‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬-‭17 ‭NIV‬‬ — Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ever feel like you are under a spiritual attack? I feel as though Deborah, Ray, and I have been under attack from the enemy as our service to Water Walkers grows. We wanted to meet in early January to discuss our plans for 2024. We were forced to pause those plans due to each one of us being sick at different times. In Ephesians, we have the tools to arm ourselves against the enemy’s schemes. Let’s go into our places of worship this day and get armored up for 2024. What better way to bind Satan than with gratitude and songs of worship. Let’s enter His courts as the Psalmist writes in Psalms 100:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

I love listening to Podcasts. Recently while listening to The Jess Connelly and National Community Church podcasts, both suggested creating a music playlist for different seasons of our lives. I love this thought as I create a running playlist for every race. What would your 2024 music playlist consist of? A new favorite running song of mine is called, “Runnin” by Elevation Worship, Featuring Brandon Lake.

Let’s pray. Dear God, I come into Your gates this day with thanksgiving and praise. Thank You for Your armor that protects me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

You can read today’s full passage from Ephesians 6:10-19 @biblegateway.

Acts‬ ‭20‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV — However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.‬‬

Join us for See You Saturday as we recap our week on Retirement.

Acts 20:24 NIV — However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

We have spent this week together examining different aspects of retirement. If you are not retired, I pray you are still able to glean God’s message for you. No matter what stage of life or season you are in, God still has work for you to do. God can and will use us any time we are open to His guidance. As Christians, we are called to be God’s messengers. Writing is my avenue to share God’s love. How is God using you? Whether you have retired, are in the thick of the workforce, or just starting out, God’s got work for you to do to build His kingdom. Let’s be open, let’s be intentional, and let’s “finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given” us!

Let’s pray. Dear God, I am Your vessel. Guide and direct me so that I may complete Your task. Forgive me when I fall short. I am aiming to finish the race! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Philippians 1:3-6 NIV — I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I am not retired yet. I am still in the routine of rising early to start my day with devotion and time with God, going to work, working hard at my job, and then returning home to carry out my roles at home. Currently, I love my job and look forward to the work I am able to do each day. However, retirement is on the horizon for me. Technically, I can retire in June of 2026. At this moment I am undecided on when I actually will retire. However, I feel like my writing for God is just getting started. God continues to put others in my path who teach me, stretch me, and push me in my writing. As long as God lays upon my heart His message to share, I will do my part in relaying it through writing. I am so thankful for Julie and Ray and our ministry partnership of sharing God through Waterwalkers.

Take time to ponder your current season. What blessings are you thankful for? Has God placed someone in your life to partner with in His ministry? Spend some time praising God for this season.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for this current season. Open my eyes to all of the blessings. Thank you for using me as Your vessel. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Colossians 3:23-24 NIV — Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Ephesians 2:10 NIV — For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

As Christians, you and I are called to a relationship and service to God. We each have gifts and abilities that God can use to share His love with others in every season of life. We have spent most of our week talking about retirement but many of us have not retired yet. Perhaps you are new to the workforce and have many years until retirement. Maybe your retirement date is within sight and you are beginning your exit from the workforce. Possibly, you are the age for retirement and are ready to retire, but financially not able to stop working. No matter your season, God has a purpose and mission for you right where you are.

Spend some time examining your current season. How are you serving God? How is God using you to share His love with others? Is He calling you out of your boat? How are you listening, trusting, and obeying His call? Today I encourage you to embrace your current season. Allow God’s hand to guide and direct your path of relationship and service with and for Him.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for my current season in life. Show me Your path for me and give me strength and courage to step out of my boat, trust and obey Your call. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

(Today’s post is written by Ray White.)

1 Peter 4:10 — Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

 This week Deborah is sharing insight about retirement and service to God. Entering retirement after a lifetime of structured labor is daunting for some people, while others chase it like a child running to an ice cream truck.

What we do with our time in retirement, like how time is spent in the workforce, matters. Opportunities to be of service to God are all around us, especially if we actively seek ways to serve. Before I retired in the summer of 2021 I prayed God would use me for His glory.

While filling out retirement paperwork with Julie, who I barely knew, a desk photo of her father led to a conversation about him. We discovered her father and I were stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas at the same time in the 1970s.

After meeting Julie I started following this Water Walkers’ blog.  As I read the blog for a week or so, I realized my passion for photography could be useful and volunteered to submit photos to occasionally accompany their posts. That led to submitting daily photos, then later helping with planning and editing. Working on this Water Walkers blog with Deborah and Julie has been a rich blessing from God.

If we ask God to provide opportunities to serve Him, then listen to and follow the Holy Spirit, we will find blessings beyond measure at any time of our life.

Let’s pray:  Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessings You provide and please lead me to opportunities to serve You and proclaim the salvation offered by Christ Jesus. Amen.

1 Peter 4:10 — Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

This week Deborah is sharing insight about retirement and service to God. Entering retirement after a lifetime of structured labor is daunting for some people, while others chase it like a child running to an ice cream truck.

What we do with our time in retirement, like how time is spent in the workforce, matters. Opportunities to be of service to God are all around us, especially if we actively seek ways to serve. Before I retired in the summer of 2021 I prayed God would use me for His glory.

While filling out retirement paperwork with Julie, who I barely knew, a desk photo of her father led to a conversation about him. We discovered her father and I were stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas at the same time in the 1970s.

After meeting Julie I started following this Water Walkers’ blog.  As I read the blog for a week or so, I realized my passion for photography could be useful and volunteered to submit photos to occasionally accompany their posts. That led to submitting daily photos, then later helping with planning and editing. Working on this Water Walkers blog with Deborah and Julie has been a rich blessing from God.

If we ask God to provide opportunities to serve Him, then listen to and follow the Holy Spirit, we will find blessings beyond measure at any time of our life.

Let’s pray:  Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessings You provide and please lead me to opportunities to serve You and proclaim the salvation offered by Christ Jesus. Amen.