Matthew 6:33 NIV — But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

The Last 90 Days Challenge includes waking up an hour earlier each day to take time for yourself. Rachel Hollis encourages using the extra time in the morning to do something that is just for you.

Years ago I adopted this and I established the habit of getting up earlier than everyone else. My time in the morning is my favorite time of day. My mornings by myself  include reading devotions and scripture, prayer, writing for our Water Walkers blog, and of course drinking coffee.

How could you use that hour to yourself?  Are you willing to make the commitment to get up an hour earlier? Perhaps you already get up early. How can you restructure your time to include time to seek God first?

Let’s pray. Dear God, help me to prioritize waking up early to seek You. Show me ways to structure my time to include activities that are just for me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 MSG — You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No lazy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

Do you like to exercise? How often do you workout? As part of the Last 90 Days Challenge, Rachel Hollis encourages us to move at least 30 minutes a day. She doesn’t specify how, but instead teaches us that even jumping on a trampoline with your children or turning up the music and dancing are ways to incorporate movement into your day. How can you think outside of the box and incorporate movement into your day?

In today’s featured scripture, Paul encourages us to “run to win” in our spiritual lives. What do you do to run spiritually? How are you training for your heavenly finish line?

Find ways today to get up and move physically and spiritually.

Let’s pray. Dear God, help me to get up and move. Show me ways to incorporate movement into my day and to run spiritually towards my heavenly finish line. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Colossians 3:2 NIV — Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Starting today we begin the last 90 days of the year. How is 2023 going for you? Are you finishing the year strong? Often we start the year with a list of goals and intentions but quickly lose resolve. Rachel Hollis, author and motivational speaker, chooses to look at the last 90 days of the year as a time to reflect, refocus, and reset in order to end the year the best way possible. In her Last 90 Days Challenge, Hollis suggests habits to help the last of the year be successful. She calls these habits “5 to Thrive.” This week we will explore her ideas in hopes we can all finish the last 90 days of 2023 strongly. As we worship this Shine Sunday, let’s begin to reflect, refocus, and reset.

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes, ears, mind, and heart to Your presence today. Help me to begin the process of reflecting, refocusing, and resetting as I approach the last 90 days of 2023. May reflecting Your light be my primary goal. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Psalms‬ ‭92‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT — For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God.

Join Waterwalkers as we talk about seeds by clicking the link 👉 See You Saturday.

Make sure to check out one of our local farmers by visiting the Baxley Family Farms website and their Black Mingo Produce FB Page.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭32‬ ‭NIV — All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.‬‬

Farming took a community of all ages, races, and genders that included family, friends, and neighbors. The farmers helped each other week in and week out. In today’s key verse we are reminded to share everything we have. We often do that through sharing meals with others. We do this through donating to food banks. At each gathering there is fellowship. Next time we share a meal with someone, remember all the nights the farmers stayed in the field, sharing their family time so that we could have ours.

A farmer’s wife shared what it’s like during harvest season: “It’s a time where I as a farm wife won’t see my husband for a while. His time in the field is spent. The hours are uncounted. Harvest is also dependent on Mother Nature. It’s timing. It’s teamwork. It’s having a plan. It’s finding a place to store crops. The tractors and combines get new oil and possibly new tires. It’s also risky. The family likes to sit down and determine if the crop we’ve made will pay for the seed. Thankfully we have our faith in God and the love for the land.”

Next week we will be entering the last 90 days of the year. As we learned from a Farmer’s wife, having a plan is key. I pray we can all be intentional in our planning and sharing time and meals with others in the coming months ahead.

Let’s pray, Dear God, Thank You for Your land and the bounty it supplies. I pray for those who do not know You. I pray for those who do not have food on their table or someone to share a meal with. Send them a Christian friend. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV — We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.‬‬

Each tobacco harvest would cure for seven days before being replaced by the next batch. This would continue each week during the harvest season.  

In today’s verse, we are reminded to be thankful for our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. The next time we go to the grocery store to buy our produce, meat, dairy, or grain, let’s be reminded to thank our farmers and their families. When we sit down to bless our food, ask God to bless the farmers who provided our meals.

When asked what harvest means, a friend who is a farmer responded: “Through my ups and downs, the highs and lows, the rain and drought, a time to finally gather up what the Lord blessed me with to put in safekeeping. Alongside my family take all the lessons learned and move eagerly into next year with the wisdom and faith gained.”

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for the farmers who put their faith in You and their love into the land. I ask that You bless our farmers and their families for their continued sacrifices so that I can have food on my table. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV — For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.‬‬

In tobacco farming, there were many different jobs. When it came time for curing the tobacco leaves there were handlers, usually young girls, who would gather 3-4 leaves for bundling. The stringers, usually grown women, would string the bundles onto the tobacco sticks. The hangers, usually adult men, would hang the sticks across tier poles inside the barn.

Today’s key verse tells us God will work in each of us to fulfill His purpose. No matter how little or big the job is, each job is important. As you work today, remember that God has a purpose for you. There is someone who depends on what you do. You are important.

When asked what harvest means, a friend who works in Resource Management responded: “‘A time in which fruits of one’s labor combined with forces that he or she prays for, but doesn’t control, culminates in a bounty that can either be fruitful or less than desired, but either way appreciated. A quote from Jim Rohn says you should ‘Get good at planting in the Spring or begging in the Fall.’”

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for willing me to work my Earthly job. Help me to remember that I am important. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.