Photos by Ray White

“Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don’t look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭7‬-‭15‬ ‭MSG‬‬

One Water Walking Wednesday in July, I shared the picture of the life preserver on the left. In that post, I encouraged you to throw unbelievers a life preserver by sharing the Good News with them. Click here to read that post. 

Have you seized an opportunity to share Christ with others? If so, how did it go? Did they immediately grab hold of the life preserver or did they meet you with resistance and tear the life preserver to shreds?

The picture on the right is the same life preserver after Hurricane Ian. The wind and surge beat against it and tore it to shreds. Life brings turmoil and we are met with resistance, but we can’t give up. Today’s highlighted scripture reminds us of our call. “Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home.” 

Notice the sentence that appears just before it: “Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!”

Have you tried to share Jesus with others and you feel beaten down? This Water Walking Wednesday I encourage you to not give up. Keep sharing Jesus. Keep loving like Christ. Be persistent! Ask God to “put a fresh wind” in your sails and to show you your next step to walk on water.

“Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don’t look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭7‬-‭15‬ ‭MSG‬‬

The italicized part of today’s scripture has inspired me to call today Tune In Tuesday. I am not musically talented but God uses music to inspire and encourage me. Often I have felt God’s nudge when listening to music. Julie and I often share links to songs that underscore the message we are trying to convey.

What about you? Is there a certain genre of music you are drawn to that draws you closer to God? Is there a specific song that you turn to for hope and encouragement? What are your go-to, foot-tapping songs?

Spend some time this morning tuning in to God. Like the person in today’s photo, take some time apart from the busy world to reminisce about music and specific songs that God has used to speak to you. Search YouTube for songs and listen for a few minutes. Allow the music and words to draw you closer to God as you “tune in” to God’s message for you individually. What is God saying to you today?

Click here to listen to a foot tapping song I heard yesterday just when I needed a pick-me-up.

“Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don’t look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭7‬-‭15‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Yesterday I shared Psalm 51:10-12 from the New International Version Bible. For the rest of the week I will discuss various parts of Psalm 51.

This Mindset Monday, let’s reflect on The Message version and in particular “God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.” What a refreshing and comforting thought! No matter what craziness is going on in my life, God is able to create a new beginning! Do you need a fresh start today? Do you need a do over?

Just like the beautiful sunrise in today’s picture, you and I can also rise and shine with the promise of a Genesis week! Let’s greet today and begin our week with a positive attitude filled with the promises of God.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Join us for See You Saturday as I talk about the Ripple Effect!

Below is my painting project that I mention in my video.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Last week Deborah shared about Faith-filled Friday. That was the beginning of many God winks throughout my day. My eyes were opened to the goodness of God. One, in particular, was a devotion that also had mentioned being Faith-filled. Are you familiar with the analogy of a pumpkin. Cleaning out the seeds and slime is representation for our old self to be gone so that we can be made new in Christ. With that new self, we are Faith-filled, sometimes, maybe, always?

Maybe on this day, you are more like a doubting Thomas or a busy Martha than feeling Faith-filled. Sometimes, maybe, always we need to see the goodness of God through God winks so that we are filled with faith and not doubt. Sometimes, maybe, always we need to be reminded to be still in God’s presence to listen for what we cannot see.

I encourage us to listen and worship to the song, Stand In Awe by Bethel, Paul McClure, and Habnah McClure. Some of the lyrics sing, “Where we made it complicated, realign us to stand in awe of you”. Sometimes, maybe, always we need to ask God to realign us daily so that He can uncomplicate the Thomases and Marthas. I guarantee with every surrender, that we can be made new and Faith-filled.

“may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,” Ephesians‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This past Sunday our church choir sang a song called, Healer of my heart. The lyrics that grabbed my attention, were “Lead me to the deepest well”. As I sat in my usual balcony seat, I took this picture, where the cross looks deep. The pastor talked a lot about being Thankful, even when going through difficult things. 2022 has not been the easiest year for us but looking back we have a lot to be thankful for. In the middle of difficulty, God would always lead us back to Him.

This verse from Ephesians talks about that deep love for God. In the song, Your Love Is Strong by Cory Asbury, we should rejoice because God has chosen each of us. On this Thankful Thursday as we sit with God, let’s remember to thank him for the deep love that not only rescues us but chooses us daily. In the difficult times, ask God to open our hearts to find something to be thankful for. I know one thing, our family’s love has grown stronger as a result of 2022. I am so thankful for the deep love, full of grace that God has and continues to freely give. Let’s pray!

Lord, thank you for the deep love, full of grace that you freely give. Lead us to your deepest well. Open our hearts to be thankful in all circumstances. May we all feel your strong love and rejoice for choosing us. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.