Good morning, DearHeart.

What do people do who have no hope? Who get so caught up in the ails of their struggles and guilt and shame that they cannot see the light? Or, fail to know, even as they see death and despair and depression all around, that this is temporary and He is coming again?

A-ha moments are priceless.

Gifts.

Tools.

God makes us ask ourselves questions when He intends to unravel them. He gives us needs that He alone can quench, and awakens spaces and empty places that He alone will fulfill. Any state of haze that rises up in you and me is always fertile ground for a spiritual ripening, leading to a new revelation – a place of an ‘a-ha’ moment. Lightening flashes.

His Holy sparks expand from the east to the west; and God suddenly shows up in the middle of your mess.

Right there, in that spark-filled place, we get a glimpse of His coming.

Eternity is coming.

“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

Matthew 24:27 HCSB

Wake up.

Watch for Him to show up today.

Go

Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He won’t leave you or forsake you.’ 1 Chronicles 28:20

Good morning StrongOne.

Listen. Do you hear the calm voice in your panicked heart? Overwhelmed, and confused, and scared, and pulled into the breath of a windstorm – can you hear the Voice of Holy Thunder in the distance?

The job seems agonizing and the work too huge for someone like you.

You do not know why, but you are back again, at that place that calls for your help, your hands, your feet, your heart — for the rest of your life. Your bones whisper with His Spirit. You know how He moves. You and I know we try to take our spiritual understandings with both, a dose of serious and a dose of good humor – that He would assign someone like you or me to such a task. Ha. That He would gift us in such a way as to do the work. Really? Yes, really. He has. He did. He expects. Begin.

Good morning, DearHeart.

This weekend my kids either moved or helped each other move into new homes. It was crazy. And, it is a new beginning in the stories of their lives.

Growing up in the church, I remember there being a portion of the service dedicated to “testimonies” – when people were given opportunity to share stories about how God was at work in their life.

Testimonies – our stories – they matter.

“And they have defeated him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11, NLT)

Our testimonies, our stories, become the means by which we overcome and defeat the enemy of our souls. Satan would love for nothing better than to destroy or mar our testimonies.

He works at trying to make our testimonies ineffective because He knows they wield a powerful effect when combined with God’s Word. Our stories can encourage others, infusing them with hope, as they hear of God’s work in our lives.

May our stories tell not of our own achievements but of God’s power at work in, and through, our situations.

“Great faith is the product of great fights. Great testimonies are the results of great tests. Great triumphs can only come out of great trials.” (Smith Wigglesworth)

When we share our stories, people unite with each other and with our Maker. You know that tingling feeling you get when you hear a story that resonates within? Your story does the same to others. Start where you are and share your heart and watch Love settle into the cracked places to seal bridges to unity.

“I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”

John 17:23 NLT

Wake up.

Share your story.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

I post and repost a lot about my artist girl, Dani (Bryan’s wife), but not so much about my Holly. She’s my steady constant and a quieter force of nature. Levi’s little family has been living with us while building their house. They will be moving out this weekend. You know how crazy I am about my sons … God had me wait for the gift of my girls, and oh what a gift! I’m selfish – I don’t want them to go. The moment I met her, I knew my daughter-in-law, Holly, was the one for Levi. And, the one for us. It was a simple introduction at a high school basketball game. When she shook my hand – something clicked, and I knew. This past ten months of living under the same roof has been everything you can imagine. Sometimes awkward, sometimes messy, sometimes side-splitting laughter, lots of knowing glances, and a whole lot of growth for us all.

Holly has a gift of leveling any situation with a practical perspective and common sense. She’s a God-loving wife, mother, 3rd grade teacher … she is raising a precious strong-willed daughter, birthed a precious son in June, she is working on her Master’s, all while building a house and living with her in-laws! She’s a tough warrior. And, using my dad’s terms, “she’s got a head full of brains.” Not only is she beautiful, she has a natural warmth, easy and constant. This season has marked us all for the better. My girls have my heart. And, if my eyes seem swollen and are leaking next week, you’ll know why. I’m so happy for them as this new part of their life begins in their new home. But, I’d be fine if they didn’t go. ❤️

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Wake up.

Love your peeps.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

When we owned the flower shop, we would have the occasional need to put flowers in warmer water to get their blooms to open. When it began to be slightly, or partially, or half open, even then we would say that it is ‘blooming’.

Sometimes, when we face tough times we gather strength, not perfect strength, but enough strength to serve us through the difficult days. Maybe ‘moderate’ strength. Even if it is only 50% strength, and not enough to be fully confident, when we ask the power of the Holy to help, then that partial becomes enough.

Be confident in that strength.

Cover your mind, mood, and emotions so saturated with the extra strength of the Holy Spirit that bitterness, harsh-filled voices, and aggressive body language slide right past you.

They own their issues. Not you. You have your own stuff to work out. God is dealing with their bitterness on a level not meant for you or me to understand.

Be respectful.

Be obedient and gentle with God’s child. But, be careful to not be slammed down by the enemy’s psychotic attempt to destroy your peace through a troubled soul.

That is not for you or me to judge.

You are in the shelter of GOD ALMIGHTY. DearOne, you don’t have to react back to them with the same bitterness they deliver to you. You are fueled by supernatural power.

Be strong. Fire the stabs they deliver as far as the east is from the west. And, pray that take up their ownership of peace with the Creator.

Remember, we call a flower “blooming” whether it is half open or in full bloom.

‘Watch out, brothers, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that departs from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.’ Hebrews 3:12-13

Wake up.

Bloom in your strength.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart. Sometimes, no matter how much it hurts, God calls us to set boundaries from the attacks and the attackers. He says:

“Child, this is my battle. Back out. Love like crazy from a distance until I give you the opening to go back in. Let them say what they want to whomever they want. This is My battle.”

Proverbs 19:19 – “Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.”

Be careful. Many times, the best you can do is step back in prayer.

You keep praying for your people, and I will, too.

In reading God’s Word and prayer, I have been called before to sit in SILENCE in order to be in obedience to Him for a while. I didn’t want to – the ego in me wants to fight back. But, the heart in me wants to fix everything – even the parts and the hearts that don’t want to be fixed. Stay steadfast in prayer … prayer is not a substitute for hard work, prayer is the work.

I can tell you the level of peace and freedom since agreeing to His prompting opened me up to let joy in again.

You just keep going right back to His Word as your guide. He is faithful to lead you from there.

I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. But, sometimes it helps to be reminded, right?

You are here for a reason. They are where they are for a reason. Take a deep breath and pray gratitude prayers and guidance prayers. He is already working out the details. “You supported me because of my integrity and set in in Your presence forever.” Psalm41:12

I love you.

Wake up.

In prayer, lay it at the cross.

Be guided by the Word.

Go.