Isaiah 6:3

Yesterday was run day. Meaning - errands to the bank, grocery store, gymnastics, Wal Mart - just a typical day that was full with busyness. The whole day my heart, soul, and mind continued to lean towards the LORD and HE knows my heart. I'm a home body that loves quietness and peace. It's a sure fire way to hear from the LORD. No radio. No tv. No nothing... how I love my Word spread out on the counter as I look thru the Bibles and compare the translations. As I was on the way to another stop ... I ran into this ...

My heart was so grateful and  in an instant - He knew my love language ... meaning I'm missing my peace and quiet time with Him and the day has been too hectic for my liking. So He loves on me with His glory. 

When Isaiah came into His full awareness of his sin - he saw himself with unclean lips. I have been there. I have also witnessed God's love, grace,  mercy and forgiveness first hand. There's no choice but to render your heart to Him once you've experienced His love. When I saw this sky yesterday - I was ushered into His presence and the fullness of joy overflowed. "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory." Isaiah 6:3

When I see this beautiful sky - His glory is present. The whole earth is full of His glory and images such as this - is living proof. I pray that He continues to reveal Himself to you ... day by day. 

Do You Want Peace?

On a recent trip to the lake, I walked out on a pier. Alone. As you can imagine, it was so breathtakingly beautiful and peaceful - all I wanted to do was extend my time as long as I could. As I sat there, I spent a few minutes alone with the LORD Jesus in His presence - right at the water's edge. As my eyes danced across the lake, I was reminded of those times in scripture where it talked about how Jesus would steal away from the crowds just to be with His heavenly Father. In a world that drips of chaotic chaos ... I long for quiet, peaceful moments in His presence where I gain His strength. His love. His perfect peace. Sometimes in a moment of worship, I extend my hand while eyes closed ... I think - if I could only touch His hem, I could be healed. Healed of the pains and hurts of this world. Healed from the insecurities that plague me. Healed from the anxiety that scours this earth. Peace is something that is on the front burner for me right now. I want it. I want to share it. Paramount - I want expose it. 

Recently I read the following words:  "Peace follows grace" and instantly I thought of "offer grace" if you want peace.  It doesn't take too long to turn on the news or read the newspaper and realize - we are deficient in peace. Our society has become so angry. Always in such a hurry.  So keyed up. So intense. So I asked myself "when" was the last time you offered grace?  Hmmmmmm.....well, if I said I offer grace every second of my life - I would have to be telling a not so. As my mother would say.

The Word of God teaches in I Corinthians 1:3 "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ."  There you have it - Peace follows grace. IF you are like me, maybe it's been a while since you've cracked open a dictionary and searched for the word GRACE.  After doing so - I learned grace is "divine love," good will, pleasing, Mercy, and a favor rendered voluntarily. Not demanded. Nor bought. Or made to. Just render it - at your own free will.

Let's put this one into practice. Go home. Go to your work place. Or better yet - go out into the streets somewhere. Anywhere. Offer up someone some grace. Or better yet - volunteer a favor to someone.  See how it feels to offer it.  This is what Paul was concerned about when he wrote to the church at Corinth.  The Apostle Paul endured challenges, hardships, daily struggles, and trials. To top it off - he had a genuine concern for his brothers and sisters in Christ. When they suffered, so did he. It wasn't about making himself look good. Or he wasn't trying to impress.  As I was reading this - it struck me that Paul himself was "rendering a favor" - voluntarily by having a true concern about his fellow man. He loved them genuinely and wrote to encourage them in their walks with the LORD.

Today, as you read these words - don't just walk away from them and forget them.  Today, read them, and if you could - would you write them down?  And then ... could you take it one step further - take it out to the street and look for a way to do something for someone else?  It could be that maybe you would open the door for a family member that wronged you. Or could it be that you pay for someone's meal at the market place or even in the drive through line?  Better yet - maybe you could offer someone a smile that you see doesn't have one.  It's up to you.

The book of James teaches us to not just read the scriptures - but to put them into practice.  Be doers of the Word - James 1:22.  Go ahead, just do it. Let me know how it works out for you. Grace and peace to you.

Matthew 5:14-16 City on A Hill

One night recently I ran into town to get food for my family. Felt very drawn to drive by my family church ... this tiny little church really stood tall. So majestic. It reminded me of the verse that has enveloped me every time I've seen it this week.

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16.

In the  daylight hours this church  appears meek, small, and tiny ... but against the darkness ... the brightness really stands out. If you are in Christ Jesus and He is your LORD and savior ... let your light shine. You cannot be hidden ... remember you are giving light to all who are in your house. You are giving light to those you meet on the street. In the grocery store. Your workplace ... wherever you go - shine your light. Glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Dust

Hey y'all! Just wanted to stop by and see how you are doing?  I write to you with Hope and Encouragement this day.  If you are like me ... then you can understand where I am coming from.  Sometimes life is just so busy that I find myself going through the motions - just like the hamster running on his little wheel. While all the while I am on the wheel, so it seems, as though I am not going anywhere.  Usually - I realize then that I have allowed myself to be locked up on the inside and the obstacle I really face is my own self-doubt. That leads to negative thinking and bleeds all over the place right down into prayerlessness. It's not because I don't want to - it's because life keeps coming faster than the speed of lightning. Truthfully, what can we really do well at the speed of lightning? The truth is - scripture tells me that I should pray without ceasing. When the dog bites= pray! When the bee stings= pray! When the tire is flat= pray! and to do it all with thanksgiving. Prayers are as incense before God. So if prayers are as incense, then why wouldn't I want to please my Heavenly Father and flatter Him the whole day through and besides . . . the benefits are my own. Entirely.  That's what I call Love 101.


When I ask the LORD to search me, test me, examine my heart, soul, and mind - what in the world could I be thinking? It is then when I am really faced with the reality of who I truly am and who I desperately desire to become. Folks, it's hard being searched. YES - I said folks.  That's how I talk way down here in the South.  I love it!  YES!! it's hard being tested and sometimes I really don't want to share my heart with anyone - let alone be examined! The truth is, on my own - I really am nothing. Simply dust. 

The Bible teaches me in Psalm 103:14 that He remembers that we are made from dust. Oh LORD, thank you for remembering this critical detail - because this really does point to my own failures at times. Oh the flaws I could talk about. Or show you. I want to know HOW - can anything that is made from dust be truly expected to prosper and succeed on their own? Dust is usually swept away into the garbage pile.  But wait - I have GOOD NEWS ... when we are in CHRIST Jesus - His Word teaches that I am fearfully and wonderfully made Psalm 139.  Also you will find that you can do all things through CHRIST which strengthens you ... and me - Philippians 4:13. With HIM, all things are possible - without - it's just failures and disappointments.

Someone recently told me to do what I love to do.  I love writing and I so love to encourage people.  So here I am today, simply putting one foot in front of the other ... I am writing to you - in hopes that I may point you to the one that matters. The LORD Jesus.  The Hope of the world. The one that loves you. Loves me. He offers this Hope 24 hours a day. Seven days a week. Oh, and before I forget - this is me in the picture.  Just simple me.  I am just a plain and simple country heart that loves Jesus and wants to share Him with people like you.  

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Runners

Years ago when I decided to give my heart and life back to the LORD Jesus, somehow I really thought it would be...maybe a little more tidy. Or maybe a little more glamorous. Rats, if I'm going to be completely honest with you - I totally thought it would be down right safe, neatly kept, pretty in appearance, and all in order. You know -  like a good little Christian would be.  Just so you know - it's been anything but.  Some days it feels like the rug is being yanked out from underneath me. Or maybe an avalanche is chasing me down. Or ... I have felt the sweeping emotion of getting ready to ride right over a water fall. You know. The Niagara Falls kind. And the twist to it all - it can also be the most incredible peace I have ever experienced among the chaos.

To go right along with it all - I am learning in this walk with Christ, a good dose of humility. Sometimes it is just better to bow the knee for heavens sake...if I don't - then there will be a knee bending ceremony - hah! usually in my behalf. And it would usually involve more folks attending than I would ever want... 

Yesterday's discovery is what spurred this post. And ... this is where the humility resides.This week I began - running. Again. There... i said it. RUNNING...Everywhere I turn - the people I love and care about run. I fell in love with the idea at Christmas. You know how it happens right before the Christmas break - walk into a sports store and my level of pride quadrupled and I totally fell head over heels again with it. There is some real freedom experienced during a run. Years ago I used to run when I was in high school. Won a trophy. Yes, why yes I did.  Not a big one. Just a simple sized one.  OK ... so back to my story.  Yesterday I was reminded of some real truths ... and maybe my picture will help.

I don't know about you ... but when I run - it's never a pretty thing. I mean ... to begin with, the fact that I have too many pounds to let go of - should paint a very real and a not so pretty picture that running isn't something I really want to broadcast to everyone - as in "look at me" kind of thing. Don't ever look for a Facebook post or Instagram post displaying my time run, cals. burned, or that type of thing.   Trust me - there is no bling, bling with this runner. I long to be able to wear one of those cute outfits and look normal - as in - a smaller body, a healthy frame and mind - so that I wouldn't mind my picture being taken and posted.  

While running yesterday - it really happened - during my run I witnessed something that I couldn't forfeit the opportunity to take a picture and share with you.  Heaven knows - if I ever become savvy with videotaping via my phone, I just may post a video for you.  Trust me when I say - this was a pure joy moment for me.  At 37 degrees outside, I am wrapped with a cozy head band that was so tight I wondered if my brain could actually function. Thermals. Light wool socks. Running shoes etc.,  And if y'all know anything about me - well I love animals. All kinds.  And just last year - we moved onto some rental property that has been amazing for my soul.  It's land as far as you can see - open wide - on the prairie kind of land.  It has provided the most peaceful landscapes. Amazing sunsets. Breathtaking sunrises. And plenty of me and Jesus alone time. 

So I took off running and I headed towards the back side of the property.  Just beginning to enjoy the peace and serenity of it all. I began forwarding all of my thoughts over to the LORD. Certainly thanking Him for the day, the beautiful scenery, and so on. All of a sudden - I heard
along side the fence - my closest neighbors who just happens to be the cows next door.  Lots of them.  And yes - I love them so. And as you can imagine - the day was closing quickly, I knew I needed to run and then exit quickly so I could resume my trip of errands and then on to take my daughter to gymnastics.  So I'm super charged and in super focus mode and super happy about getting on that path to run ....  and again I heard a really loud charge of huff stomps behind me.  I turned around and looked behind me and all of my best and closest neighbors were running just as fast as they knew how to.  My simple soul was delighted to the moon and back and I laughed for joy. I looked up to the beautiful heavens and threw my head back with really wild and loud laughter. I thought to myself ... HOW MANY TIMES had I came over to the fence and called out to them in that silly, sweet, giddy voice that my daughter finds so very humiliating .... how many times have I pleaded with them to come over and just sniff my hand or have something to do with me.  For over a year - they have ignored me and have continued to eat and walk and play all the while ignoring me. At times I so believed they wanted nothing to do with me.  Until the day they saw me run by them.  It reminded me of some folks in my close circle that I happen to still be believing God for.  How many times have I begged them to take Jesus. How many times have I tried to give Him to them.  All to no avail. I realized yesterday and this week more so, that it wasn't until just this year that I didn't care who knew I was crazy about the man named Jesus. I don't mind posting non-stop about something that I know to be true. I don't mind risking my all because of the one who saved me. Just this year - I have totally decided to run with Him and go where He would have me go.  Just like the run yesterday...it reminded me of the runners in my own circle. They may not come up and take from me when I offer it. They may not act overly excited about my passion for the LORD Jesus as often times as I talk about Him.  But it reminded me of the promises that the LORD has given me in Romans.  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us... Romans 12:1 Keep running the race. Keep focused. Continue sowing good seeds. One day - they will run too.

This life I am in ... sometimes and many days it feels like a race.  A race to get the food ready. A race to finish the laundry. A race for everything that needs to be done in a certain time frame so that I can get to the next step.  Many times I have been entrapped by sin until this year I staked my claim - #newyear, #newme, #thankyoujesus - because I'm yours. 

Joshua 1:9

This is a year old story that somehow never got published...

Sometimes ... a person can hear the SAME thing OVER and OVER for years and NEVER fully "get it" OR totally understand it - UNTIL he or she really experiences it for themselves. As I began my day, inside our new dwelling, laundry beckons my call, boxes stacked up everywhere needs to be opened and put away, not SURE if I can find clothes to wear to work, I came thru the bedroom and caught a perfect glimpse of a beautiful moon setting ... I felt the LORD drawing me near. I turned off all the lights, sat down on my chest I moved in front of the bedroom window ... I watched the moon "set" in the East. I remember as a little girl - my Daddy would say "the sun rises in the east and sets in the west"... aha - this girl "gets" it. The one thing that stuck out ... as I looked at the moon - there was a perfect CROSS right in the middle of it. Now ... I wasn't in all the smart classes at school - so "scientifically" + I'm not sure what caused that .... but I know enough about the LORD Jesus to know when He is pulling me near to give this over spent body, soul, and mind a "perfect rest" in Him before any other junk has time to rise. As the moon was sliding down on this side of the earth I thought I would let you know the LORD was bringing it over to you now ... Joshua 1:9 resounds in my heart this morning... Be strong and courageous do not fear for I am always with you ... He is with me on this prairie and He is with you among souls that desperately need Him... stay strong.

Instamatic Demise

Let's face it - we live in an "instamatic" atmosphere. Sometimes you and I feel like if something cannot be produced or cleared instantly or within a minute or two, then it shouldn't be done or not worthy of accomplishing. IF you have bought into this lie from the enemy of our soul, then I have some others you may resonate with. If you will take a few moments and begin unraveling this "knot" - you will soon come to realize it is embedded with fear, insecurity, unbelief, anxiety, and idolatry. Lean in . . . there is no where to be written that all projects, every task, assignment, or life event should be done in record timing. IF so . . . then we are putting ourselves right on the "high blood pressure," "heart attack," and major health issues shelf in a hurry. NOT to mention - relationship break down. I am strongly convicted that for so long now ... this has been me. SO much so that one day I seemingly woke up and my daughter was 13! One day I realized that I had rushed through so many days, hurried on home, only to get to the NEXT thing - when truly I should have paced myself and taken things to a slower pace and lived each moment to the fullest. When the fast foward button is pressed so many times repeatedly - there are consequences to follow. Be ready to face them and deal with whatever is handed to you. Spend time with your sons, your daughters, your husband, your wife, your loved ones. . . make them a priority. LOVE the the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. LOVE God, LOVE people, spend yourself on behalf of others, the sick, the needy, and the poor. Read that book. Take that walk. Savor every moment. The next one isn't ever guaranteed.

Joy From a Jail Cell

The following words "Philippians was the happiest book that Paul ever wrote" - has described Paul and his stance towards his life. From a jail cell. Towering isn't it? Sometimes I write and I am not happy at all and there is no jail cell surrounding me. Although, being physically exhausted and emotionally spent could warrant unhappiness in my book. However, that is exactly what my flesh sounds like. I on the other hand, in the spirit, and full of joy - can exemplify Paul very well. You see Paul focused and concentrated on the LORD and all of His benefits. Paul had tasted of the LORD and had seen that He is good. Should I rise without bowing, there is no victory. None. I end up late, short, distracted, irritable, and mindless the rest of the day. God wrote His Word to tell us how much He loved us. If we buy all of the busy-busy lifestyles and subscribe to the rich and famous and continually seek fame and glory for ourselves, we will end up spent, exhausted, late, short, distracted, and yes irritable. Seek the LORD in your prayer closet and lavish your worship upon Him. His blessings are love, joy, and peace. These items aren't obtained on your own merit - when you place your trust in the LORD Jesus, He promises to be with you always and never forsake you. Go ahead, what are you waiting for? For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

When Broken Is Beautiful

Three flights of stairs means I get my share and plenty more of running up and down the stairs to take laundry to the basement for washing and drying. It's been particularly rainy in our area over the last two weeks - so when I hear the rain, wind, and a little crack of thunder involved, I am instantly taken back to one of my favorite cartoon characters - "Snoopy" from the Peanuts gang . . . ON TOP of his house pounding those keys into "It was a DARK AND STORMY night." Come to think of it, he has been my inspiration at times for writing. Or pecking the thing out on a type writer.

So . . . while hitting those steps one night, while it was dark and stormy outside - I happened to get a glimpse of the window payne that was broken. In that moment, in that darkness - where the light was pushing through the brokeness of the window - I saw a beautiful, shiny prism and it made my heart smile. I felt the LORD speaking into my own heart for this moment saying "you see, even though you may be broken - your life is still beautiful because you allow ME to shine through." Sometimes, life has a way of breaking each of us. Over the last year and a half - I've not really "written." Life had been way to serious and painful and busy. Meaning, there was never any time to write and if there was - the grief and pain was just too difficult. The ONE thing that continued to fuel my heart was Philippians 4:13 - "I can do ALL things through CHRIST which strengthens me." I am so thankful that the LORD never left me during this time. HE is always FAITHFUL.

Speak In LOVE