Good morning, DearHeart.

This was my lap yesterday. Barbies, baby toys, weenie dog, and grandbaby loves. We are tag-teaming this week – keeping Rush home from his school (child care) to give him more time to heal and to make sure he doesn’t carry any remains of RSV back to his classmates. Yesterday, I had a turn … each day with my grands presents me with experiences vastly different from any other.

The wonder of watching a young life grow and develop never wears thin.

A few days often pass in between seeing Rush and his sister – each time, Dale or I make the same remark, “He/she grew. How can it be? They must grow in their sleep!”

There is a mystery in the growth of a baby. We watch in complete wonder as the transformation occurs over the course of time.

While being asleep may appear as a lack of activity, our bodies are quietly and busily at work restoring and repairing our cells, preparing our bodies for the next day.

I watched Rush sleep (actually, we rocked while he was sleeping ☺️) – his mind calm, his body still. And, I, too, became still.

The Psalmist tells us:

“Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10, NLT)

There is something which occurs as we are still before God, something restorative and repairing.

“The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and restorer of homes” (Isaiah 58:11-12, NLT).

As we are still before God, He imparts life and blessing to us. The imagery in these verses tells us the blessings are not solely for ourselves.

The blessing spreads to those around us who also will find a

vitality,

a joy,

and a hope

from being with us.

We encourage, motivate, and inspire those without hope to also rebuild their lives as their relationship with God is restored.

That residual flow of the Holy comes and flows out when we get still with our Creator and allow His restoration within our own bodies and minds.

Wake up.

Get still.

Restoration.

Go.

*Rush is doing really well! Thank you for your prayers for him while he was in Children’a – we definitely felt them! ❤️

Good morning, DearHeart.

Do you get panicked over the weather or just let it roll? I don’t get as excited about weather changes as the local news people, but I do take notice. The cattle get fed a little differently, gas is handy for the generator; when we know change is coming we prepare.

While we breathe today, tucked safely in the center of our Oklahoma plains, many hearts are bracing themselves for a few days of “predicted” winter weather warfare.

If nothing else, the change sparks conversation.

For some, Chaos. Fear. It is hard to wrap our minds around the chaos of fear…unless we think back to our own days of being unsettled.

I believe God’s ways are right even when the storm comes. And, when we’ve done all that we can do, perhaps the next best way to prepare is to pray for the safety of another.

Give your prayers away freely today. Lift each person your eyes take in …

Family.

Friends.

Teachers.

Authority people.

News anchors.

Wind blown people.

Farmers you pass on the road.

Churches you pass by.

Walmart people.

Sonic car-hops.

Mailman.

The person in the car with you.

Bank people.

Hair stylist people.

Law enforcement people.

People sporting smiles.

People with forehead creases.

Whomever catches your eye today-whisper a prayer for them.

“The prayer was no sooner prayed than it was answered. Jesus called twelve of his followers and sent them into the ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives.” (Matthew 10:1 The Message)

Wake up.

Pray for people.

Really pray for them.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

This is Zeus the Beagle. He and his brother, Beau, were rescued by Levi and Holly as pups. The beags love the farm. They would always leave out early-early chasing rabbits. And, they’d usually be back by noon, sleep a while, and go out for their evening hunt. One day, about 3 months ago, Beau didn’t come back and that has been a heartbreaker for all of us, especially Zeus. He no longer hunts. He stays within about 50 feet of the house at all times. He’s getting used to his new life, but nothing for him has been easy since. He has just begun to play with Ellie, the dachshund. And, we get so excited when he does – a glimpse of joy.

We are like that – life events change us. I’ve been searching scripture high and low, and I can’t find a single verse that promises our days on earth are going to get easier.

But, He does promise to protect us on the journey. The space between today and eternity with Him will be rocky. We may fall a few times. We will get hurt in this process of living.

But, my God is faithful.

He will provide exactly what you need to get through each day…this day. And, along the way, He will deliver a joy or two … or overflowing.

‘and while My Glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.’ (Exodus 33:22 ESV)

Wake up.

Feel His shelter.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

I’ve been writing birthdays and dates and “to-do’s” in a new calendar. Sometimes, if I look at the whole month at once, it overwhelms me and I think there is no way I can do this. So, I’ve learned to look at only about a day and a half ahead – to keep it manageable in my brain, and as a reminder that it will turn out alright. We get caught up in the hours and sometimes we forget … as believers, God knows us. Around each one, God Almighty has a cocooned us with a certain shield of His light that is connected directly to His heart. We don’t escape it. He can pick us out anytime, anyplace.

‘God’s firm foundation is as firm as ever, these sentences engraved on the stones:

God knows who belongs to Him’

2 Timothy 2:19 MSG

He knows us. We are written on the palm of His hands. He never leaves us.

As we walk thru a crowd, He knows.

Those serving in the military, He knows.

Families heartbroken with loss, He knows.

Thru the happiest days, He knows.

Running thru a hailstorm, He knows.

Watching a ballgame, He knows.

Sleeping thru the night, He knows.

On important phone calls, He knows.

Shopping, He knows.

Picking out a new puppy, He knows.

Starting the car, He knows.

Showing kindness, He knows.

When we are not appreciated, He knows.

When we get slighted, He knows.

When we get a hug of thanks, He knows.

When we are scraping the ice, He knows.

When we are writing out checks, He knows.

When we are exercising, He knows.

_________ (write in your own), He knows.

He knows all who have confessed, “yes Jesus, you are my Savior, the Son of God-the One who knows me. Thank you, Father.”

Wake up.

Walk with Him.

He knows your steps.

God’s got this.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

More and more I am convinced that the world we wake up in is not the same as the world we went to sleep in.

Have you noticed too?

In the blink of an eye things

really

do

change.

From the mass inflow of information, to world events, to mass change brought by new daily routines … it is enough to knock us on our gourd and send life spiraling into the unknown.

This … this is where you and I are called by our Creator to step in. Perhaps one of the greatest things we can do in the chaos of is

STAND UP,

and show the Light of our souls.

Allow yourself to be moved by the change from yesterday to today. Struggling souls catch light from those who walk fully lit – and have the courage to show it.

A path you will cross today needs the Light.

The Holy Spirit will be a gift to them as He radiates through you.

“The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭ESV

Wake up.

Shine on.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

I asked Dale a few days ago what he would remember most about last year, he said “Rush. (our grandson was born). And, it was the year that all three sons moved.” True. They all live in different homes than they did a year ago. Life happens and shapes us one day at a time. Even if you think back to December 6th, think of all the events that have happened in the past month; from the smallest memory to the largest – our lives constantly change … constantly grow. You are not the same person you were even a month ago. Go further, and consider God’s presence in the process. Consider Him in the crazy hustle and in the quiet waiting times. When you reflect you see Him. Those same ebbs and flows will come today, this month, this year. Pause in those waiting times – from there, you can feel His presence. Even when you think He is not moving, He is aligning chains of events in your life and in the lives of others that must happen to move you. Distract yourself in those waiting times with presence. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it seems to be continuously out of reach – take a deep breath and say to yourself, “there is so much right here that I have been waiting for”. When you look, you will see it is so true. Thank you, God.

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭130:5-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Wake up.

Praise Him.

Praise His ways.

Go.