Today is Thankful Thursday. Be intentional today about thanking God for “every good and perfect gift “. This beautiful sunset was a blessing to me last night. I snapped many pictures and this was one of the last. As I watched the sun set, I gave thanks to God for being a Master Artist. Look today for all the beauty around you. No matter what we face today, we have much to be thankful. Tell the Maker how thankful you are for new mercies.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.””
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:22-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Summertime in the south brings nearly daily storms. It’s not a question of if there will be a storm but what time of day the storm will occur. Likewise, storms occur in life at a moments notice. Storms vary from short to seemingly never ending. How do you handle the storms of life? Do you worry, stress, or become consumed by the storm? Or do you hunker down in prayer and devotion, trusting that God has already overcome the world?

On this Water Walking Wednesday I encourage you to examine your responses to storms. Does life’s thunder and lightning scare you? Are you leaning on Christ for strength and courage? Are you stepping out in the rain and allowing God to guide your steps? As storms approach today, hold on to this Biblical promise.

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:15-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Each Tuesday Julie and I give you tips on transformation. Now it’s your turn. What are your thoughts and tips? What do you do to transform and renew your mind? How are you offering yourself as a living sacrifice for God? Today I encourage you to read Romans 12 and then comment below some of the ways you ensure you are not conforming “to the pattern of this world.”

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I planted this knockout rose bush in an effort of keeping our Lab puppy from bothering the plants in our flower bed. Mistakenly, I thought the thorns would deter him. However, one day he proudly brought the entire bush in the house clasped in his mouth. I rescued the bush and immediately planted it in the flower pot above in hopes that the blooms would open and that the plant would survive. My husband was doubtful that the blooms would ever open, but as proof in the picture above, the rose has blossomed and is thriving in its current environment.

How about you? On this Mindset Monday take a moment to access yourself. Is your spiritual life thriving in your environment? Are you firmly rooted in Christ? If not, what do you need to do to ensure your roots are deep and strong enough to withstand any storms ahead? How is your Christ-centered mindset helping you start your week? I encourage you to start with thankfulness. Thankfulness for your biggest and smallest blessings will put life into perspective and focus your Christ-centered mindset. Being rooted in Christ, you too will thrive and bloom in the days ahead.

I love food! In fact, as a society, we love food more than we should. On this spiritual Sunday I am praying for the Holy Spirit to fill us with an endless hunger and thirst for righteousness. May we seek and desire God’s presence more than earthly food and drink. As you worship today, what hunger or thirst are you asking God to fill? Are you seeking God’s endless supply of food and drink or are you more focused on fleshly desires? Take some time today to read the entire Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. May God speak to each of us individually in ways we each need.

Yesterday I took advantage of the plentiful rain Tropical Storm Elsa provided and transferred grass to some needed areas so that I could make a new flower bed. I now have a blank canvas to plant. It’s a reminder of how God’s mercies are new every morning, making room each day for new landscaping.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lam‬ ‭3:22-23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today I plan to finish strong with some raking, planting, and pine straw. In this song; Look What You’ve Done by Tasha Layton some of the lyrics sing, “Standing in your presence Lord, I can feel you digging all my roots up. I feel you healing all my wounds up”. On this Finish Friday, let’s ask for God’s help in digging up our old ugly roots and ask God to heal us with His compassion that never fails.

This beautiful image of three roses, one perfectly centered and in full bloom between two closed rose buds reminded me of Jesus alive between two sinners on the cross. Although that day on the cross was so horrific, something very beautiful came from it, Jesus’s unconditional love for us.

We read in Hebrews 12:2 that the Joy was set before Him. On this Thankful Thursday I am thankful for the sacrificial love also known as Agape love that Christ Jesus showed us by dying on the cross for you and I.

How can we in turn love Jesus with Agape love? One way is sacrificing our time to sit with Him in prayer and devotion. The dishes can wait, the yard can wait, whatever it is on your to do list can wait. I encourage each of us to not give our leftovers but rather, Agape love each and every day.

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”