I think it is safe to say that we all like to control our calendars, our plans, our emotions, our health, our relationships, and basically everything. I am sure we have all had our ups and downs at some point throughout 2021. Admitting we really don’t have control is the first step to surrendering everything over to God. One prayer that has always helped me maneuver through trying to control life is the Serenity Prayer; God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

This prayer has inspired my word for 2022; Serenity which means the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled. I think it is safe ro say we would all love a calm, peaceful, and untroubled life. In reality there will be many days the exact opposite. I can remember the serenity prayer and have the courage to change what I can. The scripture I have picked to stand on comes from Rom 15:13 NIV; “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” The gift of the Holy Spirit will also give me the wisdom to discern what I can not control.

From that same scripture I pull out the word “trust”. Trusting God with today, not worrying about what tomorrow will bring. I challenge us all to pay attention to how much our minds drift into tomorrow throughout our day. It is natural for us to dream and plan and even more natural to worry. From that I choose my mantra; Live for Today. If we don’t surrender today, tomorrow will hold us in chains. If we don’t surrender our best laid plans, our control may become out of control.

Choosing a word of the year can be what you want it to be. It can be as detailed as you have read above or as simple 😉 as you want it to be. The important part is that we remember that word and or mantra throughout the year. Even more important that with Gods help we grow from that word. Deborah and I have found it is easier to stick with a word for 365 days than it is a New Years resolution. What word or mantra will you choose?

In case you missed Deborah’s word of the year last week, you can click here.

I have run past this garden many times and seen all its beautiful phases. When you look at this photo today, you don’t see a garden. Yet underneath this grass is rich soil that has been carefully and thoughtfully taken care of. There are many steps to planting a garden. Once you know your location, layout, and what you want to plant, then you get the seeds and prepare the soil to plant. Once planted you have to weed, water, and control any pests. The harvest comes after the preparation.

On this Mindset Monday let’s look at this verse from Isaiah 26:3 NIV; “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Steadfast means firmly fixed in place. Just like the steps to gardening, we must stand firm and trust the process God has in place for us. Although the days, weeks, months, and years seem long sometimes, we can’t remove a step.

Today is the first Monday of the new year. We can move forward with a mindset to trust in the steps God has laid out for us. Let’s take one day at a time, not skipping a step. Will you choose to trust God with the process of your harvest?

We have been talking about our word of the year and mantras on Transformation Tips Tuesday. I plan to share mine for 2022 later this week. Today, on this Spiritual Sunday I wanted to reflect on 2021. Yesterday I was blessed to sit on the South Pawleys Creek with my mom and daughter. The wind was chilly but the sun made up for it with its warmth. I enjoyed the salty smell, cold sand in my toes, and the watching the sun’s reflection glistening on the water. I thought about this past year and how much we change and grow in a year.

In 2021 my Word of the Year was Refine, meaning to remove impurities and improve. The scripture I referenced came from 1 Peter 1:7 NIV; “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

My 2021 mantra was “To be a fruit bearer”. The scripture I referenced came from Galatians 5:22-23 NIV; “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Spiritual Sunday can end our week or start our week. I encourage us all to look back on 2021 and reflect on love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What strengths and weaknesses do you see as you embodied the fruits of the spirit? Today can be a new day and new year to surrender and make changes. As we go to our places of worship we can ask God to refine us. We can surrender our impurities. We can seek God to guide us through 2022. Making small changes can start today. Small changes overtime can make a big impact!

Will you choose to surrender 2021? Will you choose to seek God to guide you through 2022?

Happy New Year’s Eve! Today is the last Finish Friday of the year and the last day of 2021. Let’s finish strong!

Over the last few weeks Julie and I have shared the words God laid on our hearts to shape our last few years. Just to recap, my past words of the year have been joy, hospitality, intention, impact and transform. After much prayer, the word God has given me for 2022 is SIMPLE.

Simple: adjective (1) easily understood or done; presenting no difficulty (2) plain, basic, or uncomplicated in form, nature, or design without much decoration or ornamentation

Recently, God has laid on my heart the need for simplicity in many areas of life and the beauty of keeping life simple.

The scripture that is guiding my word of the year is Matthew 5:16 because I think sometimes I overcomplicate my daily Christian walk when it really is very simple. Read the verse with its surrounding verses.

““You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:13-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In keeping with my word, I think sharing my faith is also simple; be a light. Therefore, my mantra for 2022 is “BE A LIGHT.”

I took today’s picture a week ago on Christmas Eve when myself and some neighbors placed luminaries to line the loop we live on. The lights weren’t glamorous or extravagant. The lights were simple: a bag, some sand, and a candle. Yet the street looked peaceful and serene. Simple.

Has God given you a word to shape 2022? Is there a phrase or mantra that keeps coming to mind? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or send us a message so we can share this journey together!

To close today, listen to this song from 2020 Be A Light as you prayerfully consider what word or mantra God is laying on your heart for 2022. For me it is SIMPLE.

Take a moment to look at these lights from Night of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens. This particular area of the garden was like walking in a forest of lights. As I stood in the middle of the lights and looked up, I felt warm and safe being surrounded by the many strands. Being in the lights reminded me of the wonderful friends that surround me and for that I am so thankful.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4:9-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I have friends from many different parts of my life; church, baseball, college, work, etc. Each group of friends has different dynamics but they have one thing in common; their love and support of me. Each group of friends encourages me and stretches me to be even better.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On this Thankful Thursday, I encourage you to imagine you are walking through the forest of lights. Stop and look up. Marvel at the lights that surround you. Pause here a moment and ponder what friends you have that are also surrounding you. Do you have various groups of friends? Or do you have one faithful friend who is by your side? Take time today to praise God and give thanks for your friends. take time today to express your love and thankfulness to your friends. Make a phone call, send a text or write a note expressing your appreciation. Today is the last Thankful Thursday of 2021. Go show some thankfulness!

Look at this beautiful cranberry bog at Brookgreen Gardens. After doing a quick Google search to learn more about cranberry bogs, I realize that trusting in God and walking on water, in someway, mirrors the growth of cranberries.

This Water Walking Wednesday, I encourage you to also do a little research on cranberries. Two facts about cranberries are that they often face growing in unfavorable conditions and therefore are resilient.

Aren’t we called to do the same? Don’t you and I have to grow in unfavorable conditions and be resilient. The cranberries have farmers to assist in their growth. Thankfully you and I have our God to assist in our growth. We just have to trust.

“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.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today, when God asks us to step out and walk, let’s remember the cranberries. Let’s face unfavorable conditions by trusting God. Let’s be resilient. Let’s walk on water just like the cranberries float. Then we can be just as beautiful as this cranberry bog as we display the love of Christ.

My word for 2021 was transform. If you go back to that blog post you will read that I had a hard time settling on a word for 2021. Julie and I have found that usually Satan is intentional on attacking us in regard to our word of the year, so choosing a word like transform was scary for me. The picture for today was the same picture and scripture I shared.

As I reflect on my word for 2021, I realize I have made transformations in many areas of my life and none were what my ideas had been when I chose the word transform. Isn’t that how God sometimes works?

“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,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God usually does more than we can even imagine! As 2021 winds down, Julie and I encourage you to choose a word, phrase and/or mantra for 2022. What direction is God leading you? What area is God asking you to focus? What area of spiritual growth has God laid on your heart? My tip for you this Transformation Tip Tuesday is to keep your word in your focus throughout the year. Over the years I had found that after a while, I would lose my focus on my word. In 2021 I wrote my word down every day. As I have shared with you in the past, one of my daily practices is to write down 5 things I am thankful for in my gratitude journal every morning as I end my devotion time. At the end of my daily list I then wrote the word transform. I encourage you to find a way to intentionally stay focused on your word for 2022.

When I shared with you my word for 2021 I also share the following song from The Carousel of Progress, a ride at Disney World. The song basically says that tomorrow is full of potential. Enjoy this oldie but goodie as you pray and dream about the possibilities of your word for 2022.

There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow