The Heart's Song Is Never Silent

“ We all like stars floating through the night,  Flit from place to place trying to find our proper orientation-our alignment-...like a moth drawn to the flame of a distant fire we find our homing beacon: our true flame, It pulses and beckons us to begin again, Rising through the night and stirring within us an instinct as eternal as time, What happens when two stars collide? Could you be my supernova? “ There is not much that I know of this world which is vast in mysteries I must admit, but the things that I do know for a fact resonate within me because of thier truth. The existential question of why we were created is not an easy one to answer, and I’m sure it ranks up there as one of the top questions on most people’s minds-mine as well. Along with finding one’s purpose, and being true to what you believe. However there is some thing that I do know to be true. It is love which is unfailingly unconditional; it is a love which allows you to look beyond illusions, and find the thin...

Joseph rose to power from obscurity, not based on his own accord, merits, or desire but because God was with him. Surely with natural eyes it would seem that everything was against him: jealously despised from birth by his siblings, sold into slavery by said family members, falsely accused, and placed in jail, yet despite everything against him God was with him, and he succeeded in everything he put his hand to. “The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭39:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/59/gen.39.2.esv “From the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭39:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/59/gen.39.5.esv “The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And wha...

I’ve been thinking of Hannah a lot lately...you know, the mother of Samuel one of the prophets in ancient Israel? Well before she was known as Samuel’s mother,  she was Elkanah’s barren wife. I’m convinced that too often we place premature titles on ourselves, based on our current circumstances, or prior experiences. Here are a few of my observations on Hannah that I believe we can all learn from: Firstly, she persevered in prayer. Though her heart was filled with sorrow, and she was overcome with grief over her long awaited desire to have a child, she brought her sadness to God. “She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.”  ‭‭1 Samuel 1:10 ESV I don’t believe it was by happenstance that Eli saw her, and interceded with God on her behalf. I believe Hannah was in the right place-the house of God- and displayed the proper posture. She knew of the loving kindness of the Lord, had possibly heard of His great exploits for His people Israel, and she expe...

The joy of the Lord is our strength...it is not contingent on outward circumstances, feelings, or what we can readily see. God is strong, He is mighty to save, and like the good Father that He is, He cares about every area of our lives. He desires that in all things we would prosper, even as our soul prospers. He is never far away from our cries, no matter how isolated we may sometimes feel, He is closer than our very breath. No matter what raging sea lies before you threatening to engulf your very life, remember that we serve a God who can still the waves. No matter what furnace you find yourself standing in, remember that we have a Lord who walks in the fire with us, and keeps us from being burned by the flames . Is anything too hard for God? Trust Him, at the appointed time He will move on your behalf. “In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭18:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬ http://bible.c...

Sometimes the things you don’t see coming in life can blindside you the most: such as a family member being diagnosed with one of those scary words, that somewhere in the back of your mind you thought was reserved for TV medical dramas. I’ve learned that God is so much bigger than any fear that may try to creep into our heart. We’re human: flesh, and blood, God remembers our frame that we are dust...but He is eternal, our God who gives strength to the weak, and power to the powerless. I remember at what felt like my most hopeless moment, in a pit of disbelief at what was happening around me, and feeling so utterly alone, suddenly I could feel God’s Presence, palpably...it felt like I was surrounded totally, in His arms. The angst, and worry flew away, and I was completely at peace, and felt I could get through the rest of the day. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and is available to give us this comfort if we will come to Him. We don’t have to have it all together. Perhaps in your momen...

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I’ve always loved to read, and writing just always seemed to come naturally to me. As a child I would write short stories, and I attempted to complete a novel when I was around 12. I kept a notebook of poetry all throughout high school, and would read my poems to anyone with a willing ear. Although I had this desire, and God given talent to write, I didn’t see how I could ever use it in a career...so I kept the dream of one day writing a book kind of hidden away in the trophy room of my heart, and only stopped by to occasionally stare at it wistfully, and brush the dust, and cobwebs away. In 2016, I began to have an intense desire to share encouragement with believers, and non-believers alike some of the things I wish I had known when I was younger...such as just how much Jesus loves me, and desires me to give my heart freely to Him; recognizing and believing this fact changes everything. I began to write a book called Dear Younger Me which consists of letters to my younger self, and s...

Praise is a weapon, and it’s so important that we learn to use it appropriately. We all have challenging days, and it’s those very times that we need to cling to Jesus. The Bible tells us that God inhabits our praise; Inhabit  is defined as: ‘to exist or be situated within; dwell in’ I don’t know about you, but when I encounter difficulties or trials, there is nothing better than knowing that God is in the midst of it with me; moving and working on my behalf. I’m not going to say that my flesh doesn’t fight against this, and that there aren’t times when I want to ‘clap back’ as they say...after all they deserve it right? You hurt me, so I hurt you? It’s the way of the world after all, and we have so many sayings that attest to this...that speak of revenge, and payback...but God doesn’t agree with the things of this world.  Psalm 22:3 KJV 3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Something starts to happen when I begin to praise God for who ...

Today I finally had a chance to get outside and tend to my garden. I've been working a lot lately, and unfortunately the neglect was evident, based on the overgrown vines, and plants barely hanging on to life. Though my garden was looking pretty pitiful, I still had hope because I had revived failing flowers in the past. As I stooped in the dirt, with what sounded like a million mosquitos singing in my ears despite the repellant i was covered in, I started to think about the garden of my soul. It's so easy for troubles, and cares to creep in to our hearts like vines if we're not careful, and choke out the Word of the Lord. I'm sure you've been there, so concerned about a certain problem, or situation, that your fears -also known as the lies of the enemy- begin to drown out those things you know to be true about God. You even begin to forget those miracles He's done in your life previously, the giants He has slain, and His all sufficiency. Before you know it, yo...

        The crucible serves it's purpose, but boy it's not a lot of fun is it? Maybe you've been there...going through a particular trial that tests every fiber of your being, and just when you get a chance to gasp a breath of air, or try to heave a sigh of relief you look up to find that...wait a minute, I'm still in the fire. That situation that singes your faith, and puts everything you believe about God to test. If you find yourself experiencing any one of those things, yep your in the crucible. So what does one do when they find themselves in the crucible you might ask? Why, you praise God. Yes you heard me correctly, you praise God right where you are for taking the time to discipline you, taking the time to remove the dross that sits just below your skin, the grime that doesn't readily meet your eyes, so that your life can be a mirror that reflects Jesus to the world around you. Proverbs 25:4 NIV, Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can pr...

Some days are just plain hard. Not just difficult, or challenging, but hard. David is one of my favorite characters in the Bible, not just because he wrote many beautiful psalms, but because he knew a thing or two about hard days. 1 Samuel, Chapter 30 speaks about one such day that David had. He and his men had just returned from battle to discover that their wives, children, and property had all been stolen. Yes everything they had that made life worth living, gone in the blink of an eye. Who knows when the last time was that they had seen their loved ones...days, weeks, maybe even months prior. The Bible goes on to tell us that the men were so overcome with grief that they even wanted to stone David. After all they had to blame someone right? And if it wasn't for David leading them to war, they could have been around to protect their families. Now here comes the strange part...with all the tumult going on around him, and his own grief of having his family stolen, David encouraged...

It's not hard to find the heart of God, it's nestled in the very words of scripture, painted across the night sky,  can be seen in the faces of your children, and even in the twinkle in the eye of strangers as they pass by. You see love is not just what God does, love is who God is. 'Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.' 1 John 4:8 ESV Yes friends God is love, and oh how He loves us. Before the foundations of the Earth were laid you were in His thoughts. 'even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love' Ephesians 1:4 ESV He numbers every strand of your hair, wrote your name across his palm, collects every tear you've ever shed, and His thoughts towards you are for good and not evil. This is true love, not that we loved Him, but that He first loved us, and calls us to Him with loving kindness. 'In this is love, not that we have loved God but that...

                                                                                  A few weeks ago I was stuck in an elevator, it was only for about 15 minutes, but to me it felt like half a lifetime. As I stood in the elevator waiting -as that was the only thing I could do- I began to talk to God. I asked Him for His help, and really the only words I could muster  were "Help me Jesus."  He hears those prayers too you know, it doesn't have to be a long oration, filled with elegant words. He even answers the unspoken prayers of our hearts, the pain we think we have safely and neatly locked away, in the deep recesses of our hearts-He sees those too. We always have an Advocate praying for us,when we can't pray for ourselves. Romans 8:26 ESV "Likewise the Spirit help...

God is love . Yes I know you've heard it before,and you know it in your head, but do you really get it in your heart? You see love is who God is, He doesn't just give love. He is the originator of love, and the best love we could ever try to give ,or have experienced in this life does not even compare to the depth of the love He feels for us. Yes it's an intense love, it's an I will die for you love. It's an I will take the punishment you deserve kinda love, an I will give up my throne, and take a lesser form -the form of man-  so that one day you can be where I am, with me forever. O how He loves us. I don't think their is any language, or words that can describe it. All I can say in response is thank you Lord for loving me! I don't deserve Your love, but I am so thankful I get to receive it. This is grace, grace is God's love in action. I call Him Jesus.

Isaiah 40:31 KJV "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint." The Christian life has much to do with waiting. We wait to learn our purpose, and calling in Jesus, we wait to perform said calling and purpose, and we wait for the coming of the Lord. In all this waiting we have to be careful not to lose heart, and become discouraged, and most importantly we have to be careful to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith. The children of Israel had to wait to enter the promised land, and in the waiting they forgot Who they were waiting for. They were so focused on the promise itself, that as day turned into month, and month turned into year, they began to grow disheartened, and began to murmur amongst themselves when the promise did not readily materialize. Exodus 16:2 NIV "In the desert the whole community grumbled ag...

                  I love the Olympics. I mean who doesn't right? It's watched by millions around the world, and makes for great prime time television. I don't know about you, but for me it's highly motivating seeing someone use their God given talent to the best of their ability. As I watched these great athletes cross the finish line, or step up on podiums to receive their medals, or even discuss their big win I  waited to see them  give the glory to God, and acknowledge that yes they are the best at their given sport, but only because of the gift endowed to them by their Creator : Jesus. John 1:3 KJV "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." Sadly, in most cases not many were willing to give up their lime light to the One who caused them to shine. As I pondered that, I started to think that  maybe I'm also a little guilty of doing the same thing.When I'm complimented for doing s...

One thing all people have in common is the problem of pain. As human beings living in a sin ravaged world with broken people, we will all experience at some time, some level of pain.  Jesus tells us that in this world we will have pain, but He doesn't just leave it at that. John 16:33 KJV "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. " Yes He says we will have pain, not might, or hopefully not. But the thing to look at is not the problem of pain, but God's command to be cheerful. The word used in the original Greek is Tharsei, which according to Strong's Concordance is defined: I am of good courage, good cheer, am bold. In the very words of His command Jesus is giving us joy where we may be feeling sadness, courage instead of fear, and boldness where before was only timidity. This is how good our God is; He let's us know who we should have our eye...

Today I mowed the yard, in my favorite pair of pink Nike's...bright pink, lime green, black, and white to be exact. I love these shoes, and though I don't wear them that often, except to the air conditioned- no speck of dirt to be found-indoor gym...I love the absolute girliness of them. Did I mention that I love these shoes? So why did I wear them to cut the grass you ask? Well it wasn't my original intention, I went to the back yard for something else, but when I saw the horror of the emerging jungle that used to be my backyard, I decided a girl had to do what she had to do. But really, I blame the pollen,and the allergy medicine I had recently taken. So fast forward, let's say approximately an hour or so, and their I am frantically scrubbing at my favorite shoes,who's pearly white bottoms are now stained a ghastly shade of green-grass green to be exact-a shade that just does not match anything I own. As I scrub vigorously,and sweat begins to drip down my bac...

                        Via Andy Danzler How do you view yourself? When you're getting to know someone new what words do you use to describe yourself? When you look in the mirror what thoughts come to mind? Like most people when I meet someone for the first time I have a propensity to tell them what I do for a living, or what ministry in church I serve in. While these things are great, and good works, they don't define me. When I look in the mirror the answers of my worth aren't found there either, but where I can find the truth about who I am, and what I'm worth is from the One who created me. You see society has many labels, and many voices that would like to tell you who you are, what you should look like, who you should emulate, and what new products will make you feel better about yourself. But if you listen long enough, you'll find that those voices are filled with confusion, and you'll find that those things don't r...

                       image via: harimsahai Being a Christian does not exempt one from heartaches, and the sting of life , but it does mean that in the storm you will have a sure anchor . At my church the current sermon series is about storms, and the moment I identified my storm, and asked God to make me a water walker is the moment I felt the most liberty, and a few days later the most alarm. This week I've felt like I've been In the  choppiest waters, but instead of turning to my natural bent of wanting to run away, I've  stayed in God's word regardless of my feelings , and I began to praise Him in the midst of the storm. An amazing thing happened, He didn't just keep me afloat, He made me walk on water. Suddenly that thing I was so concerned about became miniscule in the light of His face, the certainty contained in His word concerning His promises for His people, and in His immutability. Hebrews 6:18 ESV "...