Good Sunday morning! I am intrigued by purple martin homes like the ones in this picture captured by Ray White. When I was a child and my family lived in Lancaster, SC, our neighbor had several poles of purple martin houses. When I think of these unique houses I am reminded of living in community with my church family. First, let me share some purple martin facts.

Purple martins migrate to South America in the winter. They eat flying insects so people sometimes believe they are good to have around to control mosquitoes. However, purple martins fly higher in the sky so mosquito control is a misconception. Purple martins live in communities and each year return to the same home if it has been cleaned out.

Just as I am intrigued by purple martins, I am also intrigued by the lifestyle of the early Christian church.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:42-47‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Can you imagine living in such a community? The early Christians devoted their lives to growing their faith, encouraging one another, and spreading the Good News! It is vital for us to be a part of a Christian community so we can grow, encourage one another, and spread the Good News together.

Are you a member of a church? Do you have a church family? This Spiritual Sunday I encourage you to be intentional about the time you are at church today. Use your time with your church family to be intentional about growing and encouraging one another. Eagerly partner with other Christians to spread the Good News and grow the Kingdom. Go to your places of worship today reflecting on the early church and ways we can mirror their enthusiasm and unity.

Grab your Coffee and join me for See You Saturday!!

Click Here and Let’s talk about the week and gratitude!

Pictured here is my daughter’s prom corsage. It was beautifully designed with baby’s breath, red roses, ribbon, and feathers. Baby’s breath symbolizes everlasting love. Red roses symbolizes love, beauty, and courage. Like these flowers God is everlasting love, beauty, and courage. We have been blessed with a beautiful relationship with our Heavenly Father. He is always there to give us the love courage we need.

In Jeremiah 31:3 NIV we read how He has always loved us; “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” In John 3:1 NIV we read how His love has lavished on us; “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

On this Finish Friday let’s move forward with courage. Let’s not forget whose we are as children of God. Let’s embrace the everlasting love that has been lavished on us.

We have made it to Thankful Thursday! “Hallelujah! O my soul, praise God! All my life long I’ll praise God, singing songs to my God as long as I live.” Psalm‬ ‭146:1-2‬ ‭MSG‬‬

According to the Dictionary Hallelujah means; God be praised (uttered in worship or as an expression of rejoicing). According to the Wikipedia it means; an interjection used as an expression of gratitude and adoration.

I love “uttered in worship”. Our uttered sound is music to God’s ears. I have a new favorite worship song that I wanted to share, Hallelujah by Brandon Lake. The chorus sings;

So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
‘Cause all that I have is a hallelujah
Hallelujah
And I know it’s not much
But I’ve nothing else fit for a King
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah

I love the simplicity here, yet the magnitude of this word. “Nothing else fit for a king” but a Hallelujah! When I saw this tree last week, I saw a strong wooden cross. I was reminded that “God’s in charge—always. Zion’s God is God for good! Hallelujah!” Psalm‬ ‭146:10‬ ‭msg. The battle at the cross has already been won for us.

On this Thankful Thursday will you join me in singing a Hallelujah! Let’s show God our gratitude and adoration!

As a Disciple and Water Walker, our greatest example is Christ Jesus. We have all been called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. To do good work. In these verses Jesus’s work was healing a blind man; “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”” John‬ ‭9:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬.

Although we can’t heal people like Jesus, we do have the gift of the Holy Spirit for prayer and guidance. The Holy Spirit nudges us to do good works. I am sure at times those good works get pushed off to do another day. On this Water Walking Wednesday, I am feeling convicted by these verses. Jesus said as long as there is day light we must do His works. I also believe in balance and good works doesn’t mean busyness. Not every assignment is ours to walk with.

On this Water Walking Wednesday, do you have a nudge to do good works? Have you put that nudge into action or have you put it off? I encourage us all today to be intentional with our nudges gifted by the Holy Spirit. They truly are a gift because often we get more out of service than being served.

Now that Spring is here, we are starting to see some flowers bloom. We are also experiencing the pollination which is an essential part of plant reproduction. It acts as a fertilizer to the flowers. Just like flowers need sun, water, and pollen, we need God’s word to help us grow. On this Transformation Tips Tuesday, let’s think of God’s word as an essential part of our growth; “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,” 1 Peter‬ ‭2:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If we look previously in 1 Peter 1:24-25, We read about how God’s word is eternal; “For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.”
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Will you crave God’s word? Will you consider it part of your daily diet?

Click here for more on Pollination.

What does the week ahead look like for you? Maybe you have a long to do list. Maybe your calendar is full of appointments. Maybe not much is planned. Either way looking at a full week can be exhausting. If we put all are tasks on one page we can be overwhelmed. Good news, each day has been given it’s own date with twenty-four hours. We can take it one day, one hour at a time.

Looking at this photo I see strong sea shells that have been shaped overtime by the ocean. We too are strong and overtime been shaped by our faith. We can stand taller and stronger knowing the God of all peace is in control. I also see a pair of sunglasses. Those glasses can change our perception of the sun. We have the choice to put them on or take them off. Perception is a choice.

What will you choose this week? To take on the stress of the week? Or to take on each day, one day at a time? Either way, I pray each of us will choose to walk in God’s peace and relying on His strength with each new day.

“God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace.” Psalm‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭MSG‬‬