Today is Thankful Thursday and I am exhausted. Baseball season is always a busy time at our house. I fall behind on housework, most meals are eaten on the go, and I feel like a circus juggler. However, I am thankful. I am thankful for the opportunity to watch my son play the game he loves. I am thankful for the friendships and bonds we are all making. And I am thankful for the life lessons we all are learning. So this afternoon when the morning caffeine and adrenaline from last night’s win wear off, I am going to remind myself how thankful I am for the opportunity to be tired today.

How about you? Is there an area of your life that appears to be a mixed blessing? Today I encourage you to look at your burdens through a lens of thankfulness. Look at the load of laundry and be thankful for the clothes to wear. Look at the to do list at work and be thankful for the job. Look at the busy schedule and be thankful for the opportunity. Use today to look through a lens of thankfulness.

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭9:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I sometimes imagine how it must have felt for Peter and Andrew to have Jesus say, “Come follow me.” Here they were, working away at their livelihood of catching fish, and Jesus invites them to drop everything. And they did! “At once they left their nets and followed him.” Wow! How exciting, exhilarating, and scary! How it must have felt to be in their sandals that day! But guess what! Jesus speaks the same invitation to you and I today! Jesus is inviting each of us to drop our nets and follow Him. What area of your life is Jesus asking you to drop the net? Will you follow Him without hesitation? Today prayerfully consider ways Jesus is calling you. Let’s have the courage to drop our nets and follow Him. Let’s walk on water!

Trust: believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of

We trust that the cables in this picture will hold the weight of the bridge it supports. We don’t know who built the bridge, we don’t know specifics about how the bridge was built, and we don’t know all the science behind the suspension. However, we trust that the bridge will easily hold up our 2,000-4,000 pound vehicle along with all the others crossing simultaneously. Yet you and I worry all the time about so many others things out of our control when we have someone stronger than a bridge holding us up. Each of us are in the palm of Our Maker’s hands. Our Creator is with us every step we make.

My transportation tip this Tuesday is to look at the huge obstacles and uncertainties you face today and trust. Trust that God will guide and direct your steps. Trust that God loves and cares for you and is holding you up.

“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.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today is Mindset Monday and it’s the beginning of a new work week for many of us. Last week Julie shared many beautiful sky pictures. I also took this picture last week and it made me wonder. At the end of each day, as others look into the window of my life, do they see the light of Jesus shining? Did my words and actions reflect His light? How about you? What do others see when they look in the window of your life each day? Let’s start this week with intention of shining for Jesus. Let’s be mindful of our words and actions reflecting His light. After all, we are the light of the world! Jesus said so!

““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 ‭5:14-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today is Spiritual Sunday. Let’s enter our time of worship ready to be renewed for the week ahead. Let’s be open to God giving us new insights, perspectives and direction. Be ready for God to speak and be ready to receive with a willing heart.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:10-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We have had some beautiful evening sky’s this past week. I’ve been enjoying them from my porch. I was thinking that too bad these ugly power lines are in the picture. Then I thought about the ugly scars we carry and God’s Grace. He will make something beautiful out of them if we allow Him to use is us for His glory. In the song Scars by Mandisa she sings, “They teach me that my brokenness is something that you can use”. Each of us have access to the power of God when we allow him to use our brokenness. Let’s finish Friday strong knowing we have God’s power resting upon us.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭NIV‬

“Scars” by Mandisa; https://youtu.be/7Gvt__r9EU0

As difficult as it may be, I am thankful that my Heavenly Father cuts off the branches that don’t bear fruit and prunes the ones that do. As most of you know my word of the year for 2021 has been “refine” and my mantra has been to “be a fruit bearer”. Looking back on my WOY blog post, I can see areas in my life that God has been refining me. I’ve had to learn to give myself grace in the process. I can also see areas that I have been fruitful, specifically with my joy and peace. I can see areas I still need to work on, like self-control.

As you read these verses this morning, can you find something to be thankful for? “”I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John‬ ‭15:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To recap, her is my word of the year blog post; https://waterwalkers29.wordpress.com/2021/01/08/mywordfor2021-by-julie-wicker/