Yesterday, one of the songs we sang in our contemporary service was “Come Alive” by Lauren Daigle. I encourage you to listen to the lyrics of the song by clicking the link. Then read this scripture on which the song is based.

“The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ” So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ ” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’ ””
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭37:1-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today is Mindset Monday. After listening to the song and reading the scripture, I pray you have renewed hope and strength to start your week. I pray you realize the power of God to breathe life into all areas of your life including areas that seem dead and hopeless. Don’t give up and don’t be discouraged. If God can give new life to dry bones, just think what Your Maker can do with you. You just have to be willing.

Yesterday, two different devotional emails I received were centered around Isaiah 43:18-19. Needless to say, that caught my attention.

““Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:18-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Last Saturday, as I looked at the freshly fallen snow in my front yard, I thought of how “new” it looked before anyone walked through it. Once footsteps were made and the sun began to melt the snow, it no longer looked as pure.

That is like humans. As babies we are pure, innocent, new. As we grow older and learn the ways of the world, we sin. We fall short. We aren’t as pure. However, as Christians, we know that the blood of Jesus Christ covers our sins and once again makes us new.

On this Spiritual Sunday, as you worship, I encourage you to spend time with God confessing your sins. Ask God for forgiveness, grace and mercy. As you end your time of confession, take comfort in the promise that God is “doing a new thing.” All you must do is trust and obey.

We have made it to Finish Friday!! And all God’s people said Amen! I have broken down Ephesians‬ ‭3:14-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬ below. Often we quote these verses separately but if you look at them together it is a prayer for the Ephesians. This pray is for everyone. Notice He wants to strengthen us and give us power together. But He doesn’t leave that up to us. See in verse 20, “to Him who is able”. It is not our own strength or our own power but God’s strength and power that lives in us.

14 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

In this photo we see a tree that appears to be struggling. If you notice, it is surrounded by trees that are thriving. Today you may be the tree that is struggling or the tree that is thriving. Together through God’s strength and power we will see immeasurably more than what we think our current season or status or situation is.

Will you rely on God’s strength and power today? Will you remember that God has surrounded you with other believers to help when struggling and thriving?

Last Wednesday afternoon I took a moment to stop by the water so that I could just breathe and thank God for his goodness. I had been clinging to Psalm 23:6 NIV for several months now; “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” In the previous weeks an Aunt had sent me a card with this verse, not knowing it was one I had been praying over. To share in the goodness of God, He answered prayer that day. A prayer where I would wake up early each morning and my first breath was a surrender to God. A prayer where every night I would lay my head on the pillow thanking God for His goodness and grace. That particular Wednesday I received good news that biopsies I had taken the week before were all normal.

This isn’t the end of my health journey but the beginning of something good. I can sing the goodness of God with every breath that I am able. In this song, Goodness of God by Bethel Music, with my life laid down, I surrender now. On this Thankful Thursday, will you choose to thank God for the goodness in your life? Will you choose to surrender everything over to Him? I encourage you to write this verse down and share it with someone who needs to know God is good.

On this Water Walking Wednesday will you allow God to lead you to quiet waters? Will you take a few minutes just to be still in His presence? Yes God likes when we say yes to bold things. Yes God likes when we shine His light and share His glory. He also likes for us to just say yes to His lead.

Life shouldn’t get so busy that we miss God’s lead to quiet waters. Let’s take a moment to close our eyes and envision sitting by the water.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for leading us to quiet waters and teaching us the importance to be still in your presence. May we never miss an opportunity to sit with you. Equip us all to do your perfect will on this Water Walking Wednesday. Amén

As I ran last night, I was blessed to watch the sun color the sky with amazing colors as it set. I am directionally challenged but if I stay near the ocean coast it makes it easier to know my North, East, West, and South. I remember as a child having to memorize, “Never Eat Sour Watermelons”. Although this picture isn’t turning North, it reminded me of Deuteronomy 2:1-3 NIV as I was finishing up mile four. God is talking to the Israelites about how they have wondered long enough;

“Then we turned back and set out toward the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea, as the Lord had directed me. For a long time we made our way around the hill country of Seir. Then the Lord said to me, “You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.”

On this Transformation Tips Tuesday, I want us to take inventory. Is there an area in our lives we feel like we are wondering in the wilderness. Maybe our minds are clouded with where to turn next. It would be amazing if we could get an audible direction like, just turn North. I know God talks to me clearly through his word, through people He has placed in my life, and through God winks. I encourage us to be more intentional to hear and see God throughout our day.

If God asks us to turn North, will we follow? Or will we stay wondering because that is comfortable?

“I got somethin’ make the Devil gonna run” are the lyrics from Run Devil Run by Crowder. This is a popular song for a runners playlist. Everyone seems to pick up their pace when it plays. On this Mindset Monday we have a choice on setting our pace for the day. Even Jesus set the example when Peter tried rebuke Jesus dying on the cross; “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”” Matt ‭16:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In this photo the path looks like it is inviting us to a tranquil spot. I see vibrant shades of green and the sun appears to be shining. I can only imagine this path leads to the beach. Our path with Jesus isn’t guaranteed to be tranquil or easy. Thankfully through Jesus, we have God with us on our path. When today brings a Monday, let’s take a deep breathe, close our eyes, envision this photo, and say “Not today Satan”. Remember God is with us.