Good morning, DearHeart.

Yesterday morning I got to sit at a table with six brilliant women and listen to an incredible speaker tell her story about being bold in an unpopular place. Instead of choosing to fit in, she followed her heart because it was the right thing to do. She pressed on at the darkest times knowing there was light ahead. It got me to thinking … what am I … what are you keeping yourself and others from by working so hard to fit in? Trying to stay so perfectly compliant and predictable, trying to stay under the radar to not raise any ruckus, going unnoticed, instead of gutsy and bold and spear to the heart-ish?

This is my question to you: if you were “wild-yes” to the Holy Spirit, instead of careful … how would static-predictable behavior, change to action that’s living with really RED pulsing blood … not merely pulsing, but spraying Christ – fountain-like, nourishing even souls and wildlife and the deepest water on earth?

Didn’t we agree…we are here to do the real work? Didn’t we promise to take the heat in order to do it? What is memorable is not always what is protocol. What is memorable in troubled cultures such as ours is stunning soulfulness, your soul on FIRE. And, if it happens to leave us with singe around the edges, so be it. But first things first.

‘But let your word ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.’ (Matthew 5:37 HCSB)

Wake up.

Act a wild yes in the Holy Spirit.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart!

Father God designed us with our friends in mind … there is no way to see the beauty of a friend through the eyes of another. You and I have been given our own set of people with whom we have shared histories … built in to us through the experience of life. The sharing is drawn through what can not be seen by the eyes alone, or what can not be known by the brain alone. Fall completely ‘in’ with those living lives that are fully alive with you. Look for the beauty in the mysterious mystery of each friend. Ask God Most High to heighten your awareness and thankfulness of those He has given to share your life in friendship.

‘Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.’ (1 Corinthians 1:4-6 MSG)

Wake up.

Notice friends.

Feel your heart expand in their presence.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

I was grateful, thankful, and blessed to have Dale and my boys rebuild my front porch this past weekend.

It’s never all lollipops and rainbows – as they are all strong-willed personalities and sparks fly often (real often … like constantly!), but my heart floods with joy to see Dale and my sons work together. Really, to see any family work together. Growing up, one of my favorite times of year was wheat harvest. Pop and Dad and my uncle and brothers set out early to service the equipment and get to the fields as soon as they were dry enough to cut. They worked together as farming called them to, shoulder to shoulder. My grandmother, ‘Mom Coon’, Mom, and my aunt fixed lunch including tea in big mason jars to take to the field, encouraging the men to stay fed and hydrated for their strength to be sustained. Shoulder to shoulder.

And isn’t this how we all should work?

“Then I will purify the lips of the people, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.” (Zephaniah 3:9, NIV)

Shoulder to shoulder.

We work in one accord, in unity, as we stand firm with our arms around the shoulders of those beside us. We draw strength from each other to keep on going, encouraged with our souls made firmer as we know we are not working alone.

Keep reading down a little further in the chapter to verse 17:

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” (NIV)

We don’t tend to imagine God singing but He does – our unity, standing shoulder to shoulder, causes God such great delight that He breaks into song. He sings as He rejoices over His people when they come together for His purposes, for His people, and for the glory of His Name. God. Singing.

Shoulder to shoulder continues to teach me how I am to serve God and others. To see co-laboring in action reminds me to be faithful. shoulder to shoulder, in unity with those He places in my life.

Wake up.

Join forces.

Go.

Good morning, SweetSoul,

Just keeping it real simple this morning as we dive into a full week … because in crazy schedules we tend to take it all for granted. We stop noticing.

Some things are so touching, so tender:

late night watching the first snow,

the quiet of the mountains,

a newborn calf,

a spring morning,

the smile that a kindness brings,

watching Oklahoma sunrises,

all of the phases of the moon,

and you.

Fearfully made.

Wonderfully made.

My soul knows.

“I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.” PSALM 139:14 AMP

Wake up.

Be awe-filled and in wonder of you.

Notice amazing souls all around.

Pure gifts.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

First, thank you for your prayers for Liv. They were felt so strongly. Holly told me last night that yesterday, before, during, and after Liv’s surgery was the most ‘at peace’ she has felt through this. We agreed it was because of the ARMY of prayers that drew God’s presence close. We felt that-we felt Him. Her surgery went well and now we wait for healing so her brain and her eyes can sync her focus. Our hearts are so thankful for you.

So, as I’m getting still a few minutes this morn to whisper our thanks to The Most High God, my mind is filling immediately with needs of friends:

• A  very dear co worker awaiting tests on his lungs and a diagnosis and surgery.

• A nephew serving in the military in another country

• More than one friend who is suffering the loss of a child, oh, Dear God hold them tight and steady

• A single mom desperately needing a car

• Just the pressures that needle us and overwhelm my loves

My people. Your people – in varied roles and stages of life – with dire needs. And yet, this morning the only words I could speak were, “Jesus help them!” The words no sooner out of my mouth, I began to sing …

“When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well, with my soul

It is well

With my soul

It is well, it is well with my soul.”

The melody so familiar and comforting as the truth, and power, of those words flood my being like a balm. And, I turn the pages where the truth comes, the truth of His Word –

“Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3, NLT)

“I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.” (Psalm 119:147, NLT)

“Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you.” (Psalm 143:8, NLT)

In the morning, we can rise to meet with Him. In the stillness and calm, before the clamor and busyness of the day, He is waiting for us. And, He reminds me He is ever-present, ever-merciful, delivering … pouring His grace into our every moment.

Thank you, Father.

Wake up.

Feel His presence.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

Early this morning God worked it out so that I got to hold our Liv before her mom and dad took her for her eye surgery. It was a sweet gift to hold her and Christ in quiet minutes … wrapped up all close. Bringing the Healer into her … into this day. They are at the surgery center now. And, I am about to leave to be there, too. In this place is where total surrender consumes me. There is no place more helpless than when you place your Loves in the hands of another, right?

God Almighty does His deepest work when we are at our most helpless places.

So, in this place, today, I raise my hands, to let all the earth know, “I acknowledge You, my King!” And, every devil in hell knows they have no authority over me … over my loves … because as believers, we belong to another Kingdom.

In Christ alone. And, that’s where it begins.

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23 ESV

This place. This day.

There is one worship that … If you can get it out … It will change everything -it break the chains of anxiety from your life … it will send you running straight into your destiny that God intended.

He is reminding me that when you call upon His name, you get ALL of Him. You don’t just get a little piece, you get the entire Kingdom. You don’t just get His peace for a moment, you get His

-all-encompassing love,

-total, complete forgiveness,

-healing of all diseases,

-redeeming … redemption of life from destruction.

-a fresh crowning of living-kindness and tender mercies,

-youth renewed like eagles

-promises of deliverance

-His wisdom and guidance

-safety and protection

-abundance

-provision

-grace. You get grace.

I could go on and on and on …

Set this as your marking place.

The Savior has come. He is here now.

Worship.

Raise your arms.

Wake up.

Worship here.

Worship now.

Go.

Oh. Thank you, my God and my King! Your mercies are new every morning!

Good morning, DearHeart.

As I woke I thought about connection. That’s usually how the Holy Spirit works with me – I ask for a word or theme for my guide as my final prayer at night. When I wake up,

a word,

phrase,

or scripture is fresh.

All God.

Simply because I ask.

He is good like that – hearing our prayer, and delivering what we need.

His way.

His authority.

His gift.

So, I went back and searched my notes to see how many times I’ve used the word “connect” this year in my writings. 11. This makes 12. That qualifies in my simple heart as a theme that is taking shape.

Connection. That is both harder and easier than ever.

One of my favorite new voices is Lauren Daigle … she sings a song called “Dry Bones”…

‘As we call out to dry bones come alive, come alive,

We call out to dead hearts come alive, come alive,

Up out of the ashes let us see an army rise,

We call out to dry bones come alive,

So breathe, oh breath of God

Now breathe, oh breath of God

Breathe, oh breath of God now breathe …’

The apostle James warns us about the tongue (texting fingers, too) – especially for those of us who teach: ‘Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards’ (James 3:1, MSG). It is consoling that he adds, ‘we all stumble in many ways’ (v.2) – certainly I do.

The tongue is a powerful little instrument that can do so much good, and yet so much harm. It can unite or divide: ‘By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell’ (v.8, MSG).

Relationships, even marriages, often end because of things that have been said or not said. People lose their jobs, their reputation, their families when words are used to hurt and destroy rather than build and connect.

Harsh, unjust words have destructive power. Learn to control the tongue and fingers so that you speak words of blessing to people and about people.

Speak words of life. Your words have tremendous power for connection. You can bring healing, encouragement and edification. Your words can change a person’s day or even their life.

Wake up.

Speak life.

It connects.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

Have you ever noticed that when God stretches you, you never go back to the original shape? The process of stretching makes weakened areas more suspect to pinhole tears where the enemy works overtime trying to find a way in.

This is especially you when you are in recovery mode and trying to find space to forgive someone. The heart runs its own stopwatch. Not attached to calendar days or years. And, the heart also reminds you that it’s not a “gotcha” competition – “you are a loser, so that makes me the winner.”

Arrogance disguised.

Satan heaping weight on.

Here’s the deal – the heart forgives when it is ready to forgive. And, it begins by forgiving yourself.

Self-forgiveness.

Unlike us, Christ forgives as son as you ask. Boom. Forgiven. Done. Over. Left in the past. Move on.

The Holy Spirit allows love to flow from the place of self-forgiveness. Because, when you forgive yourself, everyone in the pain loop gains freedom in some way. Maybe you got blindsided; and time shows you that you had a role in being betrayed – you were scared. That’s the point your story begins to change from betrayal to forgiveness. This is the place you stop letting the pain of the past hurt you in the present. You keep the life-lessons…and you send the rest into the Light of our Redeeming Savior.

“All is forgiven” includes you.

When we start applying prayer to our confidence in Christ, and His victory over past hurdles, He sends fresh energy into us – resurrection power into a new mindset, and a fresh heart.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Wake up.

Deliver your pain into the Light.

Forgive yourself. Move on.

Go.

“I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.” Job 42:5 NLT

Good morning, God’s Child.

Woke up thinking about the courage it takes to get to know your soul in the Light of our Creator. Courage … Because once you and I begin to engage Him in every part of our lives, and live according to His authority – His light comes to call with ever more frequency until He becomes threaded into every part of our being. He amazes like that – showing up with possibility and perspective.

The more you become aware of His involvement, the more likely you are to see His call on your life, your days, your hours, your thoughts, your ideas. On the surface, things are seldom what they seem. There is always a deeper work going on that the human eye cannot see, but the heart knows.

Possibility sparks.

Takes root.

Empowers.

His possibilities are endless. He lays them all out and as you walk with Him, you discover more, and more, and more.

His ways are right, Beloved.

His possibilities are planted for your purpose. Do not take them lightly.

Wake up.

Live in possibility.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

There are times when life can be compared to a desert . . .

dry,

dehydrated,

withered.

“Bloom where you are planted.” Is a fantastic idea, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Sometimes, you don’t have control to bloom in this place and every step forward seems to deliver heavy blows back.

Life simply happens. There is no controlling the circumstances as they seem to barrel over you like a steam roller.

Much like a desert, the days suck the life right out of you leaving you feeling parched and withered.

As day turns to night, and night to day again, there is nothing happening as you look to the horizon. Have you been there before? I have.

It is at those times, by faith, we remember ….

‘The desert and the parched land will be glad;

the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy’. (Isaiah 35: 1, NIV)

Much like the crocus, which blooms while it is still cold and snow is often still on the ground, God causes life to burst forth again. I have been there before, too. He is faithful, isn’t He?!

He opens

opportunities,

changes circumstances,

brings healing,

restores relationships,

binds wounds.

Why?

There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God. (Isaiah 35:2b, NLT)

When something comes out of seemingly nothing, it is then and there the Lord is seen most visibly in our lives.

Your bloom is coming.

Wake up.

Your deliverance is near.

Go.