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Bible Blogging Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday February 22ND 2026, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord + Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

Last week was Anniversary Week here on my blog, and I observed it with #SundayScripture, #MusicMonday, and #TravelThursday. I’ve got one more anniversary to share with you today. This is the 8TH anniversary of #SundayScripture. It started 8 years ago on the final Sunday of February of 2018. This is also the 400TH edition of #SundayScripture.

But the origins of #SundayScripture actually go back to 2007 – when I previously wrote about my journey in Christ and my Sunday morning church experiences on MySpace, WordPress (this blog), Twitter, and Facebook.

And I’ll continue to do just that as I enter my 9TH year and into the 400s of #SundayScripture.

I was recently asked “what religion are you ?”. The quick and simple answer is that I am of no religion. I am not religious. I do not follow a set of manmade rules, regulations, and rituals to get to Heaven. Instead – I have a personal relationship with my Lord + Savior Jesus Christ that began 20 years ago in 2006. That’s when I called on His name to rescue me, save me, and come into my heart. That’s when I was born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. My new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal living word of God. (1 Peter 1:23)

Going to church will not get you to Heaven. Being nice to people will not get you to Heaven.

Jesus told Nicodemus – a Pharisee – this:
“I tell you the truth – unless you are born again – you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Are you born again ? Have you been saved ? Do you know what that means ? I’ll continue to share in the weeks and months to come.

My testimony is featured each week here on #SundayScripture – whether it’s part of a sermon, a testimony, or just me writing about the events of the past week. Hopefully it encourages you and inspires you to seek the Lord – and get closer to Him with each new day.

If you wish to learn more about the God I know – then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

All rights reserved (c) 2026 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Categories
Blogging Driving Travel History Geography

Sebring Historical Society

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Anniversary Week continues here on my blog. Last week I wrote about my first visit to the historic Avon Park Depot Museum – operated by the Avon Park Historical Society. It was a disappointment, as it was unexpectedly closed due to COVID. (That was exactly 5 years ago this week.)

I immediately got back in my car on that cloudy and drizzly Wednesday morning in February of 2021, and I drove southward to downtown Sebring. I went to the city pier on Lake Jackson – a place I had visited before – to sightsee and determine my next move. (I had planned to visit the Military Sea Services Museum a few miles away, but they wouldn’t open until 12 Noon.)

As I was walking off the pier – I saw a sign nearby and a canopy over an entrance that read Sebring Historical Society. I was intrigued. I knew about the Avon Park Historical Society (because of their Internet presence), but I had no idea of the Sebring Historical Society. I walked up to the door to open it, and it was locked shut with no lights on inside even though they were supposed to be open based on the operating hours posted on the door. Well – the disappointment of the morning continued.

I wasn’t about to give up so quickly. I actually drove around the building, parked my car again, and noticed an entrance on the 2ND floor of that same building (from the parking lot on the hill). I walked-in, and within about 10 seconds I realized that I had unknowingly walked-in to the Sebring Public Library. #LOL

I looked around the library for a little while – pretending I was interested in what I was looking at. (I wasn’t.) After a few minutes of that I walked up to the front counter, and I inquired about the museum downstairs. The librarian actually called downstairs for me to find out if (or when) they would be open. I didn’t hear the other end of the conversation, but after the librarian got off the phone she told me that YES – they were open – but head for the “yellow house” (across the parking lot) instead, and walk-in. I thanked the librarian for going out of her way in doing that, and I headed for the “yellow house”.

A nice older woman greeted me at the front door as I walked-in, and she gave me an extensive guided tour of the historic house that less than 2 months earlier became a public museum after restoration. I loved every minute of her tour which lasted perhaps 45 minutes (if that). For the next 45 minutes we just chatted back-and-forth as if we knew each other for years. She lived much of her life in Miami-Dade County, and then she retired to Sebring where she served as a docent for the Sebring Historical Society. It sounded like an interesting plan. It sounded like a potential vision for my own future. She urged me to return to that first place that I tried to enter earlier but encountered a locked door. She said that I should talk to the guy that was working in there at that moment. He was a Director at the Sebring Historical Society. I did just that, and we talked for almost 90 minutes. (I also got to tour the premises which serves as a library of historical archives for the city and region.)

I was pretty sure what I was going to do once I moved up to Sebring a couple of years later (in 2023). I was going to be an active volunteer – physically serving and financially supporting the Sebring Historical Society.

I felt rejuvenated after that unexpected 3-hour experience. It was the highlight of my entire 5-day / 624-mile road-trip vacation. That was on Wednesday February 17TH 2021. This week marks my 5-year relationship with the Sebring Historical Society.

I kept my promise. I became a dues-paying member a month before I actually moved to Sebring in 2023. I immediately began actively participating and volunteering in various scheduled events. During most of 2024 I served as the Tuesday docent of that “yellow house” – now officially known as the Charles F. Weigle House Museum & Gift Shop. Later in 2024 I became the Social Media Director – in charge of our Facebook page. It’s now one of the most consistent and interactive Facebook pages in all of Highlands County. I was also nominated into our Board Of Directors where I’m currently serving a 3-year term.

Next #TravelThursday – I’ll write about our historic house that is the Charles F. Weigle House Museum & Gift Shop. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2026 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Categories
Blogging Christian God Ministry Music Radio

My Top 10 Hits – Week 470

Every Monday I post my all-new Top 10 Christian hit music chart based on personal preference and influenced by radio airplay from the previous week. It’s the continuation of a weekly hobby that goes back almost 50 years. Here’s this week’s chart – for the week ending Sunday February 15TH 2026 – the 470TH week of this current era that began on Presidents’ Day Weekend of 2017:

TW LW WKS SONG TITLE ARTIST / SITE
1 1 5 Where Would I Be
[3RD week @ # 1]		 Peter Burton
2 2 5 Finished Caleb & John
3 3 18 How Good It Is Chris Tomlin
4 4 29 Can’t Steal My Joy Josiah Queen X Brandon Lake
5 6 5 Homesick For Heaven Phil Wickham
6 7 7 Heaven On My Mind TobyMac
7 5 19 Dusty Bibles Josiah Queen
8 8 4 The Love I Have For You Colton Dixon
9 9 3 Make It Well MercyMe
10 10 2 Good Matthew West

# 1 This Week In:
2025 – “In The Name Of Jesus” – JWLKRS Worship Ft. Maverick City Music
2024 – “I Believe” – Phil Wickham
2023 – “My Story Your Glory” – Matthew West
2022 – “Weary Traveler” – Jordan St. Cyr
2021 – “Every Step Of The Way” – Cade Thompson
2020 – “The God Who Stays” – Matthew West
2019 – “Maybe It’s OK” – We Are Messengers
2018 – “Gracefully Broken” – Matt Redman Ft. Tasha C. Leonard

ANNIVERSARY WEEK – It started yesterday with #SundayScripture, and it continues today with #MusicMonday. This chart was resurrected on this weekend 9 years ago. I was returning home from Tallahassee at the end of Presidents’ Day Weekend – having seen TobyMac LIVE in concert. Supporting him were other great artists including Ryan Stevenson and the late great Mandisa. It was a wonderful inspirational concert. As I was driving homeward I spent the night at a hotel in Bartow Florida. That night I discovered the existence of K-LOVE – the national network of positive and encouraging radio stations. I’ve been listening ever since the next day when I picked-up its Fort Myers signal at 88.7 FM on my car radio. Both the concert and the radio station discovery inspired me to bring back this chart after a 7-year hiatus. (It previously ran from 1995 to 2010, and before that – from 1985 to 1992.)

ONE-HIT WONDER – Rachael Lampa scored a minor hit on my chart in September and October 2022 with “Perfectly Loved”. It should’ve been a bigger hit at the time. It was a big hit nationally with TobyMac appearing on one version of the song, and Rachael solo on another version. It was actually her biggest hit in 20 years (since 2002).

SPOTIFY – You can hear “My Top 10 Hits” anytime by accessing my CountUp playlist on Spotify. All 10 hits are there from top to bottom. You can hear them in order from # 1 to # 10, or you can shuffle them. My playlist will be updated every weekend (usually before the actual chart is presented here on Mondays). You can link to it here.

Your likes, follows, and comments are always appreciated. Thank You for being part of my online ministry to share God’s Good News and win souls for Christ through His music. God used loud music on the radio in South Florida to reach me in August of 2006. I’ve been testifying about Him ever since.

Be blessed my friends !  May our God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

All rights reserved (c) 2026 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Categories
Bible Blogging Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday February 15TH 2026, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord + Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

It’s Anniversary Week. I selected my current dream home in my dream neighborhood in my dream part of Florida exactly 3 years ago. It was the 5TH of 5 identical condos I looked at, and the nicest one of them all – fully furnished. I made a purchase offer on it, and it was immediately accepted. I moved in a month later, and my life began anew here in Sebring Florida. Thanks be to God for leading me here.

I was recently asked about tithes and offerings. I’ve been tithing for 19 years now – ever since the beginning of my 8-year stay at my first home church. I learned early on how important it is to tithe if you indeed call a church your home church, and you trust what they are doing financially.

At my first church the giving of tithes and offerings was an important part of every service. Its importance was specifically explained for a few minutes from the stage (often by myself), and then we passed around popcorn buckets (at the movie theatre) to place our tithes and offerings in.

At my second church we passed around more traditional baskets towards the end of the service as our worship band performed “Thrive” (by Casting Crowns). I then prayed over the financial resources that were received. After a couple of years I was given the liberty by the Senior Pastor to change it to a different process. We placed a large copper bowl at the base of the altar, and the church members placed their tithes and offerings – either in an envelope or loose – into the bowl at their convenience. We never talked about it during the service. (I believe that the process has changed back since my departure.)

At my current church we also don’t talk about tithes and offerings, but every so often we mention that there are wooden boxes hanging on the wall where you can place them. We are also transparent in that we reveal the total amount of tithes and offerings in our bulletin each week.

I’ve never preached a sermon on tithes and offerings – or fundraising – or prosperity. Back in October 2022 I preached a sermon titled “Give & Take”. It was about the balancing act between giving out (blessing) and taking in (receiving). I preached this:

You know it is quite the balancing act to “Give & Take” appropriately. I like these red letters in the Gospel of Luke (6:38):

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full – pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

That verse right there is used at a lot of churches to encourage you to give financially in tithes and offerings. I myself used that verse at my previous place of worship – because I was told to. I think it’s taken out of context in that manner. I don’t believe that this verse – straight from Christ Himself (in red letters) – is about money at all. It’s about behavior.

The verse before that verse says a lot about what Christ is really talking about:

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. (6:37)

We must be gracious in how we view our neighbor. Don’t judge them. Don’t condemn them. Do forgive them. You don’t want to be judged. You don’t want to be condemned. You want to be forgiven.

Luke 6:38 continues Christ’s message on action and reaction via human interaction. When you give – you will receive. If you give kind words – you will receive kind words. If you give compassion – you will receive compassion. If you give a helping hand – you will receive a helping hand. Gladly accept what is given to you. Take it. Use it. And give back even more. That’s a “Give & Take” behavior that our God will find good and pleasing and perfect.

My testimony is featured each week here on #SundayScripture – whether it’s part of a sermon, a testimony, or just me writing about the events of the past week. Hopefully it encourages you and inspires you to seek the Lord – and get closer to Him with each new day.

If you wish to learn more about the God I know – then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

All rights reserved (c) 2026 Christopher M. Day, CountUp