(Today’s post was first published August 8, 2023).

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV — For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

When I was a little girl we had a fish fry at our house every Friday night that included my dad’s fishing buddies — two retired widows from our church. The fellowship was always enjoyable and their wealth of knowledge was priceless. One night the adults talked about an incident of a lady coming home one evening and a “bad guy” was hiding under her bed. As they continued the story, which ended in favor of the “good guy,” I became fixated on the bad guy hiding under the bed. Thus was born an irrational fear of someone hiding under my bed. For what seems like years, at night when I went into my bedroom, I would take one step and then take a leaping jump to my bed so that if there was a bad guy under my bed he/she couldn’t grab my leg. Take a moment to envision that scenario. Isn’t that hilarious?

Thankfully I came to my senses and got over that fear. As I have grown older and wiser, I realize how debilitating fear can be, but I also realize fear is not of God. Fear is a liar. Listen to the song “Fear Is a Liar” by Zach Williams. Reread your list of fears you wrote Sunday and give them to God. Speak to the lies of fear and tell them they have no power over you. You are a child of God!

Let’s pray. Thank You Lord for giving me a spirit of “power and love and self-control.”Give me strength and courage to overcome my fears. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

(Today’s post was first published June 21, 2023).

Genesis 12: 9 NLT – Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev.

Last Sunday our Pastor delivered a message titled, “All Things New.” One of the passages shared was from Genesis 12: 1-9 NIV. I encourage you to read the entire passage. For today I want to focus on our key verse. Notice Abram traveled by stages. Often our journeys don’t happen all at once, they happen in stages. Just like Abram traveled a long time, our faith journey is unfolding every day.

Looking back on our Water Walkers journey, we have made many changes over the years. Every year Deborah and I strive to improve and implement new things. We have been blessed in recent years to partner with our friend and photographer, Ray White. I am still amazed how that stage in our journey unfolded. Ray has been a gift in helping Deborah and I stretch our writing skills. We hope that you have noticed. 

As Deborah encouraged us to remember our journeys last week, we can see the different stages that God brought us through. As you travel through your day and week, I encourage you to look for new things. Like this bicycle pictured here helps us to travel and see a different view, God carries us to see through His eyes. God is always inspiring us and spurring us on for the glory of His kingdom. Thank you to all our supporters and readers for taking this Water Walking journey with us. Hopefully to know us is to know Him. Take a few minutes to really listen to the words of “To Know Me” by Lauren Daigle.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for always showing me new things. Thank You for spurring me on to further the glory of Your kingdom. I desire to be a Water Walker. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

(Today’s post was first published January 17, 2023).

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

Something about a new calendar year inspires us to look forward and make resolutions for the upcoming 12 months, just as the end of a year often causes reflection. At the beginning of a new year we can make proclamations and promises to get more exercise, eat better, kick bad habits, maybe finally read that classic book that has sat on the shelf for 20 years.

Each year Deborah and Julie select a word and a mantra of the year, and so do I. This year my word is “prayer” and my mantra is “God is always with me.” I resolve to pray more often each day and offer thanks. God has promised he will never leave my side!

In our busy lives it is easy to say prayers before bedtime or in a time of need. But that isn’t what Paul directed. “Pray continually.” While we will fall short of continuous prayer we can have a prayerful attitude at all times. Such an attitude acknowledges our dependence on God. We can pray frequent short prayers. We can establish times each day when we stop whatever we are doing and pray, giving sincere thanks to God, even in difficult times, because He has provided a path to eternal life through His son, Jesus Christ. I will rejoice, because “God is always with me.”

Joshua 1:9 NIV reads, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Did you choose a word for 2023? Do you have a mantra or quote that you want to shape your days? It’s not too late. We would love to hear from you about what God has laid on your heart.

(Today’s post was first published December 25, 2022).

Blog written by Ray White

“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:9-11 NIV

Astronomers estimate our universe contains at least 70 septillion stars, that’s 7 followed by 23 zeros. That’s roughly 10,000 stars for each grain of sand on Earth. I can’t comprehend a number that large. Yet, it was ONE star that led the Maji to Bethlehem on their journey to find Jesus, the messiah.

Today as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, let’s remember that as followers of Christ we have the responsibility to help others. 

We cross paths with thousands of people each year, some we work closely with, some just passing in stores or on the street. We seldom know what challenges are taking place in the lives of others. 

I can tell you specific times in my life when the actions, words, or just the simple act of being there from someone has been a gift from God. Single acts of kindness that to this day stand out. It isn’t always about sharing your testimony. It can be retrieving an item from the top shelf at a supermarket for someone, helping a person pick up dropped items, visiting someone sick, kind words, smiles and sincere words of encouragement. Listening. Caring. Loving others, as Jesus directed: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34

Let’s be Children of God who love and help others daily, not just during this special Christmas Season. Allow God to use us to share His glory, to shine for Him.

Today is Christmas Eve and 2023 is coming to a close. Julie, Ray, and myself have chosen some posts from 2023 to share with you again. Use this week as a time of reflection as you move toward a new year.

(Today’s post was first published September 4, 2023).

We often perceive an interruption as a nuisance or aggravation. Perhaps we should seize the moment and allow interruptions to affect us in a positive way. Perhaps we should allow the once perceived aggravation of an interruption to be an opportunity for us to affect others in a positive way. Let’s pause and read an example of Jesus responding to an interruption. Click here to read Matthew 14:13-21 NIV.

How did Jesus respond to an interruption to His day? How do you respond to interruptions? Do you use interruptions to positively affect you or others? Do you need to change your mindset towards interruptions?

Let’s pray. Dear God, Help me to respond in a positive way to interruptions. Allow me to use interruptions to positively affect others as Jesus would. Mold my mindset. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Genesis‬ ‭13‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.

Steven Furticks 1MM: “Different Than You Pictured”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭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.

Christmas Eve Eve Eve is here. How did we get here? Where did the year go? Let’s do a word of the year check-in. Have you grown through your word, your verse, or mantra for 2023? Have you chosen a word, verse or mantra for 2024?

In 2022 my word of the year was Serenity which means the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled. I think it is safe to say we would all love a calm, peaceful, and untroubled life. In reality, there will be many days the exact opposite. We can remember the serenity prayer and have the courage to change what we can. In today’s verse, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit, who also gives us the wisdom to discern what we can not control.

I also chose a mantra for 2022, “Live for Today,” which helped me to stay in the moment and surrender my tomorrows to God. Deborah and I have found it is easier to stick with a word for 365 days than it is a New Year’s resolution. Even more importantly, with God’s help, we grow from that word. 

Let’s pray. Dear 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. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.