As I sit at the coffee shop, I see a class of teens being treated to an end of the year coffee / fruit drink. This teacher apparently comes every year and treats the students for a job well done. Now that’s a teacher who knows how to reach their students. She is being a reflection of love and God is love.
The whole class is polite, respectful and shows gratitude. This is the next generation of leaders. They are shown compassion and direction by this amazing teacher. It is refreshing, we can all reflect hope and love like this relationship.
Yes, they take out their cellphones for a bit of additional communication, however, they are in person carrying on conversation. There is laughter, smiles, and companionship.
There is hope!
They are valuing the most important thing, relationships in respect, love, common interests and they will likely succeed in the future as a result. This is the future!
Photo by Vj Apratama
Psalm 145:12-17 MSG [12] Letting the world know of your power for good, the lavish splendor of your kingdom. [13] Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal; you never get voted out of office. GOD always does what he says, and is gracious in everything he does. [14] GOD gives a hand to those down on their luck, gives a fresh start to those ready to quit. [15] All eyes are on you, expectant; you give them their meals on time. [16] Generous to a fault, you lavish your favor on all creatures. [17] Everything GOD does is right- the trademark on all his works is love.
Where is your sphere of influence? Make a difference to encourage and love others it’s a trademark of God who loves and can impact generations.
Who designed the earth, heaven, and stars? Who created each of us? Who is the only One who can heal our hurts, care for our burdens and bring us hope? It is the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Lord.
Do you want to be healed? This was a question to a man who was unable to walk due to paralysis.
In scripture, Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be healed? It is the same question for us. Do You want to be healed?
John 5: 1- 15
Afterward, Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. 2 Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. 3 Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. 5 One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”
7 “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”
8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”
9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, 10 so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”
11 But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”
12 “Who said such a thing as that?” they demanded.
13 The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. 14 But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” 15 Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him.
There may be those around you that do not want you to heal of physical, emotional, psychological, or spiritual brokenness because when you do you will be a force to be reckoned with. We are stronger when our faith will be in Christ alone and not in our own strength.
Greater is the Lord in you than He who is in the world. Jesus will give you strength, peace, and healing. You must believe He is Lord and Savior, repent of sins in the past and take your healing. He is the triune God: Father, Son ( Jesus), and Holy Spirit. When you let Him into your life He will bring good, including hope and a future ( Jeremiah 29:11). Take your brokenness to Him!!
I really loved this song, The Healing, by Blanca and Dante Bowe. We are all broken, some cracks can be seen on the outside, and some inside hurts are not as visible. He can heal you.As you praise and dance to this worship song, step into your healing!!
Father God, You never change. You love Your children and You have plans to bless their lives. Lord, sometimes we feel alone and unworthy of healing due to our sins. Help us to turn to You before it’s too late. Help us to believe in Your unfailing love. We need healing from our brokenness. You are Jehovah Rapha, our Healer. Help whoever reaches out to You feel Your Presence. Draw them to Yourself. In the Name above all names, Jesus!
Every day is an exercise in endurance. Trusting in God with the uncertain future, with our relationships, and our emotions require thinking outside our own control.
There are moments I want to be a child again, putting adult decisions and responsibilities down. Guess what, we can put down our worries and concerns. We can give them to a God who extends His hand to us, saying come, my child!Jesus actually spoke these words in Matthew 11 as He spoke to people about seeking faith in God.
Matthew 11: 25-26 Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.”
Matthew 11:28 - 30 (The Message) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Holy Spirit Come by Patrick Mayberry
Patrick Mayberry sings of going to the Lord in our distressed times, singing, “Holy Spirit Come.” I love to play this song when I feel weary and burdened. I sing loud and feel the love of Jesus pour over me. Sweet moments of peace are there for the taking just sing or call Him. Come Holy Spirit and refresh your children.
Twice in the past two weeks, my youngest & I were in the car when a bald eagle flew over and circled us. It happened again Tuesday after school for the second time. Eagles are my favorite bird they represent majestic powerful victory. They are messengers of God’s protection for His people. The Israelites were in need of protection as they traveled in the desert escaping the oppression of the Egyptians, it is described in Deuteronomy 32.
Deuteronomy 32: 10 - 11
He found them in a desert land,
in an empty, howling wasteland.
He surrounded them and watched over them;
he guarded them as he would guard his own eyes.[c]
11 Like an eagle that rouses her chicks
and hovers over her young,
so he spread his wings to take them up
and carried them safely on his pinions.
Breathtaking and in awe, my youngest and I shared a beautiful moment at the roadside. Watching this amazing eagle, we were speechless. First, it circled the car, and then, it was pushing hard and flying against the wind then circled and went with the wind to the east. I wrote a blog post called ” Wind” last week, check it out. In Hebrew, it is Ruach, meaning wind, spirit, and breath.
Is it a sign or a wonder? Only God knows. I believe that we are given opportunities to see our Creator God in nature. He can do anything. My love for His creation and my stillness with God can bring amazing moments. We have to fix our eyes on His truths and spend time with His Word to gain wisdom, especially in these crazy uncertain times. People are watching our walk of faith, I was blessed to share these with my child.
The next day I sent this text to my daughter: Sweet daughter: I believe it was prophetic that twice recently you and I have had eagles soar and hover over us in the car. Consider this, my precious one, We are to be God’s messengers, He wants us to fly with the wind, His Holy Spirit, into the future. He was showing both of us the eagle pushing against the wind then in with majesty this beautiful eagle flowed with ease facing east. We must flow with God, my dear daughter! He will use our obedience when trust in Him alone. (Expect distractions from the enemy, as he has different plans.)
Isaiah 40:28-31 [28] Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. [29] He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. [30] Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. [31] But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Since He created each of us in His Image, He knows how best to send a message. Are we seeking Him? Are we open to hearing His truth? When we are available to hear Him, He will share a wonderful mystery that will take our breath away.
There was a time in my life when God was not the focus, instead, it was about a checklist. I felt I was a good person, not one to cause conflict, and did the Christmas and Easter church thing.
However, I felt an empty space in my heart. I had a solid career as a mentor emergency trauma nurse and trained paramedics. My husband and I joined the land of mortgages, a solid career I loved, our first dog, with an expectation of a baby.
Screech went the brakes for this standard list of western expectations. Infertility without a cause and I had no control of my barren body which drove me to seek Jesus.
I had my final infertility treatment and took a memorable trip out of state. After a near-death experience on a Colorado rafting trip, I saw life from a different vantage point. I wore a crash helmet and tightly zipped life vest as the guides gave instructions on body position should a tourist end up in the frigid, springtime, mountain river. I was thrown from the raft at a point in the river called Cardiac Corner ( Class 4 – 5 rapids).
As my body and head were crashing into boulders and trees skirting the river and I was stuck in the swells and sucking water, I cried out to the Lord. I felt as if I would drown, but almost as soon as I called out Jesus, help me! I felt a warmth surround my body, even though my hands especially my fingers were bluish and numb, I felt no pain. I felt the river was a metaphor for life. Would I trust God with the details and take a ride in the rapids or crash and die?
I chose to trust God, rest in what felt like the huge, warm hand of God, and lived. My husbandand I relocated to Colorado within six months. My first Colorado friend took me to my first Bible Study. The book of Romans 5 showed me a new beginning and I learned after dedicating my life to Jesus that I will let Him drive my future plans.
One of my favorite scripture Romans 5: 1- 8 was an epiphany.
Romans 5:1-11 NLT [1] Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. [2] Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
[3] We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. [4] And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. [5] And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. [6] When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. [7] Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. [8] But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
I no longer saw my infertility as a failure instead I saw the need to trust God with everything. After infertility procedures, giving myself shots, waiting on God while caring for children at work in illness and trauma, relocating, and subsequently, the unknown of adoption. I realized I wanted to be a mom and trust the Lord to orchestrate the details.
After a decade of marriage, our first child came to her forever home through adoption six weeks after I accepted Jesus. All three of our children are amazing gifts from God who know more about Jesus as children than I did.
“God so loves”, a song by We the Kingdom brings a vision of joy, and diversity of many beautiful children created in the Image of God. I hope you enjoy it as I did when I saw the band play it live.
I hope you are inspired to realize God so loves. That is the first step of faith in an unknown God. I had to flip out of a white water raft to come to this amazing realization. What will it take for you?
Are you weary? He will strengthen you. You may feel unworthy of His love, He knows but loves you anyway. Bring all your failures. He will direct your life journey. God so loves.
Our faith has a chance to grow when we get opportunities to have trials. It reminds us we can’t do this life alone. It reminds us we need Jesus. It reminds us that he’s the holder of our heads. He’s been the One from the beginning. He will be the One that will see us through whatever the trial may be. His Holy Spirit wants to bring life, and new hope and when we connect to the Holy Spirit we’re in awe.
John15: 1- 9 1. “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
Our faith gets a chance to be strengthened when it is strengthened by the One who has all power and wisdom, our Father! He is the Gardener and we are the growing vine that needs His pruning. Pruning may feel harsh, discipline can feel like judgment, but when received in an honest. open way, the pruning can take off the deadly sin, and our impulsive choices, and provide recovery and growth. Initially, the pruning feels painful but the growth is a new life.
When we sin, we grieve the Holy Spirit, but He wants to help grow a harvest of good. Our impulsive fleshy choices block our minds from hearing the gentle whisper of God.
It’s not about breaking the rules so much is breaking the heart of our Savior who loves us and wants us to let Him guide our lives.
Jen Ledger, a solo musician and also bandmember, singer, and drummer for Skillet shared in her solo song, Completely, the faith and love of God. He loves us completely and I love to sing loudly this anthem.
Completely by Ledger
I would be surprised if you didn’t feel the love of God with this awesome song. He takes our chaos and creates a symphony. We are His and He loves us. Anticipate growing in the Father and becoming a beautiful harvest for Him. Rest in that, my friends.
The wind has been blowing at hurricane forces with red flag warnings covering my state for over a week. Wind escalades consuming fires; causes dust storms, and blows the tumbling weed you may have seen in Wild West movies. Those weeds can grow into the size of house doors. I have a friend who shared seeing an entire front of a house covered by them, with a senior citizen needing help.
I have been meditating on the wind, the Hebrew word for wind is Ruach. Strongs Concordance definition: Ruach means breath, wind, spirit with its’ phonetic spelling is (roo’-akh). Johnathan Cahn, a Messianic Jewish author shares his interpretation in his “Book of Mysteries”. The Holy Spirit, the breath of life along the wind are synonymous with the power of the Lord. Have you ever thought of this concept?
The Bible supports this premise, as I did research I found the wind described in Genesis through Revelations. It was an amazing read I will share some scriptures.
Genesis, the first book of the Bible, describes God’s action to blow across the earth and dry land after the flood.
Genesis 8:1 But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and livestock with him in the boat. He sent a wind to blow across the earth, and the floodwaters began to recede.
The Lord used the wind to bring a holy fear to enemies in war just by its sound in Leviticus, wind cleared locusts and brought quail to the hungry Israelites in Numbers 11.
2 Samuel 22 describes how the Lord heard the cries of David and David saw Him in the storm clouds. What a visual? I choose to believe the same is true today. We may have other noises or busy lists drowning out this revelation.
2 Samuel 22:11
Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew,
soaring on the wings of the wind.
Elijah described being worn out and feeling alone as He continued to serve the Lord even though many peers thought he was crazy and stupid. In 1 Kings 19, we are reminded that despite the noise around us the Lord speaks in whispers. Are we spending time with our Lord?It is hard to hear His whispers when we aren’t listening for them. I am guilty as charged at times.
1 Kings 19: 11-12 11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was the sound of a gentle whisper.
At one point, Job was rebuked by the Lord for his rantings. The Lord reminded Job where all things began, with Him.Job 38:24Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind?
In Psalm 28, the Lord is increasingly frustrated as His children are not walking with Him, the Lord says in verse 26:He released the east wind in the heavens, and guided the south wind by his mighty power.
My time hearing the winds, seeing the trees sway, watching the tumbleweeds, not being able to walk a straight line outside, eating dust, and sneezing from the wind, made me consider the Lord made the wind and it holds the majesty of His power.
Matthew 8:26-27 is one of my favorite stories of Jesus calming the storm at sea while his buddies freaked out. Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” The winds were out of control and Jesus rebuked the winds. It was a defining moment because they were in awe that even the winds obeyed Jesus. Sadly, I can be like the disciples! But I don’t have to stay in that place.
Psalm 104 describes the majesty of the Lord and his creation of sky, heavens, clouds, and wind.
Psalm 104: 1- 4
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord. O Lord my God, how great you are! You are robed
with honor and majesty.
2 You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
3 you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds. You make the clouds your
chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind.
4 The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants.
Ah, another windy day, red flag warning in case of fires, the earth is so dry, just a spark of flame will light up the pastures. Isn’t that a metaphor for life, my friends?
Action steps: Meditate on these: Am I walking with the wind, in a sense my Holy Spirit, my Lord? Or am I walking against His instructions with worry, defiance, pride, grumbling, basically, in sin?If I choose the fleshy sin ways, I am dried up, worn out, depressed, anxious and lonely. If I walk with the Lord I allow Him to carry me or at the very least, I let my burdens be directed by His wisdom and the negative mindset to be blown away as I trust Him.
James 1: 5-7 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
I want to be in control, do you? However, with each passing year, I am learning my need to control is not helpful. I can’t control the future and world events any more than I can control the wind. I am choosing loyalty and a walk with Him.
Walk with the wind not against it! Hold onto your hat, life will be more interesting and less parched.
What comes to mind when you hear the word, “Squirrel”? Is it a cute, red-furred animal that frustrates your dog by taunting from a tree? Does the word, squirrel, bring up visions of Doug, the awkward, friendly dog from the Disney movie, “UP”?
Perhaps, it’s my recent trip to Disney World? I feel like Doug the distracted dog with multiple voices calling in my head. The voices say, “conflict in relationships, it’s your fault… you are unreasonable, just a judgemental Christian. is that true Lord? If so, I repent. Family is joy and trial but must I be quiet, keep the peace? My thoughts detour to wars waged across the world, sadness, and despair for the family of God in harm’s way. Frustrations for decisions by those you love may cause health issues or even death, do I speak up as a nurse?”
These are just a few thoughts swirling in my mind. Distractions of news, social media, and just plain life make me feel poked to limit time with God, or drop a quick prayer and walk along my way. Do my prayers matter or are they useless? However, prayers do matter.
James 5: 16
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
Prayer is a way to battle in the heavenly spaces. It matters when I take time to praise the Lord, putting the praise music loud in my home and singing along are action steps of faith even when I feel spent and weary.Can you relate?
Psalm 103 : 1- 5
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
Squirrel!!! There it goes again, the voice in my head, I feel the distraction coming again. Hey, wait a minute, God created that amazing animal, he is shy, yet motivated, he is free to run, and climb trees and fences. He may taunt my pets but He brings joy as he chatters loudly.
God listens to me as I chatter, ah there now I feel better, the same God that made me has made the squirrel. He has a purpose as do I. Let me sing a new song to the Creator God, and let me spend time climbing (in my mind) onto the lap of my Father. Let me imagine the joy of time spent with Himas He renews my strength as a youth.
Breathing deep, I feel calmer and I hope you do too. Blessed when I seek more connection with the Lord. Peace is coming even if temporary.
So the next time you feel the call of the Squirrel, pause, and chatter with the Creator. Find the joy again even in the midst of a chaotic time.
Galatians 6:9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
Are you hurting? Are you broken by the trials of life? I know who can change your life, transform your mind, and love you beyond all human understanding. He calls you by name. His name is Jesus.
Psalm 139:1 - 6
1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
Let your heart believe again or for the first time, He wants to pour out His Love. He is your Savior, He knew you before you were born. He sees the whole painting of your life, not just the broken pieces. He can be the gold thread that ties all things together. Trust Him, Believe He is who He says He is.
I am broken, we are all broken and need a Savior, Jesus. This song by Stars Go Dim is so amazing, “Yes He does”. He can turn all things for good. Let Him heal all the broken places.
Ephesians 2: 8 - 10
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Yes, He loves you. Yes, He has plans. Yes, He wants to change the hard places into amazing purposes. He uses everything. Let Him!!
This is a reblog of my first post. It feels so relevant for current times. May it encourage and remind you we all have broken parts. The world seems to be fracturing between nations. We all need peace and unity with our Creator. Our cracks can be healed and patched up by time meditating on His Word. Let Jesus provide the glue and wisdom.
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I am inspired to share wisdom from the challenges in life. I went to an adoption group meeting last week, one of the leaders spoke about an ancient Japanese art called Kintsugi.
This Japanese art mends broken pottery with gold lacquer making the repaired piece more beautiful for having been broken. The message of using our broken stories, mistakes, trials and pains, for good, resonated with me.
Why do I see broken experiences as loss? Why do I see mistakes as failures? Why do I see trials as punishment? Do these broken stories mean I am forever broken? Who gave me this pessimistic thought? Should I stay in the negative or choose instead to see the other side? That is the choice I must make no matter which road I choose to journey.
As I purposely broke the creme colored china tea cup, I pondered the long list of my challenges with myself, and others. I pondered the mindset of the negative. I thought back to how in my infertility I found God. I thought in the stress and fears of adoption, awaiting God’s blessing, I felt His presence again. I thought, how each one of my children came to my husband and I at just the right time, God’s time, His Presence, His blessings to me. Why is that surprising and yet inspiring? The trials brought me to a closer relationship with Jesus. I had to trust Him with the unknown.
As I watch each stage in my children’s life, I am reminded yet again, God is refining me as the epoxy and gold flakes reconnected the broken pieces of my china tea cup. The bond of strength in this cup is stronger, the gold shimmering edges of the cracked pieces are more luminous. The beauty of the creme colored tea cup is changed and more meaningful to me now than if the tea cup hadn’t been broken.
As I was breaking the tea cup, I thought in the back of my mind how amazing it would be if there was a small irreparable opening. I reflected if that opening appeared it would be a reminder of how the Lord God Himself has shown Himself through the cracks of my life. It would remind me I am not meant to go through repair without His Light.
Interesting enough, the small opening in my creme colored tea cup did appear, I carefully dabbed on gold dusted epoxy in the opening. Surely I will remember He is steadfast in all trials, joys and the steps of life. May I be the example to those who watch the step by step journey of His Light shining through the cracks. Refined, remade, richer and Luminous!!!
Thank you for joining me on this journey!
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
Inspiring Light Through the Cracks 