Dec3

‭‭#waterwalkingwednesday #sacredseason #waterwalkers29

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‭‭#waterwalkingwednesday #sacredseason #waterwalkers29

‭‭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.

This week we are celebrating the Advent season, a time of reflection and anticipation for the birth of our Savior, Christ Jesus. As we look toward a new year, Deborah, Ray, and I like to choose a word to focus on. Advent is about hope, love, joy, and peace. Some traditions may include selecting a word or activity for the day. My 2019 word of the year was “Influence” which means capacity to influence the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself. Today’s key verse is a reminder that God can use me to be an Influencer for His Kingdom. 

Why did I pick the word, Influence in 2019? That October I had started a fast so I could prayerfully know what my influence needed to be with the blog, my writing, social network, family, friends, and my career. In that 40 day fast, I discovered that God was working on preparing me for 2019.

Some stories featuring  Biblical influencers for me are our redemption story through Hosea and Gomer, Esther’s willingness to be used by God, the faithfulness of Ruth, and the obedience to walk on water with Peter.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for this sacred Advent season to reflect and grow closer to You. I desire to be an influencer for Your kingdom. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Dec2

‭‭#testifytuesday #sacredseason #waterwalkers29

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‭‭#testifytuesday #sacredseason #waterwalkers29

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

This week we are celebrating the Advent season, a time of reflection and anticipation for the birth of our Savior, Christ Jesus. As we look toward a new year, Deborah, Ray, and I like to choose a word to focus on. Advent is about hope, love, joy, and peace. Some traditions may include selecting a word or activity for the day. My word for 2021 is “Refine” which means to remove impurities or unwanted elements from or improve by making small changes, or to become finer, elegant, or polished.

God is refining us so that we can be filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy which leads me to my mantra, “Be a Fruit Bearer” from ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Let’s take this time of Advent to inwardly look at ourselves so that we can embody all nine characteristics of the Spirit’s fruit and be polished by the refiner’s fire as we move toward 2026.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for this sacred Advent season to reflect and grow closer to You. I desire to be filled with Your inexpressible and glorious joy. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Bonus: One of your traditions may be an Advent Christmas bucket list. If you practice this tradition, we would love to hear from you.

@biblegateway @youversion

Dec1

#meditatemonday #sacredseason #waterwalkers29

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#meditatemonday #sacredseason #waterwalkers29

📸 by Ray White

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

This week we are celebrating the Advent season. Today’s key verse is a prophecy of a new king from the line of Jesus, the father of King David. In meditating on today’s verses, I encourage us to seek to Know God more and lean into the strength of our lineage in Christ Jesus. 

An acronym I created for the word “strength” in which I started for my 2024 word of the year, Seek.

Seek

To

Reveal

Every

New

Gift

Through

Him

The following verses tell us to look to the Lord for strength. If we look to seek God’s face and bring Him glory in all that we do, we will find all the strength we need. Where are you looking for strength? As we walk though this Advent season, let’s seek God for His strength.

1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬ — Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Psalm 105:4 NIV — Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

An Advent tradition you may practice is a Jesse tree, which tells of our salvation history. We would love to hear from you if you practice this tradition. 

@biblegateway @youversion

Nov30

#singsunday #sacredseason #waterwalkers29

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#singsunday #sacredseason #waterwalkers29

📸 by Ray White

Today the Advent season begins. As we go through this season, Pastor Steven Furtick says, “Advent is a lessening of yourself and a time of reflection.”

Take this season to reflect on where God has brought you from and gain a sense of renewed hope of where God wants to take you. 

My 2018 word of the year, Rejoice. A reminder to carry the Christmas spirit with me 365 days throughout the year and meditate on ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Let us go about our day of worship knowing God is with us. Let us rejoice with your favorite Christmas songs.

Hope was born this night by Sidewalk Prophets, “like a shepherd so scared, I’ll rejoice and declare that Hope was born that night.”

Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel by King and Country, “Rejoice! rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to you, Israel.”

@biblegateway @youversion

Nov29

#savorsaturday #thanksgiving #waterwalkers29

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#savorsaturday #thanksgiving #waterwalkers29

Today I am reflecting on this year’s Thanksgiving and savoring the new memories created. This Thanksgiving looked much different. Granddaddy was absent from our table but my parents were here with us. Instead of coming on Thanksgiving day, Clark’s brothers and families will come today to share a meal and create memories together. Best of all, instead of sitting at the table with everyone else, Clark and I sat at our island with our granddaughter Ellie Grace. 

The biggest difference this Thanksgiving was that I was the sole cook for the day and oh how I enjoyed it. I love that my kitchen, dining area, and den are all one big room. I was able to tackle one task at a time and still enjoy time with my family watching the Macy’s parade, the dog show, and Hallmark movies. After supper, while Clark and I cleaned up the kitchen, we all watched a football game. After my son and family went home, we finished the night watching another Christmas Hallmark movie.

As I prepared each dish, I savored the memories associated with that food and the family members who have cooked each dish over the years. This was the first year I cooked a whole turkey so a few weeks before Thanksgiving I scoured the internet to find just the right recipe. I remember all those who pulled the bird out of the oven and wondered if it was done. I had a similar experience. I was hoping for it to be cooked enough to eat, but not as well done as Cousin Eddie’s wife Catherine’s turkey on the movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. If you have never seen the movie, click here for a visual. I made crockpot macaroni which has become my speciality at family events, but on my mom’s side of the family oven baked macaroni is a sacred dish. I dug in my recipe box to find my grandmother’s recipe for cornbread dressing and savored the opportunity to ask my mama for advice along the way. I made sweet potato souffle from a friend’s recipe and my mama put the mini marshmallows on top for me. Of course I forgot the casserole was browning in the oven and remembered just in time so as to not catch the marshmallows on fire as mama did before. I cooked the obligatory “healthy” vegetable of green beans, and last but not least was the canned cranberry sauce, which turned out to be Ellie’s favorite food of the night.

While this Thanksgiving looked different, I am savoring the opportunity to be with family and the memories of past Thanksgivings. How did your Thanksgiving look this year? Was it different from past Thanksgivings? What are you savoring today? 

@biblegateway @youversion

Nov27

#thankfulthursday #thanksgiving #waterwalkers29

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#thankfulthursday #thanksgiving #waterwalkers29
Photo generated by Ray White

1 Timothy 5:8 — Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Ephesians 6:1-3 — Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise — “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Today is Thanksgiving. Let’s spend time pondering our blessings and expressing our thanksgiving.

As many of you know, Clark and I have had the opportunity to have his parents move in with us. Clark was able to help his mom care for his dad for the last year and a half of his life. Currently, my parents are staying with us while they both recover from health issues. While it took some time for all of us to fall into a routine, I am so thankful for the opportunity. 

My parents set the bar high when they modeled care giving for me when I was younger. My last half of college and when I first graduated, my grandmother and later my uncle came to live with us. Clark’s mom also was a caregiver for her mom in the last years of her life. We were able to witness the blessing of caregiving first hand and for that I am so thankful.

What is your experience with caregiving? Have you been a caregiver or has someone cared for you? Take time today to express thanksgiving for the blessing of caregiving. Enjoy delicious food, memory making fellowship, and watch the Macey’s parade and football!

Let’s pray. Thank You Lord for caregivers and for the opportunity to be a caregiver. May we never take for granted the loved ones around our table. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion