You Are Precious

This morning I am blanketed in the words "precious" and "gentle", even the pastel colours of the inbetween morning whisper softly these words. ('Inbetween' winter and spring, night and day.)
If you know me at all, you know that I love the sound of babies laughing, I can't help but smile even when I think of their sweet giggles. This morning I think of one little girl in particular. She is not giggling. This precious little one was violated in the worst way, left damaged and ill. Righteous indignation rises up within me and my heart breaks a little more. I don't even know this little one personally; I do know she doesn't deserve to be harmed.

How much more does our God, the One who formed this little one in her mother's womb, - how much more does His heart break?

When you look at another, do you see them with the eyes of God. Precious in His sight, everyone of us.Take away all of the man made layers of existence and see what God sees. Not a hyper brat, not a famous media star, not a doctor, not a street person, not handicapped, not dirty, not a fighter, not a prostitute, not a pimp, not a clever business person, not a pastor...Rather, a precious soul. One He was willing to die for - and not just die, but rise again conquering death and sin. We are so precious to Him that He is willing for us to know Him!

God is not just an overlord with a set of rules that we must follow in order to please Him. God is, in man-form, Jesus Christ, who wants to engage in a relationship with us. He will not violate us. We must invite Him into our lives in order to begin this wonderful relationship. We are precious to Him and He is gentle with us, knowing what we need when we need it, providing for us, healing us, guiding us, loving us.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.~Matthew 11:29

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.~John 3:16

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.~Revelation 3:20

There's a Message for You

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.~Proverbs 4:23

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.~Matthew 4:11

"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze."~Revelation 2:18

Advice and Wisdom
Guidance and Comfort
Godly Instruction


Have you read the Word of God lately? The Bible has a lot to say. The Word is alive and speaks directly into your heart, your situation...Are you paying attention? Love longs to show us Truth so that we may be set free...


...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.~Romans 3:23-25


Truth

Dig deep, press in towards the heart of God. As you do, He will meet you there and take you and show you not only His heart, but your own heart also. Be brave and go there with Him. In doing so, transformation will occur from within and you will be well on your way to becoming all that God meant for you to be...The very best you!

What Does "I believe in you" Mean?

Who believes in you?
Who do you believe in?


I have always had trouble with this phrase. I mean, what does it mean to "believe" in someone. To "believe" in God - I understand. To believe in a person...well, it leaves me wondering. I don't say, "I believe in you" very often. If I have, it was meant as encouragement, but I am really not sure what I mean by it per se.


For example, I can say: "I believe you can do it!" Which makes sense right? You perhaps see that the person can surpass their expectation and you are encouraging them to do so.


But, "I believe in you." Does that mean the person didn't exist until someone believed in them? (That's pretty disheartening on many levels.) Does it mean that you believe they can do anything they set their mind to do? Does it mean you idolize them?


For some reason, I like the phrase, though I don't really understand it. It is comforting in the sense that someone is willing to care and show support, but it still baffles me.

What does it mean to you when you say, "I believe in you?"



(This Youtube video is [my favourite singer;)], Josh Groban singing, "You're Still You.")

Just throwing it out there.

What is Human Trafficking?

What is Human Trafficking?
"The greatest and most shameful regrets of history is always about the truth we failed to tell."
—Haugen 2005

■TRAFFICKING IS…
to be deceived or taken against your will, bought, sold and transported into slavery for sexual exploitation, sweat shops, child brides, circuses, sacrificial worship, forced begging, sale of human organs, farm labour, domestic servitude.

 ■TRAFFICKING IS…
where family members and friends deceive parents to release their children or sell them for as little as $20 each, selling them on to local gangmasters or serious organised international trafficking rings.

■TRAFFICKING IS…
growing. 2–4 MILLION men, women and children are trafficked across borders and within their own country every year. More than one person is trafficked across borders EVERY MINUTE, which is equivalent to five jumbo jets every day. a trade that earns twice as much worldwide revenue as Coca Cola.

■TRAFFICKING IS…
where victims usually suffer repeated physical abuse, fear, torture and threats to families to break their spirits and turn them into saleable commodities. a person can be sold and trafficked many times
( Taken directly from STOP THE TRAFFIK website)
 

Go here: YOU NEED TO FIND OUT MORE!

 

This is not an issue that is halfway around the world! It is in our own backyard...Get educated and help put an end to this social injustice!

 

 

Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.~Isaiah 1:17 
 
“Thou shalt not be a victim. Thou shalt not be a perpetrator. And above all, thou shalt NEVER be a bystander"-Yehuda Bauer
 

Love protects. Love defends. Love restores. Love empowers. ~LOVE 146

How Creative Are You?

The circus tigers had all escaped, but refusing to be discouraged, the circus was determined to go on.

Do you think anyone will notice?

...Seriously though folks, no tigers escaped ;)

Discouraged (?!)

It doesn't take much to become discouraged. I mean, when you have put your trust in God and it has been years and He's still "working all things together" and you are losing hope of ever coming out of this blasted season! A part of me figures since I have followed Him thus far, I should have the right to fuss and demand that He hurry up. I mean, I have been relatively obedient and I deserve some reward/privilege for that...right?!

What am I saying?!

Of course, I don't really mean it. I don't deserve anything. I am just frustrated. As I try to listen to God's leading and do all that I am called to do in this moment, I find myself ancy. I have been living through some incredibly bizzare circumstances for quite some time now. I can't make head nor tails of it, neither can others. So, I am drawn closer to God and further away from many...many things and many people. My greatest concern now is that I am becoming comfortable here in this odd existence, which is a sure indication that I need to be careful before the Lord stirs things up again...(words that comfort me but leave me disconcerted all in the same breath).

Sigh. Discouragement. ...And yet the Word of God speaks:

Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

I think I need to go meditate upon these words and my feelings right now.

This could be a chase down between me and God. Maybe that is what He wants - He has chased me all this time, perhaps He wants me to know how much I want Him...? Like wanting Him more than I want to remain discouraged.

Words to Meditate Upon

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.

Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
 
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
 
~Hebrews 4:12-16

Jesus

Disconnect

Peace

Future\Longing\Mighty\Love

Jesus

Through the waters

leave and go\walk\with me

Jesus

Jesus

Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me, Your rod and Your staff-they comfort me

Jesus

Jesus

Jesus

Jesus

Truth and Perspective

How does finding out the truth change your perspective? I recently found out some disturbing information about the house I am currently residing in, not the house itself per se, but the previous owners and their activities within this house. Before I came here; however, I prayed. I prayed over the house and property as the Holy Spirit led. I claimed this house. When I found out this info, I looked at my house differently, yet I know what I know. This house is given to me by God for this season. I look at it like this: I am here for now and the legacy I leave in this house and on this property is directed to God's glory and whoever moves in here next, prayerfully, will be blessed by what I have done here - physically and spiritually.

Though I like this house, it is just a house. My heart pains for the previous owners, their season of being in this house was obviously rough for them. There is an attitude of shame when people speak of them in this place. 

What I know of  the original owners (the family that built this house way back in 1892), is that they were hard workers with much influence in the community, though not necessarily gratuitous financial influence. Their legacy associated with this place lives on favourably in many minds.

I only know a small part of each previous owner's story. The bits and pieces I have gleaned over the past few months are only a minute part of the truth of their existence. And, regardless of what I have learned, I am choosing to believe that this house was once a place of fellowship, love, and peace. 

Isn't that, so often, how we operate? Regardless of the truth, we choose to believe what we want to be true. Goodness! That is why we have so many Christian denominations, and religions for that matter! That aside, I know that believing the truth we want to be true can cause much heartache.

From personal experience, I went through a period where I was defamed, alienated from (what I thought were) friends and family, and even my church because some people sought to take a truth and twist it into horrid lies. (Sound familiar?) What they wanted to believe negated the truth of what was. And it caused me (among others) much heartache...I am still recovering.

When Eve and Adam, listened to the deception of Satan, they exchanged truth for what they wanted to believe...and that ended in heartache for not only them, but all humanity!

How does finding out the truth change your perspective?

When those of us learn of the truth of Jesus and what He did for us, we choose to believe or we choose not to believe...It is our choice. We cannot change the Truth. It exists regardless of  what we want to believe. It is how we respond to that truth that determines how we live out our life and how much heartache we experience and cause others to experience.

Proverbs 23:23
Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.
John 5:24
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
Acts 20:30
Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
Romans 1:25
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Communication: No Dreaming Allowed!

You are an idiot.
What?! Why?
Chasing after a dream...a stupid dream at that.
My dream is stupid?
Most dreams are stupid.
Whatdaya mean?
I mean, you need to be practical about things. Dreams only lead you down the garden path into quicksand.
Aren't you optimistic!
I am practical. Look at me. I work hard, I have all I need, I never chased after butterflies and unicorns. I worked hard to get where I am. No wasting my time on dreams. That being said, back to work, time is money y'know.

(...just kill me now...)

The Old is Gone!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

~2 Corinthians 5:17

One of My Favourites

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."

~Zephaniah 3:17

Thank you Jesus! xoxo

War

from the left

from the right

up and down

corner and curve

in my mind

in my body

at my soul

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

Release me!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

~Eph.6:10-15

Embrace the Season

It is a new day and there is a familiar tugging at my heart. It is a rising of the warrior within. For this warrior has been away from the battle for a while. Healing time for wounds, learning and building character, growing. But, in this time away from the heat of the battle, the techniques of warfare have been neglected. Neglected because the sabbatical was so needed that I wanted to put away my sword for a while and just rest...just be. I was weary...oh so weary. God knew this and He provided for me in this time, but now, I sense the time has once again come to engage. Slowly, I have been regaining strength, which is immersing myself in the Word of God, praying more strategically, and standing with my being alert to the Holy Spirit.

Some would argue that you should always be "on". However, sometimes for whatever reason, you aren't and it is during this time that, I believe, God surrounds you and guides you into a different season of being...He never leaves - you never give up on Him - things just change. Your post has rotated...it is a good thing. For me, this has been an intensive time of self-discovery and bonding with Jesus outside the traditional (church, bible studies, retreats, etc.).

Intensifying...
Strength...
Self-Discipline...
Focus...
New View...
New way of being...

If you find yourself in a similar season of existence, my word to you is to embrace it; focus on God and your relationship with Him, and let Him do in you and through you all that He wants to accomplish...to His glory. You will not be in this season forever, you are being trained - take from it all you can and give God all of you...it is part of the learning curve. Don't become discouraged, but do not deny how you feel. Let the Holy Spirit minister to your needs...let Him...hide nothing from Him or rather, do not try to deny the truth of your heart from yourself. God knows you better than you know yourself - You can hide nothing from Him, you can only prolong (and for only so long) letting Him minister to your needs. He loves you and will deal with you gently and lovingly...mercifully.

Mark 6:30-32