Calabash John

10/24/2026

Good morning from Sunset Beach. It was so wonderful to be back out there this morning. I hope everyone of you be given the opportunity to make someone else's day better. Have a great day!

10/24/2026

10/19/2026

Behind Capt Nance's Seafood Restaurant in Calabash.

10/16/2026

I know this is a long read but if you're a fan of the page, please take time to read.

Some of you may have noticed that I haven't been spending nearly as much time on the beach lately. In fact, I was out there the other day, and a couple of folks came up to me and told me how much they'd missed seeing me. I can't tell you how much that meant to me!

And they're right. I haven't been out there nearly as much as I used to.

There's really no single reason for it. I still love the beach. I still love watching the sunrise, capturing God's beautiful creation, and sharing those moments with all of you. And believe me, I still wake up many mornings wishing I could be out there!

But the truth is, "life has gotten awfully busy!"

We're approaching Advent, and right now I'm in the middle of charge conference season. For those who may not know, that's a pretty important and busy time in the life of the church. Along with pastoring my own church, I also serve as the Circle Leader for five other churches, which means being present and helping oversee their charge conferences.

And speaking of my church, we're a busy bunch! We have three worship services every Sunday morning and somewhere around 15 different missions and ministries happening throughout the church. There's always something going on, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

On top of that, I serve as the chairman of Men's Ministry for the Global Methodist Church in North Carolina, which is another responsibility that I take very seriously and thoroughly enjoy.

Then you add my photography, and now the Prayer Crosses ministry, and, well, you can probably see where I'm going with this!

"My life is full. Very full. And I'm grateful for every bit of it."

But I've come to realize that sometimes, even when you're doing things you absolutely love, you have to step back a little and find some balance.

Something you may not realize is that every time I share my beach photography on Facebook, I've probably invested at least two hours of my day into it. It's not just walking out on the beach and snapping a few pictures. There's getting there, taking the photographs, coming home, sorting through them, editing them, putting together a post, and sharing it.

And then there's all of you!

You folks love to talk, and goodness knows I love talking with you! I enjoy reading your comments, hearing your stories, and responding to you. That's honestly one of my favorite parts of doing this.

But when you put it all together, it's a pretty big commitment of time.

So for right now, I'm just having to scale things back a little.

"I'm not putting my camera away. I'm not giving up my mornings on the beach. And I'm certainly not going anywhere!"

You just may not see me out there quite as often for a while.

There are seasons in life when God calls us to slow down in one area so we can give more of ourselves to another. And I believe that's where I am right now.

My church family needs me. The ministries I'm involved in need my attention. The prayer crosses have become something far bigger than I ever imagined, and I want to continue sharing that blessing with others.

And somewhere in the middle of all of that, I need to remember to make time for wife and my family, too.

I hope you understand.

I want you to know how much I love and appreciate every one of you. Your encouragement, your friendship, your kind words, and the way you've supported my photography and the prayer crosses mean more to me than I could ever put into words.

I'm not saying goodbye to the beach. I'm just saying you might not see quite as many sunrises from me until things settle down a little.

And trust me, nobody will be happier to get back out there than I will!

In the meantime, I'd sure appreciate your prayers as I navigate this busy season of life. Pray that God gives me wisdom to know where to spend my time, strength to do what He's called me to do, and the good sense to slow down every once in a while!

Thank you for understanding. Thank you for caring. And most of all, thank you for being part of this wonderful journey with me.

God has been so good to me, and so many of you are part of that blessing.

In Christ,
John

10/15/2026

Good morning from Sunset Beach.

10/13/2026

10/12/2026

Now this is a great way to take in a Monday morning sunrise in Sunset Beach! Awesome photo, John Bracey.

Dry and very warm all week with highs in the 80s. Much cooler this weekend with temperatures primarily in the 60s! Coolest air of the season is on the way.

10/09/2026

SOMETIMES, ALL WE NEED IS A LITTLE SUNSHINE… AND A REMINDER THAT GOD IS STILL THERE.

I made another prayer cross today, and once again, I don't have anyone particular in mind to receive it.

But I'm trusting that God does.

This one has a Black-Eyed Susan on it, or as I've always called it, a Black-Eyed Susie. It's always been my favorite flower.

There's just something about that beautiful little yellow flower that makes me smile. It doesn't have to be the biggest or the fanciest flower in the garden. It simply stands there, reaching toward the sunshine, offering a little beauty to the world around it.

And as I was working on this cross, I started thinking about how much that little flower reminds me of life.

You see, flowers don't bloom because every day is filled with sunshine. They bloom because their roots hold on, even through the storms.

And isn't that a picture of faith?

Sometimes life is beautiful. The sun is shining, our hearts are full, and everything seems to be going just right.

But then come those seasons when the skies grow dark. When prayers seem unanswered. When the burdens get heavy. When we wonder if we'll ever feel the warmth of the sunshine again.

And yet, even in those seasons, God is still working.

Maybe you're in one of those seasons right now.

Maybe you've been trying so hard to stay strong for everybody else that you've forgotten what it feels like to have someone encourage you.

Maybe you've been through something that has left you feeling a little bent, a little weary, or a little forgotten.

If that's you, I want you to remember something.

The same God who gives a little flower the strength to rise from the ground is the God who can give you the strength to rise again.

You may not feel like you're blooming right now. You may feel like you're barely hanging on.

But God isn't finished with you.

And just because you're going through a difficult season doesn't mean there isn't something beautiful still ahead.

So here's my invitation.

If you love Black-Eyed Susans, or if this little flower reminds you of someone special, or perhaps you simply need a little encouragement today, I'd love to hear from you.

Maybe you know someone who is struggling, grieving, facing an illness, or going through a difficult time. Someone who could use a little sunshine and a reminder that God hasn't forgotten them.

Perhaps this little prayer cross is meant for them.

There is absolutely no charge for this cross. It's made with love, offered with prayer, and given freely.

And before I close, would you pray with me?

A Prayer for Someone Who Needs a Little Sunshine

Heavenly Father,

Today, I lift up the person who needs this little reminder of Your love.

Lord, maybe their world has been cloudy for a long time. Maybe they've been carrying burdens that nobody knows about. Maybe they've smiled for everyone else while quietly struggling to find joy for themselves.

Father, would You bring a little sunshine into their life today?

Not necessarily by taking away every storm, but by reminding them that even in the darkest moments, Your love has never left them.

Give strength to the weary heart. Give peace to the troubled mind. Give hope to the person who has almost stopped believing that better days are possible.

And Lord, just as this little flower reaches toward the sunlight, help us to keep reaching toward You.

When we feel weak, be our strength. When we feel forgotten, remind us that You know our name. And when life seems too difficult to bear, help us remember that we never have to walk through it alone.

Father, wherever this little cross eventually finds its home, may it remind someone that they are loved, they are prayed for, and there is still beauty waiting to bloom in their life.

In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

A Little Word About Supporting This Ministry

Every prayer cross I make is given away freely, and I intend to keep it that way. I never want someone who needs encouragement, hope, or a reminder of God's love to feel that money stands between them and receiving one.

But as this little ministry continues to grow, so do the expenses. Just mailing a cross costs around $12, and that doesn't include the wood, materials, or time spent making it.

If you feel led to help support this ministry, any donation, large or small, would be a blessing. Your generosity helps me continue making and mailing these crosses to people who might need a reminder that they are loved and that someone is praying for them.

If you'd like to help, you can send a donation in either of these ways:

By Mail:

Andrews Chapel GMC
1091 Hickman Road Northwest
Calabash, NC 28467

Please write "Prayer Crosses" in the memo line of your check.

Through PayPal:



And please hear me when I say this: You do not have to give a penny to receive a cross. That's not what this ministry is about.

If you can give, thank you. If you can't, that's perfectly fine. And if all you can offer is a prayer for this ministry and the people these crosses reach, that prayer means more than you know.

Because at the end of the day, it's never really been about the wood, the pictures, or even the crosses. It's about pointing people to Jesus.

In Christ,
John

Calabash John Prayer Crosses

Made with love. Given with prayer. Shared in faith.