On this Water Walking Wednesday I encourage us all to evaluate our Christian walk. In Matt 5:13-16 NIV we are instructed to be the salt and light;

““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.””

Are we complacent in our Christian walk? Are we being Disciples to others or just focused on our own spiritual growth? Are we being salt and light? Recently Deborah and I met with our friend Ray White for a Sunrise photo so that we could update our social media profile pictures. our original profile picture was taken by our friend David Martin in January 2019 when we created our Facebook account. Each year we try to stretch our faith by adding something new to our blog. Looking back over the years and how God has grown the blog and stretched our faith always amazes me.

When we started the blog in 2015 Deborah would write a devotion and I would write a prayer. This prayer below came from a 2016 blog post.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for choosing us, your creation to be Holy and blameless in your sight Eph 1:4. You say we are the salt of the earth, but to keep our saltiness we must continually seek you. You say we are the light of the world, a city that cannot be hid, but we must let that light shine for others to see your good works in us that you will be glorified Mat 5:13-16. I desire more of you and less of me Jn 3:30. I desire your wisdom in my daily challenges my world presents so that I may make the most of every opportunity as a mother and your disciple. Let my conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that I may know how to answer everyone Col 4:5-6. Show me your ways and teach me your paths Psa 25:4. When I am weak your strength and power are made perfect in my weakness 2 Cor 12:9. In the name of Jesus Amen

Click here to read the original 2016 blog post. Thank you to all our faithful followers for supporting us over the years! God is good! SDG!

I love Mantras! Lately God has had on my heart; Live for Today! This past year mine has been; Be a Fruit Bearer. In 2018 my Mantra was to; Be Brave. What does that look like to be brave? Last week on Transformation Tips Tuesday Deborah asked the question; Are you ready to be intentional in God’s direction for you? I think part of being brave is going in the direction God has planned for us. Faith isn’t something we can see and God doesn’t give us road maps. In Isaiah He even tells us to forget the past and that He is doing something new. Anytime we do something new, that often takes bravery.

In 2018 my word of the year was rejoice because I wanted to carry the Christmas spirit with me all year. My Scripture verse was from 1 Thes 5: 16-18; “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” On this Transformation Tips Tuesday I encourage us to look closely at these verses. Do you Rejoice always? Do you pray continually? Do you give thanks in all circumstances? I think if we’re honest we would all answer “no” to these questions. Maybe we need to be more intentional in one or more of those areas so that we can move forward in God’s direction. For today, I encourage us to choose one to focus on.

Are you selecting a Word of the Year and/or Mantra? We would love for you to share with us in comments.

I’ve been told grief is like the ocean waves. You will feel good one moment and then a wave will knock you down. Based on my personal experience that is a very good description. In this photo by Ray White, we see a person sitting on the shore of a vast ocean with waves crashing. I wonder what they are doing there and what they are thinking about.

On this Mindset Monday we enter into Thanksgiving week. During holidays grief can reveal our realities and change the perspective of what was once a joyous time, now may be a dreaded time. Grief can be a death but it can also be a lost and broken relationship. It could be that your house used to be filled with noise and chaos and now it feels quiet and lonely.

God has commanded us to be courageous and strong. He tells us not to be discouraged because He is with us wherever we go. In psalms 34:18 NIV we know He is close to us always; “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Whatever this week brings us, may we all feel the love of God. May we all find the joy God desires for us to experience.

Whew! What a week! Have any of you had a particularly busy week? I have! This picture, by Ray White, is a visual image of how I have felt. What emotions does this picture represent for you?

As you walk into this Finish Friday, remember to not let all the busy turmoil around knock you down or carry you out to sea. Instead, focus on the call God has placed on your life. You have a purpose that God prepared in advance for you. Pray about that “good work” and ask God to guide and direct your next steps. Don’t let the waves crashing around you change your focus or deter you. You and God have got this together!

One week from today we traditionally celebrate Thanksgiving. However, since I was married and later my brother was married, our family has adjusted our Thanksgiving (and Christmas) celebration to accommodate both sides of our family. Instead of totally not being able to gather, we choose to gather on another day other than the fourth Thursday of November. We have come to appreciate that it’s not the date that matters but that we are able to gather together and celebrate.

So, this past Sunday we gathered at my parents house and celebrated Thanksgiving together. This beautiful tree was standing in the back yard and some of its colorful foliage had fallen and covered the ground. As I looked at the beautiful tree I thought of all the seasons it had been through and yet was showing it’s glory.

For this thankful Thursday, spend some time reading all of Psalm 107. I am sure I have shared it before, but it warrants reading again. The chapter begins by giving thanks to God and states “His love endures forever.” The writer goes on to share the unfaithfulness of the people and yet how God continues to lead and save them. As you read, examine where you are today in your walk with God. Are there areas that you have strayed from God or are not being obedient? Have you allowed the world to be your guide instead of listening to the voice of God? Although the seasons you have endured, are you still giving God the glory?

After your time of self reflection, remember to :“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This picture, captured by Ray White, blows me away. Look closely at the school of fish that are caught up in the wave. At this moment in time the wave is carrying them and the fish have no control over the direction they are headed.

Just like the school of fish, I sometimes get caught in the worries of life and unintentionally allow the wave of stress to to carry me and guide my direction. I have had a very busy week and it’s only Wednesday. My house is less than pristine, my office desk is covered in papers, and my schedule for the next few days is overbooked. I could very easily get caught in the “stress wave” but today I choose to focus on the presence of God.

Our Sunday School class is currently doing a study by Max Lucado called “Anxious For Nothing.” The study has proven to be insightful and is teaching us to focus on God instead of the problems or stresses around us.

On this Water Walking Wednesday I encourage you to keep Philippians 4:6-7 in the forefront of your mind. When you feel a wave of anxiety or worry, focus on God’s presence. Don’t get caught in the wave of stress. By focusing on Christ you may just find yourself walking on water.