The Shepherd's Tent

 The place by the Shepherd's tent

Is the place I go,

When the burden seems heavy,

The responsibility overwhelming,

The process endless,

The delay worrisome,

And when the struggle continues…

It is the place my Beloved tells me to come

And leave it all at His feet…

Leave the burden, the chaos, the problem, the mess…

And find truth

The truth of how He sees the circumstance

The truth of how He sees me…

It is here by the Shepherd’s tent

That I hear the song that He sings over me…

His words astound me…

Can they be real? True?

He sees me radiant, strong, tender, wise…

And He encourages me that with His help

The help of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…

All will be well…

What grace fills my soul and my spirit

As I drink in this love, this acceptance…

Yes, when I come to my Shepherd’s gate

And give all the heaviness to Him…

He marks me with His redeeming grace

So, I can continue on the journey

To trust in His goodness, His care, and His love…

With restored hope and faith!

My Fortress of Faith

 With this upcoming uncertainty, this unknown…

The apparent report, this ongoing struggle…

I need to hasten to my fortress of faith…

I run there…

And He protects me from the lies, the fear, the anxiety…

It is here that the Spirit reveals truth to me

Strengthens my spirit 

Floods me with His delight

Causing the roots of my faith to become stronger, deeper, firmer…

I emerge from my fortress of faith

Steadfast, confident, declaring the goodness of God…

Anticipating that the giant will fall…

The way will be made…

And that the victory is won!

My Shelter of Love

 So many times, I need to come

To my Shelter of Love

To my Shelter, who is Jesus…

I need to come and listen

To His song, His words of endearment

His council, His advise, His longings,

His desire, His view of the circumstance…

His love fills in all the cracks of disappointments

His love lifts the burden

His love removes the curtain and brings the light…

He is my Shelter of Love

My safe and secure place…

Delighted

I watch you sleeping in my arms, hear your little noises, think about how dependent you are on me for your every need,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch you smile, coo, laugh, giggle, reach for that toy, 

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch you get up on your knees, crawl toward me, and show me precious new teeth as you smile in satisfaction,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch you take those first steps, as I sing “Happy Birthday” to you and laugh as you create with your cake,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch you learn to count, play with cousins, learn to ride a bike,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch you develop your love for learning, beg to go to Grandma’s house, and play baseball at the park,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch you give your heart to Jesus, worship and dance in His Presence,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch as the light of Jesus shines brightly in you, as you learn to drive the car, and as you mow my lawn,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch as you develop the talents the Lord has given you, serve at church, and walk across that stage to receive your high school diploma,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish and watch you become!

I watch as you pray and seek the Lord for direction in your life, choose a college to attend, and as I kiss you good-bye,

I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch you lead friends to Jesus, fall in love and walk down that aisle and say, “I do!” And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish and watch you become!

I watch as the Lord blesses you with children, as you discover the joy of being a parent, and as you love, serve and nourish your own family…

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

All the stages of learning and discovering in life are a delight to me, because you're a precious gift from God to me!

Your Father in heaven delights in every stage, in every season of your life as well.

He has planned these good plans for you and for me! His love, care, and nurture are ever flowing, and bubbling over…because He is love Himself, and has given me you!

Hidden Traps

 Hidden traps

Put there by the enemy

To steal, kill, and destroy

Hidden traps of pride, fear, offense

That steal joy, that rob

from the goodness He wants to give me, that keep me from radiating His nature to my world…

Hidden traps of “poor me,” “I can’t,” or “tomorrow “…

Hidden traps of worry, doubt, disappointment…

Hidden traps of one lie, and another lie, and another lie, to fit the narrative of what I want to believe, of what everyone else is doing, or fits the narrative that is everywhere…

These hidden traps

All set with great anticipation and intent to steal my joy, my purpose, my destiny…

Yes, the traps come in all shapes and sizes…

But God…

He sends His radiant light of Jesus, His Spirit, His Presence, His Word, to expose the trap.

He turns those hidden traps into obvious traps.

He gives new thoughts

And provides a way of escape…

His Light leads me around those hidden traps and gives me an INSTEAD.

Instead of a trap, His light allows me to encounter streams of blessings on the path.

No hidden traps on my path now…

Only obvious sinkholes

Which I gladly avoid! 

Thank you Father for delivering your children from the hidden traps on our path of life. 

Sin

 Sin

Causes my life to be filled with frustration,

Irrepressible anguish and misery

And the pain never lets up…

It removes my strength

Saps the joy of the Lord from my life

And dries up the wells of living water within me…

But…

When I surrender 

And call out to my Life- giving God…

He forgives me, wipes the slate clean

Washes the guilt away…

And the pain disappears…

Confessing my sin…keeps me safe

Surrendering…hides me in Your secret place

And protects me, 

Songs of deliverance and rescue come from my mouth…

And the Redeemer whispers,

“I will stay close to you

I will instruct and guide you along the way…

Just come with me…!

Psalms 32:10 “But when you trust in the Lord for forgiveness, His wrap around love will surround you!”

Flattering Tongue

 The enemy flatters with his tongue

He makes his plans sound safe and effective,

For the common good, equality, unity…

The enemy repeats and repeats his talking points

Twisting words, attempting to flatter, all for the purpose of manipulation…

Oh, but these empty words, these deceitful promises, 

Are lies, straight from the pit of hell

Planned with an agenda to steal…kill…destroy…

O God, 

Tune our hearts to hear truth 

To welcome truth…

To discern truth…

The truth of Your Word, and Your Spirit…

Sometimes it seems like we walk alone on this path of truth…

Truth that rejects the lie, that refuses to be manipulated, and sees through the flattery…

But we are never alone when You are on our side,

You open our eyes to the many who are holding onto truth

And as we stand and walk in Your truth…

We rejoice with exceedingly great joy

BecauseYou are fighting for us…

You are our Hero…

You have good plans and purposes for us…

Plans to keep us and giving us life, and life abundantly!

Praise be to God!

A High Rank

 Humbly, by grace, and all because of the blood of Jesus,

I can proclaim…

I am a daughter of high rank,

Because my Father is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings…

So how can someone of my rank

Fear…for lack of provision 

Fear…for lack of protection 

Fear…an assignment, a report, a circumstance?

How can someone of my rank

Fear tomorrow…or become anxious?

I am from the rank of royalty

My Father is above all other names, principalities, rulers,

He has unlimited supplies

Heavenly manna…

Is there anything my Father cannot do…?

Can someone of my rank be afraid of failing

When heaven is on my side?

Can someone of my rank

Moan, complain, stress

When I have a Father who has good plans and purposes for me and turns everything into good?

How can someone of my rank

Stoop to small thinking

Stoop to offensive 

Stoop to looking for something better

When I already have the best?

How can someone of my rank

Speak harshly, unkindly

When I have been given everything and have so much to give?

The questions could go on and on

But the reality remains…

I am a daughter of a King, a princess

I have been given everything in my union with Christ Jesus

I can only represent my Father well

I can only be as He is, kind, patient, gentle, generous…

I am rich because He is rich

I am safe, because He keeps me safe

I am loved because I am His…

I am a daughter of high rank…

“Walk in a way that is suitable to your high ranks…” Ephesians 4:1

The Sunrise of His Love

 Oh the sunrise of Your love Lord,

Ends our dark night

Breaks through the clouded dawn

Fills us with songs of joy

Overwhelms us with gladness

Replacing our years of trouble with decades of delight...

Allowing us to see, experience, and proclaim, Your miracles, Your glorious wonders,

Giving us the sweet beauty of Jesus...

Oh the magnificent gift of the sunrise of Your Love...

You pour it out continuously over us,

But when we find it

And enter into it

And receive...

Oh...

Our story begins to change...

Love praying and believing with all my beautiful sisters! 💕

This Daffodil Reminds Me of My Dad

 How could a daffodil remind you of your Dad, you ask? 

This daffodil reminds me of my dad because today, April 4th, was my dad’s birthday. And for his birthday my mother always made him a hickory nut cake decorated with yellow daffodils in the center. 

Some years it was easy to find the daffodils, other years the search for a daffodil if it was a late spring was a challenge. But without fail, she always found them .. somewhere. 

My mother had no idea that decades later, this simple touch of creativity and thoughtfulness would cause a spark in her daughter’s memory, of the arrival of daffodils, and her daddy’s birthday!

What are the memories that I am leaving for my children and grandchildren that they will be telling their children and grandchildren about... sparking a memory...

I have no idea...

But everything we do in life has the potential to inspire and build up, or stain and tear down...

Today, this daffodil  is sparking my memory to remember my dad and thank the Lord for the wonderful dad he was. I thank the Lord for his hard work to provide for his family, his love for God, his love for us kids, and his love for my mother as he would hug her and then say to us, “Isn’t she just beautiful!”

I wonder if my dad had hickory nut cake today for his birthday celebration in heaven...and if he did... I am sure daffodils were in the center!

Life Union With Jesus

What is it like to step into life union with Jesus??

It is peace
It is joy
It is forever
It is friendship, fellowship
It is Help
It is acceptance
It is forgiveness
It is fresh new
It is rest
It is satisfying
It is as Jesus is so am I...

Oh the joy, oh the privilege of living my life intimately joined to Jesus!!!

Privileged

I have the privilege of calling upon
And asking for Help
From God Most High...

I have the privilege of trusting and believing my Maker
The One who loves me completely
The One who planned my life before the foundations of the earth
The One who has purposes of good for my life
The One who fulfills these promises...

I have the privilege of trusting this One
Whose love for me never fades, diminishes, changes, or disappoints
Who fights for me, frustrating the enemy’s plans
Who keeps me safe...

Because I belong to this One
Is why my heart can be steadfast today...

Because I belong to this One
Is why I can sing and praise Him
Despite what is going on around me...

Yes
Because His love for me is as wide as the heavens
And His faithfulness reaches the skies
Is why I can look up and smile!!!

What a privilege it is trusting in You, Jesus!!!

Just Hold My Hand

It's a date that is etched in my mind, April 26th...
Every year on this date...the memories come flooding back...
It's been 53 years now,
But the years have not erased the vivid memories
Of the accident that occurred when 30% of my body was burned.

My thoughts each year are mostly of gratitude...
Year after year I am amazed of the grace of God that was upon me...
I am alive...
All my skin grafts are under my cloths,
How my body healed so fast...
And on and on...

But today I am remembering and thanking God
 For the nurse in the ER who held my hand...
As they scraped off the dead black skin from my body,
She told me to hold her hand...
Her hand bore the scars of a nasty burn she had received in her life...
She told me this as I held on tight and tried not to scream too loud.

And somehow the comfort and grace that she had received from God through her accident
Was transferred to me as I held her hand, through my similar trail.

Thinking back to that night I see how 2 Corinthians 1:4, was manifested.
"He always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering so that we can come alongside those who are in a painful trail. We can bring them into the same comfort that God has pored out on us"

Yes, holding that nurse's burned, scarred hand somehow eased the pain and fear of the moment!

Isn't it beautiful to see how God can turn our circumstances into good, by comforting us and allowing us to comfort one another.

And sometimes that comfort is just holding a hand...

Happy Birthday Daddy!

This is my dad holding his 25th grandchild!

I am thinking about my Dad today on his19th birthday in heaven.
Wondering what a heavenly birthday is like. I am sure it is a celebration beyond what my mind could ever imagine!

When I remember you, Daddy, I remember your hard work, your diligence in caring and providing for your family, your devotion to God, your words of wisdom and advise...

But what always comes to the forefront of my mind when I remember you, are your tender words to me...

I remember you pulling me aside at unexpected times and whispering in my ear that I was special.

I remember you coming out to visit when I came from the hospital with #6, and then #7, and you washing the kitchen floor for me.

I remember you telling me after one of those visits, when I was so exhausted, and tired from the everyday of childrearing, you said, "you are so beautiful, Dorothy!" I remembering thinking what kind of glasses do you have on???

I doubted the words I heard, but I remembered them, and that is what I treasure most as I remember you today, Daddy, your tender words!!!

Yes, there were other words I heard growing up as a child that I remember too, that were harsh...
But thankfully, by God's grace and by the gift of forgiveness they can barely be remembered now.

So Happy Birthday Daddy, I look forward to giving you a big hug when I see you again!!!

The Throne of Grace

Have you come to the throne of grace today?

You are invited to enter
Invited to enter boldly, not timidly...
Boldly, with your head raised, expecting good gifts from your Daddy God...

He has grace to give you here...
Grace for today
Grace in abundance to bring you through every moment of your day...
Not just enough to help you survive
But abundance...
Mixed with the oil of joy
Allowing you to come through victorious,
As you drink from His streams of delight!!!

Come and receive!

The Fat of the Land

Come enjoy the fat of the land
Come enjoy the goodness I offer
Come enjoy your inheritance
Come enjoy all I planned for you, all I have provided for you...

What is the fat of the land you have provided God?

It is indulging in My goodness
Entering My Presence
Abiding in My strength
Partaking in My peace
Tasting My love for you
Dancing in My freedom
Resting in My Faithfulness
Saturating yourself in My wisdom
Hearing My delight over you
Trusting My promises
Enjoying My provision
Recognizing My power
It is putting Me on in the morning and expecting My grace throughout the day
It’s determination to go forward...
It’s exploring and discovering all I am and all You say I am!!

Come enjoy the fat of the land!

The Sound of Joy

A sound of joy...
A sound of laughter, of happy, of singing, of praise and thanksgiving...
This is the sound You, desire God
The sound You ask to come forth from our lips, our homes, our atmospheres.

The sound of joy, is a sound of power
That breaks through the darkness
That dispels the fear, the anxiety
That tears down the “impossible “
That destroys the enemies schemes
Shutting his mouth,
Crushing his power,
Sending him running...

Yes,
This sound comes forth from the redeemed
It is the sound heard from the “free ones”
His children displaying their confidence in their God...

The sound of Joy is the Fathers delight
It’s the sound of His children in awe and wonder of His goodness...
It’s the sound that moves and ministers to His heart...
The sound of joy
Is the sound of power,
And the sound of love..

What Kind of Jesus Has Been Presented to You?

What kind of Jesus has been presented to you?

Is it a Jesus that is weak, offended, one who can be pushed around?

Is it a Jesus who is good, loves and says, “Live however you want, I got it covered. “

Or is it a Jesus who is hard, hard to please,
Who makes you prove yourself before He accepts you?

What kind of Jesus has been presented to you??

There is only one Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Light.
He is the King of Kings...
He willingly became flesh so He could dwell among us and experience everything that we do.
He suffered and died, endured the pain of what we deserved,
Shed His blood to pay the price for our freedom.

This Jesus endured all with love,
Rose with power,
Intercedes for His beloved ones before the Father...

This is the Jesus that holds you, accepts you,
Gave Himself for you so you could be completely set free
This is the Jesus who invites us to be apart of His kingdom and be a part of the plan
To bring heaven to earth...

This is my Jesus
Oh how I love Him
And how He loves me... and oh how He loves you.

Fresh

Thank you Lord
That you mercy, grace, and favor over us
Is fresh today...
Fresh for a brand new day
With fresh hope, fresh courage, fresh strategy,
Fresh sunshine...

It is not leftover favor,
Nor stale grace
That carries with it the disappointment, failure or hurt of yesterday
But fresh...
Today...now
Straight from the heart of Father God
Over me...over you
His beloved sons and daughters...

Great is His faithfulness
Great is His love
How intimately He know our hearts
Know our desires, knows our needs
And so magnificently
He provides it
Fresh to us today!

My Once and for All God

My once and for all God does not change!

He has no shadow of shifting

Steadfast...sure...faithful...

He is my once and for all God!

Once and for all He suffered

Suffered and died for my sins

To bring me near to God...

Once and for all He transferred 

His righteousness to me 

And took my guilt, shame, sin and mess...

Once and for all He labeled me 

Clean, Pure, Healed, Beloved, Holy, Favored, Forgiven!

Once and for all

He Loved, and Loved, and Loved...

As He created me for purpose,

Pored our His favor upon me 

And determined good plans and paths for me...

Once and for all 

He speaks His precious promises

That do not change or become obsolete...

Once and for all

He defeated death,

And reigns victoriously

Above all powers and authorities...

Forever I am His

Forever I am His delight

Forever He is faithful...

My once and for all God

My yesterday, today and forever God

We worship and adore You...