04
February
Expensive & Impressive
I love to decorate. Anything. I like decorating a home. I like textiles and clothes to drape on the body. I love personal training and bodybuilding as I see the human form as a great canvas built to perform amazing things. How marvelous it is to sculpt and shape and strengthen it. And I also love to wrap gifts and create a gorgeous bow on top. Presentation does matter. First impressions count enormously. It takes countless second impressions to erase a poor first impression. However, we cannot and should not
30
January
Dessert Hope
Dessert Rose
The dessert rose is a lovely plant. So stunning is its thick trunk, green leaf and star shaped flower most gardeners recommend showcasing this plant rather than tucking it in with the other garden foliage. The dessert rose originated near the Sahara Dessert. This flower loves the heat and is drought resistant.
The human heart is like a lily of the valley, the dessert rose, a garden of splendor. Just like a garden, the human heart needs special care and attention. Not every heart is exactly the same. Some need
24
January
A Deliberate Touch
“Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” Luke 8:46
Today is my son, Andrew’s 9th Birthday. I love Andrew immensely. Andrew is significantly younger than his siblings. I was an older Mom when I had him.
Our entire family was going through the trial of our life when I discovered I was pregnant with my little man. We were enduring the lawsuit from hell that lasted six years with no respite in sight with a man who I believe God used to teach me a lot
14
January
Quickened
Nothing is forever~
Change comes to us all. You don’t have to listen to the idle chatter. When something is the matter look up. Because doubt looks down and worry looks around. When we keep our gaze fully where it needs to be it doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing. You must do what is best for you.
What is it you need? What is it your family needs? How will you intercede?
Wash away fear, doubt and worry. Make it flee in a hurry.
I can’t believe it has already been nearly
07
January
Where Miracles Begin
I’ve been a writer all of my life. I just didn’t always know it. I wasn’t always aware of my gift there. Wasn’t aware it was a strength.
I’ve been a writer all of my life, but I haven’t always done so with a pen.
A writer is always writing. We do it with words, but sometimes those words are thoughts and memories and things etched within us that stay with us. The inspiration comes from a variety of sources. I have been known to find much inspiration in the
29
December
Connected
God is so enormously unique.
My entire life has been full of rules. And in the midst of all the rules and all of my compliance, God swooped in on my heart and showed me his love and that it is ultimately not about rules (though he does have some).
And by his love he ruled, schooled and won my heart.
He gave me a connection with him like none other. He is the line I am connected to.
My entire life I have gone—on and off—to church, but never truly felt I fit
26
December
Gladiator Mindset: All Or Nothing
The Gladiator Mindset
Have you ever known someone who had an all or nothing mindset? I’d like to call it a Gladiator Mindset. Think about a gladiator of Ancient Rome. These men stepped into the arena knowing the only man leaving was the last man standing. He had to be all in. He must have laser focus. His eyes must be keen and aware of everything happening around him. Intent. His intent must be “victory is the only option”. Mindset is the fuel in his veins that bear the fruit and
17
December
Game of Life
Everything happens in seasons.
I remember there was a season of my life that I had three children playing in Morada Little League simultaneously. The most sensational little league ever in my opinion, but not two of them on the same team. Two boys and my daughter played softball. The home field was just around the block from our home. But softball travelled much so my daughter’s games were all over the place. I remember I would begin to mentally prepare for the schedule and time demand of the
12
December
A Forever that is Truly Forever
Ode To Joy
When I was married I selected the song “Ode to Joy”, by Ludwig van Beethoven, as my song. You know, the one they play when you walk into the room and up front and say all that scary stuff? I thought the melody to be lovely and free and light…just as joy should be. I didn’t consciously think all of this. I just knew I liked it and it was “different”. I usually don’t enjoy selecting what everybody commonly selects. I have always tended to gravitate to the
11
December
Essence of Heaven
God’s Grace cannot be trumped by our goodness. His grace is scandalous and pardons what we can’t fix and I think this is a beautiful, but peculiar aspect to His Character.
I love it!
Our obedience is a form of adoration, but it is not the instrument of His portions.
He gives…
He gives…
He gives….
Because HE Lives!
We may fall…
But He will rise!
Doing good and being good are good. But what stirs God’s heart is when we love good.
God doesn’t need our effort to advance Himself, but by the power of His love He includes