Faithful

This morning as I lay in bed, the Lord was singing over me. I kept hearing the song "Oh, no, you never let go...Lord, you never let go of me". What a blessing! WoW! I am so blessed! His word is full of His promises. One of them is that he will never let go of those he calls his own. He just wanted to remind me.

When I am weak, He is strong. 2 Cor. 12:10
I am the strongest when I am on my knees. 1 Peter 5:6
Did you know that your heart has knees?
He wants you there, on your knees with your
heart bowed to him. James 4:10
He wants the glory. He is jealous.
He is jealous of sharing His glory. Isaiah 48:11
He is jealous of your affection toward any other loves. Exodus 20:4-6
He wants to be first. Mark 12:29
He wishes that you are either hot or cold. Rev. 3:15
He is offended with lukewarm. Rev. 3:16
He is faithful! Psalms 145:13
He will do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine! Ephesians 4:11

This morning that is what I asked for. I prayed that he would do more today than I could ask or imagine. And HE DID it! I stand in awe of His hand at work in my life. I am so blessed!

My favorite hymn...my life's anthem...

Great is thy faithfulness - Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed, thy hand has provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Here's wishing you a good night and a bright tomorrow...can't wait to see what the Lord's going to do tomorrow, can you?

Anyone Got a Light?

This month has found us in a state of transition. Moving our business into our home has meant cleaning, discarding, moving and redesigning. It is met with anticipation that is both bitter and sweet.

Two and half years ago, we were excited about a new venture. Loving flowers, it seemed a natural fit to go into the florist business. It's amazing how much we have learned. It's wonderful to have so many people cross our path. And it's a blessing to see how God has used us to touch others' lives in joy and in sorrow.

The future always brings with it questions amid the shadows. We begin to question ourselves...could we have...ifs, maybes and what does the future hold all begin to cloud our thinking. We didn't know this is how it would play out. We didn't know the economy would take such a drastic turn. We didn't know...

Anyone got a light?

As I have spent time pondering and wondering about our future, God has continued to remind me of His faithfulness. He promises to lead us. He promises to bless us. And he has and he does.
But, sometimes, don't you wish you had a little more light. Just a little glimpse, Lord. What does tomorrow look like...next month...next year?

Anyone got a light?

Then I read more. I'm reminded that he will give us enough light for the step we're on. His word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. I read again. He brings comfort. Our lives are seasons...time passes. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. This is the time to uproot...the time to tear down. As I look around our shop, I see life. Colors, beautiful flowers...God's creation. I never want to take it for granted. And I am blessed.

He speaks...I listen. How I want to be still and hear his whisper. He's the light...and he steps into the shadows with us...ahead of us...and behind us...he's got us covered. For we walk by faith and not by sight.

Are you in a dark spot...need a light? Jesus is the light...his word is a lamp. No matter your situation, you can find him...he's in the word. Check him out - He's waiting to reveal himself to you. Be blessed!

Mommy - I Have a Question

As I put my little boy to bed last night he began to ask questions about the overturning of the "Moment of Silence" allowed in public schools. Yesterday, a judge in Illinois deemed it unconstitutional. Amazing!

We saw the report on Fox News where they were interviewing Dr. James Dobson, child psychologist and founder of Focus on the Family. Dr. Dobson stated that he has never seen such extreme measures against children.

My son couldn't figure out why they would take the moment of silence from them. Every morning their principal asks everyone to pause for a moment of silence. That's it! No one is forced to pray, think or meditate...just be silent for a moment.

I asked him what he does during the moment of silence. He said he prays sometimes, like for who would be best to get the part of Santa in the Christmas play, and he prayed for the presidential election. Sometimes, he just looks at the flag.

He asked me why the judge would think that was wrong. I said I don't know. What I do know is that Jesus wants us to talk to him (pray) whenever and wherever we are. We talked about Daniel in the Bible and how he prayed even though it was against the law. He said what will happen to me if I pray at school? I assured him that he would be fine and he could pray whenever and wherever he wanted.

We then talked about the judge and where his heart is. I said the best thing we can do is pray for him and hopefully he will understand how the Lord wants us to talk to him. He said, "I think this is a perfect time right now. We are finishing 21 days of fasting (from sugar) and I think the Lord will hear us pray for him." I was so blessed and said "Yes, let's pray for him right now".

This morning, I was led to this scripture. Jesus says that the day will come when every mouth will declare him LORD.

So God raised him to the highest place.
God made his name greater than every other name.
So that every knee will bow to the name of Jesus-
everyone in heaven, on earth,
and under the earth.
And everyone will confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord
and bring glory to God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

I am so thankful for the opportunity to teach my children about God's faithfulness and His amazing love! May He bless you today with a revelation of Himself as you follow after Him with the heart of a child!

No More Tears

On this mountain the LORD Almighty
will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine-
the best of meats and the finest of wines.

On this mountain he will destroy
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
he will swallow up death forever.

The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove the disgrace of his people
from all the earth.
The LORD has spoken.

In that day they will say,

Surely this is our God;
we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the LORD, we trusted in him;
let us rejoice and be glad in his
salvation.

Isaiah 25:6-9

Are you ready?

Imagine your husband calling you with really big news. He's excited and can't wait to fill you in on all the details of his surprise. He begins to tell you about a trip that you and he are going to be privileged to go on. It is a gift from his dad.
You see, when you married you knew there was money in the family. But, as the years went by, you were learning more and more about this amazing man and his family. Your father-in-law seemed to care so much about his family that every detail caught his attention. He beamed with pride as you walked down the aisle on your wedding day. As you danced with him, he asked if you would just call him "Dad". He was so proud that you were now "family". He had every intention of treating you as his own and he has never let you down.
Now, your husband sits you down and begins to explain this amazing gift that "Dad" has planned for the two of you. "Dad" won't tell you where you are going, but he promises it will be the most beautiful place you have ever been. Everything will be provided for you. You will be pampered like royalty. And when you get to where you are going there will be more surprises for you. Fragrant beautiful flowers will surround you. Beautiful white sandy beaches and the ocean a blue you've never seen. Even the birds will seem to be singing a tune just for you. There's only one slight detail. "Dad"wont' tell you when you are leaving, which leaves you a bit frustrated.
He assures you that "Dad" has never let him down. He has always delivered on his promises. So, he assures you that he won't let you down either. You know that, so you get very excited!
You see so many of your father-in-law's qualities in your husband. But, immediately, concerns arise in your mind and you begin to throw all kinds of questions at him. What shall I wear? How long will we be gone? Will I need someone to care for the children? And what about the dog...and the turtle? Who will take care of them? "Dad" has all of it under control, trust him.
Then you remember the pile of laundry in the basement and the toothpaste stuck to the bathroom sink. You can't leave the house a mess. He just laughs and says, "Don't worry!" It will be worth it! "Dad" just wants to make sure everything is perfect before you go. Though he did say, "Just tell her to be ready!" You have to laugh this time. This just seems a little crazy, but it is kind of fun to anticipate and it does sound beautiful.
Reality hits you and you realize that you have a conference with a teacher at school in a half hour and you haven't even taken a shower yet. You begin to worry that "Dad" may call today. You have so much on your plate, you kind of hope it's not until next week.
But today passes and tomorrow comes. You get caught up in tomorrow and realize how quickly the time flies. Some days, you completely forget about the trip. Then "Dad" calls and you talk to him this time. He isn't in a hurry, and you're thankful because you still have questions. He encourages you once again that he has everything under control. He never hangs up without saying "I love you."
A few more days, then weeks go by. Did your husband hear "Dad" correctly? Did you hear correctly? Is this some kind of joke? You want to be respectful, but start thinking, you know I have a life to live here. I can't just have everything on hold waiting for that phone call. And where are we going anyway?
Your weeks turn into years. You've had your moments of excitement, but are starting to feel let down. You begin to question "Dad's" integrity. But your husband begins to recite "Dad's" character and you know he's right. "Dad" has never let us down. He calls again just to tell you that "He loves you. And to remind you to be ready!"
Can you imagine waiting and waiting and waiting for a promise like that. Would you still believe it after 5 years, 10, 15 or 50? Jesus told a story like this over 2,000 years ago. His followers thought he was going to return for them in their lifetime. And over the years, there have been similar warnings. The time is now...get ready! Jesus is coming! The excitement builds, and then nothing. Where is he? What is taking so long?
I don't know the answer to that question. And neither does anyone else. Even Jesus didn't know the answer. Matthew 24:30 says, "They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. In Matthew 24:36 He says "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." And in Matthew 24:42 "Therefore keep watch (be ready) because you do not know what day your Lord will come."
I'm getting excited and I want to be ready. So, I'm sending out a call to you...Are you ready? He's coming!

Do Not Worry

Isn't it amazing that Jesus never tells us to worry. How often do I catch myself saying...well, I'm a little worried about... It's as if being a "little" worried is an honorable thing. Like if I'm not a "little" worried I'm not living in the real world.
But, Jesus tells us not to worry about our lives, what we will eat or drink; or about our bodies, what we will wear. He says we are more valuable than anything he has made. And then here is the clincher - Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? He assures us that our Heavenly Father knows all of our needs. But this is what we should be doing - He tells us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and everything we need will be taken care of. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Boy, did that get my day off to the right start. I had been lying in bed praying and "thinking" about all of my troubles. And wondering what tomorrow has in store. The Lord gently reminded me AGAIN that He is in control. He will take care of me and what concerns me. "But, Lord, the world looks a lot different than it did six months ago. " And he again gently reminded me that He already has all of my tomorrows under control too.
Do you ever notice how non-specific the Lord can be? He doesn't go into a dissertation about how he's going to take care of this concern and that concern. He knows we don't need all of the details. He just keeps it simple. Trust ME!
And then we make a choice. I made a choice and you know what...He took care of everything that concerned me today. And I was really blessed in the process!
Today, I had the opportunity to talk with some people that I really care about and who really care about me! This morning, I didn't know that blessing was going to be part of the plan. But, I'm thanking the Lord that He knew what I needed and He provided it!
I love the quote by Corrie Ten Boom: "All I have seen helps me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen". Amen!

Love Is Kind

Love is kind...
I can't get the scene out of my mind. Yesterday, as I was in a hospital waiting room I watched an elderly lady conversing with her son. He told me that she was 83 soon to be 84 years old. I noted how well put together she was. Everything was navy, her outfit her rather large earrings, her jacket, her shoes and even her purse. She had lipstick on and a very sweet disposition. Her son lovingly sat with her and consoled her fretting as they waited for their husband/father who was having a test performed.
As the time ticked by, her son left for a few minutes to get a drink. I asked her how long she had been married. She said, " I think 40 years", then she kind of giggled. She said, "Well, I should know that...I think it's been 80 years". Another giggle, "Well, we've been married about as long as we've had him" as she pointed to the empty chair where her son had been. When he returned she said, "How long have we been married?" He said, "Well, you and dad have been married for 67 years." She smiled, and said, "Yeah, I should have known that."
A little more time past, and the son got up again. About this time, the doctor came out to talk to her. Knowing she would be a little confused, I was attentive to what he said. When he left she looked at me and said, "I think he said, he's going to be alright...right?" (He had a small aneurysm in his aorta, but yeah, he was going to be alright... for now). Hoping she didn't read the fear in my eyes, I assured her that the doctor said he would be alright.
A few minutes later, the doctor came back to say that her husband was getting very impatient and they were going to cut the test a little short. She started really fretting now about how long he had been there. They brought him out and she and her husband immediately locked eyes. It was obvious he knew no one would understand him the way that she does. He said, "I'm almost 90 years old and I can't take these tests anymore." Her eyes welled up with tears of compassion. She reached out to him and put her hand on his knee and then on his shoulder. He rested his face in his hands and she began to rub the back of his head, running her fingers through his hair. Then she looked at me and smiled. She was so proud of her man.
I wanted so badly to stay and hear "their story". She may have been confused about a lot of things, but one thing was certain...she knew the one she loved.
They were a beautiful example of Christ's love for us. I am my beloved's and he is mine.

God's Temple

I stand in awe at the intimacy of our Lord. Today, He reminded me who I belong to. He spoke this word to me.

Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you. So you do not belong to yourself, because you were bought by God for a price. So honor God with your body.

"Bought by God" for a price is where I stopped to ponder. The price was His Son. How can it be that Almighty God wants me? Think of all that is happening in our world, wars, rumors of wars, dying, starving, hurting, lonely, tired, abondoned...and He takes time to talk to me.

Today, I believe He was speaking about my health and the way I care for my body. My diet, my excercise plan, my stress level and the amount of time I spend resting in Him are all areas of concern to Him.

The blood of Jesus was shed for all sins. Past, present, mine, yours and every other living being since time began. What a waste for us not to receive the payment that satisfied the Father. Nothing I can do will ever satisfy the payment for my sins. He took Jesus in my place. What does it require of me?

My life is not my own...I have been bought with a price...I am His.

Then I took a nap. It felt right...I think it's what I was supposed to do.

Never Alone

I awoke with the song "Never Alone" in my spirit. I began to think about a time a few years ago when I felt very alone. Something in my life had happened that was devastating. I felt emotionally numb.
I love nature and love being outdoors. I decided to take a walk with my dog and with my God. I had some questions. I needed some answers. I kept telling the Lord that I felt so deceived. I didn't understand why this was happening in my life. I began crying and felt a dark cloud descend on me . I felt so alone. Even though it was a very beautiful Fall day, it felt very real and very dark. I started praying fervently. I refused to believe the lie that "I was all alone."
I have learned that we do not have to entertain every thought we have. We don't have to feel every emotion that comes to us either. We have the power to control what we are thinking. I was crying out to God to lift the dark cloud and the feeling of despair. I just kept calling his name...Jesus.
I was still crying when I came around a corner and lifted my head. I looked up in the sky and saw the most brilliant rainbow. It was big and it was bright. And then I heard the words - "I love you! You are never alone!" He spoke with authority. I knew the voice. It was Jesus. The dark cloud had already lifted. The problem had not resolved itself, but he was with me. His strength was made perfect in my weakness. I felt so loved.
I was amazed by the rainbow and wished that I had my camera with me. I love to take photos and this was incredible. I asked the Lord to place that scene in my heart so that I would never forget it. To my surprise, the next morning, the local paper had the photo of the rainbow on the front page. I was so amazed. I cut the photo out and wrote the words he had spoken to me. "I love you! You are never alone!" I placed it on my photo board near my computer so that I am always reminded of his promise to me.
He says that his sheep know his voice. Do you hear it? He's calling you now. He loves you! You are never alone!

Walking With God ~ Everyday

The Holy Spirit continues to minister to me about my walk.

Last night, I came across some sermon notes that I had taken in 2004. It read - Enoch walked with God everyday and God was pleased. I have continued to ponder those thoughts throughout the day. Yesterday, I was asking if I'm doing enough. Today, I was asking what was so special about Enoch?

So, I turned to Genesis 5:22,-24 where it is recorded - Enoch walked with God. Enoch lived 365 years; then he was no more, because God took him away. Enoch is mentioned again in Hebrews 5:5 where it says that Enoch was taken from life, so that he did not experience death. He was not to be found, because God had taken him away. WOW! Enoch did not experience death! Mmm... there's got to be more, right? Enoch walked with God everyday and God was pleased.

The verse continues and tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. When we come to him we must believe that he exists. AND that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

I want to be like Enoch and please God by walking with him. It sounds easy, doesn't it? I believe the key is a heart that is earnestly seeking him - everyday. And so, I ask for the grace to do that.

More of him...less of me~ I think that's what he wants too.

He Sings Over Me

This morning I woke up with the song "I'm Yours" playing in my spirit. I knew the Lord was singing songs of victory over me. I love it when that happens. He says he will minister to our spirits even while we sleep. Jesus intercedes for us even while we are unaware.

As I worked through my devotion, I was even more aware of who I belong to. Which led to the comtemplation of "Am I doing all that God has called me to?" If I die today, would I have made the greatest impact in "my world". My comfort comes in knowing that I am His. He promises to lead me and keep me. I put my trust in Him. Of course, I know that doesn't mean that I will do everything perfectly, that I will always have the purest thoughts or attitudes or that I will never sin. What I do know, is that while I may be imperfect, His Spirit lives in me. He prods me, encourages me, corrects me, loves me and leads me into His will.

When I was baptized 22 years ago, my prayer was that people would see "more of Him and less of me". That is my prayer today. I want more of Jesus and less of me. He is faithful to do it as I yield my life to Him. And the amazing thing is that He asks me to rest in the process. Rest knowing that He will finish the work that He has begun.

Put your trust in Him. He will not fail you, He loves you too much. He will not lie to you, for it is impossible for Him to lie. He will not deny you, for He cannot deny Himself. Though we are faithless, yet He remains faithful. And amazingly, He sings over us! He delights in you and me~ the God that made everything you see, delights in you and me! Amazing!!!

White As Snow

I'm watching the snow falling today and covering everything in a blanket of white. It reminds me of God's promise to wash our sins as white as snow.
I'm learning to forgive. I'm learning to love. I thought I understood what that meant. But, God is using my current situation to go deeper. The rich secret of the cross is being revealed in my spirit. The cross is Christianity's best kept secret. It shouldn't be. Jesus' blood on the cross paves the way for the power to forgive, the power to love and the power to walk in a new light.
God showed me recently that we live so far below what He has for us. He has so much more! He desires for us to go deeper. A lot of times, that requires trials. It requires surrender.
Why do we have to go through so much pain? Why can't we get it right the first time? Why doesn't God give up on us? It's because of the cross. The cross cost Him everything so that we could gain everything that is His. That is what He has destined for us.
He wants to build the character of His Son into our lives, so that we can know Him. That is His main priority in this life - to know Him. Everything else is secondary. To know Him is to know life. Life requires death. The Father required the death of His Son FOR us! Amazing!!!

Blog Name

Walking with God has given me an excitement about life. Everyday is an adventure and I can't wait to see what God is going to do next. For 22 years, He has done more in my life than I could ever ask or imagine. Join me on this journey as I share with you my Love Notes From God.