Faithfulness

“for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This week we have been meditating on the fruits of the spirit. Today we will focus on faithfulness. I look at this beautiful bird knowing that as it wades in the water it is subject to harm from bigger predators. I also look at this bird and know that God is faithful in taking care of the birds just like He is faithful to us. Why wouldn’t we want to be faithful to God in return?

In the verse from Proverbs we learn that God guards His faithful ones and protects the way. On this Faithful Friday, how can we honor God with our faithfulness? In Matthew 6:33-34 NIV; “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

If we seek God first, He is at the center of our world. If we live for today, we can be faithful in surrendering our tomorrows.

“The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.” Psalms‬ ‭118‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This week we have been meditating on the fruits of the spirit. Today we will focus on Joy. One of my favorite verses is from Psalm 118:24, our key verse for today. If I meditate on it when I wake up, during trials, or celebrations, it always brings me joy. It has been very helpful for me to share my HPV journey. It has brought me joy to know that God will use my story for someone else. It proves, that this verse from Proverbs 17:22 NIV is so true; “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Last week I had my postoperative appointment from my hysterectomy. I was a little anxious as I waited once again for the results. I received the wonderful news that my biopsies showed NO CANCER. The picture above is before and after my appointment. This sign was at check out. You all didn’t know that by me sharing, I was leaning on my family, friends, and readers to help carry me through. I can say that with God’s help and your support, my faith was bigger than my fear.

We have lots to be thankful for! Whatever your joy is today, join me in shouting it out; “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬. I encourage you to worship with, This Is The Day by Cityalight.

“Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This week we are meditating on the fruits of the spirit. Today we are focusing on love. Our number one job as water walkers and disciples is to love. The above verse from Matthew is a command to no only love God and our neighbors but to also love ourselves.

We should always remember to love ourselves just as God does. What greater way to understand the love of God than from John 3:16 NIV; “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

I encourage you to worship with Katy Nichole as she sings, God Is Love.

“Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This week we are meditating on the fruits of the spirit. Today we will focus on patience. I have learned a lot about patience in the last three weeks as I have been patiently recovering from surgery. It is not a quick process. Anyone recovering does not need to be a warrior and try to push the limits. Rather having self-control, knowing the limitations, and allowing the process to run it’s course.

It is easy in our instant mentality to force the next step versus waiting patiently for the next step to happen in its own time. We are often quick to heal, to speak, or to make a decision. As a result, we may lose our patience or even our tempers; “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today I encourage us all to seek God with every step we take, every word we speak, and every decision we make. Allow God to transform us from the instant mentality to thinking, speaking, and acting in God’s time. His ways are always pure and patient. And when we’re sitting in a valley, we have God to patiently make the climb with us.