Did you see that?

If this mornings sunrise is not a sign to you at how Glorious and Sovereign and Faithful and abounding in love our Creator God is....I'm not sure that your even human. 

   Pictures can't even do justice. I tried, and then decided to just be still and watch.

Joy truly comes in the morning.

Last night I felt like there was a weight on me. I couldn't have even told you what it was, or what was wrong with me really, I just felt weighted down and all I wanted was to cry and to be held. 

So I walked. And as I walked, not a whole lot happened. But I did keep reciting Psalm 23 and meditating on The Lord being my Shepherd. 😊

I think sometimes when we (I) have really, really high weeks, as well, when your getting to a place where you are becoming more and more sensitive to the Holy Spirit, you (I) just get tired. I believe last night was just me crashing after an intense week. And I could be completely wrong, and I pray that if I have a sin issue or something that needs dealt with that God will make that evident and I completely believe He will do just that!

But overall, psalm 23 just brings me comfort. Because people can only give you so much. They can only comfort you so much. Jesus can and will give you all you need. Plus more.

✌️peace and be 💪 (strong) in The Lord! 

Peace in restlessness

Life is exciting.

    Yeah, I have my routine, my normal day to day activities. My days don't change a whole lot.

But life, is exciting.

Because Jesus is alive!

I've been blogging a lot more recently, because God is mighty at work and I just feel the need to share. 

As well, there has been a shift in some of my attitude...(which is a great thing because I have a terrible attitude the majority of the time).

For instance, all I would love to do is just go to bed and sleep a good nights sleep. But my heart is beating like crazy and my stomach feels nervous...and this is becoming a normal thing and I have come to know this as the Holy Spirit moving me to pray, to read, to write, and to encourage. Sleep is not that important in the Kingdom of God I am realizing, and I am becoming completely okay with this. Although I do find myself asking God why He so chooses to keep me awake sometimes, I also find myself looking forward and appreciating these times. Because they are beautiful and only draw me closer to God. Intimacy. I love intimacy with my LORD! 

   I now find myself saying to God, 'what do you want me to do. Who needs prayer. What shall I read....' Rather than complaining that I can't fall asleep and just getting frustrated. 

God changes people. God changes hearts. God changes attitudes. God changes hearts of stone, to hearts of flesh. God changes lives. 

    Surrender your will, and your faith will grow. Obedience will lead you to more intimacy. Asking the right questions, will open so many doors. Shifting your focus, will bring so much joy and freedom. 

Opening your heart, will bring pain, but also an immense amount of unconditional love. 

It is all worth it my friends. Believe me. Jesus is worth it the sacrifice. For sacrifice and offering ourselves, is our reasonable act of worship.

   I encourage you to read Hebrews 12 tonight before you go to bed, or right now in fact. Whether you are alone or with people. Jesus is worth it.

✌️ and ❤️ brethren.

Changed

It's amazing how people change.

It's amazing to be able to look back and see how much YOU yourself have changed. And what has helped shape the change.

I've had a lot of changes over the past few years, and changes are always happening I've come to learn. Change is good. But one change that I keep realizing recently, is how I cannot stand to be alone.

I used to not be able to get enough alone time. I actually preferred to be alone, than with people. I processed better among other things. 

I do still have a lot of alone time, and some alone time is definitely needed, but I'm realizing that when I am alone for to long, I get extremely antsy and discombobulated. I also am more tempted to believe lies and go to deep in those lies while alone. I also have noticed, that I am just plain happier and more excited when I get to be with people.

My perspective changes when I am with people, my life is no longer about me. I can process better by talking through things. I believe less lies because people are taking time to be with me showing me they love and care about me. Even if there isn't much conversation going on, the fact that I am in the presence of people is enough. One of my favorite things actually is just going to a coffee shop and reading a book with a friend. With no obligation to talk, but of course that happens! 

Change has frightened me for a long time. Life has been 'weird.' But, I have come to love change. Change is exciting, and proof that you are moving forward. I love how God moves in change and how He orchestrates it for His glory and our betterment. 

✌️ and ❤️ brethren. 

I have Favor.

So, I had this whole New Year's Eve post typed out, and the more I kept writing, the more I decided to delete it. It was pretty bahumbuggy (it's a word in my dictionary thank you) anyway! 

  Instead, u get my coffee shop meditations:

I can't help but be amazed by the Favor of God in my life. This has been something that has always blown me away, and something that always baffles me as to...'why me?' But God is faithful, and gracious and loving, that because He loves me, and has called me to Himself, of course I will have favor with Him, because ultimately, my desire is in fact to please Him. And that desire only grows stronger as I get older. I am not deserving to be able to feel and experience the incredible presence of God everyday of my life, I am not deserving for my prayers to be answered almost immediately sometimes, I am not deserving to have the heart of my Savior revealed to me and to feel His love for me and to love others in return....I am not deserving...in and of myself. But Christ's sacrifice (blood) and imputed righteousness gives me favor. Favor where I can receive freely all of these things and more. Where I can have peace that passes all understanding, where I can have an unconditional love, where I have joy unending, I can have an eternity with Christ to look forward to and His Holy Spirit to live inside of me right now.

      I just love Jesus. I love God. And I love the Holy Spirit. 

 

May the peace of Christ rest on your hearts my friends. 

✌️

For The Honor.

I love times in the presence of God, no matter where one is at, when your heart just feels like exploding. Complete gratitude, complete awe and wonder, reverence, fear, love...these times leave me weary. But if weariness can be a good thing, than it's that kind of weary! 

I want to share this lyric video with you of this song...for the honor by elevation worship. I first heard this song at a conference OTW was apart of at another local church a few months ago, and the first time I heard it, I cried through the whole song. And that same thing followed the other few times of hearing it too. 

  There are some songs that just resonate with out hearts in an almost indescribable way, and this song is by far in the top 2 for me. Every word in this song, my heart just wants to cry with it and proclaim. I believe every word, and the beauty of God in this song is just overwhelming to me...hence one reason for the tears.

I hope this song resonates with your heart too.

And I sure do hope that someday God will inspire me to write such beautiful lyrics and music that will resonate with the hearts of His people as this song has for me.

http://youtu.be/EBuMMrFghVc

I took a walk

Walking is extremely good for you.

  I find that whenever I am taking the time to take walks (outside), I am much more inspired, if feel better physically and emotionally, I am more joyful, I am praying more....

A few years ago in the summertime Walking everyday had become a habit. I would up to 8 miles some days. This summer, not so much, due to a hurt foot. But even after a time of healing for my foot, I still did to get myself back in the habit. So last night, after the Family Christmas festivities, I had the urge to go for a walk, in the cold. So I had my new fleece leggings, a fleece, and my wind-proof jacket and a headband and off I went, and I kept asking myself..."why have I not kept this up?"

    I know that walking for me, keeps me healthier in all areas of my life and I thoroughly enjoy it because it's incredible time with my Savior.

At the start of our Off The Wall year this fall, we had a retreat. And at that retreat the main theme was "are you with us?!" The word WITH is an extremely powerful word. I am more WITH God, when I am physically walking with Him. I am more aware of Him when I am physically walking With Him. I am more WITH Him when I am walking WITH Him!

So i encourage you today, that whatever it is that makes you more WITH God, however simple or however unique, take the time to do it. Even if it's just for 10 minutes a day. Because your Savior is Jealous for you and wants time WITH you. And time spent with Him, should be part of our acceptable worship to Him, for all He has done for us and in us and through us!

"The LORD bless you and keep you; 

the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 

the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26

"Good morning starshine, the earth says hello!"

I used to strongly dislike mornings. 

Now, the mornings where I am up the earliest, are the ones that get me excited for my day. There's more Jesus in my day on those mornings.

Like this morning for instance....I woke up at 5:30am quite groggy...and just wanted to go back to bed. But I needed to drive my Amish girls, so I put on my sweats  and a big sweatshirt and put my hood up and snow boots on and off I went. I have about a half hour in between some of the girls, so I usually use that time to read the Word, but this morning, I was so tired all I wanted to do was nap, so I tried, and there was worship music on and I just couldn't help myself, so I just had some incredible worship time. And then when I was driving, the sunrise this morning was absolutely a stunner! And I once again, couldn't help but worship. And then my last girl, gave me a little donut (which of course I have already eaten) and an adorable handmade card and some hot chocolate! How could I not be grateful and smile and once again, worship my Awesome God?

My day, is already made. An it's only 8:30am! My day has been full of joy and worship to my Creator, and it's only 8:30am. Back in the day, I would still be a grump at this hour or asleep. But the older I am getting, I am realizing there are more important things to life than lots of sleep and being in grumpy moods.

So, I exhort you today, to worship in th big and the small. To fall in love. To see the beauty of God. To walk with Him, in grace and joy! And even if all your body wants to do is go back to bed....live for Jesus, not your body. That's what I'm going to try to do! 

"Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8