December 17, 2022 Rest

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Our Bryan will be 30 tomorrow. Seems surreal that we have been blessed by his presence every minute for 30 years. I so loved having a Christmas baby. And, every year I’m thrown back into all the feels of celebrating … holding my tiny son while celebrating Mary’s.
The week Bryan was born, our grandfather, Pop Reinking, went to heaven. I remember every emotion being right at the surface during those tender days.
I often wonder if Mary’s emotions ever waivered?
Her little family was basically displaced.
No room.
No bed.
Unsettled.
Even worse, people were talking. They were not even married. Joseph was older and poor little Mary … she was so young and naïve. ‘Have you heard? … she said she saw an angel and the baby is God’s son! Have you ever heard anything so bizarre?’
In the turmoil of fear that would leave most of us in a puddle
‘… she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.’ Luke 2:7.
And, they slept. They rested. And, Mary treasured these things, pondering them in her heart. There is no indication in scripture that her faith faltered.
Every detail of her life was in an uproar – yet, she was in the presence of the Savior of the world, and that was all she needed to be able to rest, to ponder, to treasure.
Her faith did not waiver at riding a donkey instead of being carried in a cushiony litter. She rested, pondered, treasured.
If I had been ready to pop and rode a donkey, I would not be calm enough to rest. And, Dale would have not been calm about walking from town to town leading a donkey with a pregnant woman on its back.
Mary rested, pondered, treasured.
If I had to sleep in a stable, with coyotes and skunks and wild hogs roaming near, I would not be calm enough to rest.
Mary rested, pondered, treasured.
If I had to lay my perfect, beautiful son in a trough, I would not be calm enough to rest.
If my day did not have an agenda, I did not know how long I would have to be away from home, I would not be calm enough to rest.
If my world were as upside down as Mary’s I would not have been calm enough to rest.
Mary rested, pondered, treasured.
What trauma are you managing at the moment? What fear are you processing … that people can’t see from the outside, but it is ripping your heart in pieces on the inside?
“Come to me all who are weary
(like Mary and Joseph)
and heavy-laden
(gently lay it down into the
manger),
and I’ll give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
If He has been giving rest to those in His presence from His birth, then enter into His presence, place your fear in the manger, and accept your rest. He is waiting for you.
Blessings.

February 26, 2022 peace

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Good morning, DearHeart.
Sitting here, feeling safe and quiet. Praying for my adults sons and their families. And – somewhere, in Ukraine, is a mom like me, praying desperate prayers for her adult sons and daughters, who are armed and defending their homes.
People are trying to get to the border. Others are huddled in subways, which have now become bomb shelters.
The images come of sons and daughters helping the elderly to safety. Parents with young children in tow and in their arms, some yet inside their mother’s womb … I cannot understand the range of emotions these people must be experiencing … the horror … fear … anxiety … concern for their loved ones. Will they even have a home when they leave the shelter?
The questions which must be going through their minds – How will we ever resume life? How do we rebuild? Where do we go from here? What kind of life will my children have?
Questions without answers.
And so I pray …
Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace. Come, Lord Jesus, and bring peace to the Ukrainians. In the middle of the chaos, the conflict, and the unknown, fill their hearts and minds with Your peace. Remind the people that You are with them. Give them strength to endure. And may you, Jesus, the Prince of Peace, who has never vacated His throne, be merciful to Ukraine. Come, Prince of Peace. In Your Mighty Name I pray, Amen.
” … And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6b, NASB)
*Symbol for peace created by Moscow born Natasha Alimova.

February 23, 2022 butterflies and blooms

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Good morning, DearHeart.
I hear sleet hitting the window and long for the warm days of blooms and butterflies. There is always a struggle in finding stillness, though. Fighting through that struggle, there is always a place where I cry-out and find grace in the Word of God. I hang on to scripture. This is how it often happens – I hear it in a song or in Bro Colin’s sermon, or a podcast … then it pops up in a text message, and it repeats again – my brain responds “that’s the same verse” … there is a pattern here and I need to pay attention. So, I latch on to the Word.
I choose to see blessings most of the time … a ‘cup half-full’ kind of person. I am a blessed woman. And, I do not take that lightly. I try to live my moments from a place of gratitude – no matter what – I am thankful. When life causes pain, and I ask Him for help, I often feel a sense of guilt for even asking – who am I to ask? Does that ever happen to you? Even there I’ve learned to remind myself that is the evil of the enemy trying to keep me from relationship with the One who said “You didn’t choose me. I chose you.” John 15:16
Still … I’d like to get to a point in my life that I hang on to scripture because everything -every little thing- … in my mind is at ease. Instead, what I find, is that there is always a pull at my heart. There is always a struggle. Maybe God allows us to be in a place of struggle so that never forget how much we need Him. Maybe the struggle sustains our search back to Him, our Safe Haven. John 14:8 “Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
What verse is sustaining you with His grace through your current struggle?

Wake up.
Listen for the sustaining pattern of grace.
Go.

February 3, 2022 grands

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Good morning, DearHeart.

Snow day. Hard north-wind day.

Haven’t shared my writings in a while. I get to walk our grandson, Rush, across campus to his school every morning – which means that now I’m usually driving when I used to be posting. And, while I miss posting, I wouldn’t trade those few morning minutes with that beautiful little soul for all the world! He is so cool … y’all, grandchildren are a whole new level of pure love that I didn’t even know existed.

I had four living grandparents until I was in my 20’s and I was in my late 40’s when we laid “Mom Coon”, our last living grandparent to rest. Freddie, Juanita, Sam, and Opal had a powerful impact on shaping me and helping Mom and Dad raise us. They were each a unique model of unconditional love, and sacrifice, and big personalities, and sass … the model I hope to be for our grands.

But, this morning, I’m in front of the fire at home. Visiting with my Savior, petitioning for my loves, trusting His faithfulness through these next few frosty-face days. Thinking on His faithfulness and goodness especially to those who are in a season of pain and sorrow … there are so many of the people I love who are right there, in that season, right now. Praying for God to set them “free and unfettered”, and not tied down to believing the lies of the enemy who is worming his way in to their thoughts to steal, kill, and destroy their peace.

“Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.” Psalm 54:4

Even in this season, God is faithful and at work to make something beautiful out of the ashes. He is so faithful.

What are your prayers today? Please share ♥️

Wake up.

Feel His presence.

Your Father is upholding you.

Go.

August 10, 2021 bless the thing

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‬‬Good morning, DearHeart,
Wouldn’t it be perfect if we could always hold them like this and protect them from anything that tries to steal their peace? Totally, sweetly safe.
As a mom, I think the hardest thing to do is listen as your child goes through a painful journey. We moms just want to fix it. Yet, their growth is at stake, and they must walk it out for their faith and trust grow in the Most High God.
The irony is, that their journey is also mom’s journey. Right?! It doesn’t matter what age they may be. Growth is at stake for all.
Sometimes life challenges the beliefs of even the most loving people, doesn’t it? I read a quote from the Archbishop of Canterbury, and it stuck, (paraphrased) “When you see the depth of energy that people can put into evil, then there is a flicker of doubt in humanity. It would be inhumane not to react with sadness and doubt.”
Even when we know that it’s just part of life … people make tragic and hurtful and downright ugly decisions that have long-term impact, we still try to make sense of them. So, how are we to pray “positive” prayers while we are hurt to the core and we just want the relentless pain to stop?
The power of blessing is the key to our growth and healing.
There is a space that is given to you and me by our Maker.
This space … between this breath … and the next is a place of creation: we use that sacred space for
cycles that start or stop,
grow or fade,
live or die.
All possibilities exist from this place. Sit in this a moment … what kind of Creator sets that kind of power in place for us?
He thought of everything.
You and I have the choice and the power to change lives, our own life and the lives of others. We make the choice to bring peace into our hearts through the magical moments that we choose to bless the thing.
Bless the person.
Bless the event.
Bless the growth.
Bless the pain’s purpose.
Bless the journey.
Between breaths, decide, and bless it.
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life…” (Deuteronomy 30:19, NLT).
Your will, Lord.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Nothing else.
Wake up.
Bless the thing.
Even though it hurts, bless it anyway.
Go.

August 9, 2021 choking on the blood

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Good morning, DearHeart.
I’ve been listening to the group “We the Kingdom”. Their tunes get stuck in my head. One song calls out Satan “Don’t Tread on Me” … there is a line in the chorus:
“He’s choking on the blood
That ran down the tree
Ain’t no devil
Gonna tread on me.”
The visual that line leaves in my head is a called-out Satan, literally choking, while kneeling at the cross. Over and over, every time a Child of God exposes sin in their life, Satan chokes on the Blood of the One Who Saves.
How powerful is that truth?!
When we hand over fear, worry, time-wasters, bad habits, wrong thinking … Satan chokes.
It takes courage to call out Satan’s influence – especially in some of the habits we have threaded into our daily lives, have you noticed? And, even more courage to nod, inviting the Most High to enter into and fill those spaces. Taking a step beyond the flesh-of-the-day garb is not normal. The enemy will throw darts at every step; be prepared. Satan knows he can’t compete with the power of your Maker.
Not even close.
The more you get to know your soul – and engage the Authority of El Elyon, God of Perfect Control, the more you engage His POWER in your life and live in His AUTHORITY. At every “yes, Lord”, The Divine Himself wraps you in and takes you deeper.
‘In all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!’ (Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭37-39‬ HCSB)
Answering His call to hand over full control to The Almighty will take you to both intensely light and intensely dark places. He will take you anywhere you need to go again, and again, and again, in order to meet Him in increasing intimacy.
The journey will take you through every kind of emotion there is. And, you will be left hungry for more of Him.
His ways are perfect.
His ways are right.
He is FOR you.
Wake up.
Agree to your soul-journey. Begin.
Go.

August 4, 2021 oops moments

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Good morning, DearHeart.
Last week, I was pretty obsessed with these sunflowers … this week, well … I think I killed them. 😬
I’m full of mistakes and awkward moments … Freudian slips, embarrassing moments, a hurtful word spoken, breaking an object of value, getting my heel stuck in a floor vent … 🤷🏼‍♀️
Every. Single. Day. I can be counted on for imperfection.
A mistake.
A wrong choice.
Regrets.
I’m so thankful for the grace given to me by others.
The silver lining to my “moments” is that I truly make those who hang out with me SHINE! 😂 ✨
I don’t think I’m alone here, I also, often regret failure to act.
The visit not made.
The card not sent.
The apology not extended.
The hug not given.
Life brings us through twists and turns. Some expected. Some, out of no where.
Some regrets are felt deeply and linger.
When regret comes to my life, I have learned that there is only one place to take it … lay it at foot of the Cross. When I “come to my senses”, much the way the prodigal son did, and return to my Father,
regret turns to restoration …
redemption …
I am redeemed.
What kind of God does that? What kind of unconditional love continues to erase mistakes, over and over again?
“Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You, Lord, are good” (Psalm 25:7).
What kind of God? “According to His love,” that’s my God.
Wake up.
Start again.
Do overs.
Clean slate.
Go.

July 31, 2021 His truth, our joy.

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Good morning, DearHeart.
Summer mornings, on the front porch = Divine reconnection … where thoughts go a bit deeper, and His Holiness rises to the occasion.
For those of us who believe in God, who find rest in the intelligence of Love, and for those open enough to consider it …
For those of us in pain––from the deeply personal, to the sorrow of disunity we can taste …
For those of us who have Joy to offer because our faith keeps us running back to it––we know that Joy is where we are formed by the Master Creator … joy is our original state, Holiness empowers us …
For those of us interested in walking out these days … where spirituality is way more adventure than religion, where the heart calls the shots, where we believe in the miracle of the lessons all around us …
For those who choose to believe …
“He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
He guards the paths of the just
and protects those who are faithful to him.
Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
and you will find the right way to go.
For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will fill you with joy.
Proverbs 2:7-10 NLT
Everything here is meant to lead back to what your heart knows, way down deep, His truth is our joy.
Wake up.
Seek Truth.
Find Joy.
Go

July 13, 2021 hips

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Good morning, DearHeart.

A couple of weeks ago we all noticed Rush (our grandson) walking with a limp. The diagnosis turned out to be an infection in his hip which caused us some concern … how does a toddler get an infection in his hip, of all places? He is doing good now (thank You, Jesus!) but, of course we read tons of stories during the limp … medical stories, personal stories, you name it. Some stories of hope and others that shot fear through our over-protective veins.

People’s stories are fascinating to me. And, the fact that each one evolves, moving us individually, and as families, and as friends from one point of growth to the next, well, that is even more fascinating. Each story grows us and we encourage one another when we tell them. I don’t know about you, but I prefer stories that are heartwarming … feel good … full of love and laughter.

But, life is not always neat and tidy. It’s not always snow cones and cotton candy.

In between those seasons of joy are interwoven seasons that cause us to pause and examine the shadows and the shifts … struggles with families, with feelings …

Adversity.

Suffering.

Shame.

Pain.

Illness.

Loss.

Hardship.

Discomfort.

I’d prefer to avoid all of that … yet, Paul slides in with a curious perspective …

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18, NKJV)

Also, read this and love the way The Message describes it:

“That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.” Romans 8:18-21 MSG

To put it simply … this story, your story of today’s suffering tells a story of perseverance, of pressing through in spite of wanting to give up. It tells of courage when fear presses in. It tells of a grit and determination to succeed when the odds seem stacked a mile high against you.

There is value in your present story. Suffering is part of the narrative, because nothing grows, nothing gets built when everything is easy.

Our lives are the smaller story inside of His grand story, and our stories do matter. Our stories can magnify Him, illuminate His power and compassion at work in every minute.

Wake up.

What is your story at this minute?

Notice how our Savior is revealed in it.

The joyful anticipation deepens.

Go.

5-28-2021 Primed Enhanced Coffee Creamer

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https://www.primedcreamer.com/

After years of research and a lot of trial and error, my sons have created a unique and powerful supplemental coffee creamer. It is designed to be used as a pre-workout, or as a part of your everyday routine. The product is made up of supplements that are used by some of the top athletes in the world, as well as tested by us. Please check out the website!

Thanks!